Chapter 73: Reflection

Every day that passed, Finn's symptoms got worse and only happened while I was eating. He couldn't be in the same room as me when I did, or he'd go greener than a leaf. Even though he wasn't having the time of his life, seeing a dangerous dragon with morning sickness was rather cute.

He would usually curse under his breath, feeling queasy before excusing himself. Nyla kept me company along with Brielle, who always stayed quietly in a corner. It wasn't unusual for me to find myself asleep where I was either; most of the time, I didn't realize I had dozed off until I found myself back in my bed with Finn on my side.

Time was passing, and all the while, I didn't know what to do to stop the world from ending. From where I stood, everything was normal, but beyond the castle walls, everything was chaos—something Finn didn't let me see.

Nothing's going right. I can tell by how stressed you are at times.

I didn't share their telepathy to know what was being said, and it didn't matter how much he told me not to worry. This demon refused to tell me everything that was happening but did feed me small details.

Luckily, Sebastian had regained control of the farms while keeping the rabid demons away.

But how long until this becomes a civil war within Fathal?

Finn always kept me by his side, making it impossible to do anything independently. I didn't mind, as I had nothing to hide. However, the changes started to show within the walls, and Gael struggled with the new situation.

The brothel he used to go to was gone, and he didn't like to feed on the available farms. Unlike most demons, the incubus didn't have lingering resentment towards the humans, and with Sebastian's cattle, the condition was anything but stellar.

I mean, out of all of them, you're the one who spends the most time with them. So, I can see why you'd rather starve than use them, but…

Even though he had mixed feelings, his meals fed most of the demon's castle, including the one within my belly. Along with the extra meals, Finn asked him to embed some of the energy he used on demons within my meals, too.

This had happened before he started to have symptoms, which only became clear to me when Gael…

"It's good I've been giving her some life essence like you asked me to, or perhaps her body might have deteriorated by now." The incubus commented to Finn, who sighed.

"Yeah, with how everything was, I wanted to cover every blind spot." The demon king shook his head, leaning closer to me.

"Does that mean you thought… But… you said it was impossible." I mumbled, shifting my gaze down only to be picked up by him.

"I also thought Ageth was going to be my unending nightmare. I won't ever let you be harmed by the possibility it was mine because I was in denial. It doesn't change that every fiber tells me to end it." He breathed, prompting me to grab onto his arms.

"Finn…" I winced as he pressed his forehead against mine.

"This is all new territory. I still don't know how to feel about being mine or if I'm supposed to feel anything other than dread. I don't even think I'll be a good dad, let alone the burden it'll have on your body." He let go as I touched his cheek, unable to help as my lips curled upward to a defined smile.

"It's okay. I don't know how to feel either, and I doubt I'll be a good mom, too, but I think I'll love it when I see it." I confessed.

He winced, shaking his head. "Little light, emotions are hard for me to come by unless they are anger, but I learned to let you in. I think I can eventually…"

"It's fine if it takes you time. All I ask is for you to love me, even if it's half as much as I do." I simpered, triggering him to steal my lips for a sweet kiss.

Tugging away from me, he trailed his fingertips down my cheeks. "I… never know what to say to you."

A rough cough came from Gael as Nyle clapped happily upon seeing our moment. The little goblin was always enamored every time I showed their king affection.

"So, Shrimp, you're carrying my future nephew." The incubus started as soon as our flustered gaze landed on them.

"Y-Yes," I mumbled, trying to situate myself.

Why did I forget we are in public?!

"Hah, you aren't planning on running off with the tiny babe, are you?" He questioned, triggering Finn to growl as Nyla slapped the incubus on his head again.

"Gael! No, no, no! Be nice!" Nyla scolded the cook before Finn got to say anything to him.

"Ow! What was that for?!" He huffed, shaking his head. "You don't know what I'm going to say."

"Your track record says otherwise." Finn scoffed, coiling his tail around my waist.

He was ready to yank me away immediately, prompting me to grab onto his feathery limb that held me.

"Okay, that isn't fair. I've always liked Sylvia, but that doesn't mean I'll be positive about everything. It isn't like I blame her for my distrust fault. Fuck me, argh, it's hard to trust anyone you like since we ended up so well-off last time. I expect everyone to screw us." Gael shrugged before shaking his head.

"It's okay, and I don't mind you looking out for your friend. I'll keep proving you wrong either way." I smiled, finally seeing some shine in his words.

"Strong answer, fit of a future queen." Gael chuckled, "Hey, that kid is ours to raise, not yours. So, don't you dare run out of here with it, got it, Shrimp?" He pointed to me as a soft smile broke on his lips.

"Roger that." I giggled, triggering Finn to rest his forehead on my shoulder.

"I love you." He breathed, prompting me to lean my head against his.

"Thank you for loving me," I simpered, guiding those blue eyes back onto me.

"The affection is so high, I feel like I'm being left out." Gael huffed, crossing his arms.

"It isn't your place." Nyla quickly shut him down as he gasped.

"No! When will I ever get that? When's my turn?!" He whined, pouting like a child.

A soft scoff left Nyla, "When you stop being a body bag for every hole out there."

"Oi!" Gael growled as a scuffle broke out between them.

Even though the nation was changing, they all focused on the future I could bring. Yet I could tell they were all uneasy about the situation growing within my womb. Carrying a human child was already a burden on the mother's body, but a demon one was something new.

Finn had already covered all the bases, even within his doubts, leaving me little to worry about.

You won't be a good father? Oh, love, you might not love the baby right away, but with your nature, I can only see smiles in their future. That's if… I can… stop the madness.

As time passed, this new life surging within my body grew, and my belly swelled, alerting everyone that it was free from the curse. Within three months, I was already showing a tiny baby bump, making it real for me again.

Unlike the demons before it, this one was free from the curse, allowing it to grow instead of being stuck as a fetus—something that made Finn jumpy. Not only was he experiencing my morning sickness, but he was struggling with this new change.

He had once told me I was special, but I had become the once unfathomable demon's weakness. When this started, I was a Saint for him to use before discarding me if we had survived the ritual. Yet, before he realized it, everything had changed for him.

My mortality made him afraid of what may come our way. I had never seen him so shaken before, not even when he ripped my arm off. In the thousands of years he spent with his heart closed, all this was too new for him to swallow in one go.

Even though Finn struggled with his acquired weakness, I would find mysher under or on him every night. My pregnancy didn't change how much affection we both required. However, it did change how he held me.

Sometimes, it was so gentle that I didn't think it pleased him enough, but he'd have the most satisfied look every time we finished. However, those moments were getting shorter, as he usually would have a sullen expression. No matter how hard we tried to escape the chaos brewing, it was always there.

This peace is only temporary. The barrier has already been broken, and the miasma is reaching deeper into Traedan. It's only a matter of time before they end this. Once they do, they'll also come for me… and you…

I touched my abdomen, feeling it tickle under my fingertips.

Once the people of Traedan know about you, they won't stop at just taking the castle and crystal. They will probably try to end you, too. Arg… Why can't I find a way out of this?

Everything was too messy for me to realize who was friend or foe. I thought everyone in the castle was on our side, but Rizak was obviously in it for his reasons, even if it was for the betterment of the realm.

Will the realm you and your brother want to create be better than this one? I doubt it.

A soft sigh left my lips as I shifted my gaze toward the book beside me.

The world Rizak wants isn't one I want my child to grow up in, but my hands are tied. Why is the curse so closely linked? How… can I purify it without killing you all? These books, as complicated as they are, have nothing for me.

In all this time, I had spent my mornings and afternoons in the books, trying to find a way out. My current condition stopped Brielle's training, though I did manage to do slight exercises with her.

The grey wolf's eyes were growing softer toward me, but she didn't hold me in the highest regard. However, like Gael, she wanted to be a part of the child's life.

Brielle is out with the generals today… I wonder if haze has taken more villages and how many have turned.

Shifting my eyes onto the book before me, I turned the page to see a picture of the old gods. This world was composed of six elemental gods: Serena and Xavier, the gods of darkness and light; Octavia, the goddess of water; Nue, the goddess of earth; Khalil, the god of fire; and Rook, the god of Wind.

Little was known about them other than that Serena and Xavier were married and could share their power. The other four gods were barely named, and there was mention of a forsaken one who didn't even have a name or title.

The world eater… is said to seek out all magic before turning the world into a husk of what it used to be. Huh, I wonder if it can eat the curse?

A soft mumble left me as this beast was long gone and useless to me. Closing the book, I could only shake my head. The worthless books had tiny glimmers of ideas to combat such a curse, but all of them were theoretical.

No matter how much I dig, I keep coming back empty-handed. To break a curse, one needs to understand it, which was impossible as it was caused by a chaotic, synergetic event between two casters.

Serah wanted to save her people, and her desire morphed the magic into something else. The saint was probably cursing everyone as she drew her last breath.

Rizak's right about something. As much as I wish he weren't, you are the only link between the curse and the cure. How are you free of it? Is it because of me or because you are a new being?

I touched my abdomen, shaking my head.

No… There must be another way to save our home, but if there isn't, can I use you to save everyone?

A soft sigh left my lips, turning the page of the book I was on.

Just what am I missing?