A New Child

Chapter 1: Mother Once More

For many years, Tiamat slumbered. It had been a long time since her children had left her. They simply didn't need her anymore. And so, she slept. She wallowed in the fact that she had no one to care for. No one to raise, no one to nurture. No one to love.

That's when it happened.

Tiamat wasn't sure how long she had slept, but she was awoken by a cry for help. A child's cry. Not with their body, or with their mind, but with their soul. Tiamat felt the cry from where she was in Imaginary Number Space. The amount of pain from that cry.

Tiamat stirred and listened closer. It was a human child. Tiamat almost scoffed. Humanity, as far as she was concerned, was a race invading her home. She should leave the child alone to die.

But... What was this feeling? This heartache? Despite the fact that the child was human, she still felt a desire to help. A desire to nurture.

Was it her longing? Was she so desperate to be a mother that she was willing to rescue this... this human? After a few moments of hesitation, her choice was made.

Tiamat shrunk down into a manageable form and left the Imaginary Number Space.

~A New Child~

The only thing the boy knew was fire. Buildings were burning, the cries of people ringing out as they burned to a crisp. He could feel the fire kiss his skin. He wanted to scream out, but he didn't even have the energy. He didn't have the energy to do anything but walk.

The boy continued to walk. He stepped over bodies of men, women, children, and animals. He walked past a woman whose body was crushed by a pillar. He could hear her begging him for help. He could hear her pleas. He continued to walk.

The boy wanted to cry. He wanted to fall to his knees and give up. He wanted to scream. There were so many things he wanted to do... but he couldn't. He felt like if he stopped walking, his body would shut down completely. He couldn't even turn to look at the man who was screaming as his body was impaled by a pole.

Eventually, the boy felt himself slip. Time seemed to slow down as he fell over. His body racked with pain when he hit the ground, but the boy did not make a noise. He couldn't.

In any other circumstance, the boy would lament his death. He would think about how terrible the world was, but he couldn't. He couldn't think past the pain as he felt the searing burns on his skin.

As he started to feel his eyes close, he saw something glow. He faintly felt the pain numb ever so slightly as he was lifted off the ground.

As he was, he couldn't make the figure of his savior out. The only thing he could feel was warmth. It wasn't like the searing pains of the fire. Those were but a distant memory. He felt a warmth that made his heart swell. A warmth that draped over him like a blanket. A warmth that assured him that everything will be okay.

I wonder... if I can feel this warmth forever, The boy thought as the darkness finally took over.

~A New Child~

Tiamat looked down at the poor boy in her arms. She could feel her heart shatter into tiny little pieces. The boy didn't even cry. It was obvious that he was in pain, but he made no sounds.

Her feet slowly lifted off the ground as she started to float. She was only a few inches off the ground when she started to move. She weaved her way through the streets before finally making her way out of the fire. Waiting for her was a blond human male with red eyes.

"A beast dares show its presence in my garden?" The man scoffed.

"Step away, spirit," Tiamat's voice rang throughout the area, despite not opening her mouth. "I seek to provide this child with aid. If you try to intervene, I will remove you."