EA-R-TH Age of NeOlwd

Chapter 0 - A baby... A woman... A sacrifice

Year - 1246 A.D.
Night - 277

In a dark village, Tenebro, surrounded by mountains, a forest, and a river, a baby was born.

"It's a boy!" said an old lady, holding the baby in her trembling hands. Her rusty old voice had a mixture of excitement and pity. After thirty nights, the baby's family purchased a new home and settled near the Fish & Egg market.

"Mom, why can't I go out during the day?" asked the baby's three-year-old sister. Benaida, an old lady, their friendly neighbor, who was there when the baby was born said, "You can't go out. The Eye Burner... it will turn us into ashes. We'll die."

"Mrs. Benaida, please! She will be frightened. She will know about the Sun when she is a grownup," said the baby's mother.

After the girl slept, the old lady said, "When I was her age, I have always wondered how the day would be. Instead of working at night and sleeping during day, for a chance, if we get to see the day..." Benaida signed and said, "But we can't. The sun will burn us."

Suddenly the front door flung open with a bang. The baby's father emerged from the night. "Are they sleeping?" he asked nervously. The mother stood up due to her husband's worried face. "Yes!"

"We must go," said the husband and started to pack their clothes.

"Go where? What happened?" asked the wife.
"Get ready before they come," said the husband hurriedly and lifted his daughter, without disturbing her sleep.

"Where? Who is coming?" asked the wife sternly.

After being locked by his wife's furious eyes, the husband gave his daughter to their old neighbor, took a deep breath, and said, "They are coming, the Council."

"Coming for what?" his wife's face was cold as ice. "They are coming to kill him!" said her husband. Mrs. Benaida closed her mouth in horror. "Killing a child! Can't they think anything cruel than this?" she gasped.

The husband's voice trembled. "I tried to convince them, but our chief is not ready to listen to anything. We must not waste time; we should disappear before they come."

"But it's about to dawn, the Eye Burner will show up anytime now. If you go out, you will die!" said Mrs. Benaida. The baby in the cradle was sleeping peacefully not aware of the awaiting danger.

"Take care of our children," said the mother. "But, dear, we can't fight them! The Chief won't listen to you. They can't be reasoned with anything!" said the husband hopelessly.

The mother kissed her daughter and approached the baby. "Don't worry. Till there is air in my lungs, I won't let anything happen to you." She kissed him and went out, into the spine-chilling night against their inconvincible chief, Jurisbard Huubrihaught.

At the street's end, an eleven-year-old boy who had recently lost his father saw the lady go.

"First child in a day, huh! I hope they kill him," his whisper silently pierced the air around him.

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