The Forging of the Paladin: The Morning Star

Chapter 1. The Morning Star

It was a stormy night at the Momonori's castle. Satsuneo, the lord of the land, was anxious and he ordered not to be disturbed. He needed to by himself. His wife, Ichika, had just given born to their third son, but she ran into complications during labour.

"Your wife's health is hanging in the balance." Was what the doctors told him. "Now it's all up to her to overcome this critical state".

"Dammit", he groaned alone at the study. He took the cup of tea that he was drinking from and smashed it against de wall.

The noise of the glass shattering finally took him out of his alienation. He peered at the wall and saw a broken portrait. He got closer and saw the lovely smile of his wife. His heart skipped a beat. The cup had unfortunately crashed into Ichika's beautiful portrait. The best artist of the city had painted it just the day before their wedding.

He took it with trembling hands. The portrait's protective glass was smashed to smithereens and cut Satsuneo's hand, leaving a stain of blood on the delicate painting. Tears rolled quietly down his cheeks.

He flinched when he heard the door sliding behind him. He promptly wiped away his tears with the sleeve of his kimono.

"I have ordered to be left alone", he said calmy but firmly. The lord cannot be seen showing weakness, not even in such a difficult situation.

"Brother...", said a familiar voice behind him.

"Rayzzen?", he answered, his back still turned.

He had not seen his younger brother, Rayzzen Momonori, for so many years... Rayzzen led his life away from Kaumi, his native island. In the old continent, he served in the distinguished chivalric order of the Paladins of the Light, which kept him away from his homeland for long periods of time. Nevertheless, the feudal lord was not in the mood to talk, not even with his brother.

"When I heard about the upcoming childbirth of your son, I rushed back home.", said the younger brother and crossed the room.

"And they have not told you that I do not want to be disturbed? ", the lord replied annoyedly.

"Brother... What happens?", Rayzzen realized that his brother had a blood-stained picture in his hand, and he got even more concerned about him.

"Ichika, my wife, she...", answered Satsuneo after a long pause. "There were complications during labour. Her life is at stake."

"Oh, I am really sorry Satsuneo", Rayzzen's face showed profound sadness and grief, but his expression changed quickly to one of urgency. He reached out to his brother and took him by his clothes. "And what about your son? Is he all right?"

Satsuneo shook his arm and shoved his brothers hands off. He had always felt irritated by his irreverent attitude, and it just felt worse at times like that. Maybe because of that, he continued speaking with a mix of contempt and mismanaged anger in his voice.

"He is fine. He is sleeping in his bedroom; the wet nurse is with him."

"How wonderful!", shouted Rayzzen while raising his arms. Nonetheless, he changed his attitude once he saw his brother's furious face. He hurriedly lowered his arms and bowed down. "I am sorry brother; I know now is not the right time to... with Ichika... but there is something I must tell you."

"Make it short", he said simply. Then he went towards his desk, and he gently put down his wife's portrait. "After that, just leave me alone. "

"Several months ago, an announcement was made at Arkangelus's Cathedral.", he started explaining and went straight to the point, given how his brother patience was wearing thin. "They said that a child blessed by the Lady of the White Light will be born". At the same time, Baba Lagash, the High Priestess of the Moon, had announced a prophecy: The night of the vernal equinox, bathed by the light of a full moon, the one blessed by the Light will be born. His arrival will be the first light that ushers the rise of the dawn. He will be born at the south of the old continent and his mark will be the triad. "

There was a moment of silence only broken by the outsides sounds of the steady rain. Satsuneo felt dizzy. His son had just been born a couple hours before, that night, the night of the vernal equinox. The night sky was clear, and the moon was bright and shiny during the childbirth. It was not until later that the storm started. A lightning flashed the room.

"If you are trying to say that my son...", said Satsuneo. He was taking his mind off that thought.

"He has been born at the south of the old continent and his mark is the triad", Rayzzen told him back with uncontrolled excitement. "That's the mark of the Momonori's clan! The three moles under the right eye, making a triangle. When I got to the dock the moon was glowing."

"You are just talking nonsense.", said Satsuneo with a trembling voice.

"Brother... I get that you are worried about Ichika, but your son has been born to become the Morning Star, whether you want it or not. We must tell everybody!"

Rayzzen bowed down as a farewell and turned back, attempting to leave the room, but Satsuneo grabbed his arm hastily, not letting him cross the door.

"What do you think you are doing?", he admonished him.

"I..."

"Rayzzen, I have two older sons, dammit!", roared Satsuneo, while dragging his brother and making him sit on a chair. He then looked for a couple of porcelain cups and a bottle of hard herb liqueur. He filled the two cups and drank both so fast that his younger brother could not even touch them. A bit more composed thanks to the sweet after-burning of the liqueur, he filled up again the two cups. "The oldest son, Satsukineo, is going to be the next lord of the Momonori Clan. The middle son, Oyori, is going to be the commander of the samurai warriors of the clan. That is the tradition. A tradition that you did not follow, by the way."

"That was not my destiny, we have talked about it a thousand times...", answered Rayzzen while gulping the liqueur. Then poured a bit more for his brother. "Sister could have taken the place as a commander..."

"She also went away, like you. You both left me alone.", growled Satsuneo, frowning.

"I know..."

"Do you really understand what that means, Rayzzen? ", he went on, after swallowing his cup. "Satsukineo will become the next feudal lord and Oyori will be the commander of the warriors. As it should be."

"I do not get what that has to do with your youngest son..."

"Everything!", shouted Satsuneo "If we are going to spread the news and telling everybody that my child is the one of the prophecies, the one blessed by the Light, the light that will bring on the sunrise... What do you think will happen? The people of Kaumi will idolize him since childhood and they will likely want him as the next lord, regardless of whether he has been trained to become it or not. That just will end up in a civil war."

"But he has been blessed by the Light!", replied Rayzzen. He was beginning to understand his brother's worries. "We cannot just hide it."

"I do agree, Rayzzen.", Satsuneo got closer to the wide window and looked at the outside. It was not raining anymore, and the storm was going away. "You will take him with you. When he becomes old enough, you will take him away from here and take him under your tutelage. If he is truly blessed by the Light, he will find his own path, away from all this. Nonetheless, you muss swear, here and now, never to reveal his nature, not even to him. That should not get into his way."

Rayzzen stood up and kneeled before his brother's feet. He bowed down until his forehead touched the ground.

"I swear it! ", he claimed with a voice filled with emotion. "I swear that my lips are sealed, and never would they utter a word of what has been said here today. I swear I will guide your son to become the new light that will lead this world. "

Rayzzen realized, surprised, that his brother's hand was on his head. He looked up and saw him smiling for the first time. He seemed greatly relieved. He stood up and, a few seconds after, he realized that he had forgotten something important.

"Hmm... what's his name?"

"Daego", answered Satsuneo going back to his desk. "Daego Momonori. Now go, I need to be alone."

Rayzzen bowed down again as a farewell. He turned back with the intention to step out of the room, in order to let his brother rest. Just before going out, Satsuneo told him:

"Rayzzen. You must always remember your vow."