The wind howled, clashing with the fallen snow while the sun was right in the center of the sky. The entire mountain had been forced inside by this horrible storm. The Voltaris had learned to adapt to the harsh weather of Mt. Velgrin, but no living being could survive outside for long in such a disaster.
The King of the Voltaris, Ingressus, would have taken advantage of this day to be calm in his own home, but considering the circumstances, he was anything but calm.
Ingressus' wife was giving birth to his first child. Queen Xiomara's pregnancy was not a steady one. She was in pain everyday, her mental health was rapidly declining, and she was attempting to do whatever to give birth earlier in hopes that her suffering would stop. When the day finally came, a wave of joy overcame the two that slowly shifted into fear. 38% of Voltarian gave birth to dead children, Ingressus prayed Xioimara wouldn't be part of that statistic.
Ingressus sat, a necklace of the religious symbol of the Nestorians in his fist: A Golden Sun. Although not having the best memories in Nestoria, he was still connected to their Goddess. Ingressus slammed his eyes shut and prayed to his Goddess. Halfway through his prayer, he heard a voice. "Your Majesty," it was one of the midwives. "She's ready for you." A wave of relief crashed into Ingressus. Thank the Gods. He sighed, a smile appearing on his face. "Yes, thank you." he said, putting his necklace back on and hiding it under his clothes before making his way into the labour room. "Xiomara?" Ingressus saw his wife on the bed, alive but slightly distress while she stared at the crib in front of her. "My love," Ingressus beamed, hurrying up to her and planting a kiss on her temple. "Are you alright?" he asked, cupping her cheeks. "Fine." was the only thing that escaped that woman's mouth. Her face showing nothing but pride and joy but her eyes displaying nothing but despair. Nonetheless, she cracked a weak smile. "I love you," Ingressus told, kissing her forehead. "Now, where the child?"
"Children." Ingressus smile slightly faltered. "What?"
"Look for yourself." Confused, Ingressus approached the crib and his eyes widened. Xiomara hadn't given birth to one, not two, but three healthy, children, two boys and a girl; something unheard of atop the mountains. His prayers were answered and tripled, something he was unprepared for but extremely happy about. "Oh my gods," Ingressus smiled. "Xiomara, darling, their beautiful." the three kids wrapped in the same blanket had mighty horns, vibrant markings, and curly hair although just born. "Do they have names?" he asked, turning back to her who pulled another weak smile. "Not yet." But Ingressus saw right through her. "What is it?"
"Nothing. I'm fine."
"Xiomara-"
"Do not worry. As I said, I'm fine. The midwives aren't yet finished." Ingressus dropped his smile, but kept his disposition. "Of course," he planted on last kiss on his wife's lips. "I love you." he said before leaving.
~~~
Three weeks after the childrens' birth, and Xiomara was still contemplating names for the two, Ingressus was forced to seek allyship in a unlikely place due to the progression of the ongoing war. King Kronos of the Nether was a refined man, a man with his own morality but willing to throw it out the window for his two sons and his people, something that Ingressus needed. But besides all the political matter, Ingressus needed a friend, a friend that Kronos was willing to be. "Kronos," Ingressus called out, his eyes staring at the magma beneath him. "When your oldest was born, was your wife...upset at all?" Kronos let out a quiet sigh, reminiscing on the past. "My wife was dead by the time Pythus came out." Ingressus face softened. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"It's alright," Kronos interrupted. "Why do you ask?"
"My wife just gave birth to triplets last month." Kronos smiled. "Lucky woman," he said. "I expect most don't survive such a thing." Ingressus nodded. "She's alive, but she's hardly living." Kronos furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"
"Her eyes they just...when I first meant her she had this...energy to me, but when the children were born, it all left, and it gets worse by the day, I- I hardly recognize her. She just- she won't talk to me." Kronos looked forward again, collecting his thoughts. "Well, no woman is the same after she becomes a mother," as Kronos spoke, a messenger bird came and dropped a note in Ingressus' hands. "But you should not believe your wife every time she tries to send you away." Kronos watched as Ingressus opened the letter, read it, and his expression twisted into pure fear. "I have to go," Was all Ingressus said before he left, hurrying home.
That day, Ingressus' greatest anxieties became a reality. Xiomara Voltaris, Queen of The Voltaris, Mother of two, lively, content woman's sadness took over her, and she was found dead by the midwives with a purple ring around her neck. Ingressus had no idea what to believe or what to think. His wife was dead, and he was too late to help her.
Hell, he was too late to hold her corpse in his hands one last time: something he would always feel guilty for.
Unfortunately, Ingressus was a war man, he did not have any time to grieve before clearing his mind and returning to the battlefield and slaughtering thousands.
But his tragedies were not over. As the war died down and forces were pushed back into the Nether, his only friend during his time as the Deathsinger, King Kronos Tso of The Nether was slaughtered in his own palace by an unknown man.
Ingressus taught himself not to cry over the time of the war. Tragedy after tragedy occurring, he didn't think he could if he wanted to anymore. In homage to his late comrade, Ingressus finally had the courage to name his children. He named his oldest triplet Elridor, a Voltarian name that meant 'Endurance' something he knew his children did even though they were a bit to young to form a proper thought. He named his middle triplet Dominus, after his father that he saw die, his blood in the snow and his eyes cold, he swore to his Goddess that he would be as good as a father to his children as Dominus was to him before his demise. Finally, he named his youngest triplet and only daughter after the man who made him smile in a world that only made him grimace. Khroneia Tso Voltaris. The female version of the name Kronos, hoping she would have the same loving, yet fiery personality he did.
Luckily, each name was a perfect fit.
