Wasn’t she supposed to give birth in a couple of months?
I clearly remembered Vivien telling Roy she would deliver in thirteen months, and it had barely been ten. That likely explained why she was struggling and why the child’s life was in danger.
Seeing that Vaelari’s healing was ineffective and even the potion had no effect, I quickly made a decision.
I wasn’t going to channel my divinity directly into the mortal world. The cost would be far too high. But there were other ways to save them without paying that price.
The first option was Amon. He had his own divinity and, in theory, could heal her. In practice, however, I wasn’t certain. Having the ability and knowing how to use it were two different things. There was a real chance he wouldn’t be able to control it properly.
So I didn’t summon him.
The second option was Aurelion. But he was with the velmoryn vampire, whose life was still at risk. I needed him there. More than that, I had started relying on him for everything, and I didn’t like it. Aurelion needed to remain a rare presence, not someone who handled every minor issue.
So I chose the third option. The one I trusted just as much, if not more.
“How is she?” Tekla rushed into the room, loudly opening the door, staff in hand. Without waiting for an answer, she ran to the bed, giving a glare to Vaelari and Lily. “Father ordered me to come… but why didn’t you call me?”
“Thank the Lord you are here,” Vaelari said, though the relief didn’t fully reach his face. “Please, Priestess, help her. My spells, healing potions… none of it works! I think it’s the child, it’s draining her mana. If we don’t help her and give her body a chance to recover, they will both die from exhau…”
“By High Father’s will, she will survive. And so will the child.”
Tekla struck the staff against the floor. The dull sound echoed through the room.
Almost immediately, I felt the pull.
She was drawing on my divinity and quite a lot at that.
Still, I allowed it.
Crimson energy surged from Tekla and poured over Vivien like a wave. As the bed shimmered red, Vivien’s breathing steadied and her expression eased.
However, she wasn’t the true target of my divinity.
Even without Tekla realizing it, the crimson energy was being drawn toward the child - and it was accepting it. No one in the room could have noticed, but I could clearly feel it. Part of the energy was absorbed to restore its life force, but most of it merged with its body, becoming a part of it.
Perhaps that was the nature of the First Child. Or perhaps it was an accident.
Either way, I was certain this child would be extraordinary.
But the effect wasn’t limited to the child and Vivien.
Vaelari, caught within the reach of Tekla’s divinity, couldn’t hold back his emotions. Tears rolled down his cheeks. His hands trembled as the tension left his body, and he closed his eyes, giving in to the relief.
[Warning: Passing the Divinity consumed 10 Divinity Points!]
The red shimmer lasted only a couple of seconds, but the effect didn’t suffer from it. Vivien’s bluish, sunken face recovered its gray color and filled out slightly. Her dull eyes regained their clarity, and while before she could only cling to the edges of the bed, now her body relaxed.
As the divinity disappeared, Vaelari snapped out of the daze it had put him into and got to work.
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The birth progressed, and soon he was holding the child in his hands, crying with all the strength it had. The baby’s skin was dark gray, far darker than anyone else in the room. It had no hair yet, and its skin was wrinkled and covered in blood.
Vaelari, after checking the child’s health using one of his spells, carefully handed it to Tekla.
“You are the first child born in our tribe since High Father took us under His protection. I do not know what future awaits you, nor what our Lord intends for you. But remember this - your father was the first to embrace Him,” Tekla whispered, her voice trembling as she looked at the newborn. The child suddenly stopped crying and fixed his scarlet eyes on her, as if trying to understand her words. “Listen to your mother. Do not stray from His teachings. And carry your father’s name with pride.”
She walked to Vivien, who watched them with shining eyes and a wide, tearful smile.
“Little Roy has his father’s eyes,” Vivien said softly as she took the child and pulled him close to her chest. “I kept my promise, Roy. He came into this world strong and healthy.”
Her gaze lingered on the child’s scarlet eyes, tears falling onto his tiny nose.
“I will raise him as you would have wished, Roy.”
Lily was the only one who hadn’t shed tears, and the first to realize they needed to leave.
“Vaelari, we should go. They need rest,” she said, using him to pass the message. She wouldn’t dare command the Priestess directly.
“You are right,” Vaelari nodded, glancing at Vivien one last time. “I will return before sunset and bring you something to eat.”
Vivien only nodded, her gaze never leaving the child, who was already struggling to keep his eyes open.
The three quietly left the room.
I, however, had yet to shift the Window. Only after seeing the child… little Roy… and observing him closely did I begin to understand the true meaning of the title he had inherited - First Child.
Little Roy had no crimson markings on his face, but that didn’t concern me. If the absence had been unusual, Tekla would have noticed it immediately. She was far too meticulous when it came to matters of faith. He would probably develop them as he grew.
There was something else.
Something only I could see.
On his forehead, there was a marking. Or rather, a sliver of divinity - unformed, yet to take shape.
What it was, I didn’t know. I could see it clearly, but its purpose and meaning remained completely beyond me.
Guidance.
[First Child]
When two exceptionally devoted believers conceive a child, the soul may be marked before it fully takes shape, inheriting fragments of the deity’s nature.
Such children are rare. The first among them is blessed and is guaranteed to awaken a class tied to the divine path.
Your First Child has awakened as a Paladin. However, the class and its inherited abilities remain sealed until your religion is fully established.
A Paladin requires a clear doctrine, as they live by the laws of their deity and follow them completely. Your religion, however, lacks structure, laws, and defined principles. (Additional information may be requested.)
Requirements: At least 2 statues or holy places. A holy book. At least two priests or priestesses. An Angel or Inquisitor. A miracle performed by a god or priest. At least one holy relic. More than 20,000 believers or 5,000 devoted believers.