Chapter 2: The Cursed Child
THE CURSED CHILD
News was quick to spread in the village. By the morning of the next day, pretty much everyone knew that Hao's wife, Nuer died while giving birth. There was not much big of a commotion.
Women often died during childbirth. This was common knowledge in the village. Everyone was used to it. Though they expressed some pity for Hao, it was only to that extent.
But that was because the peculiarity of the event of Nuer's childbirth was still not known to everyone. Meanwhile, in Hao's house, there was a whole another story going on.
Hao had a listless look in his eyes. His wife was dead. The physician had come earlier. He took one moment to examine Nuer before declaring her dead. Hao didn't want to bury her but Heinz convinced him otherwise. The body would start rotting. Hao didn't want to see that. He had no choice but to comply.
His son…he wasn't even sure what his son was. He had some suspicions in the back of his mind, but they were firmly suppressed by him. He didn't want to give birth to those thoughts.
Heinz and Orsella cooperated and didn't speak much, even though they too had their suspicions about what was in the corner of the room.
There was a knock on the door. Hao didn't react. Heinz got up and opened the door. He was a bit startled to see the visitor. With this, he became even more somewhat certain of his suspicions. He patted his chest with his fist.
"Heinz greets the Tribe Chief."
Hao slowly looked up and tried to regain some of his composure. A man came inside. Orsella also gave her salutations. Hao tried to weakly follow but was stopped by the man.
They had told the village council. They had to. Any such peculiarities were usually reported to the village council. Above the village councils was the tribe chief who had the highest position in the three tribal villages of Nakrah.
The position of Tribe Chief was usually given to the strongest warrior in Nakrah. Boris was the current Village Chief. He was a strong man in his prime, with a saber hanging from his waist. He came himself, showing the severity of this incident.
The villagers don't like peculiarities. They like to carry on their ordinary lives, with their ordinary problems and worries. Even though warriors do exist in the village and there are monster tides from the sea from time to time, they are all taken care of by the Tribe Chief.
Peculiarities bring changes. Changes are scary. No one likes to change, even if it's the simplest thing like changing the style of your clothes. Heinz and Orsella were completely shaken up by this event. Heinz who was Hao's brother had to get involved. But Orsella was already regretting her offer to help Nuer carry out her childbirth.
Boris calmly observed the expressions of all the people in the room and took his time before speaking up. "Where is the child?"
The three people flinched. They had kept the baby in the corner of the room, away from them. They were all scared of him, even Hao. The most freaked out was Orsella.
She had felt the energy in her body being sapped. Then in front of her own eyes, she watched the newborn grow out a head full of silver hair. Fortunately, she had immediately placed the baby down, or else she was afraid she would've had the same outcome as Nuer.
Now no one dared to go to the corner of the room. Hao pointed towards the baby. Boris had already learned of the situation and understood their fears. He nodded and walked towards the baby.
He was sleeping in a little wooden carriage. Boris observed the silver hair on his head. He sighed to himself. "It's true then. The next one is born," He whispered to himself.
Suddenly the baby opened his eyes. Boris was startled. He had expected the silver hair but he hadn't expected the red eyes. Had this happened before? No, there was nothing written about this in the tribe records. This was definitely the first time.
The baby observed Boris for a moment. He didn't seem to like what he saw. He frowned and seemed ready to cry at any moment. Boris sighed and called out, "Sabrina!"
Hearing this name, the expressions of the three other people in the room instantly changed. A woman entered the hut. She looked quite ordinary, her features plain, neither bad nor good. But there was one feature of hers that definitely stood out. It was the long bright silver hair of hers flowing down to her waist.
"W-what is she doing in my house? There have already calamities in my house, I don't want her to bring worse omen. Chief, I respect you but please ask this woman to leave my house." Hao spoke up, his expression was a mix of fury, disgust, and fear. How could he not know this woman? She made quite an uproar in her time.
The woman gave one casual glance to Hao and then looked away as if she didn't care one bit. Boris also didn't bother responding to Hao. Seeing their attitudes, Hao became even more agitated.
Boris picked up the baby from the carriage. He handed him to Sabrina. "Hold him." His words were an order, there was no space for argument. Sabrina frowned. She had no idea why Boris had made her come to this house. She had asked him about it but he would say nothing.
But seeing the baby in Boris' hand, her doubts became clear at once. Bright silver hair. It was a complete give away. Currently, no one in Nakrah had this feature except her. But with these questions clearing, hundreds of more questions started emerging. But she didn't want to ask anything from Boris.
She took the child in her arms. The child observed her with his blood-red pupils. She too, just like Boris, was startled. The red eyes were definitely supposed to be scary. But strangely, Sabrina found them complimenting with his beautiful features and bright silver hair.
The expression of the baby immediately eased when he fell into Sabrina's embrace. He curled himself in her warmth and closed his eyes, preparing to sleep again.
Hao watched all of this with wide eyes. He was on the verge of blowing up. "Why is she holding my son?! Chief, please tell her to put down my son! How dare she touch my son! Tell her to put my son otherwise-"
"Otherwise what?"
This was the first time Sabrina spoke up. Hao shuddered. Although he despised her, he couldn't help but admit he didn't have the guts to provoke her.
"P-put down my son. His mother is dead. I'm the only one left for him." Hao had no choice but to change his tone.
Sabrina smiled mockingly. She stroked the baby's silver hair. "See these? Don't they look similar to mine?"
Hao felt something breaking inside him. Doubts he had firmly suppressed started to resurface again. He gulped. "W-what do you mean?"
"He's the new Demon of Nakrah, Hao. Do you still want to raise him?" It was Boris who spoke this time.
"What?" Hao said dumbly. He would be a fool if he didn't realize that with all the evidence thrown right up into his face. But he didn't want to believe it. He gave birth to a demon? Why would anyone want to believe that?
His mind was in chaos. Sorrow, anger, pain, and all kinds of emotions clouded him. Didn't that mean his wife died because of his son? No, that thing couldn't be his son. He became hysterical. He turned to Sabrina.
"You! What did you do to my son?!? You cursed him, didn't you? You killed my wife! You killed my son! Give me back my son and wife!"
Hao stepped towards Sabrina, his fear all forgotten at the moment. "Hao!" Heinz called out and tried to hold Hao. But Hao quickly struggled out of his grasp and seemed just about ready to pounce on Sabrina. Boris watched calmly from the sidelines.
Sabrina didn't even take a step back. She just uttered a simple word. "Cava."
Cold air instantly permeated the originally warm and stuffy room. Hao immediately stopped in place. He regained his senses. He remembered this woman could easily kill him. Sabrina's mouth opened once again.
"Ba-" But before Sabrina could finish saying anything, Boris' saber was on her neck. "Behave, Sabrina." He warned. Sabrina didn't bother giving him a reply. But she also didn't continue her spell.
Boris turned to Hao. "We're taking the baby, Hao. I hope you understand." Hao who was still frozen on his spot didn't give any reply. "Yes, Chief." It was Heinz who replied to him.
Boris nodded to him and left the hut. Sabrina followed him.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
PhorK_Korp
PhorK_Korp I need to edit these chapters. If you find any errors, it'll be completely fine to point them out.
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