Chapter Two: Our Little Miracle
Far away from Tecnisha and John's home, in a underground lair, there hid a powerful wizard named Valtor. All his life, he was after Tecnisha for her unknown power and she was the key to full control over Zenith. Now with a more vulnerable source of the unknown power, ruling Zenith was guaranteed for him. He watched Tecnisha and John huddle over their newborn daughter, and smiled with glee. Any descendent of Tecnisha would have to be as easy to grasp as she herself was.
"Anagan, get over here!" he ordered, and a man with short dark brown hair and a beard walked over to him.
"Yes sir." Anagan answered.
"You no longer have to try to capture Tecnisha, instead, you're after her little baby girl, Tecna." Valtor explained.
"A newborn baby, but we can't hurt her! It's just not right, it's criminal!" Anagan protested.
"I don't pay you to argue with me Anagan! I want Tecnisha's precious little daughter in my hands as soon as possible!"
"At least wait until she's five." Anagan insisted.
"Fine, we'll wait. But come the age of five, she's mine for the taking." Valtor cackled.
A year later, Tecnisha, John and William watched as little Tecna played with her numbered blocks. Seeing their child make simple equations without being conscious of it made them proud, she had a gift, a gift of great and early developing intelligence. She was so cute, smiling as strands of pink hair flew in her face, and her giggle was heart warming and joyous. And when she slept, she dreamed of playing with flying numbers as if they were bubbles. She was a perfect Zenithian baby, gifted and fortunate that she had love and intelligence that others wished they had.
"John, do you think Anagan or Valtor will find out about her." Tecnisha asked in concern.
"I sure hope not, she's still so young. It would be unjust." John answered, and then continued to set up the new digital pat-a-cake game.
"If anyone were to break into the house, I will make sure Tecna is safe and sound." William promised them.
"Thank you very much William, you've been very loyal to me and this family even before Tecna was born, it's much appreciated." Tecnisha replied casually.
"It's the least I can do, Mistress Tecnisha." William answered. As Tecnisha watched her little daughter, she started to grab onto the table and climb to her feet. John and Tecnisha had been trying to teach little Tecna how to walk and were very successful so far, but they could never be able to get her up on her own. Now they were astonished, no other baby in the universe could master that so easily. Tecna was a quick grasper.
"John, look!" Tecnisha squealed in pride, and John's eyes were glued to his daughter.
"Well look at you." John chuckled, catching Tecna as she her feet gave way, "You're just our little miracle, aren't you?" Staring up at the smile on her dad's face, Tecna starting to giggle joyfully, and John, Tecnisha and William smiled at her warmly. She was loved, happy, safe and successful. What more could they ask for? William took his digital camera from the table and took a picture of the happy family, with Tecna squeezing John's nose. John laughed at the picture when he saw it, and Tecnisha laughed too. Tecna was the cutest little thing they could ever hope for; they would love and cherish her for the rest of their lives.
When Tecna tried once again to get up on her own and walk, William had got a picture of her first steps before she collapsed in her dad's arms.
"You never give up, do you?" John smiled, and lifted her up to play a game of airplane that wasn't too high, so that Tecna wouldn't be scared. They looked perfectly happy, and they were. But one thing bothered them, was Valtor wanting to seek out their precious child? And when would he strike? That kept Tecnisha awake for endless nights, although there was nothing to worry about, for now. The good thing was that Tecna was unharmed and happy for the time being.
That night, John and Tecnisha watched Tecna sleep quietly in her favourite blanket, it had numbers and simple equations on it. They stared at her with great admiration and pride.
"She has no idea who she'll become." Tecnisha whispered.
"She's way too young to know, she wouldn't understand." John answered.
"But we owe it to her to let her know her future." Tecnisha protested.
"But she'll be so frightened by the fact that anyone would want her, she won't be our little miracle anymore. Even though we'll still love her, she has a gift that should not be run into the ground by fear of being captured." John explained.
"She has my gift, John." Tecnisha sighed.
"That, and the gift of early intelligence, we're so lucky to have such a beautiful, smart, valuable baby girl, and we're not letting anyone take her away without a fight." John told her softly, "and I won't let anyone take you without a fight either." John planted a gentle kiss on Tecnisha's forehead, and an even gentler one on Tecna's.
"I love you both, and I would give the realm to keep you safe." he replied.
"That's a little illogical, since our existence is the basis of this whole realm's technological advances." Tecnisha pointed out.
"Even so, you know I'd do anything for you." John held Tecnisha close as they watched baby Tecna dream.