In the heart of a secluded forest, a wooden cabin, accompanied by a modest barn and a small crop field, stood beneath the moonlit sky. The tranquility of the night enveloped the surroundings: crickets sang their rhythmic lullabies, fireflies twirled and illuminated the air, and a gentle breeze swayed the grass in a mesmerizing dance.
Within the simple yet practical cabin, several rooms unfolded, beginning with a kitchen, followed by a bathroom, a spacious living room boasting a fireplace, and a back porch that extended into the depths of the forest. Silence dominated the dwelling, with its occupants peacefully asleep, except for a lone exception.
Amidst the stillness, a door creaked open slowly, revealing a two-year-old boy named Bell Cranel. With white hair, red eyes, and clad in a white shirt and gray shorts, Bell clutched a white teddy bear, his expression betraying a profound fear. "Mama," he whispered, his voice barely audible, tensing up as a distant wolf's howl echoed through the night, sending shivers down his spine.
Bell navigated the cabin's hallway, pushing open a door with a faint creak. "Mama, are you awake?" he asked in hushed tones, entering a spacious bedroom where he turns to look upon a bump under the blanket of the bed that let out a small moan while shuffling around. "Mama?"
A feminine hand soon emerged from under the covers, reaching for a bedside lamp that bathed the room in a warm, orange glow.
"Bell?" a gentle voice called out as the blanket was pulled down and revealed a young woman with snow-white silver hair, ocean-blue eyes, and dressed in a white nightgown. She is Meteria Cranel, Bell's mother. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"
Trembling, Bell confessed, "There was a wolf howl... It woke me up, and—" Another distant howl soon cuts him off, causing the young boy to jump onto the bed in fear. "There it is!"
"Bell, it's in the season for the wolf to come in the forest." Meteria spoke with a gentle voice and smile while soothing her child's fear by caressing his head several times. "they won't come and scare you if you don't bother them, right?"
"b-but their howl is so loud… and so scary…" Bell cried out as he looks up and shows his mother that he was crying in tears. "Mama… they're scary."
Understanding his fear, Meteria sighed with a compassionate smile. "I know," she replied, cradling Bell in her arms. The mother lying down and holds her child in her arms as she comforted his fears with loving caresses to the back of his head down to his back. "Mama knows that the wolf's howls are scary, but Bell is Brave, remember?"
"b-brave?" Bell sniffles while hugging his teddy bear tightly in his arms. The child looks up to his mother with a confused look.
"Bell is a brave boy, right?" Meteria asks with a smile while caressing his right cheek. "Bell promise Papa that Bell will help Mama keep our Home safe, right? That is what makes Bell a brave boy."
"b-but… the wolf… they're scary..i…" Bell mumbled while looking down with a frown before Meteria caresses his head and gave a peck to his forehead.
"it's alright to be afraid. Mama is also afraid, you know?" Meteria told her son. 'Mama is afraid for Bell's Safety and Papa is afraid for Mama's safety.' She caresses and stroke Bell's head several times before giving him another peck on the head. "it's alright to be afraid, but it is important to not let that fear take hold of you. You can only be brave if you face your fear, Bell. ok?"
Bell listens to his mother's words and processes their meaning in his 2 year old mind before he nods.
"I got it!" Bell replied with a firm voice as he looks up and smiles to his mother. "I won't be scared anymore! I am going to be brave!"
Meteria giggles to her son's reply as she caresses and stroke his head several times.
"alright, for Bell becoming Brave. Mama will tell you a special story for tonight." Meteria said as this made Bell look excited in an instant.
"a story?! what is it~!?" Bell asks all excitedly as the young boy has one favorite thing in the world and that is to listen to his mother's stories.
Meteria giggles to her child's excited reaction as she turns to the side and retrieved a gold and black-leathered book from a drawer.
"this story is very special because it's a story of the past and it's called the 8 Kaisers of Orario." Meteria spoke out as she holds the story book with both hands while Bell is in between and looks anticipatedly to listen to the story. 'long and long ago… "she began to tell the story while opening the book on the first page as it is a picture book." there was a time in the world where darkness was creeping and invading the land.' The first page shows a drawing of a land that is getting shrouded by a dark entity that has a diabolical looking fanged smile. "it was a time of fear as everyone would always be scared when night comes. The adults would go into shelters and children would just cry as the darkness create monsters that haunt them all." the next page was flipped. "the darkness had an entity that desires to plunge the world in eternal chaos." The next page shows the dark entity now upon a village that is filled with people who looks in fear and are running away. "the dark entity spoke 'this world shall become nothing more than a lifeless husk of a shell upon my reign of terror!' with a diabolical laugh. Everyone trembles in fear to his might as no one dared to challenge him."
"scary…." Bell muttered as he hugs his teddy bear close and tight while hiding into his mother's arms. "this story is scary, Mama."
"I know, Bell. but this story isn't all scary." Meteria said as Bell looks at his mother who smiles before looking back to the story picture book and continues. 'day goes by into weeks, weeks goes by into months, and months goes by into years. The darkness' entity continues to taint the world and caused chaos and terror upon the people's lives.' Her son looks to the book as his mother flips the next page that has a drawing of a diabolical silhouetted figure chasing after terrified people who looks to be screaming and crying. "everyone was scared all day and all night, but that all ended when a beacon of hope arises from the crying hearts of many." The next page was flipped and the young boy made a surprise noise when he sees the drawing of 8 knights holding up swords that they pointed together and creates a bright light that cause the dark entity to look in pain. "as if responding to the cries of the people, a group of 8 warriors from different lands, a pair of 4 men and 4 women gathered and formed a union to overcome the darkness. Each bearing the power to defeat the chaos and bring peace to the many who are terrorized by the dark entity. These 8 warriors call themselves the 8 Kaisers." The next page was flipped and it shows the drawing of the eight knights charging straight for the dark entity who commands a horde of black monsters. "the 8 Kaisers fought the dark entity and its minion with united friendship, they bravely charge through their enemy's minions for the sake of bringing a peaceful world."
"they're like heroes!" Bell said as Meteria nodded with a smile.
"the 8 Kaisers defeats the dark entity's forces day by day and when it came the time of the Black Sun that only happens once every 1000 years. They succeeded in cornering the dark entity in his domain." Meteria said in continuing the story, she flips the next page as the next drawing shows a black sun surrounded by circular flashes of light and the 8 warriors now directly facing the dark entity who seems to be laughing. 'the dark entity laughs as he faced the 8 Kaisers who defeated his army of darkness. 'mwahahahahaha! I praise you, nameless warriors! You have defeated my army, but you cannot defeat me! for I am the eternal darkness!' the dark entity spoke while growing large and becoming more powerful because of the Black Sun shrouding the light of the world.' Flipping the next page, the drawing shows the dark entity now very large and is looking down to the very small warriors. "the 8 Kaisers look in awestruck to their large foe as they could not believe how much powerful their enemy had become."
"they're going to lose!" Bell cried out as he looks worried.
"How can you be so sure, Bell?" Meteria asks her son with a smile. "How can you be so sure that they will lose?"
"Because the black thing grew large!" Bell said as he waves a hand up. "If he becomes big, they can't stand a chance!"
"That is true, but the warriors didn't give up." Meteria stated as Bell made a surprised yet confused noise. "Do you know why?"
"ummm….." Bell thought of the answer as he tried to think of why did the warriors didn't give up. He ponders before pointing a finger up and made a big smile to his mother. "because they have swords!"
"nope~!" Meteria said with a giggle before she and Bell looks back at the story book that has the next page flipped to reveal the drawing of the 8 knights joining their swords together and unleashed what looks to be a beam of light against the dark entity that trembles in fear and pain. "they had their bond and friendship."
"bond… and friendship?" Bell spoke out confused as Meteria nods
"the 8 Kaisers who came from different lands and have no relations with one another, had united as one force of power against the dark entity." Meteria speaks in the story. 'Their bond together creates a power so great that the dark entity couldn't break and defeat it.' she flips the next page and shows the next drawing of the 8 knights banishing the dark entity into a hole in the sky. "The Kaisers united their power and defeated the dark entity who they banished into a land unknown to many." The next page was flipped and shows the drawing of a city where the 8 warriors stood while surrounded by cheering people. "The 8 Kaisers brought peace and tranquility to the world as the people hailed them as heroes who they worshipped like gods."
"wow!" Bell looks in awe as he placed a hand to the drawing of the 8 warriors.
Meteria smiles to her son before she flips the next page that shows the drawing of the 8 Kaisers as statues that had their swords joined together in the air.
"after the 8 Kaisers saved the world, they disbanded their group and went on their separate ways." Meteria said as Bell made a confused noise.
"They left each other?" Bell asks curiously and confusingly. "why?"
"It is because they had completed their mission." Meteria replied while looking to the drawing in the picture book. "They joined together to defeat the dark entity, and now that their foe is gone. They are now without duty or purpose in the world." She then looks at Bell. "That is why they disbanded and left on their own separate paths, Bell."
"whatever happened to them?" Bell asked while looking back to the picture book that his mother flips on the last page that shows the drawing of seven Kaisers' silhouetted faces.
"after their disbanding, the 8 warriors went on their own paths." Meteria said in continuing the last part of the story. "they seek new duties to fulfill as they taken new journeys. The four women went on their paths and became a teacher to a school, a Saint of a Temple, a warrior of an army, and a protector of justice, while the four men had become a King to a country, a general to an army, and a craftsman." She then slowly closes the book to its back cover. "But many far and wide wondered what had become of the last Kaiser." She then caresses the back cover that showed a symbol of a skeleton crossed with swords, flames, and ice. "For the last Kaiser had disappeared."
"Disappeared?" Bell spoke out as Meteria nods while placing the book to the bedside lamp. "Why he disappeared?"
"no one knows." Meteria said while shaking her head once as she turns off the lamp and scootches on the bed, the mother holds her son close while placing the blanket over him to keep his little body warm in the cold night. "there are many legends that speaks on the whereabouts and wellbeing of the Last Kaiser. Some say that the last Kaiser had succumbed to his injuries in the battle against the dark entity and passed away unknowingly. others say that he wished for solitary from the world and left to be at peace." She caresses her son's head before stroking his back and patting it a few times. "no one truly knows the answer because the last Kaiser just disappeared without a word to his comrades."
Bell hugs his teddy bear as he looks very curious and anxious.
"are you curious, Bell?" Meteria asks her son. "you must be very curious on where did the last Kaiser disappeared to, right?"
Bell nods with an agreeing voice as he looks to be pondering in his 2 year old mind.
"the Kaisers were made into heroes, they fought against the bad guys and saved the world….." Bell said as he hugs his teddy bear close. "why did the last Kaiser just disappear when he could become like the other Kaisers?"
"Mama wonders about that too." Meteria said while stroking her son's back. "the Kaisers became heroes and are very famed and worshipped by many people, but Mama believes that the last Kaiser didn't want that at all."
"didn't want that at all?" Bell asks curiously to his mother who nods.
"Mama believes that the last Kaiser didn't want fame or wealth or anything of such." Meteria said while looking to the open window in the room that allows cold air to come in, her gaze is to the moon as she sees the full moon in the night sky filled with stars. "Mama believes that the last Kaiser just wants what any ordinary people would want."
"what did he want?" Bell asks as Meteria looks at the boy and smiles.
"a Family." Meteria replied. "Mama believes that the last Kaiser only wanted a life with his family."
"why?" Bell asked while blinking twice before he gets a few head strokes and a loving peck on the forehead by his mother.
"why not?" Meteria replied while tilting her head a bit. 'having a happy and loving family can fill anyone's heart with satisfaction, you know?' she giggles and holds her son closer while stroking his head several times. "even for me, Mama is already happy with having a Family." She closed her eyes, and her mind shows a flashback of her younger self being pregnant while being in a gentle embrace of a man whose lap she sat upon. Her younger self had a loving smile to the man before she looks down to her pregnant belly that she gently and lovingly caresses with her left hand that has a silver ring with a heart shaped sapphire gem. "Mama could get wealth, and power from the world, but Mama only wants to be with Papa who gave me the best thing in the world." She opened her eyes and looks at her son who is looking up at her very curiously. "you, Bell. my precious little boy."
Meteria leans down and gives a big smooch to Bell's forehead before snuggling her child closer.
"having you in my life. Mama doesn't want to ask for anything else." Meteria said as she caresses and strokes her child's back several times. "Mama is satisfied and doesn't want anything else but being with you and Papa."
Bell looks at his mother a bit curiously for a moment before he smiles and just snuggles closer to her loving warmth.
"I like it too!" Bell said with a happy smile. "I love being with Mama and Papa!"
Meteria giggles to her son's reply as she pecks his head and caresses his back several times.
"Mama! I wanna be like them!" Bell said with a very excited looking happy face.
"be like who?" Meteria asked while raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"the Kaisers! I wanna be like them!" Bell said while hugging his teddy bear tight. "they defeated the bad guys and became heroes! I wanna become a hero like them!"
"I see." Meteria giggles. "I'm sure Bell can become one since he's a very brave boy."
"yup! I'm brave!" Bell said with a big grinning smile that made his mother giggle once again.
"okay now, Bell. it's time to go to sleep." Meteria said as she patted her son's back a few times. "tomorrow Papa will be back home and when he does. we'll go and play by the lake as promised!"
"okay~!" Bell replied all excitedly as the young boy smiles all joyfully. He hugs his teddy bear and leans closer to his mother. "good night, Mama!"
"good night." Meteria replied with a smile as she continues to pat her son's back while he slowly gets lulled into sleep from hearing hear gentle heartbeat.
In just a few minutes, Bell fell sound asleep as he has a very peaceful and smiling sleeping face. He held his teddy bear close and snuggled closer to his mother's loving warmth.
Meteria smiles as she watches her little boy asleep in her arms, she patted and then strokes his back many times while he sleeps.
After just a few more seconds had passed, Meteria close her eyes and slowly falls asleep. The mother held her son close as both were lulled into their dreams together.
But unknown to the mother and son, somewhere just a few miles away from their home. a figure is approaching from a worn down path in the forest. The cold night breeze flows through as it caused the figure's rugged coat of a cape to flutter to the side.
The figure looks tall as he was shadowed by the dark of the night, but a red eye appears as it glows brightly yet demonically at the same time.
On the next morning, the sun was rising as it was shining its ray upon the forest where the animals were roaming freely.
In the home, Meteria remains asleep on the bed with Bell. Both still in their dreams as the mother held her child close in her warm and loving arms.
A few seconds later, footsteps are heard from the hallway of the home as the sound started to get closer by the room's still opened door.
"Meteria.." a voice spoke out the white haired woman's name softly as a figure came into the bedroom and to the bed.
Meteria moans in her sleep as she holds Bell close before she felt a gentle and warm hand caresses her shoulder before to her cheek. Her eyes squinted before fluttering open as she turns to the side with her vision still blurry.
"Zagreus?" Meteria muttered out as her vision slowly focuses and she sees a tall yet well built looking half elf with neck length darkish black blue hair that has some parts grayish white, the front part of the hair is combed back but one side is long and left to cover the right part of the man's face that has pale white skin. he wears a blueish black sweater, a black leather belt with a skeletal head belt buckle on black jeans, a black bracelet with a round ruby gem, a wedding ring, and a fingerless glove on his right hand.
This man is Zagreus Cranel, and he is Meteria's husband, and Bell's father.
"morning." The half elf greeted his wife in the morning as he gently caresses her arms and then went to her cheeks, he leans down and gives a peck on her forehead. "Slept well?"
"yes.." Meteria nods with a smile as she gets a kiss on the lips from her husband. "welcome home, Zagreus."
The half elf nods with a small smile on his lips before he and Meteria hears discomforted grunt like moaning from Bell who is still asleep hugging his teddy bear close.
"our little sleepyhead must still be sleepy." Meteria said with a giggle as she slowly sat up on the bed then gently scooped Bell into her arms and carried him. she pecks his forehead and caresses his head a few times. "he must be eating in his dream."
Zagreus looks at his son as he sees that Bell is drooling while nibbling upon his teddy bear's head like it was some sort of food.
"my my." Meteria giggles as she gently takes the teddy bear away from Bell's mouth and then gently shakes her son. "Bell~? it's time to wake up. Wakey wakey, Bell~"
Meteria playfully calls out to her son who grumbles in his sleep as he leans closer to his mother while rubbing his face on her shoulder.
"come on, Bell. it's time to wake up~" Meteria said with a smile as she pecks his forehead. "Papa is home, you know?"
Bell whines in his sleep as he rubs his hands to his eyes for a moment before he opens them to see his mother's smiling face and then his father rather expressionless face.
"Papa?" Bell called out to Zagreus who let out a small sigh before he leans down and picks the little boy up into his arms.
"come on." Zagreus said while carrying Bell on his left side and then reaching out his right hand towards Meteria. "I made breakfast."
His wife smiles as she takes his hand and gets off the bed.
A few seconds later, the small family are in the dinning room of their home as the father served his family their breakfast which was just vegetable and chicken cream stew with the side of bread.
"Bell, ahhh." Meteria called out to her son with her mouth opened as she held a small piece of bread dipped with the stew.
"aahh." Bell opens his mouth and bites on the bread before chewing although his mouth is a bit smeared with the stew. He wipes them with his right hand and licks it before smiling a bit messily to his mother. "yummy~!"
"come now, Bell. don't eat all messy." Meteria said with a giggle as she takes a napkin that was provided by Zagreus and then cleans up her son's messy mouth. "Papa's stew won't be going anywhere, you know?"
Bell nods with a firm voice before he soon munches on a piece of bread.
The young child sat on a wooden chair while his mother and father sat on each side of the table. The three having breakfast together.
"how was you trip away, Zagreus?" Meteria asked her husband while taking a bowl of stew and stirs the content with a wooden spoon that scoops up some of the dish and then blows on it before leaning it towards Bell. "There was no trouble?"
"none." Zagreus replied as he rips a large piece of bread into two before placing one on a wooden plate in front of his son who eats the scooped up stew from his mother. "everything is fine."
"is that so?" Meteria said with a smile as she wipes some stew on her son's lips and then continues to feed him the stew while he munches on the bread. "that is good to hear."
"Papa, where did you go this time?" Bell asked his father while still munching on the bread and stew in his mouth.
"do not speak with your mouth full." Zagreus stated a bit sternly to his son impolite behavior as he grabs and then places a cup of water to him. "you'll choke if you are not cautious."
"sorry.." Bell replied with a small frown as his father can be a bit stern if he acts too childish with him.
"come now, Zagreus." Meteria said as she helps Bell in drinking the water from the cup. "he's just being curious. No harm in him being a curious child in this type of moment, right?"
"you cannot spoil him too much, Meteria." Zagreus said as he held his own cup of water near his lips. "he needs to learn proper behavior sooner than later."
"I know." Meteria replied with a smile as she held the cup to Bell who drinks a few gulps before taking it away when her child sighs a bit in satisfaction then continues to munch on the bread. "but isn't it fine to let him learn in his own way?"
Zagreus looks at his wife for a moment before he sighs and took a sip from his drink then a bite of his bread.
"I went to your Uncle Helios' home for a week to help his family." Zagreus said in replying to his son's previous question.
"what does Uncle Helios do?" Bell asks as he had met this Uncle Helios some time ago.
"a farm like we have." Zagreus said as he stirs a spoon in his bowl of stew that he soon takes a few mouthful bites from. "he needed help in finding new land to make new room for crops."
"does he have corn like we do?" Bell asked as the barn and crop field near his home, raise corns and some other vegetables.
"he does." Zagreus replied as he held up his bowl and drank all the stew down then sighs. 'we have our own corn because it was given to us by him.' he then gets off his seat as he finished his breakfast. "no more talking, finish your meal. Then it's time for a bath." The half elf walks to the kitchen to place the used bowl away and cleans it. "Afterwards, we'll go and play by the lake as promised."
"okay~!" Bell replied all cheerfully before he continues to munch on his bread.
Meteria giggles with a smile to her son's instant action before she looks with a loving smile to her husband whose back is to her.
Sometime later, the family are at a small lake in the forest as it is serene and peaceful.
Fishes were swimming in the clear lake before they swam away when Bell's face appears. The young child is by the edge of the water as he is looking at his reflection with a grinning smile.
While Bell is fascinating himself with the fishes in the lake, Zagreus and Meteria are sitting on a picnic blanket laid out near the shade of a tree.
"Bell~! don't go too close, ok~!?" Meteria calls out to her son who hollered back with a 'yes!' before continuing to look at the swimming fishes in the lake. The mother sighs with a smile. 'he's still have such curiosity to the lake, huh?' she then looks at her husband. "I wonder who he got that from, Zagreus?"
Meteria looks at her husband who didn't reply as he is silent while just looking at Bell from his position.
"Zagreus?" Meteria looks a bit confused to her husband who soon glances at her direction. "what's wrong?"
The half elf looks at her for a moment before towards Bell while his lips slowly parts open.
"a war had risen in the city." Zagreus spoke as Meteria's eyes slowly widens.
The two adults start to converse on their own while not paying attention to Bell who keeps on watching the fishes in the lake before he sees rippling from the side.
"hmmm?" Bell looks at where the rippling is coming from as he soon looks in awe to see a small white wolf pup with red eyes drinking the lake's water before it turns to look at the young boy with a curious look.
"that's why… I need to leave on the night." Zagreus said as he had his eyes closed. 'I need to help them in stopping this war.' He sighs and opens his eyes to look at Meteria. "I'm sorry… I'm leaving you with so much burden to take care of our son."
Meteria looks at her husband before she sighs with a smile and gently grasped his right hand.
"don't worry. I'll be fine." Meteria said as she leans close to her husband's shoulder. 'we'll be fine.' She then looks up and gently caresses Zagreus' cheek. "just promise me….promise me that you'll come back safe. Ok?"
"I promise." Zagreus said with a small smile as he leans close to his wife's hand on his cheek and then turns to give it a kiss. "I'll return to you and our son no matter what."
Meteria smiles back before both shared a quick kiss then leans close to each other.
"Mama~! Papa~!" Bell's voice called out to the two adults who turned to look at their son and looks a bit surprised because he is playing with the white wolf pup which is currently licking his cheeks several times, making him laugh and squeal at the same time. "can we keep the him~!?"
"a wolf pup?!" Meteria stands up with a surprised look on her face. "where did it come from?"
"looks very young.." Zagreus spoke as he gets up and went to his son who is laughing in glee to the wolf pup who snuggled close to him. the half elf checks on the little canine to see that it could only be 2-3 weeks judging by its size and it's a boy. The man then looks at his son. "Bell, where did you find him?"
"he was drinking the water right there." Bell said as he pointed at where the wolf pup was.
Zagreus looks at where his son is pointing for a moment before he looks at the wolf pup who is barking at him a few times. the half elf keens his eyes as he sees some blood around the canine's snout.
"What is it?" Meteria asks as she came near her husband and son.
"I want you to stay with Bell and the pup for a moment." Zagreus said as he stands up and looks around the forest. "since there was a wolf's howl last night, and we have a wolf's pup here. A pack of them must be roaming around here." He then looks at one direction. "stay here while I try to find this pup's pack."
"Alright." Meteria nods before Zagreus gives her a peck on the forehead and then went to the forest leaving her to care for their son and the little wolf pup.
Zagreus went right into the forest and disappears between the trees.
"Where is Papa going?" Bell asked to his mother while looking at where his father disappeared to.
"he's going to find this little one's family." Meteria replied as she leans down a bit to caress and stroke the wolf pup's head, getting the little canine to whine with a pleased expression on its face while also wagging its tail rapidly.
"but can't we be his new family?" Bell asks with a whining voice as he looks attached to the wolf pup. "he was all alone when he came to drink by the lake. can't we keep him?"
"no, we can't." Meteria said before she sighs with a smile. "Wouldn't it be bad if we took him away if his family is trying to look for him?" she kneels and caresses her son's head. "Mama knows that if me and Papa loses Bell to another family, we would be sad. Do you want the little pup's family to be sad too?"
Bell frowns as he looks at the wolf pup that let out a few barks to the boy then sticks out its tongue while panting with a happy expression that soon turns a bit confused when seeing the little boy's frown.
"no.." Bell replied in a whisper as Meteria caresses his head and then gives a peck to his forehead.
"tell you what, Bell." Meteria said while slowly standing back up. "while we wait for Papa to come back, let's go back home and have lunch." She smiles and scratches the wolf pup's head. "with this little one too. Let's have a time together before he leaves, okay?"
Bell frowns a bit more at the thought of letting go a possible new friend and pet, but he had to listen to his mother who is telling the truth about its pack being sad.
"okay.." Bell replied as Meteria sighs with a smile before gently taking hold of her son's right hand then leads him away from the lake.
In the midst of the forest, Zagreus walks amongst the trees as he is following a small track that belongs to the wolf pup.
Zagreus looks at the ground as he kneels and checks the tracks to where it is coming from.
"this way, huh?" The half elf checks the origin of the tracks as he finds them coming to another part of the forest and into a cave. Zagreus stands up and head straight for it.
Upon the entrance of the cave, Zagreus could instantly hear a faint yet weak sounding canine whining that is mixed with huffing.
"two? No, one." Zagreus whispers as he enters the cave and soon finds a terribly injured adult white wolf but the fur was becoming a pinkish red color because of blood coming from a large claw mark wound around its abdomen. The half elf checks on the injured canine as it is a female and possible the wolf pup's mother. "possibly a bear..or…" he checks the wound as it looks like it came from the claws of some creature. "or something else."
As Zagreus checks on the injured wolf, he hears angry growls coming from the front of the cave as he turns to see a black wolf appearing. The black canine has a bigger size than the white wolf, it has a red left eye but its right eye is scarred with a large old looking wound, it has blood covering its front paws and growling fanged snout, it has a few injures around its body as well.
"you're this one's mate, aren't you?" Zagreus said with a calm look on his face as he looks at the black wolf before to the white wolf. "a white mother wolf and a black father wolf… with a pup…" his expression softens a bit as the two wolves and their pup is alike with his own family. "just like my own family.."
The black wolf continues to growl before it barks loudly into the cave while just snarling very angrily, thinking that Zagreus was there to kill its mate or had taken its pup.
Zagreus listens to the growls of the black wolf as he turns to look with his red left eye that begins to glow menacingly.
In the wooden cabin, Meteria is in the kitchen as she is cutting up a fried steak into little cubes then prepared them to a large plate and a small plate.
Bell watches his mother from the dining table before he looks at the wolf pup who is below his chair and is just looking at Meteria while panting with its tongue sticking out, possibly because it smells the delectable scent of the cooked steak.
"here we go~" Meteria lifted the two plates up as he placed the big plate to the table. "one for Bell and me.." she kneels and presented the small plate for the wolf pup who barks while wagging its tail. "and one for the little pup."
Meteria smiles as she strokes the pup's head while it munches and bites on a cube of cooked meat, she then stands up and went to Bell. she grabs a fork and pokes a meat cube then held it in front of her son's mouth.
"Aaahh~" Meteria gestures her mouth opened as Bell opened his mouth and was fed with the cooked meat cube. Her child chews with a smile that made her smile back. "yummy?"
"yummy~!" Bell cheerfully replied as Meteria giggles to her child's reply before continuing to feed him while occasionally taking a few bites for herself.
As Meteria continues to feed her child, the wolf pup finished up its plate of meat in just a minute as it licks its snout a few times before it perks its ears up and looks to the side.
The wolf pup soon let out a few barks and then a howl before it runs out of the dining room.
"where is he going?" Bell asks while munching on his lunch.
"let's go and find out." Meteria said with a smile as she picks Bell up from his seat and place him down before the two went to follow after the wolf pup.
Outside of the wooden cabin, the little wolf pup ran out of the front door as it was left opened by Meteria.
Barking with an excited tone, the pup ran out first before Meteria and Bell who followed and soon smiles when they saw that the little canine had run outside because Zagreus returns with the black wolf along with the white wolf, both looking well and uninjured anymore.
The female white wolf barks once as it got down and looks happy to be with its pup who runs around and then snuggles its head against its stomach and then let out a bark before getting a few affectionate licks in return.
"Papa!" Bell ran to his father who leans down a bit to grab his son and picks him up before turning his attention to Meteria who came near.
"you found his parents." Meteria said as she sees the pup getting affectionate licks from its mother. "where were they?"
"at a cave a few miles from our home." Zagreus replied as he watch the pup began to nuzzle for its mother milk as it suckles on a tit in the fur while getting a few licks from the white wolf who in return gets nuzzled by the black wolf. "I assume that they were out hunting while their pup was staying in the den, but it left to drink water from the lake where it meets us. They were trying to search for it in desperation. It was mere luck that I was able to get them to follow me here."
"I see.." Meteria smiles and gives a peck on the cheek to her husband. "good job, Zagreus."
Zagreus did a small nod in return before he and the others hears a few barks from the black wolf as its mate and pup walked to the forest while it remains to give a bow.
"what's it doing?" Bell asked.
"it's thanking us for taking care of its child, Bell." Meteria said before she and Zagreus did a head bow. "we have to do the same to reply."
Bell nods before he bows his head to the black wolf who barks once again then turns to follow its mate and child.
The wolves return to the forest and left the small family at their home.
"bye bye~!" Bell waves a hand in goodbye as Meteria did the same in action while Zagreus stays motionless.
Some time later, the day became night as the sun had set, and the moon with the stars appear in the dark sky.
In the home, Zagreus walks in the hallway as the half elf wears a black shirt and jeans, a gray overcoat, black gloves, and a white scarf hanging around his neck.
Zagreus walks and went to the living room as he finds the fireplace lit cause Meteria and Bell are sitting by the couch together while reading a story.
"afterwards, the Hero Perseus defeated the Kraken and saved Princess Andromeda from becoming its supper. The kingdom was saved and the hero rejoiced in victory with the princess." Meteria spoke out as she is reading a story from a book with Bell sitting on her lap, the child looking at a drawing of a hero wielding a sword while having a princess by his side. "and they all lived happily ever after. The end."
Meteria closes the book and placed it aside before seeing Bell turn towards her.
"Mama, another one~! I want to hear another story~!" he asked all innocently and pleadingly as this made Meteria smile and give a peck to her son's forehead.
"alright, alright. Another story." Meteria said as she carried her son up in her arms while getting off the couch. "but after that it's nighty night time."
"ehh~! But I'm not tired~!" Bell whined as for a child like him, he is still energetic and that means sleepy time is a no for him.
"do not whine." Zagreus spoke out as he entered the room. "it is night and a child of your age have to sleep." He hardens his gaze a bit. "do not complain."
Bell frowns and looks a bit scared from his father's hardened gaze as he hides his face to his mother's shoulder.
"Zagreus. Not like that." Meteria told her husband with a small frown as she looks at Bell and caress his back several times. The mother made her way to the father who crosses his arms. "I know it is for Bell's health and care, but don't be so harsh on him. he's still a child."
"he's a child who is growing up sooner or later." Zagreus replied as he sighs before looking straight at Meteria while placing her hand back upon her side. "there will be a coming time when he will have to stand alone, Meteria. You know that."
"I know. I know that very well, Zagreus." Meteria said as she slowly turns to look at Bell who snuggles close to her embrace. She pecks his head and then leans close. "but that time will come in the far future, but right now he is still a child who needs our love and care. So please….not while he is still a child."
Zagreus looks at Meteria and hears her words before he close his eye and sighs softly then nodded a minute later.
"very well." Zagreus replied as he looks at Bell and gently caress his back. "I'm sorry, Bell."
Bell made a small noise in return as hearing it made the father sigh again before he went and takes his son into his arms.
"here." Zagreus spoke out as he held up a book towards his son. "here is the new story book I promised you when I left the week before." He showed the cover to Bell who glance and sees its title reads 'Orario's Kaisers'. "I've gotten you the story book of Orario's Kaisers which is the second story after the first story called the 8 Kaisers of Orario."
"What is it about?" Bell asked in a whisper as Zagreus gives the book to his son to hold.
"Why don't we read it together to find out?" Meteria told the two as she smiles while locking hands with her husband.
Zagreus glanced at Meteria and sighs a bit with a small smile before nodding.
Afterwards, the family went to Bell's room as Meteria sat on the bed with her son on her lap while Zagreus is sitting beside her.
"This story starts a thousand years after the first original Kaisers defeated the dark entity." Zagreus said as he held the book and opened the first page that shows a silhouette drawing of a majestic round city that has an incredibly tall tower in the center. "it begins in the City of the Dungeon called Orario."
"Dungeon?" Bell asked with a confused face as he looks at Meteria. "what is that?"
"Dungeon is a very mysterious and very ancient labyrinth or maze that appeared somewhere in the world nearly 1000 years ago." Meteria explained. "no one knew how it came to be, they only know that the Dungeon is a very dangerous existence cause monsters came out of it."
"m-monsters?" Bell asked a bit scared as Meteria nods before both look at the story book as the next page was flipped to show the drawing of a large hole upon a land that is littered with black silhouette drawings of monsters.
"when the Dungeon appeared, the land was infested with monsters that terrorized everything." Zagreus spoke as he flips another page to show a village destroyed by a stampede of monsters chasing and hurting people. 'it was as if it was the dark entity's last scorn, it's last revenge against the world before being defeated by the Kaisers. Some say the Dungeon was created as its form of revenge to lay waste to the world.' Another page was flipped and shows a new drawing of 7 warriors charging against the monsters. "but the dark entity had forgotten to realize that the land is protected by the Kaisers who remained after defeating their old foe. they brought up their swords and took the fight once again to defeat the monsters and save the people."
"they came back!" Bell said with a smile to hear the story of the Kaisers not ending with just one story. "they're saving people!"
"they are heroes after all" Meteria giggles to her child's excited reaction.
"although they are missing one member, the Kaisers fought back the monsters as they didn't fought on their own this time." Zagreus said in continuing the story as he flips the next page that shows the warriors charging against the monsters with an army by their side, but there were drawings of maidens flying above their heads. "they fought with the aid of the people worshipping them and they also received aid from the spirits as well."
"Spirits?" Bell asked as he blinks his eyes in confusion. "what are Spirits?"
"they're a race who are blessing with magic and a long life, Bell." Meteria explained to her child. "stories have it that the Spirits are children of the gods in heaven. They are a very strange, curious, and very magical beings who we could never truly compare with."
"in simple manners, they're a race of unknown origin." Zagreus stated before he looks to the book as he flips the next page to show a drawing of a massive battle upon the land, sky, and the sea. 'the Kaisers fought against the monsters spawned by the Dungeon. days, weeks, months, and years pass as they dwindled in numbers in the war against the beasts. Many had lost their lives, but the Kaisers remain strong against their foes.' Another page was flipped and it showed the warriors now facing against three large black silhouettes with glowing eyes. "as the Kaisers were near their victory against the monsters. they were soon faced against three powerful monsters that came out of the Dungeon, intending to destroy them so that chaos can return."
"three monsters?" Bell muttered out while looking at the drawings.
"these three monsters were unlike any other that the Kaisers have ever faced." Zagreus stated as he flips the next page to show the Kaisers are struggling in their battle against the three beasts. 'for these beasts were embodiment of terror and power. Some say that the Dungeon created them in order to bring true terror to the world' He points a finger to one of the drawings. "one is called the Behemoth, the King of the Land. This beast of a monster was known to have the power to destroy and poison the land. Nothing could survive its powerful poison that kills any living being that it touches." Another drawing was pointed next. "the second one is called the Leviathan, the Overlord of the Seas. A serpent of the seas with the power to cause utter destruction upon the land by controlling the water and the sky that cause unnatural disasters to occur non stop." He then pointed to the last drawing as he glance at Bell who looks a bit scared. "the last monster is the one that is most feared in every legend" he looks back the book and to the drawn image of the last monster. "The last beast is called the Black Dragon."
"B-Black… Dragon?" Bell muttered out before gulping as he held his mother's arms close in instinct.
"it is a monster larger, darker, and more scarier than the last two. With dark black scales that seemingly glows from the fire that burn in its surrounding, black sharp claws that seems to be able to tear through the very land and sky, long and sharp jagged reptilian teeth that could bite through anything, large pitch black wings that could blow away clouds, snaps trees like sticks, and tear down houses in a single flap, and ominous red reptilian eyes that glows menacingly as if it sees through one's soul." Zagreus stated as he flips the next page to show the warriors now facing the drawn silhouette of a dragon with a glowing red eye shown upon its head. "the Kaisers had fought against the three beasts and succeeded in slaying the first two, but when the time came for their last battle against the last monster. they were faced with the utter terror of its power. For this monster had nearly destroyed the Kaisers."
The next page was flip, and it shows the 7 warriors on the ground along with a terrifying drawn image of a dragon that has its fangs shown.
"even with the great power that resides in their grasps, and receiving aids from the spirits' blessings. The Kaisers were utterly overpowered by the Black Dragon whose power surpassed their own strength." Zagreus spoke as he looks upon the drawing with a rather complicated look in his eyes. "it was as if the Black Dragon is the Kaiser's ancient enemy's reincarnation, seeking to take revenge against them. Taking the opportunity of unleashing the ancient wrath upon the Kaisers who have been terribly weakened after the passing battle and the lack of one comrade of theirs."
"the last Kaiser.." Bell muttered out in remembering the story his mother had told him the other night, the story about the Kaisers having one of their members just disappearing after the battle was over.
"the battle was about to be over, the Black Dragon had weakened the Kaisers to their breaking point." Zagreus stated while flipping the next page that shows the Black Dragon was about to kill the Kaisers with a flaming breath attack. "not one of the Kaisers could foresee their coming defeat, nor could they have foreseen the return of their old comrade."
"eh?" Bell looks at his father a bit confused before to the story as the next page was flipped and it shows the silhouette drawing of a man facing the Black Dragon that is looking in pain cause it has one long scar of a wound on its left eye. "what happened?"
"remember the last Kaiser, Bell?" Meteria spoke out to her son who looks at her and sees that she is smiling. "the last Kaiser who disappeared?"
Bell nods before Meteria pecks his head and then motions him to look at the book as Zagreus flips the next page that shows the drawing of the 7 Kaisers uniting their swords but with the addition of the 8th person in the scene.
"he came back!" Bell said as Meteria nods with a smile.
"the last Kaiser who had disappeared years before, had returned to aid his comrades in the final battle against the Black Dragon." Zagreus stated as he flips the next page that shows the now 8 Kaisers charging straight for the dragon that roars. "with their strengths replenished by their old comrade's aid, the Kaisers fought against their foe with renewed might to end the battle."
Zagreus flips the next page and it shows the drawn picture of the Black Dragon dead with 8 swords plunged into its chest, possibly to where its heart is. There is also the 8 Kaisers who stood upon the dragon's head and raise their hands that joined together while getting victory cheers by many people.
"the battle between the 8 Kaisers and the Black Dragon lasted for an entire night as both sides fought till the breaking point, but the result was in the favor of the heroes." Zagreus said as he glance at Bell who is happily smiling in seeing that the heroes won. "the Kaisers had successfully defeated the Black Dragon and in so doing ending the Dungeon's infestation of monsters.." he flips the next page that shows a large city being built from the inside out. "Afterwards, the Kaisers and the people sealed the Dungeon with the blessings and grace from the gods in heaven who aided them. With that, the battle was over and the City of the Dungeon, Orario was built as the lid that covers the Dungeon." the last page was flipped as this shows the drawings of 7 people standing by a city and are watching a single person who is leaving the city. "but when peace returned, the last Kaiser who had once disappeared, had decided to leave his comrades once again in repeating the lost past." The book was then closed as the half elf held it up in his right hand's grasp. "the end."
"he left again?" Bell asked with a frown before he looks at his father and then his mother. "why did he leave again?"
"no one truly knows…" Meteria replied while stroking her son's head several times. "there are many stories that speaks about the last Kaiser's next disappearance, but not one could be found to be true." She then looks at Zagreus who got off the bed and went to the bedside table to place the story book upon. "it was as if it is his destiny to leave the battle once it was over, or perhaps…" she then looks at her son with a smile. "…it was something else?"
"something else?" Bell asks as Meteria nods before she got up and then place the young boy to his bed. "what is it, Mama?"
"I don't have a clear idea at all, Bell." Meteria said as she prepped her child for bed, she leans up and kisses his forehead before smiling to her son. "but if I have to guess… it was to return to his family."
"just like what Mama said before?" Bell asked and Meteria giggles before nodding.
"yes." Meteria replied with a smile. "maybe the last Kaiser left once again because he now has a family to return to. But no one really knows if it is true or not."
Bell hums a bit in curiosity before getting another peck on the head by his mother who pulled up his blanket over him and then handed him his teddy bear sitting on the bedside table.
"now, it's time to sleep." Meteria said while stroking her son's head several times. "good night, Bell."
"good night, Mama." Bell replied with a smile before he looks at his father who is standing behind his mother. "good night, Papa."
Zagreus looks at his son in silence for a moment before his lips formed a small smile and he nods.
"good night..Bell." Zagreus spoke out softly as he went and stroke his son's head. "sweet dreams."
Bell smiles before he closed his eyes and hugs his teddy bear close.
Meteria caresses Bell's head several times while she hums a lullaby for her child so that he could fall asleep faster.
Zagreus went to the light switch and flicks it once to make the lights in the room go off. The only remaining source of light is coming from the opened window that shows the moon in the night sky and the hallway.
The half elf looks to his wife who continues to hum a song for their son who in just a few seconds fell asleep from hearing her beautiful lullaby.
"sweet dreams, Bell." Meteria whispers as she leans up and kisses her son's forehead once again before getting up and leaves the room with Zagreus.
Zagreus closes the door to his son's room but after taking a quick peek at his sleeping appearance.
After putting Bell to sleep, Zagreus with Meteria went out to the front door of their home as the half elf is going to leave soon.
"be careful on your journey." Meteria said as she tied the white scarf around her husband's neck before giving him a peck on the lips. "and be home before Bell's birthday next month, okay?"
Zagreus nods before he glance up to look at the moon in the night sky for a moment then to his wife.
"earlier…..Bell said something about the reason why the last Kaiser had disappeared." Zagreus stated to her. "did you read him the first story the night before?"
"yes." Meteria nods. 'the wolves were howling in the night and caused him to wake up scared.' Meteria replied with a smile. "I read him that story, and he really liked it." she then giggles a bit. "he said that he wants to be like them. He wants to be… a hero."
"I see.." Zagreus replied softly as he close his eye for a moment then sighs. "a hero… huh?"
"a hero can be in the form of many persons, right?" Meteria asked with a smile while tilting her head. "for Bell, he might want to be a hero like his Papa, right?"
"do not get him too influenced by these stories of heroes, Meteria." Zagreus stated as he looks a bit serious to his wife. "not all heroes have happy endings in their lives."
"I know." Meteria replied while still smiling as she went and hugs her husband. 'but Bell wants to be a hero who aspires to be brave. That type of dream..' she looks up and smiled even more. "is very nice, right?"
Zagreus looks at Meteria for a moment before he sighs with a small smile and then gives her a peck on the head along with returning the hug.
"yeah, it is." Zagreus whispers to his wife as he hugs her for a minute before separating. 'stay well, Meteria.' He gives her a kiss on the lips and leans their foreheads together. "if you and Bell ever comes into trouble, just know that i.."
"I know." Meteria replied with a small giggle. "don't worry, Zagreus. I and Bell will be alright, I promise."
Zagreus had another small smile to her reply as he pecks her forehead and then held up her left hand to give a kiss upon the wedding ring she wore on her ring finger.
"I'll be going now." Zagreus said as Meteria nods.
"have a safe trip." His wife replied with a smile.
A few seconds later, Zagreus walks away from his home while Meteria waves a hand in goodbye.
Meteria watches her husband leave and soon disappear into the forest as she smiles and did a silent prayer for his safe return.
After travelling a few miles away from his home, Zagreus continues to walk in the forest and temporarily stopped as a cold breeze came flying by and made his hair flutter.
"the aspirations to be a hero…" Zagreus whispers as he looks up and gaze upon the moon while his hair flutter and soon reveals a cross shaped scar under the half elf's blue right eye. At the same time as he speaks, the story book in Bell's room flips open from a cold night wind coming from the opened window. The pages flutter repeatedly before it stops as it lands on the page with the drawing of the last Kaiser who joined in the battle against the Black Dragon. The page shakes for a moment before a part of the drawing soon revealed white lines that form a cross shaped scar on the last Kaiser's face on the right side. "how childish."
That's a wrap!
Bye bye
