The quiet of the Beast Forest was suddenly pierced by a cry of pain. Inside the secluded house, Haruno clutched her belly, her face twisted in agony. The time had come—her delivery was imminent. Kaira immediately rushed to her side, guiding her toward the prepared room, while Ravihiro stood outside, his usually calm demeanor showing a rare flicker of concern.
Sweat beaded Haruno's forehead as she lay down, breathing heavily. Kaira, though once a dragon, had fully taken on the role of a caretaker. Her hands moved with precision and care, guiding Haruno through the painful process. Ravihiro remained outside, pacing slightly, his keen ears picking up every groan of pain, every gasp for breath. His hands clenched into fists, the tension building in his chest.
After what seemed like hours, a cry echoed through the forest—this time not one of pain, but of life.
The sound of a newborn baby.
Kaira emerged, holding a small, wrapped infant. She looked at Ravihiro and gave him a brief nod. "It's done. She's healthy."
Ravihiro's eyes softened for a brief moment, but his face remained stoic. He stepped into the room, where Haruno lay weak but smiling, her eyes filled with tears of joy as she cradled her newborn child.
"Ravi..." Haruno's voice was hoarse, but filled with warmth. "Come see."
Ravihiro walked over slowly, his eyes focused on the tiny form in Haruno's arms. A small bundle of life, so fragile and innocent. He looked down at the child, who blinked up at him with wide, curious eyes.
"He's beautiful," Haruno whispered.
Ravihiro nodded, though his gaze was distant, as if his mind were elsewhere. "You did well," he said quietly. "Both of you."
Xue Lian stood at the door, watching the scene with a sense of awe. Despite her past as a powerful dragon, moments like these reminded her of the vulnerability of life. She turned away, giving them some privacy.
The Calm Before the Storm
Days passed, and the house became a sanctuary of peace. Haruno was recovering, slowly regaining her strength with Kaira's help, while Ravihiro kept a watchful eye on the surroundings. He had created a series of defensive formations around the house, ensuring that no one could approach without his knowing.
The child was the center of attention, bringing a sense of joy and calmness that neither Ravihiro nor Haruno had felt in a long time. But Ravihiro, ever the protector, remained vigilant.
One afternoon, as Haruno lay resting with the baby, Ravihiro went out into the forest to gather herbs. Kaira followed him, her eyes curious.
"You've been quiet since the child was born,"Kaira said softly, her voice breaking the silence of the forest.
Ravihiro didn't respond immediately, his hands moving with precision as he picked the herbs from the forest floor. Finally, he spoke. "I've been thinking."
"About what?" she asked.
"About what comes next." Ravihiro stood up, his eyes scanning the treetops. "This peace won't last. There are always forces at play, waiting for the right moment to strike."
Kaira tilted her head slightly. "Do you think they'll come for you?"
"They always do," he replied, his voice low and full of certainty. "When you've lived the life I've lived, you realize that peace is temporary. It's an illusion. The only constant is conflict."
She nodded in understanding but remained silent. Ravihiro's intensity was something she had come to admire, though she couldn't deny the weight of his words.
The Gathering Storm
As the weeks passed, the child grew stronger, and Haruno's recovery was nearly complete. Ravihiro had kept the house in perfect order, ensuring their safety while keeping a close eye on the forest.
But one evening, as Ravihiro sat on the porch, sharpening his blade, a strange feeling washed over him—a sense of foreboding.
His eyes flickered with an eerie light as he focused on the horizon. Something was coming.
Inside, Haruno felt it too. She had been rocking the baby to sleep when a sudden chill swept through the room. She looked up, her eyes wide with concern.
"Ravi?" she called out, her voice filled with unease.
Ravihiro was already on his feet, his blade in hand. Kaira appeared at the door, sensing the same disturbance. "What is it?" she asked, her voice steady but her eyes betraying her concern.
"They're here," Ravihiro muttered, his voice cold and calm. "Stay inside. Protect Haruno and the child."
Without another word, he stepped outside, his senses on high alert. The wind picked up, carrying with it the faint sound of footsteps. Ravihiro's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword as a group of figures emerged from the shadows of the forest.
Enemies.
They were the ones hunting Haruno and Huo before, and it seemed they had finally tracked them down. Ravihiro's eyes narrowed as he recognized the leader of the group—a familiar face, one that had crossed his path long ago.
"You've made a mistake coming here," Ravihiro said, his voice cold as ice.
The leader sneered, drawing his weapon. "You think you can stop us?You may have killed our men before, but now we've come prepared."
A twisted smile formed on Ravihiro's lips. "Prepared? You have no idea what you're dealing with."
Without another word, Ravihiro charged, his blade flashing like lightning as he tore through the first wave of attackers. Blood sprayed across the forest floor, and the sounds of battle filled the air. His movements were fluid, precise, and deadly. Each strike found its mark, cutting down enemies with brutal efficiency.
But as the battle raged on, something inside Ravihiro shifted. The familiar darkness that lurked within him—the part of him that had once been known as demon—began to stir.
The Inner Demon Awakens
As Ravihiro fought, a dark, twisted energy began to pulse from within him. His eyes flickered red, and for a brief moment, his body seemed to move on its own, faster and more violently than before. The enemies, once confident in their numbers, began to falter, their expressions turning from arrogance to fear.
And then, it happened.
Ravihiro paused, standing over a pile of corpses, blood dripping from his blade. His body was trembling, not from exhaustion, but from something far more dangerous. A low growl escaped his lips as the dark energy within him surged, threatening to consume him.
Haruno, who had been watching from the window, saw the change. Her heart pounded in her chest as she whispered to herself, "When does a boy become a man?"
The answer came to her mind almost instantly: When he faces the monster inside him and chooses who he will become.
But as she watched, she feared that Ravihiro was no longer choosing.
Suddenly, Ravihiro's body stilled, and the red glow in his eyes faded. He turned toward the house, his expression blank, as if nothing had happened. He sheathed his sword and walked toward the door, ignoring the blood that coated his clothes and the corpses that littered the ground.
"Ravihiro!" Haruno called out, stepping outside cautiously.
He stopped but didn't turn around. "It's done."
"What… what was that inside you?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Ravihiro didn't answer. He stood there for a moment, his back to her, and then walked inside the house, leaving her standing in the doorway, her heart heavy with unanswered questions.
To Be Continued...