Clovers

In the outskirts of the kingdom, a couple try to run from the demons that are chasing them. A man tried to stay back to give the woman time to run.

[Arc]: Lisa! Run! I’ll hold them off

[Lisa]: No, Arc! We can survive if we fight together!

[Arc]: No! I’m doing this for you and the kids!

[Lisa]: I won’t let you fight alone!

[Arc]: Damn it, Lisa! There is no time for this—

[Lisa]: Look out!

A harsh grunt escapes Arc’s mouth as the demon lunges itself at him, its sharp claws pinning him down; its weight causing tremors making the soil to jump from the ground.

[Arc]: Damn it! Lisa, run now!

[Lisa]: GET OFF HIM!

And just as quickly, she raised her arm towards the creature:

A strong gust of wind blew away the demons to the air.

[Arc]: Argh… it got me…

Blood filled the ground as Lisa tried to heal him with her magic, but she doesn’t have enough strength to do it.

[Arc]: Honey… just go… Save your strength… for the kids.

[Lisa]: Now’s not the time!

[Arc]: Please… go… now…!

Arc started to look pale as the life from his body started to fade.

[Lisa]: N-no… hang in there! Please!

It wasn’t long until the demons came back to finish what they started. With the last of her strength, she conjured a barrier of wind.

[Arc]: W-why… why are you so— *cough* stubborn?

Tears dared to burst from her eyes, but she quickly wiped them off.

[Lisa]: I am not leaving you again! I don’t want to lose you! I won’t allow it!

[Arc]: You won’t lose me… I’ll be by your side…

Lisa started to cry over Arc’s words. She lay next to Arc and waited for the dust to settle. Not a lot of time passed until the demons started to crack the barrier. She lay on him cautiously, without trying to press on his wounds. She placed both her thumbs on his soil-spoiled cheeks, caressing them; looking at his teary, frightful eyes, they both gave each other one last look:

We had a good run, didn’t we?

A river broke free from Lisa’s eyes as she collapsed into tears. She didn’t move any further, and lay idle on him, accepting their fate. She braced for impact until--

It broke.

--A sudden wail escaped the demon’s mouth, it was screaming in pain; paralyzed. Lisa saw what seemed to be electricity coursing through the demon’s body. A wall of ice then started to form around them; they looked up and saw two strangers who were coming down from the sky. A look of relief and extreme gratefulness befell on both their faces as they saw everything unravelling before them.

[Allen]: Hello ma’am, I am Allen Oz, once a Knight of the Kingdom of Arcania.

[Lavi]: And I am Lavi Oz, also once a Knight of the Kingdom of Arcania, we are here to save you.

[Lisa]: H-how can a knight do that kind of magic?!

[Allen]: We can tell you later. For now, I need to treat your friend who is badly injured.

[Lisa]: Please, quickly!

[Allen]: …I can help him survive longer but I can’t treat him here. It’s too dangerous, we’ll need to retreat to the village north of here. Lavi, we’re retreating!

[Lavi]: But if we retreat now, they will just follow us to the village, it will put the villagers in danger.

[Allen]: We’ll just use the artifact to get off here.

[Lavi]: Fine!

Allen pulled out a book and started to chant using a lexicon unfamiliar to Lisa.

A ray of light beamed around them as their bodies slowly started to fade away. In a blink of an eye, they were in a different place.

[Lisa]: W-where are we…?

[Allen]: We’re safe now

[Lisa]: Thank goddess…

Lisa tumbled to the ground with her strength completely drained.

[Lavi]: Everyone! Please help us carry them to the doctor’s house!

Four villagers helped carry both of them to the doctor’s house. The doctor immediately checked their conditions. After a while, the doctor told them about their situation.

[Allen]: How are they doctor?

[Doctor]: Well, thanks to you, the man is stable for now, as for the woman, she’s fine, but she must be careful where she goes.

[Lavi]: What do you mean doc?

[Doctor]: She’s pregnant, and it seems to be twins.

[Lavi & Allen]: WHAT?!

[Doctor]: I did not expect to see you surprised, I mean it was quite obvious.

[Allen]: I couldn’t see it, she was covering her stomach.

[Doctor]: In any case, I asked you to watch over her. You know what happened last time.

An air of silence filled the room.

[Doctor]: You can wait for one of them to wake up to tell them what happened.

[Lavi]: Thank you doctor.

The doctor left the room leaving the two brothers to look out for the couple. After a while, Lavi headed for the door.

[Allen]: Where are you going?

[Lavi]: Hunting those demons.

[Allen]: Why bother? They won’t harm us from here.

[Lavi]: But they can still cause harm to the life around them, I won’t let it happen again.

[Allen]: …fine, just be careful okay?

[Lavi]: You know me brother, I’ll be fine.

[Allen]: I somehow doubt that.

[Lavi]: You worry too much. I’m heading off.

Lavi left the house leaving Allen to watch over the couple. As time went by, Allen grew tired and slept on the chair he sat on. As morning came, Allen found himself on the floor.

[Allen]: What happened?

[Lisa]: Is someone there?

[Allen]: Oh sorry, I didn’t realize you were already awake.

[Lisa]: Yeah… What were you doing down there?

[Allen]: I fell asleep and it looks like I’ve fallen off the chair. My name is Allen, and I was asked to watch over you. May I know you and your friend’s name?

[Lisa]: I’m Lisa, and this is my husband, Arc.

[Allen]: Lisa… did you know that you were pregnant?

[Lisa]: Um… yes. I found out about 2 months ago. Why?

[Allen]: Do you realize that you put yourself in danger last night? If you had overused your magic, the development of your children would have completely stopped.

[Lisa]: I know…

[Allen]: Tell me… why are demons after you? It’s not normal for that many demons to hunt just two people. You must be very important.

[Lisa]: My husband and I aren’t really normal people…

[Allen]: What do you mean by that?

[Lisa]: It’s not my tale to tell, but my husband can tell you everything about us.

[Allen]: Why don’t you want to tell me about it?

[Lisa]: It’s best not to pry, I’m sorry.

[Allen]: I’ll respect your decision then.

After Lisa woke up, she was able to leave the doctor’s house and find somewhere to live. Allen generously gave them the extra house that he and his brother owned. Lisa thanked Allen and Lavi. Lisa lived in the house until a week after, Arc had awoken.

[Arc]: Where…. am… I…?

[Doctor]: You’re awake.

[Arc]: A-alle-n…?

Arc looked around the room as he waited for Allen to come.

[Allen]: Arc?

[Arc]: W-who a-are y-you?!

[Allen]: My brother and I saved you and Lisa from the demons, thankfully we managed to make it in time.

[Arc]: W-where i-is s-she…?

[Allen]: Can you feel your legs or move them at all?

[Arc]: I-I can move them but not as much.

[Allen]: All right then, I’ll help you to your house

[Arc]: …our house?

Allen helped Arc to Lisa’s house. When they arrived, Lisa was cooking food.

[Arc]: Lisa…?

To her great shock, she dropped her spoon.

[Lisa]: Arc?!

They hugged for a while. Allen checked Lisa cooking to make sure that it won’t burn.

[Arc]: Allen?

[Allen]: Yes?

[Arc]: No problem.

After some catching up, Allen asked Arc about Him and Lisa.

[Arc]: Oh right. We’ll just talk about it outside ok?

[Lisa]: All right, I better get back on my cooking.

Allen and Arc went outside for a little chat.

[Arc]: So, how much did she tell you about us?

[Allen]: Almost nothing really.

[Arc]: That’s a relief.

[Allen]: So who are you two really?

[Arc]: Let’s slow down a little. You may not believe me, but I tell you the truth—there are 5 continents—not two.

Arc gave Allen a serious look, giving him the impression that he was not joking.

[Arc]: There is a land ruled by dark, evil magic— the other ruled by machinery that can move the land itself, and another by ancient, powerful spirits, as well as one ruled by demi-humans. And our continent, the land which we stand upon, by origin magic.

[Allen]: And… you two came from these different continents?

[Arc]: Yes, I am Arc Bloodwing of the Abyss Continent, and my wife’s full name is Lisa Greatwind of the Ether Continent. And due to the recent fall between the two lands, enemy continents plan to invade this one and make it their own.

End of Chapter