Chapter 1: Forsaken by the World

The Legend of the Downtrodden Bastard was known for all who were oppressed and exploited by others. It was unknown when and where it all started. Still, one particular witness said that during the time of famine and desolateness, when everyone forsook life and death for just a piece of grain, He came. 

He came with no grandiose, with no majestic garb and retinue of golden armies and palanquins of goddesses. All they saw was Him, reflecting unbearable light and darkness and enveloping His existence. Like a ray of sunshine giving off warmth after a long period of winter. Like a sweet relief after a long period of suffering and pain. It was comfortable, satisfying. Floating alone on the horizon like an untouchable being He is. He is the mixture of two colors, and the two colors were Him. 

 When He descended, there was nothing but silence. The people were lost in the void of happiness. They felt the hardship lifting and the pain drifting away. Like the glaciers of ice thawing and their heart touching the oozing spring. They wanted to cheer His arrival and shout His holy name. Their trembling bodies defined their feelings. 

All that He did for them, all that He had given and sacrificed for them and to gain such slanderous moniker, THE Downtrodden Bastard.

He did not move nor say anything. His eyes were black and deep like an abyssal ocean. Lips as red as bleeding roses, and he lifted his calloused but gentle hand, reviling all that made His people sad. Then, everything was frozen in Time and cold in their heart. For the evil of souls knew, the Downtrodden Bastard has come for His sweet revenge. 

From the excerpt of the Tale of the Downtrodden Bastard: The Hero of Some, The Devil for Many. An account from an anonymous and gathered by Layman Abaretti. Page 3 of the 13th edition of the 916th year of the Ember Calendar under the reign of Cardinal Joseffi, The Platini of the Masses.

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The immaculate full moon floating above the horizon is giving off mellow lights, shining towards an old Reminiscence-styled castle above a towering tree—candles of lights flickering with the sway of the wind.

The howling of wolves and the strong breeze combined gave off an eerie vibe. For countless years, the same sounds reverberated in the Meadows of Unnerving until one eventful night, when the familiar sound is broken by moaning sounds of a birthing mother.

“My King, ugh! Please, take your rest. Ugh! Ugh! Hss… I plead you to go back on your chamber. Please, rest assured that this lowly wife of yours will surely give you a healthy prince,” said a female voice with tiredness but in deep consideration.

“Lilith, my love, you are suffering so much for my sake. Yet, you want me to relax and enjoy while I hear your moans of pain? I can and will never do that to you.” Beside the bed, a dignified man in reddish-gold stands aside from an older woman in a white dress with gray sleeves. His indomitable aura never faltered, even once, in front of the birthing bed.

Although his usual demeanor is that of a cold and aloof leader, he is different at that moment. His voice and emotion now are that of a father. It is with compassion and worry for both his wife and unborn child.

If his enemies could hear his current tone of voice, they would all be shocked to death. His voice now is soft and caring, as if caressing and soothing the discomfort his partner is having. 

He is King Eddard, the great noble of House Romania, the remaining pure-blooded vampire King, and the Symbol of the Blood Oath of the Southern Covenant. 

Where he stands, the earth shatters.

Where he walks, so does the river of blood. 

Where he points his sword, wailing widows appear. 

Where the sun never shines, his terror prospers.

From every corner of the southern lands, his reign earns him his rightful family name, Shatterblood.

But that is not what he is now. His reign of death and blood can’t be seen on this unique and momentous occasion. For he has his very firstborn son.

That is why he is protecting her thirty-third concubine, Lady Lilith. A natural-born dryad and the Archduke of Savernake Forest, the power region in the Oceanic Weeds of East. She is the only wife King Eddard had to give him a son, so her importance is paramount, just as the baby's safety.

Aside from Queen Valentine, the Empress, who was able to birth a son but later on died due to assassination, no other concubine has successfully given birth to a successor or even birthed at all.

The House Romania was a powerful family. There is a legend that they are a fallen group of creatures hailing from the deeper stretch of cosmos. But one major event happened and struck their family to demise, forcing them to leave their forelands and start anew. And that their blood is so powerful that no woman or creature could ever bear to give them a child. Most of these hearsays are proven correct.

Lady Lilith is his last choice. He will not allow his son to be killed again. That is why he is securing and protecting the lady from conception until now. For he has a lot of enemies, waiting to strike from the dark.

The two of them are interrupted by an aged kind voice, “Lilith, child, you have to push harder. The baby is having difficulty right now.”

“Is everything will be alright, Matron Olga?” Conflicting emotions come out from the King when he tries to ask. His voice is a mixture of coldness and worry.

However, instead of being afraid, Matron replied in irritation, “Eddard, your presence is annoying me. If you are not helping, at least keep your mouth shut, or I will throw you out, understood?” While speaking, she did not even bother to look at the King. 

Cold sweats inevitably oozed out of the King’s neck. He swallowed his sharp comeback and chose his words perfectly, “I am sorry, Matron. I am just worried about Lilith, your goddaughter.”

Upon hearing that remark, Matron Olga slowly raised her eyes without moving her face. Her eyes are speaking savagery and possibly death.

The King turned his face sideways. He couldn’t offend this timeless old crone. Besides, she is helping his wife in delivery.

Even though with a hunchback, her origin and powers are unknown. All they know about her is that she lives for who knows how long, and no enemies of her remained breathing. So, no matter how mighty King Eddard is, he can only act as a tamed kitten in front of her.

Before Matron Olga could speak, Lady Lilith comforted her, “Godmother, the King is only worried about our son. Ugh! Please don’t mind him much. No worries, I will try harder. Ughhh!”

The Matron gave the King eyes that mean, ‘One more word… you’re out.’

And the King could only awkwardly hold his wife’s trembling sweaty hands.

After a few more pushes, the angelic voice of the baby is heard. Before they could celebrate, however, they are again interrupted by his sound that is deep like a roaring ocean and body that is chiseled down to perfection that it could blind anyone who sees it.

The three of them are powerful in their ways. So they were not affected at all. But the shock remains on their faces.

Aside from them, another disturbing force in the form of dark clouds slowly loomed above them.

The King, Lady Lilith, and the Matron abruptly look outside at the same time. They are silent as they watch the aggregation of clouds as the baby cries.

After a while, the Matron sighs in surrender as her usual sharp tone voice is replaced by an aged one, “The world’s consciousness can’t allow such a strong soul and body to exist in this world in these times. Poor child. Oh Lilith, my dear…” her words stop as she saw her goddaughter clinging into her son with tears and sadness.

The King also silently looks at his wife and son. He feels lost and unmotivated. For all the years of waiting, at last, he has a son to be his successor.

His fault or luck may give him a son with a perfect body and soul that the world’s consciousness is rejecting him. 

He looked at Lilith and painfully and guiltily said, “My love, the baby, we can’t keep it. You know the consequences.”

The crying mother only nods in affirmation. She knows that their world is fragmented and not enough to raise such a magnificent baby. So, the world’s consciousness will do everything to obliterate such creatures.

“Godmother, I would like to choose the second option.” Lilith looks at the Matron with determination. Her eyes are blazing with maternal love.

When Matron sees those eyes, she can’t say a word, for she knows what it means.

Meanwhile, the King feels something is amiss. They are not telling him what exactly is happening. He looks at the two of them back and forth, waiting for an answer.

But instead of an answer, all he heard was, “If you have chosen, I cannot deny it. When you are ready, let go of him.”

Itching for an answer, he asked his wife with a bit of force this time, “Lilith, my love, what choice. What are you and the Matron talking about?”

Lilith looked at the King, and she smiled. She moves her body near him and cups his face the way she did for twenty years, and gives him a sweet kiss.

Their eyes meet, and the King gets his answer. For the first time in a long while, he cries. His body is frozen stiff, not knowing what to do. He feels despair, an emotion he is almost entirely foreign to.

He could slay millions, burn great cities down to ashes, and restore peace to the south, but he couldn’t protect his only son. The pain of it gnaws him inside as if a colony of termites was eating his heart.

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Before the delivery, the King already felt the impending omen.

The baby is his blood and flesh so he, and Lilith, knew that this miracle baby born from countless trials and errors is something they could be proud of. It may bring them luck or their demise. Still, as powerhouses, they could do things to mitigate it.

But what he did not know is his son is so unique, but it came at the wrong time that the world treats it like trash.

Upon seeing the baby and the still-growing cloud on the horizon, he is prepared to suppress the baby in a time-frozen cabin until the world’s consciousness is ready and can accommodate it. That is the most logical and rational answer at that very moment.

But what his wife has chosen is a radical one. Instead of suppressing the baby and waiting for the world’s consciousness, she wants the baby to be sent far away to unknown lands that could give the baby the proper nurture he needs.

“My King, we waited for a very long time for him to come. Now that he arrived, we are not strong enough to keep him. I know your preparations. If it is any other time, I could permit it. But now… It is impossible. The world is in peril, and even we are in grave danger. We cannot protect him this way.” Lady Lilith stands up and walks towards the window with her baby in tow. They are at the top of the tallest red tower so, she can see the great country of Illuminous. The only light shining amidst the great age of southern darkness.

Then, she gazes east to where she came from. She mumbles incoherent words that were carried by the wind sprites.

After a while, she turns around and looks at the Matron. “Godmother, I am ready.”

The Matron is silent the entire time, but she sighs and nods when she hears her cue. “So be it.” She raises her hands and incants in Lingua Antiquis. Motes of light gather around her from all corners of the world.                                           

As she did so, the clouds above moved faster. It is as if it wants to hasten the tribulation.

The Matron speaks faster, and the motes of light gather quicker. When the incantation ended, the motes of light looked like a ball of incandescent light. It’s twice as big as the baby and gives off warmth.

Lilith came forth and bit her finger. A drop of green liquid came out full of life. A mirage of a great forest can be vaguely seen in it. She gave her blessings to it, “I, Lilith Eurydice of Forest Eurydice, the Archduke of Savernake Forest, give my blessing.”

The drop floated away towards the incandescent light.

Then, the Matron looks at the King with a surprisingly soft tone, “Eddard, this is the only way. We do not know what the future holds. We may lose him now, but the Celestial Order moves magically. We can only hope for the best.” And the Matron smiled at him.

The King nodded in confirmation that he understood. His last tears were gone, and his usual stern demeanor returned. This is the future of his son as well as his’ and Lilith’s. He has to be strong and face it.

He bit his finger using his sharp canine tooth, and a ruby red drop of liquid oozed out, and he said, “I, Eddard Shatterblood of House Romania, the Symbol of the Blood Oath, give my blessing.” It also floated away towards the incandescent light.

The two lights mingled together without mixing. They circled until they found harmony and settled at the center of the ball of incandescent light.

Although all it took was a few minutes, the clouds in the sky fully gathered and ready to strike.

Upon seeing it, Lilith walks towards the Matron and places the baby inside the light. Her hands are trembling as she removes them.

Tears flow, but her anguish is gone. She has to resolve now the convection of her maternal love. She looks at the baby and touches her left ear for the earring. She felt comfort and strength.

The Matron senses the impending doom, so she readied herself to do the final work.

But before the Matron could send off the baby towards nowhere and before the cloud could strike, Lilith glowed nature green and burned her bloodline. Mirages of trees and vines appeared out of nowhere. The roots held the space and time in place, and the vines constricted the tribulation thunder.

The roots of the trees also freeze the Matron and King Eddard. Their eyes are wide open in horror as they watch Lilith burning her life.

They hear her chanted, “Oh the Sky-High Tree, mother of all trees and greens, hear my plea. I burn thy bloodline to accompany and strengthen thy son. In the name of my forefathers and their contribution, I bequest the Heart of Pearl.” 

From the unknown deep space, a very long branch stretches towards Lilith. On its end is a green apple with a smooth surface like that of a pearl. The King was aghast upon seeing the fruit, for he knew what would come next.

Lilith picked the fruit, and the branch retreated. Before she could put it on top of the baby, a pale hand stopped her. When she retraced the hand owner, she saw her King enveloped in his reddish golden armor—her King with his most handsome smile.

The smile he wore when the two of them first met and battled together in a war. Their eyes meet, and her resolve buckles in as her body trembles in weakness. Birthing a unique creature took a toll on her, and in addition to burning her bloodline, her life is almost at its end. 

Good thing her King is there to support her as he also burns his bloodline. However, his burning of the bloodline is not as grave as what Lilith did. It’s not because he doesn’t love his son. It is because his position constricted him on what to sacrifice.

But he gave a drop of his Blood Origin as a memento and parting gift to their son.

Lilith’s burning of the bloodline is nearing its exhaustion, and the roots and vines are slowly disappearing. They are mirages, after all.

The incandescent light zoomed away to the unknown with the two gifts in place when the bloodline thoroughly exhausted itself. The clouds above sense the disappearance of the unique baby, and so it dissipated as if nothing happened.

Lilith and Eddard followed the light with a contented smile. They both knew that their son’s future would be better somewhere than where they are.

When the light disappeared from their sight, Lilith exhaled deeply, and her body dropped. If not for the timely support of Eddard, Lilith could’ve hit her head on the floor.

King Eddard slowly helped Lilith into his embrace as he looked deeply at his wife. He did not utter any word. He closed his eyes and only kissed her one more time. A passionate one last kiss and Lilith returned it with the same passion.

As the King enjoys the sweet moment, he can feel that Lilith’s body is crumbling apart. His body was trembling again, he wanted to wail and open his eyes to look, one last time, at her beloved wife, but she stopped him. 

“No, my King, please close your eyes. I want you to remember me as beautifully as you can, for I might not last long to serve by your side. I am sorry, I cannot stay and fulfill my promise. But know this, no matter where the wind blows me, my heart is always by your side….”

Her voice trailed off as the wind blew her body to the east. 

Due to an extreme sense of loss, when the body crumbled, his body also lost its strength, and he fell. The King still shut his eyes as he remembered her most beautiful face. It was the very first time he laid his eyes on her.

When he opened his eyes, he tried to search for Lilith in blind grief. But all that remained in her place was a little leaf-shaped earring. The first gift he gave her was when they saw each other, and he smiled with tears.

He enjoyed that moment one more time. After a while, he heard a voice, it was the Matron, “Oh, Eddard. You lost two parts of yourself tonight. Will you crumble, child?”

The King opened his eyes with burning emotion. “I will never, Matron Olga.” He stood up and continued, “I will prepare for their return. At that time, I will be strong enough to snatch them from anyone who wishes to take them away from me.”

The King looked deeply at the moon. He muttered those words as his driving force as well as his Oath at the Silver Moon.