"What to do…" Eli shivered in panic.
Leon could feel the fear all over Eli's body. He closed his eyes, toughened up his heart and carried Eli gently into the birthroom he, Baobao and Wisey had prepared.
Kayden specifically advised him to do this, just in case. The room had to be convenient, secure and well ventilated.
While he was doing this, the portal reacted and transported Kayden and Azayn back to the cottage, they had Queen Tehila in tow.
Azayn immediately looked towards Wisey who was waiting for them, "Where is your master, Wisey?"
"Come Lady Azayn, Prince Master had already brought her to the birthing room.
Without delaying a second, they proceeded towards the room.
There, they could hear Eli's cries from the pain of the labor contractions. Her body was already covered in cold sweats, while her face wet with tears
"Third Prince, let me check her for a while." Azayn asked for everyone to go out.
Checking Eli's pulse and condition, she held Eli's hands to encourage her, "Eli, do not panic. Your body is built to give birth, remember that. Don't let the fear and pain overcome you.."
Hearing Azayn's encouragement she nodded and started to meditate in her mind that she must not fear.
"Do not worry about anything else and focus on breathing… Unfortunately, we still need to observe you for a while because your cervix is not yet ready. Please, bear the pain a little more…"
Azayn had Queen Tehila, who had also experienced giving birth to assist her on the side. Queen Tehila coached Eli like a mother would.
With them around, Eli's heart calmed down. She stared up at the ceiling and said in her heart,
"Great Father, if this is really the time, then I will completely entrust you with our lives..."
--
Outside the birthing room, Leon nervously squatted beside the door, his princely image long gone. He was like a war general waiting for a verdict in the middle of a losing battle.
It's been two hours since Azayn and the rest came, after waiting for an hour, he had already heard that Eli started to enter into the labor phase.
His hands clenched tight to a fist, the more he heard Eli's cries, the more his heart was stirring in worry.
"Eli, Eli, hang on! Keep breathing…"
He heard his mother's anxious voice. He saw Kayden run back and forth from whatever Azayn had him bring.
"One, two, three.. Push!" Azayn's voice was already hoarse yet it was still loud enough to ensure that she got Eli's attention.
"Ahhh!!!" Eli's weary voice rang out.
Kayden patted Leon's shoulder, giving him an encouraging look he said, "Hang in there just a little bit more, she can do this."
Nodding his head in acknowledgement, he continued to stay still and solemn. His heart praying that Eli and Little Han would not be in any danger.
"Eli, Eli… look at me… keep looking!"
"Breathe breathe!"
"Stay with us! Eli, Eli!"
The voices of the two women then rang with an obvious trace of panic.
"KAYDEN!!!" Azayn shouted in trepidation. "Kayden, Kayden!!
Kayden opened the door with haste and saw what had been happening inside.
Tears were already brimming in Azayn's face as she looked at Kayden not knowing what to do, "Brother, she's losing strength.."
Kayden looked at the bloodied Azayn, the trembling Queen Tehila, and the pale Eli who was on the verge of losing consciousness.
No longer minding the difference between men and women, he walked towards Eli and checked her pulse and breathing. A deep frown and worry appeared on his gentle face.
Eli and Little Han's life might be danger.
She couldn't hear anything no matter how they called out, she didn't have any strength to even roll her eyes to see who was around.
Her body temperature was dropping fast and her pulse was slowing down in a rapid phase.
"Keep your position, I'll help her push!" Kayden instructed Azayn, as he positioned himself in Eli's side and tried to assist her in pushing.
He didn't forget to try to wake her senses up with a warm brown sugar water and egg, to replenish her energy.
Leon had followed him in the room. Having witnessed everything, he could feel like he was falling into the depths of an abyss.
His proud and strong shoulders were violently pressed with the cold reality that no matter how he made himself strong, man's life was still in the Creator's hands.
What could he do? What could he offer? He didn't know.
Magic?
They could use this if Eli was simply injured, however Little Han would be greatly affected at this moment.
Potion?
Still the same, it will jeopardize the lives of the mother and child.
Riches? Power? Will that mean anything when Eli and Little Han perish?
He stood like a fool, upon realizing that the weight of the world falling down on his shoulders was too much for him to bear.
Closing his eyes, he knelt without a care. He looked towards the sky, with his crystal blue eyes wet with helpless tears. Clenching his heart that was in great pain, he uttered his prayers of surrender.
--
"Oh, Great Creator,
The one who had blessed every victor.
You may not heard of my prayers for a long time now,
As I found myself drifting away from you somehow.
If my hand was this bloodied, would I still be worthy,
To hold my love and my baby so dearly?
Will you grant me the chance to be a good father,
And live my life for you in sweet surrender?
Hear us from heaven,
Oh, the One who looks from above!
See, our hearts were deeply threatened,
Wash it all away with your unfailing love.
Oh, Powerful One, who had given us favor upon favors!
Sent Eli's soul from another world to be Little Han's savior.
Once again, let us witness Your might and glory!
Oh, send us a miracle that will go down in history!"
--
"Aaaaaaaaaah!!!" Eli, having regained a little bit of strength from the sugar water and egg, poured out every bit of her remaining strength to push one last time.
With the help of Kayden, who was applying the perfect amount of pressure at the right part of her stomach, Eli could feel that Little Han's little body was slowly making its way out in this new world.
Azayn who was giving her one hundred percent focus finally held a little baby. Turning Little Han's body upside down, she gently flicked his tiny toe.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaa! Uwaaaaa!" A tiny and fragile baby cry was heard in the birthing room and in the whole cottage.
Everyone felt like time stopped for a moment.
Olivier and the bunch who were solemnly clasping their hands in worry, now had a look of relief on their faces as they heard Little Han's cry.
Queen Tehila, who had ceaselessly held Eli's hand was trembling violently as she let out a cry of assurance.
Kayden, who had been mentally preparing himself to conduct the worst case scenario, the C-section procedure, sat down limply on the floor.
Azayn couldn't help but shed out a tear as she announced with great joy,
"He's a healthy boy… Little Han is a healthy boy.."
Leon, who had been in a trance upon hearing little Han's first cry, bowed his head low on the floor.
It was not a sign of giving up his dignity superficially, but a sign of his deepest gratitude towards the Great One who had heard his unworthy prayers.
"Thank you.. Thank you.. Thank you...!" He uttered ceaselessly trembling in relief and happiness.
Eli, who was panting heavily and deeply weary, let out a whimper of joy, "My baby.."
Her body shook in deep emotions as the flashes of events kept repeating in her mind.
From the moment she first woke up in the bed made of leaves and grass, the first day he met Little Han.
From the moment she first met the guardians and awakened her magic. From the moment she first saw this cottage and lived with Wisey and Baobao.
From the moment she explored Silvertown and met her greatest pillars of support. From the moment she met Azayn.
From the moment she decided to stay at her study table for long hours to research and prepare for everything that would help her and Little Han.
Then came Leon, who inserted himself in the family picture.
Letting her realize that there's more to her than becoming just Little Han's mother.
He brought worries, he brought assurance. He brought her support, and even brought his heart.
In her previous life she only had her mum by her side. But here, she had many people who took her in as a family.
All of these things made her realize the journey of her pregnancy was a hard yet meaningful one.
And now she was looking at the reason for it all, the sweetest reason for everything...
On a random summer night, when the palace bells rang so loudly all throughout the capital of the Seirende Empire.
There lies a small yet beautiful cottage, within the borders of the Silver Dew Forest.
A young woman named Eli, tearfully hugged a little bundle of joy with great care.
On her side, a well known cold blooded Prince named Leon, looking at them so dearly, as he tenderly wiped her weary face.
With his crystal blue eyes, he lovingly looked towards the mother and son
Smiling with relief, he announced to everyone,
"Tonight, my son, Johann Asher De Seirende, was born!"
