A boy, chained and covered in blood, so weak and skinny he seemed made of bones, screamed loudly in agony and pain.
"Noooooooooooo!" he cried as a man wielding a sword approached him.
Slahe!
Suddenly, the place fell silent, the last sound being the blade's swift cut and blood spraying everywhere.
Everything went dark.
In the middle of that darkness, a shadowy figure with no distinct features, resembling a male human.
A soul falling into the endless void.
"What was that scream?" the soul questioned.
unable to remember no matter how hard it tried.
As time passed, the memories faded, as if being erased during the fall.
Finally, the soul forgot completely.
"What was I trying to remember again?"
Suddenly, a golden light began to illuminate the darkness.
The soul was amazed by its brilliance but couldn't shake the feeling that it had seen it before.
"Did I see this before?"
As the light enveloped the soul and its eyes began to close, it whispered.
"This feels familiar."
The silence of the darkness was replaced by the sounds of a woman screaming—not in pain, but in the throes of childbirth.
"Come on, a little more," urged the midwife assisting the woman.
The woman, covered in sweat and exhausted, said, "I can't do it."
The man beside her held her hand and comforted her, "You heard her, just a little more."
Finally, with a final push, a loud baby's cry filled the air, and everyone's faces lit up with happiness.
As the woman held her baby, he opened his eyes.
Where am I? Who am I?
The baby thought, looking at the man and woman's faces.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and three children entered.
"Where is he? We want to see him," said the two girls in unison.
"Take it easy, you might scare him," said the boy with a calm and warm tone.
The girls climbed onto the bed to see the baby.
"Very beautiful, he looks like an angel," they said in unison.
He had hair like the sun and blue eyes like the sky, with pale white skin.
The baby, confused, looked at the family surrounding him.
Who are all these people, and why do they seem so happy?
The man stood up and lifted the girls from the bed to the ground.
"Now, now, shouldn't you introduce yourselves first?"
"Yes, we forgot," said the girls in unison.
"I am Isabella,".
"I am Seraphina,".
"And we are your twin older sisters," they said in unison.
The boy, who seemed older than the girls, stepped forward and said with a calm voice.
"And I am Maximilian, your big brother. I am happy to meet you, little brother."
The midwife, who had finished collecting her things, said.
"I can't believe such a kind and polite boy is your son."
The man smiled and said, "Why, I am also a polite person."
The midwife patted Maximilian and left the house, completely ignoring the man.
The man then looked at the kids and said, "You also have to go to sleep because tomorrow will be a big day."
The girls ran to the man, using their cute faces, and said in unison.
"We don't want to. Can't we sleep with you tonight?"
The man started to sweat, nearly falling for their trick, but Maximilian intervened at the last second, saving him.
"Come on, let's go. We will have all our lives to see him, but for now, let's let him rest."
Maximilian then proceeded to drag the sisters outside the room and closed the door behind him.
The man let out a sigh and said, "The midwife is right; I don't deserve such a good boy."
The man looked back at the bed and said, "Now it's time for your mother and me to introduce ourselves, right Ge..."
but his words were cut short when he saw that the woman had fallen asleep from exhaustion.
The man, smiled and lifted the baby. "I am your father, Leonard," he said, pointing at the sleeping woman.
"This is your mother, Genevieve, and from now on, we are your family."
Leonard then placed the baby near his mother, turned off the light, and joined them in bed.
The baby, still trying to process what was happening, thought.
Isabella, Seraphina, Maximilian, Leonard, and Genevieve—they are my family.
Suddenly, a strong feeling of warmth filled the baby's heart.
Is this happiness?
Then he fell asleep.
The next day, all the villagers came to celebrate the baby's birth and participate in the naming ceremony.
It was a beautiful day, the sun shining, and the children playing around.
The women sat at tables, with the largest table hosting Genevieve and the baby.
A village woman approached Genevieve and said.
"Wow, your child is really quiet. Mine didn't stop screaming during his naming ceremony."
Genevieve, with a proud look, said, "Because he's a gentle child and doesn't want to tire me."
The men stood drinking and chatting, with Leonard in the middle, holding a cup.
A drunk village man said.
"Leonard, you lucky bastard. You have a beautiful wife and three amazing children, and now you've added another one."
Leonard took a sip from his cup, then smiled and said.
"I guess I am just blessed."
Suddenly, a strange man wearing priestly clothing said.
"I am sure you are, Leonard."
Leonard was shocked when he saw the man and quickly threw the cup he was holding.
"Priest Alaric, you came!"
Priest Alaric smiled and walked past Leonard, heading toward the ceremony altar.
"Come on, Leonard, it's time to give your baby a name."
The family gathered near the altar, and the villagers stood behind, watching.
Priest Alaric took the baby from Genevieve and placed him on the altar.
The Priest looked at the family and said.
"What name have you chosen?"
The family looked at each other and nodded.
Genevieve stepped forward and said.
"This child is special because when I was pregnant with him, I was very sick. Many people told me he would be born deformed or die at birth, but I prayed with all my strength, and my prayers were answered.".
Genevieve looked at the sky and said.
"Today is brighter than usual, and the air is warm. I believe this is a sign of the Sovereign's love."
Genevieve looked straight at the priest and said with a warm voice full of love.
"That's why I will name him Amadeus."
Priest Alaric, hardly holding back his tears, said.
"My dear daughter, what a beautiful name. You have made this grandpa proud."
Priest Alaric put his hands together, his voice resonating with a profound authority as he began chanting.
"Great Sovereign of the beginning, bless this child and his name, Amadeus, with your strength".
A golden light began to form around the priest, growing brighter with each passing moment until it enveloped the entire altar.
The villagers watched in, their faces illuminated by the radiant glow.
The light shimmered like liquid gold.
The light started to converge, towards Amadeus.
As the golden light approached, it began to enter Amadeus's body, filling him with warmth.
As the light faded, the baby, who had been silently observing this whole time, thought.
Amadeus, so that's my name.
Marking the end of the naming ceremony.