Start of Part 2
The humble city of Glento, located in the Kingdom of Knowledge and Advancement, Lebrad. Year 2602.
A faint, shallow cry echoed throughout the walls of a modest home in western Glento.
It was that of a baby girl, one who held the rails of her crib in plea. Her petite mouth fell open, revealing a series of red bumps all along her pink gums.
She was teething.
Saltwater tears fell from her eyes, gliding across her cheeks, which were tinted red. Ruffled brown hair was tied into a knot, one clearly undone by a rough nap.
Unimpressed by the pain that came with growing up, the little girl's cries reached full capacity as she signaled for a parent to arrive.
In her bedroom, one housing a small black crib and a changing table, the large wooden door creaked.
As the door swung, a looming shadow covered the baby's face, who looked up with gratification.
The large, burly figure approached the crib with caution, careful not to step on anything. Broad hands reached inside and gently lifted the crying child.
A calm, surprisingly soft voice assured, "There, there, my little Amariel."
As Amariel was lifted into the air, the crying stopped, and relaxation took over. Leaning on her father's chest, she quietly whimpered as a way to show the pain had not ceased.
The man cradled her against his muscular chest while walking around the room in slow circles, rubbing his daughter's back as a way to soothe the pain.
"How is she, Julian?"
An unfamiliar voice arrived, located just behind the nursery's door. It was a woman, one with short brown hair tied into a loose ponytail. Wearing an oversized t-shirt, most likely belonging to her husband, Thea Juladee approached her crying daughter with a somber expression.
"She's teething," Julian answered his wife, pausing the rotations. Thea stood alongside him, kissing Amariel's chubby face.
"My baby. Your beautiful brown eyes are moist." Thea clasped her hands and discerned with a low, melancholic voice.
Julian took initiative and rubbed the side of Amariel's face, removing any remnant tears. Looking back at Thea, who had the same color eyes and hair, Julian smiled.
"It would be a shame if her eyes didn't look like yours."
Flirting while their daughter cries, classic Julian. Thea smacked his shoulder and scoffed, "Now's not the time… Your daughter is crying." Obviously, no anger was integrated in the response, only playful fighting.
Gazing back at Amariel, Julian pecked her cheek once more and sighed, "It looks like a rough stretch is upon us." The dim lighting of the room indicated that the sun was just setting, meaning Amariel's bedtime was nearing.
Thea exhaled calmly and scratched her itching ear. "I'll get Samuel to visit the apothecary again." Placing a free hand on her hip, she continued, "Hopefully they can ease her pain."
Samuel Juladee was Amariel's older brother, 13 years old to be exact. A kind-hearted, calm boy, one who constantly put Thea and Julian at ease.
The Juladee family was made up of five: Julian and Thea, Amariel, who had just turned one, Samuel, and the oldest sibling, Heart.
Heart Juladee, who had just turned 17 years old, was bedridden and paralyzed from the waist down. The paralysis was awakened during an incident when she had fallen mysteriously ill. Julian and Thea had tried every hospital and remedy available.
It was concerning how Lebrad, the Kingdom of Knowledge and Advancement, could be so lacking in medical expertise regarding Heart's condition. Despite all the libraries and laboratories, none could offer cures or answers.
Behind their unwavering determination, Julian and Thea have prepared for the worst. Heart's unfortunate condition and paralysis remained. She was bedridden, fragile, and dangerously susceptible to illness.
Samuel was often left heartbroken at the unsightly appearance of his sister, a pained pain watching her suffer.
He was a kind boy. One who would do anything for anyone in need, even if that meant putting his needs below. Generosity was synonymous with Samuel Juladee's actions, becoming so prevalent in his life.
Amariel, who had finally calmed down and begun dozing off on Julian's shoulder, caught the attention of both parents. Julian gently placed his daughter back inside the crib, under the watchful eye of Thea.
Together, he and Thea tiptoed out of the room, carefully closing the door behind them in order not to wake Amariel up again.
The bright light bulb exposed Thea and her husband more clearly than Amariel's nursery. As they walked toward the living room, Julian's thick brown hair, which parted to the side and was usually neatly kept, sprang up.
Thea chuckled lightly before reaching over and combing it down. Julian, surprised by this, took initiative and lightly pecked at his wife, who reciprocated immediately.
The picture-perfect couple, one that wasn't blessed with the healthiest family, though. You can't have everything in life. The life lesson was cruelly shoved down both their throats, making them aware that they would have a hard time in the future.
But despite all obstacles in their way, Julian and Thea persevered.
They were blessed with a helpful and understanding son, one so mature his age felt like a mere façade.