Twyla Wyllt-Garyushi
Wyllt Manor; Garini, Garyudōra, Ryudō-ShanGriLa; 7 Yangsary 9.8milR6X (Twenty-four days until the next rotation)
The Western continent of ShanGriLa is steeped deep in tradition and history about the world we live in, the world of hTraé. Home to five continents: Besteria, home of the Beastmen, Dartaania, land of the Dartaani Elves, Sidhe, where the descendants of the Fairy race live. Then there's the Birth-land of the Demons, Jigoku,
just north of ShanGriLa, the domain of dragons.
I looked out my window and saw that snow
blanketed the land, and although the night is peaceful, there is a mass of dark clouds that loom over the countryside; greater forces are currently at work preparing for a shift in the current status quo, I thought to myself. My husband Chronos and I own a small manor outside the Garyudōran Empire that few people know about, he said that he didn't want too much attention or eyes on him, especially when I was expecting to have children soon.
I sat in my nursery and began to rub my belly, "would you like to hear a story?" I asked the child within my womb. I felt multiple kicks,
and that let me know that I was on to something. "Okay, long ago, there lived a
Dragoness; the First Witch, some called her," I began. "Her primordial power could fracture the minds of even the mightiest of gods," I continued as I caressed my belly.
"She was known as The Reality Queen, warping the fabric of reality to her will. She gave life to the known world, all life, humanity, wildlife, and reality as we know it, draws breath because of her," I continued
to tell the tale. "After time passed, the Dragoness grew lonely. She would often
see humans and their need to have offspring, and each day, she contemplated the benefits of having children of her own. Until finally, one day, she had enough of her loneliness and created a new race of people: The Asura; beings created using DNA from the Four Cardinal Races: the Dragon race, Demon race, Fairy race and a bit from the Slime race."
As I continued my story, I noticed the storm clouds that were brewing, began to intensify, "The Dragoness gave life to seven Asura children, each inheriting a bit of her power. Having a mythical origin, The Asura race is naturally adept at manipulating mana and quickly understood their role in this world. Eventually, the Dragoness's seven children grew into their own unique abilities, or Signatures: Time, Space, Chaos, Death, Life, Sleep, and Love."
"These seven Signatures are the building blocks of the Dragoness's abilities and are known as The Aspects of Reality. The Dragoness was finally happy with her life and the family she built. However, one day the
Dragoness over- extended herself, and as a result, it caused a fissure in her mental state," my belly began to kick with frustration, I could tell the little one wasn't very fond of this part of the story. "Her children, now fully grown Asura, saw their mother struggle and decided to take matters into their own hands... The eldest, Astaroth, gathered his siblings to devise a plan to end
the Dragoness's suffering. Although the seven Asura inherited the aspects of their mother's power, it was not enough to quell her rage. When all seemed at a loss, Astaroth's Legendary Time Signature, Oracle, self- activated, and he foresaw a future where seven of their ancestors will have the strength to soothe the Dragoness's rage."
"But before he could see which of their ancestors would have the power to do so, the Dragoness placed a curse on her children, 'For two generations, the Lords that are to inherit the aspects of my power shall perish gruesomely and mercilessly by the Hand of Chaos—.' However, due to the split in her mental state, she also gave her children a blessing to act as the
antithesis to the curse, 'After two generations, the Lords that are to inherit
the aspects of my power, shall also inherit the previous' power as well," this was all she could do to aid the Asura in their generational battle... Until the day her children's children will be able to stop her, she will continue her rampage across the cosmos—."
There was a knock at the door followed by its opening, it was my dear husband, Olodunosuke, "Ya'know, I heard babies can hear about everything outside of the womb... So, telling our unborn child scary stories will affect him. Don't tell me you believe that stuff, do you? Twy, we went over this, The Six are the strongest Asura Lords Avalon has ever had; even surpassing the first generation, by leaps and bounds..."
I furrowed my brow as he kissed my forehead, "yes, dear, that might be the case," I started, "however, my Love, shouldn't we pass on the stories that were told to us as children? It's not as though I'm doubting your strength; I just want to give our child something to strive towards."
"Compelling," Olodunosuke sucked his teeth in content, "I suppose if it can't be helped; the story is just too eerie for my liking. Kind of like it's foreseeing my demise."
I pulled my husband closer to caress is dark-red clay skin, "I would never wish death upon you, my beloved. I'm sorry for upsetting you, I just wanted to give our son a story to cling to before he's born." As I began to stand from my chair, I felt a heaviness drop in my abdomen, "Olodunosuke?"
"Yes, my Love," my husband asked softly.
"It's time," my water had broken and there was a pool of fluid beneath my feet. Olodunosuke cradled me as he took me to my bed.
"RUBELLA!" Olodunosuke cried, "Please gather the other midwives! Twy has gone into labor!"
In the doorway stood one of our attendants, Rubella Les Fleurs Précieueses, a Nightskinned Demon, the same as me. Originally, she, along with her sisters and myself, were from the Demon Continent of Jigoku; however, once I fell in love with Olodunosuke, I'd requested to have a small staff of familiar faces. I was lucky enough to have attendants that were related to me; my cousins, Rubella, Marigold, Lilac, Tonja,
and their youngest sister, Jade, she was still young and training to become a proper maid.
"With haste, m'Lord!" Rubella bowed and bolted down the hall to gather the necessary items for the delivery. Upon her return, she was accompanied by the rest of her sisters and a note-taking Jade. "Now, pay attention, Jade," Rubella lectured, "childbirth is no walk in the park, you must always be prepared for the worst, even if things are looking their best."
"Right!" Jade began scribbling in her notebook.
There were so many people in the room and so many noises, I could barely keep my outbursts to myself, "By the hand of Tiamat, why is everyone being so DIMWITTED!?"
I didn't need a special skill or signature to read the expression on my husband's face; Dimwitted? Like I didn't just call in the Calvary! Geez, marry a Demon Queen they said, is likely what he's thinking.
As Olodunosuke sulked in the furthest corner in the room, our attendants began to position me for my delivery. The night was long, rather, the pain elongated the time, and it felt as though one second lasted an entire Cosmic Rotation. Is this what the healer meant when they said I'd have an abnormal pregnancy?
"You're doing excellent, M'Lady," Lilac coached, "now give me a deep breath and puuuuush!"
"Perhaps I can be of assistance?" Olodunosuke piped up.
"SPEAK WHEN SPOKEN TOO!" I let out a monstrous roar towards my beloved; it wasn't intentional, it's just that my nerves are working overtime and I'm being overstimulated by all his incessive questioning.
"She's not normally like this," Jade whispered to my husband, "Cousin Twyla is usually more soft-spoken and well-mannered; so, whatever she's feeling right now is what's causing her to act like that."
"Ah, I see," Olodunosuke smirked, " Just the beauty of childbirth... After all, the more pain, the greater the gain!"
The silence was deafening, and every woman's eyes in the room widened and locked on to my oaf of a husband, "No one says that, Lord Chronos," Tonja interjected.
The other maids all looked around at each to validate their sister's statement, "I-I'd have to agree, M'Lord; I-I'm sorry, but I've never heard that phrase before," squeaked Marigold.
"You know nothing of childbirth, do you, M'Lord?" Rubella interrogated.
"Each question is like a dagger, plunging deeper and deeper into my very being!" Olodunosuke cried on his knees, much to Jade's amusement.
"You sure did fumble the ball there didn't you, M'Lord?" Jade gave a toothy smile to my husband and helped him get back up to his feet.
"Oh, will you stop being so dramatic and come hold your child?" I asked with a raised brow.
"Finished?" Olodunosuke asked, "already? That was quick!"
"Like I said," Rubella huffed as she finished gathering the soiled towels, "you know nothing of childbirth." As she and her sisters finished tidying up the nursery, Jade and Marigold escorted me and my baby to the baths to get cleaned. Although the delivery was a success and without complications, I felt as though I was still with-child.
After the bath, I changed into a simple kimono and lied in bed with my new child, "You are perfect," I told him. The baby boy resembled his father, having the same dark-red clay skin and pointed dragonman ears; however, he'd also inherited my golden eyes, and his hair was midnight purple, "you look just like your father."
There was a knock at the door, followed by its opening, it was Olodunosuke, "Twyla, my dear, how are you feeling?"
"We are well," I acknowledged, "come here, I'd like you to meet your son." Olodunosuke looked around the room before approaching us; if I had to guess, he was probably keeping his eyes out for Rubella and her sharp tongue.
"Wow," he said as he held our son, "we made him? You and I, we made this?"
"Yes, dear," I chuckled, "we made him, and he looks exactly like you."
Olodunosuke was excited; however, he knew to be gentle with the baby, "have you decided on a name?"
I looked out the window to observe the blanket of snow that covered the estate, "I'd like for our children to have common names before they grow into their imperial names." The tension was thick; my husband had only just ascended to the Garyudōran throne, a
responsibility left by his father, Platinum Dragon Emperor Samael.
Within the continent of ShanGriLa, one can find a myriad of different countries. Nations ran by Forest Ogres, Dwarven-Giants, Beastmen, all alike; however, located in the west, resides The Ryudō, or "The Royal Dragon's Domain." This region of the continent is mostly populated by a race of beings like my husband, called Dragonmen. The region holds two nations, Garyudōra in the west, and Miryudōra in the south:
Olodunosuke and I found our residence in the former, since he's become emperor.
"I see," Olodunosuke sighed, "well, before Lord Second passed, he'd asked me to name my first-born after him…"
I squinted my eyes at my husband before pouting, "well it's going to have to be his middle name, I've already come up with a strong and wise name for him." I reached for my newborn, "a name that will surely be destined for greatness…"
"Which is?" Olodunosuke asked with a glance.
"Myrlin," I sang to my beautiful baby boy, and as if he'd been called that name for years, my baby opened his eyes and began to stare deep into mine. "Why hello, are you finally
awake? Did you sleep well, my Little Murmur?" His eyes were a vibrant gold that
had a glimmer of curiosity, and when he grabbed my finger, I could feel the
future power he would wield. This is power? Is this the same feeling that
Olodunosuke's mother felt when she gave birth to him and his siblings?
"That is a beautiful name," Olodunosuke said as he sat next to me, cradling me in his embrace, "Myrlin Samael Wyllt; we don't have to raise our children as royals, instead, when the time comes, we'll let them choose the life they'd wish to live." I wasn't surprised by his statement, for as long as I've known Olodunosuke, he's never been too fond of the duties of being a ruler; however, I believe with the emergence of his offspring, he's more inclined to take up the responsibility.
With this child in our arms, marks a brand-world and adventure for Olodunosuke and I; and I can only pray to Our Great Mother that Myrlin will find his place in this world.
To be Continued...