TBATE: The Rook

GRACE ROSE POV:

Ellis had to be the most adorable baby, and I'm not saying this because I'm a doting mother.

No •

Him and his scruffy little patch of head full of soft, silky black hair that gently frames his round face and big eyes, that almost radiate purple light while his gaze, at times, seemed almost ... intelligent.

No no, I told you, I'm not a doting mother. I plan to be a strict and just mother. I have no one to rely on to teach little Eli common sense.

As soon as he started crawling, I was so proud I was on the verge of shedding tears, but I didn't know how much of a handful he'd be as soon as he became mobile.

I swear, there's not a single moment where I can take my eyes off of him before he crawls into the study room. How weird. I made sure to buy him lots of stuffed animals and wooden toys to play with, but he always ends up going to the study room.

Looking at how excited he got when we went out to town, I decided to go shopping for food once every other day instead of twice a week.

No no, I told you, I'm not a doting mother. This is for his education of the outside world and for fresh food in the house. Yeah haha... that's it.

The next landmark that made it to my baby journal, which is purely for educational purposes, by the way, and not because I am a doting mother, was when he first said mama .

He said Mama!

I told him to say "mama" again and again, just to make sure I didn't hear wrong.

Haha, The rest of the year went by pleasantly with my son sticking by me wherever I went and frequently looking out the window to see the passing bye and adventurer . 

To my relief, Little Eli never got sick, but oftentimes, I would find him sitting still on his butt while closing his eyes. At first, I thought he was having trouble relieving himself, but after checking the first couple of times, that didn't seem to be the case.

How strange, I didn't know what to make of it. I thought babies his age were supposed to be energetic and flighty, but after his episodes of escaping to the study room, he seemed to spend a lot of time sitting still, almost meditating .

I was worried at first, but although it would happen a couple times a day, it only lasts for a couple of minutes and Eli would seem strangely happy afterwards . The way he holds his arms up and looks up at me makes me just want to gobble him up .

*Ahem* Not a doting mother .

My son seemed to be interested in a lot of things. I can't get enough of seeing his head, that seemed so disproportional to his little body, turning left and right while trying to take everything around him in, His just like his father .

Ahhh… Elias how could you leave us alone i still have nightmares of that cursed day...…

(**)

I sat on the edge of our bed, my fingers tracing the delicate fabric of the quilt we had picked out together, a small piece of our shared life that now felt like a cruel reminder of what I had lost.

My husband, Elias, was a hunter—a title that carried both respect and danger. He hunted those who had slipped through the cracks of justice, the wanted men and women who had evaded the law. With his striking purple eyes, he was a figure of both allure and intimidation, a man who could charm his way into a room and then turn it upside down with a single glance. I had fallen in love with him for his strength and the way he made me feel safe.

 But I had never imagined that his work would lead to our undoing.

It was a crisp autumn evening when everything changed. 

I was two months pregnant, the news still fresh and filled with joy. We had spent the day preparing for our little one, dreaming of names and nursery colors. Elias had promised me that he would always protect us, that nothing would come between our family and the life we were building together.

But as night fell, shadows crept in. Elias received a tip about a particularly dangerous target, a man whose reputation for violence was whispered about in hushed tones. He had been tracking him for weeks, and I could see the determination in his eyes as he prepared to leave. I begged him to stay, to let someone else handle it, but he brushed my concerns aside, assuring me that he would be back before I knew it.

Hours passed, and the darkness outside deepened. I tried to distract myself, but an unsettling feeling gnawed at my stomach. Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, a loud crash echoed through our home, jolting me awake. My heart raced as I rushed to the window, peering out into the night. That's when I saw them—figures cloaked in darkness, surrounding our home.

Panic surged through me as I realized they were here for Elias. I tried to manipulate my mana and grab my short sword but a severe pain stopped me from doing anything i was injured, the door burst open. 

I stumbled back, my breath hitching in my throat as I saw the chaos unfold. Elias fought valiantly, his movements fluid and precise, but there were too many of them. I could hear the shouts, the sounds of struggle, and my heart shattered with each passing moment.

In the midst of the chaos, I caught a glimpse of his purple eyes, fierce and determined. He locked eyes with me, and in that moment, I understood. He was fighting for me, for our child, and he would do anything to ensure our safety. I wanted to scream, to run to him, but I was frozen in fear.

Then, in a moment that felt like an eternity, I saw him make a choice. He turned to me, his expression softening, and I could see the love in his eyes. "Run!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the noise. "Get to safety! I'll hold them off!"

Tears streamed down my face as I realized what he was willing to sacrifice. I turned and fled, my heart breaking with every step I took away from him. I could hear the sounds of the struggle behind me, the shouts and the violence, but I forced myself to keep moving. I had to protect our child, the life we had dreamed of together.

I ran through the woods, my breath coming in ragged gasps, until I finally reached the edge of town. I collapsed against a tree, my body shaking with grief. I could still hear the echoes of the fight in my mind, the image of Elias standing strong against the odds, and I knew I would never see him again.

Days turned into weeks, and the news of his death reached me like a cold wave crashing over my heart. They had ambushed him, a group seeking revenge for the lives he had taken in the name of justice. I was left alone, carrying the weight of our child and the memory of a love that had been so fierce and beautiful. If only I wasn't injured if only i wasn't pregnant if…..if….if….But mark my word , I will avenge him someday somehow.

(**)

Two years and nine months had passed since that fateful night when I lost Elias. 

The ache of his absence had become a part of me, woven into the fabric of my daily life. I had learned to navigate the world without him, to find joy in the little things, and to cherish every moment with our son, Ellis.

As I stood in the kitchen, the warm aroma of simmering vegetables filled the air, mingling with the scent of freshly baked bread. Riva, our loyal maid, moved gracefully around the kitchen, chopping herbs and humming a soft tune. She had been with us since before Ellis was born, a steady presence who had helped me through the darkest days.

"Do you think he'll eat his eggplant today?" I asked, glancing out the window . 

Ravi chuckled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "He's a clever boy. If you make them into funny shapes, he might just surprise you."

I smiled, grateful for her unwavering support. Just as I was about to turn back to the stove, a sudden, thunderous boom echoed from the backyard, shaking the very walls of our home. My heart dropped, and I froze, the wooden spoon slipping from my fingers and clattering to the floor.

"What was that?" Riva gasped, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ravi's expression shifted from concern to terror . 

Before I could protest, she rushed toward the back door. I felt a surge of panic as I followed her, my heart racing. The sound had been so loud, so jarring.

"ELLIS!!" 

I rushed towards the direction of the explosion, shielding my body with a layer of mana over my skin.

After fighting my way through the scraps of what was left of my backyard , I saw it.

My son had the all but noticeable translucent barrier flickering around him. Better yet, the repulsion of his awakened powers was what caused this explosion. He was floating in the center of a crater that cleared our entire backyard .

Haha...

I turned to my left and saw Riva her legs gave out and just landed on her knees while her jaw hung loose.

 My baby was almost three years old when he awakened. Only three...

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry