Faul: The Reincarnation

Chapter 4: Many Years A Day

It had been several months since the tragic fall of Karaza and the subsequent arrival of Maria and the rest of the household on the distant Island of Shunga. The once-thriving city had been reduced to ashes, leaving behind only memories soaked in pain and grief. Now, in the cold embrace of night, everyone had gathered around a blazing campfire, seeking warmth, comfort, and a momentary sense of peace after enduring months of sorrow and loss. The memory of Frederick still lingered heavily in their hearts like a haunting specter, refusing to fade with time.

Faul, the child born on the very day Karaza fell, was cradled gently in the arms of his mother, Maria. He slept peacefully, his small chest rising and falling softly as he rested against her warmth. The crackling sound of the fire filled the air, along with the soft whispers of those gathered, trying to enjoy this rare moment of calm. Then, without any warning, an unnatural and powerful gust of wind surged across the Island of Shunga, strong enough to stir the trees and snuff out some of the smaller flames around them.

At that very moment, Faul let out a roar. It was not an ordinary cry from an infant. It was a roar, deep and primal, like the sound of a baby dragon being awakened from a long slumber. His small eyes flew open, now bloodshot and fierce. A blinding light erupted from his gaze, so intense and radiant that it illuminated the entire area around the campfire, casting brilliant reflections across the faces of those present. The sudden transformation shocked everyone.

“Gaaaaaaaaaaaag!” Faul roared again with an unnatural force, and in one swift motion, he sprang out of his mother's arms. His small body glowed like it was sculpted from diamond, his tiny form radiating a mystical energy that was both beautiful and terrifying. Every strand of hair on his head stood on end, and his glowing skin shimmered like crystals reflecting the sunlight. His breathing was heavy, his fists clenched in fury, and he looked around with wild, confused anger in his glowing eyes. Then, just as suddenly, he let out another roar and collapsed to the ground.

Everyone around the campfire froze. Not a word was spoken as they stared in awe and fear at what they had just witnessed. The roar, the blood-red eyes, the glow of his skin, none of it was natural. They had never seen anything like this before, and an unsettling fear began to creep into their hearts. The first thought that crossed everyone's mind was the Red Death. Was Faul infected? Had the very thing that destroyed Karaza now taken hold of this child?

"Faul, my baby," Maria cried out, her voice trembling with emotion and confusion. Tears streamed down her face as she ran to him. She cradled his limp body, pressing him close to her chest as if trying to shield him from the judging eyes of those surrounding them. As she held him, something stirred at her waist. The sword Frederick had given to her before his death suddenly began to glow. A red hue pulsated from within it, faint at first but growing stronger with every heartbeat.

Maria’s mind raced. She remembered clearly what her husband had told her about the sword and its purpose. Now, with the strange events surrounding Faul’s outburst and the sudden glow of the sword, she began to understand. There was a connection between Faul and the sword, an undeniable bond that seemed to awaken only in moments of danger.

As realization dawned on Maria, panic spread among the others. One by one, they began drawing their weapons, their eyes wide with fear and uncertainty. They didn’t see a child in front of them. They saw a threat. Just as the first person was about to lunge forward and strike, Maria lifted her arm with fierce determination. A towering wall of ice rose up instantly from the ground, blocking the path of the would-be attacker.

"If any one of you dares make another move on my son, I will not hesitate to fight back!" Maria shouted. Her voice was strong and filled with unwavering resolve. The icy barrier shimmered in the firelight, casting blue shadows across the ground. Her face was stained with tears, but her eyes were full of fire.

"Don't you see? He is infected!" a man yelled from behind the ice wall, his voice filled with desperation and fear.

"We need to kill him!" another voice cried out.

"He is a misfortune!" shouted someone else, pointing a trembling finger at the glowing child in Maria’s arms. "The very day he was born, we were attacked and driven out of Karaza by the Red Death."

"Even his father died!" added another voice, rising above the others. "He is a curse!"

"We need to get rid of him!" another screamed, their voice echoing in the night like a twisted chant.

"I said if anyone makes any move, I won't hesitate to fight back!" Maria cried out again. Her voice broke with emotion, and tears streamed freely down her cheeks as she held her son tighter than ever.

"I'm with my auntie! If anyone makes any move on Faul, I will fight you all with her!" shouted Billie, Maria’s brave young nephew. He was only ten years old, yet he stepped forward beside her, his small frame standing with courage and defiance.

The crowd was seething with fear and confusion. They were too scared to see reason.

"We don't care!" Alfonsus, the eldest servant of the household, roared above the others. "It's either you or us! Attack! Kill them!"

As Alfonsus charged forward with his weapon raised, something incredible happened. The sword hanging at Maria’s waist glowed brighter than ever before. In a flash, it left its scabbard on its own, slicing through the air with such speed that it left behind an afterimage of red light. It flew through the air and positioned itself between Maria and the attackers, hovering with an eerie calm. Then, as though reacting to her desperation, the sword split into a thousand smaller blades, each one floating and spinning in the air with deadly grace.

The attackers came to a sudden halt. None of them dared to take another step forward. The thousand blades hovered menacingly in the air, forming a protective wall around Maria, Faul, and Billie. No one wanted to test the wrath of the enchanted weapon.

Maria herself stood frozen, stunned by the events unfolding before her. In one night, she had witnessed more than she could understand. Her son’s first word had been the name of the most dreaded force in their world. His eyes had turned red like blood, his skin glowed like diamond, and now the ancient sword of Frederick was defending them of its own volition. It was all too much to take in.

Without wasting another second, Maria acted. She clutched Faul in one arm and Billie in the other and began to run in the opposite direction of the mob. With a wave of her hand, she conjured a trail of ice beneath her feet, boosting her speed. She slid across the ice with practiced grace, her movement as fluid as a stream. Her instincts guided her toward the edge of the island, away from the madness and toward the only chance of escape.

As she reached the shoreline, Maria did not stop. She leaped into the sea without hesitation, freezing the surface beneath each step she took. The frozen trail extended into the vast waters like a silvery path carved through the sea. With her two precious burdens in her arms and nothing but faith in her heart, she pressed forward, sliding across the ice-covered ocean, determined to escape the Island of Shunga and protect her son from those who no longer saw him as one of their own.

Back on the island, the glowing sword that had split into a thousand shards began to shimmer. Slowly, the blades turned into red particles of dust, vanishing into the air like fireflies being extinguished. The crowd of attackers stood in stunned silence, their weapons lowered, their minds grappling with what they had just seen.

They looked at each other, not with anger now, but with confusion and fear. None of them had expected this.