Beyond the Living

The clouds, dark and ominous, signaled the impending storm. They rumbled and scraped against each other, a foreboding symphony. Houses were ablaze, and people screamed as they fled for their lives. It was ironic that rain was imminent, yet people were being consumed by flames.

A woman, clutching a small baby tightly, ran through the chaos. She had escaped the werewolves with the help of her husband, who had tragically lost his life.

She hailed from a prominent branch of the royal family of Hansonia. Driven by love for a human, she had abandoned her family to be with him. Everything seemed perfect until werewolves raided their village.

Her husband sacrificed himself to help her escape. It was a devastating loss, especially as their daughter was only a year old. Though she survived, the escape wasn't without injury. An arrow pierced her chest, yet she pressed on, her child's life depending on it.

Loose soil beneath her feet caused her to stumble occasionally, but she persevered, pushing through the pain. Her beloved husband, who had loved her despite his kind's hatred for her race, had sacrificed himself.

Hansonians, once humans themselves, possessed magic and lived longer than humans. Their unique abilities made them different, but they were essentially human at their core.

To avoid suspicion, she had concealed her magic from the villagers. If she had used her elemental abilities, she could have reduced the casualties. However, her husband had forbidden her to do so, fearing the consequences. Even if she had saved the villagers, they might have punished her by tying her to a pole and burning her alive.

Humans were often impulsive and irrational, capable of rash actions. They might have acted without hesitation, condemning her to flames.

The woman ran until she reached another town. She dared not stop, not while the danger was so close.

A man with black hair, accompanied by his four-year-old son, walked through the crowd. The boy, with his father's features, was a miniature version of him.

People recognized them and bowed in respect to the lord of the land. These same people would have set him ablaze if they knew his true nature.

He was simply taking his oldest son for a walk, unaware that this casual outing would alter their fate.

His sharp ears picked up faint breathing and the cry of a baby.

Using his abilities here would be disastrous, so he led his son to a secluded alley.

"Hop on my back, son," he suggested. The boy, a bit too old for piggybacks, hesitated before nodding. He, too, had heard the faint sounds, a remarkable feat for a four-year-old.

The lord crouched, ready to leap, but his father held his shoulder. He was immensely proud of his son. He ruffled his son's hair and leaped towards the source of the sounds.

The Lord of Riverdale found a woman lying on the ground, a child in her arms. Her eyes were closed, but he knew she wasn't dead. The little boy looked up at his father, noticing the woman's heart rate weakening.

As the lord approached, the woman's eyes snapped open, filled with murderous intent. She had an arrow through her yet stood and attacked the lord, who was propelled backward by a strong gust of wind.

A Hansonian! He was familiar with them and knew they rarely ventured far from their kingdom. He was surprised to find one in Riverdale.

The woman's killing intent faded, and she fell to her knees. She spat blood but remained strong and ready to fight. A mother's rage knew no bounds when her child's safety was threatened.

"Calm down. I won't harm you or your child. I'm Aiden, the Lord of Riverdale," he explained. The woman's shoulders relaxed. She recognized him as a good man and considered giving him her child.

The woman tried to speak, but the lord stopped her.

"Shush, conserve your energy," he said. She shook her head, knowing she was dying and needed him to care for her child. She placed the child in the little boy's hands.

"Please take care of her for me. She is a Hansonian..." The woman's voice trailed off as she took her last breath. The little boy looked at his father, who bent down and closed the woman's eyes.

"What's her name, dad?" his son asked. The Lord knew his son's maturity and allowed him to choose a name.

"Give her a name of your choice." The boy, Nicholas, stared at the baby's face. He thought for a moment before deciding.

"Luna, I'll call her Luna," he concluded. His father nodded in approval. It was a beautiful name. While curious about his son's choice, the Lord didn't have time to ask. They needed to find a place to bury the woman and locate a Hansonian family.

Fortunately, he knew the perfect Hansonian couple. Under the pretense of being humans, they were living in the town. Initially startled by the Lord's request, they eventually agreed to care for the child.

Time passed quickly, and it was soon Luna's fourth birthday. The Lord and his son, Nicholas, had come to visit her as usual. Since the Lord didn't know Luna's actual birthday, they celebrated the day they found her.

A servant carried a box for Luna.

"Lucas, Gina, and their mom got you this," the Lord said to the excited birthday girl.

Lucas was the Lord's second son, and Gina was the third. They had frequently visited Luna and her parents. Luna was unaware of her true mother's identity for her own safety.

Luna excitedly opened her box, finding a beautiful black dress adorned with diamonds. However, she noticed something was amiss.

"How will this fit me? It looks like it's for Aunt," Luna exclaimed. The Lord smiled.

"It's yours, but you can't wear it until you're older," he explained. Luna nodded.

Now it was time for her gift from her best friend.

"Nicholas, here's my birthday gift," Luna said, blinking cutely at him.

"What did you get me for my birthday?" Nicholas asked.

"I made you a scarf," Luna replied. She had started learning to knit a year ago.

Nicholas remembered the scarf she made for him. No matter what angle you looked at it from, the 'scarf' was a bundle of yarn, yet it was safe in a glass encasing in his room.

"I don't want that anymore. I want something else," Nicholas said.

Luna looked thoughtful before her eyes lit up. "Okay, how about I me?" Everyone except the Lord and his son gasped. The girl said it innocently, but others misunderstood.

Nicholas smirked. "Promise?" he asked. Luna nodded eagerly.

He handed her a small music box with a dancing ballerina.

"Take this."