TRIGGER WARNING:

A part of this chapter may contain a mature scene. It may not be suitable for younger readers. Reader's descretion is strictly advised.

[Pénitencier Brochard, Martinnois, Foranea, 12:39 AM,
23rd of Umbral-Tide/Darktide, Year 426]

A middle-aged Elandric man with spiky dark chocolate locks and a goatee on his chin lied down on his bench looking at the cloudy navy azure evening skies from the prison cell window. His arms and face were full of scars which they served as his kill counts. He slowly turned his head around and noticed the prisoners were already in their peaceful slumber. The night patrol prison guard was sitting on his chair as his eyes were slowly closing. He was about to meet his slumber, but he tried to stay awake.

The Elandric man remained behind bars and waited for his great savior Lord Damocles, Second Prince of Wrath, Umbral God of Revenge. He recalled several years ago when he served the Elandric Army as a young private. The young soldier was almost killed in the frontlines during the Westernland wars fighting against the Chegarians. The private ended up in coma, however he met his Lord in his dreams, receiving such extreme power to take revenge and gaining a mark on his back. Then, he woke up and started his rampage at an Army Hospital before leaving his homeland. Now, the same man had committed several cases of homicide on his way from Elandris to Foranea. He had slaughtered out of his revenge and hatred. The Foranean police arrested and sentenced him of life imprisonment.

This time, he was waiting for a sign to escape from the prison cell and lowly whistling. Suddenly, a dark hooded man stood up infront of him.

" Barabbas Crawford, you have summoned me, " a deep and creepy male voice echoed.

" More like I'm f-#+in' bored, my dear Lord Damocles, " Crawford replied and instantly sat up. " Are ya gonna get me outta here? "

" I am not the one whom you worship and adore, Barabbas, " the hooded man sternly deadpanned.

" Oh, come on! Who the hell are ya? Look, I prefer to call myself, Barry. Okay?! "

" Whatever..." the hooded man heavily sighed. " My name's Darkvile, speaker and messenger of the Cult of Umbral Spheres. The minister, Lady Sheeva has appointed me to free you. "

" Heh, really?! " Barry chuckled, stood up, and asked. " How the hell do you know me? "

" Your well-known reputation speaks, Barry, " Darkvile sternly spoke and deduced him. " You are indeed a cold-blooded murderer in decades and worthy to be a member of the cult. I'm asking you to come with me. "

Barry cocked his eyebrows and curiously tilted his head, crossing his arms. He intently looked at Darkvile and deeply thought of what he could possibly do in joining the cult. For him, he would continue his murderous exploits, but who could be his next victim in Foranea?

" Well? " Darkvile asked him and waited for his response.

" Look, Darky, if ya don't mind calling ya that, " Barry broke his silence. " I have been a freelance serial killer and a rapist. How am I gonna gain somethin' from ya? "

" The Umbral Spheres Cult does not require remuneration, " the hooded man answered. " The influence of Lord Milos is more important than that. We need to topple down the futile Ouranists across Altirus. "

" Lame, no money, no glory..."

" If you want to get freed, Barry. I ask for your compliance to come with me, " Darkvile seriously threatened him and revealed his skeletal form.

" Cheese! Fine! Fine! Fine! I'm coming with ya! " Barry exasperatedly sighed and asked. " Now, how am I gonna break out of jail?! Tell me?! "

" Watch and learn..."

Darkvile snickered at the prisoner and casted a spell to bend the metallic bars which appeared to be corroding the metal until it became weakened. Barry intently watched the hooded Umbral doing it and slowly widened his grin.

" Push it, Barry..."

He nodded at Darkvile, walked over to the bars, and pushed them. Barry was astonished which the prison cell bars became more vulnerable than it was before. Then, he stepped out of his cell when Darkvile joined him.

" Oh, this is gonna be great! " Barry darkly chuckled and turned to the hooded man. " I'm back in killing spree gig, but what about them? "

Darkvile eyed at the prisoners and the guards who ended up in deep sleep and answered, " Not to worry, Barry. It's your beginning of your mission. I want you to do an instant execution to them. Understand? "

" Noted and I am ready for it, " the Elandric escapee evilly grinned.

[La Terrazza Grande, St. Essa, Aulia 6:39 AM,
23rd of Umbral-Tide/Darktide, Year 426]

Inside the raining hour of the day, the Sinclairs were settling in until the rain stopped. For an older woman looked over to her wife in the bathroom as she smiled. She seemed to be recovered from the sudden faint, last night.

" Nothing like rain to hold us back, unless you can freeze it, my snow ball, " said Odette.

" Odette, do we have to wait until the rain will stop? " Wilma asked.

" Unless you want to be soaked, I'd only brought one umbrella, " Odette replied with a smirk. " I wouldn't mind sharing with you, or seeing you get all wet for your alluring beauty to show. " Then, she winked.

" Oh, sure..." the platinum haired lady nodded. " By the way, did you know what happened two days ago? "

Odette slowly closed her eyes and sadly sighed, " Truly, I do. Amnon has run into some setbacks...that he's dealing with to recover, and the clinic has burnt down from a crisis of a madman holding one of your fellow coworkers' hostage, Glenda informed me about it..."

" Yes, you called her? "

" She called me, telling me what has taken place." Odette shook her head in dismay." It's tragic that my bold student has suffered once again, from his employment and journey to that Academy, now this. Knowing him though, he's not gonna be quitting anytime soon." Then, her wife implied, " That aside, there's a little good news from this. Glenda will be having her daughter sooner than she expected."

" I know he can pull through this, " Wilma assured and smiled, sighing in relief. " Besides, he and my cousin have high hopes to bring my niece very soon. "

" That's not the only child he's gonna help, just previously. He helped bring a halfling into the world, from the Dread Wolves tribe. The child's family is the same man you'd talked about before, Christopher Knightfall and Celine." Odette smiled back gradually and walked over to the bathroom and hugged her wife from behind. " Your cousin will be excellent in being a mother. After all, she comes from your roots. "

" Well, Glenda surely fits to be a mother, " Wilma recalled. " I remember when we were kids. She wanted to bring her stuffed bear or a baby doll as she treated it like her own child. She was devastated in losing her way to have a child after confronting the enemy lines back in the war. "

" She's having a blessing itself be born from war couldn't steal that from her, " Odette stroked her stomach, then kissing her neck." I do remember when you and Glenda visited the clinic, I'd give you both a check up and always you were both healthy."

" Well, she found her way to have a child. Amelie suggested to have Estrogen therapy as well as Glenda made her own alternatives to improve her hormones as well as her ovulation. "

" With all the preparations set, only a miracle would be born. How about you, my snow ball, you'd ever thought about being a mother at times? " her wife said while caressing her neck with kisses.

" I have never thought of that, but I'm curious though..."

" You'd be fantastic, Wilma. From Glenda and now you. With the right donor, it can happen." Odette rubbed her wife's stomach." Was that why, you're curious about that man? "

" Yes...I'm sorry if I get distracted, " Wilma nervously grinned. Her wife closed one eye and then she smirked.

" No damage done, my Snow ball. After all I love you too much to be mad." Odette met her wife's lips, by smooching her.

" Of course, " she smiled and surrended from her kisses, but she noticed something in Odette.

Odette took a little bit of time, hindered from a little sore, that she kissed her wife back softly, then reaching down she groped her plumped mounds.

" I mean...you...look pale..." she panted.

" Maybe I'm coming down with something, since our last night out? " Odette assumed and would slow down her teasing. " I was brushing my teeth when I had bleeding gums. Then, I got fainted. "

Wilma looked concerned at the retired doctor and seriously said, " Well..I think I require you to have your blood tests..."

" Getting then done immediately would be advisable, if it weren't for the rain..." Odette sighed. " The clinic is open in the next two hours. "

" I hope if we can find one. "

Nodding back to her lover, Odette rubbed her own forehead and breathed in deeply. " Diagnosing my symptoms, I ain't getting no flu. It does have me deeply worried, " she stroked her wife's arms to ease the moment.

" It's something to do with your blood, " Wilma grew concerned.

Odette winced from the developments unfolding." I've seemed like a spring chicken only yesterday, Snowball." she held her wife's hands." Maybe we should return home soon? "

" Well, I guess so, " she nodded and smiled at her.

Odette cupped the side of her wife's face." Seeing your brightened smile of assurance, really does soften this ordeal." She had taken her wife into her arms then kissed her.

" But promise to comply when you need to have a check-up. "

Meeting her wife's blue pearlsgazed, she smiled sincerely." This won't be ignored, you have my promise, Snow ball, and most of all my love." Odette rubbed her wife's hands, using her thumbs.

" Just take care of yourself, okay? " Wilma kissed her wife's cheeks.

" Having you Wilma, I'll be in good hands." Odette returned on kissing her wife's neckline." The next time Amnon phones, he'll be the first to know, then Glenda."

" Oh... I guess...perhaps, we can surprise them. "

" Anything you have in mind to regale them, my Snow Ball?." Odette gazed down to her chest, being covered by only her robe.

" Well, I am thinking if we can give them something to eat or some gifts. "

" We'll refresh his taste of this place, by bringing him one of it's exotic foods, a souvenir?." Odette replied, and would slowly stroked her wife's long white hair.

" I hope his therapy session with Lestrade gave him a new perspective in taking negatives into positives, " Wilma smiled.

" Starting from small does build progress, and we'll be the fillers to aid him, Snow ball.' Odette smiled back gracefully and cupped her wife's face." For their newborn, we'll spoil her with a shower of gifts."

" Perhaps, we can spend our last days in shopping. "

" Don't worry about spending big, we'll cover the charges no matter the price." Odette smirked before joyfully kissing her once again.

" Definitely, that's for the whole family. "

" Like buying that necklace your sister has been wanting?, A surprise gift for her too." Odette reminded her lover, then would tease her by groping her chest.

" Good idea. She will like it. "

" Indeed Wionia will be mesmerized, in seeing the rare exotic, and one for your mother?." Odette said, giving a new set of kisses on her collarbone.

" Well, we can do that, " Wilma smiled and chuckled.

" Going with a wintry season, will suffice. On chilling their interests." Odette pecked her wife's cheeks." Snow flakes, or blue pearled gems? "

" Snowflakes of course. "

" She'd look fantastic in them, snow ball. And for you, a blue dress that's showing a little of your voluptuous chest." Odette flirted and joined with a joyful chuckle.

" Oh...." she blushed. " Thank you..."

" Always a pleasure in complimenting my darling snow ball." Odette held her wife's hands and then gave her a wholesome smooch.

" Of course..." she nodded and kissed her back.

Odette extended the smooch by pressing her face on hers, then holding onto her." Your kisses are so chilling, Snow ball." she teases, before bringing her back into her embrace.

" Well, it has always been like that. "

" Never once, I get tired of expressing it fully, my Snow ball." Odette would slowly open up her wife's robe, and gazes down to her alluring paleness.

" Sure, you are always getting so much energy for it..." she replied and noticed her paleness.

" Small quality's is enough, for this, my Snow ball.' She leaned downward and kissed between Wilma's chest, then would raise herself to meet her lips, for a smooch.

Wilma kissed her back as she noticed her wife's pale skin and thought, " She's getting weaker. It must be anemia, I need to find out. "

Undressing her wife of her robe, the older woman slided her hand down her curvaceous frame." Your so elegant, snow ball." Odette done her best on stroking her wife's thighs.

" Yes, " she nodded.

" The young doctor yearning to push herself into her studies, you've strived so well." Odette returned on groping her chest, caressing her mounds softly.

" Well, my cousin and I have been doing this! "

" Unlike your cousin, she's not receiving this!." Odette grabbed her wife's right mount, and would soon latch onto her nub, with slow strokes of her mouth sucking.

" It's because she and her husband had their own ways...."

" He's gone a long way of advancing himself, and so have you Wilma. Of each having his or own different methods. The public would have hope of getting better because of you three." Odette remarked.

" Surely, we will.."

" You've accomplished so much, that made me proud of you, Snow ball." Odette kissed her breasts and then went on teasing her." Liking my kisses?."

" Of course..."

" The double effort from Sonia, was a little overwhelming for you, Wilma." Odette reminisced as she played with her wife's chest." Only from a little, of burying the devil that night."

" Well, it was, " she replied and curiously asked. " Do you think if you will get tired from this? "

" I wouldn't like to you, Snow ball, I'm about half and half...there's a sense of feeling my arms getting heavy, yet I'm wanting to continue with this." Odette told her wife, as she sat down." Could you help me in doing so?."

" Sure, " she nodded and followed.

" My throat is getting dry, either it's the sickness setting in, or I'm parched." Odette slowly stroked her wife's elbows, and looked down to her chest.

" Are you sure this is helpful? " Wilma asked with concern.

" Your milk has been relaxing to drink, Snow ball. it's a remedy I'd always yearn for." Odette slowly stroked her bare backside, then would watch her breasts shake a little.

" If you want this, then go for it. Just one. "

Odette pouted a little of wishing for a double scoop, but sufficed." One is better, as much I'd love to have both, I'll have my fill." Smiling curiously thereafter she added." Is it filled?."

" I'd prefer to have it one. "

Odette nodded to her wife with approval." Thank you, my lovely snow ball." she groped her left mound, then without a second thought, she'd now started milking her slowly.

" You're welcome, my dear..." she chuckled.

[Montmartre Residence, Monoceros Keep, Foranea 8:09 AM,
23rd of Umbral-Tide/Darktide, Year 426]

After eating breakfast and washing the dishes, Amnon picked up a pile of letters and a package from his old friends back in Odyssea Academy. He placed them on his desk in the study room and thought of reading them later before responding. Suddenly, he heard a loud phone ringing, rushed towards to the living room, and picked it up.

" Bonjour, c'est la résidence Montmartre. Puis-je savoir qui est-ce? (Good morning, this is Montmartre residence. May I know who's this?)" he politely asked.

" C'est le docteur McCoy, ici. Comment allez vous? (This is Doctor McCoy, here. How are you doing?) " the male voice answered.

"Je vais bien. Merci de votre appel. (I'm good. Thank you for calling.) "

" J'ai une bonne nouvelle à vous annoncer. Félicitations, vous êtes réembauché et bienvenue à nouveau! (I have some good news to tell you. Congratulations, you're rehired and welcome back!) " McCoy joyfully exclaimed and followed by a laughter.

Amnon remained speechless upon hearing his soon-to-be boss's words. Finally, after almost nine months of resilience from his previous employment and then the loss of his own clinic, it was his biggest comeback to his normal career. He was slowly smiling from ear to ear and trying to compose himself which he was about to jump for joy.

" Montmartre, ça va? Vous semblez être très silencieux. (Montmartre, are you okay? You seem to be very silent.) " McCoy curiously spoke and turned his attention.

" P-pas grand-chose, monsieur. (N-nothing much, sir.) " Amnon stuttered in reply and smiled. " Ça fait du bien d'être de retour. Merci. (It's good to be back. Thank you.) "

" Eh bien, vous commencerez à travailler la semaine prochaine le 26 Darktide à 8h00. Vous gérerez la clinique externe, mais attendez-vous à ce que vous soyez affecté à la baie des urgences en cas de manque de personnel. Veuillez également apporter vos documents nécessaires. (Well, you will start working next week on the 26th of Darktide at 8:00 am. You will be handling the outpatient clinic, but expect you will be assigned in the emergency bay in case of low staffing. Also please bring your necessary documents.) "

" Oui, Monsieur. Ça ira. (Yes, sir. Will do.) "

" Vous avez des questions? (You have any questions?) " McCoy asked.

" Non monsieur. (No, sir.) "

" A la semaine prochaine, Montmartre. (See you next week, Montmartre.) "

" Merci, monsieur. Au revoir! (Thank you, sir. Goodbye!) "

As the call ended, Amnon happily jumped and laughed as Glenda and Karola heard him from the dining room. They just stared at him as he got embarrased.

" Blin, eto slishkom stydno...(Crap, this is too embarrassing...) " he sighed and spoke in Luski.

" Net, vse v poryadke, moy dorogoy mal'chik! My rady videt' vas takim! (No, it's okay, my dear boy! We are pleased to see you that way!) " Karola chuckled.

" It seems like you've passed the job interview and gotten yourself a job! " Glenda chimed in and also laughed.

" Oh, you're right about that, Glen. I won't be leaving Foranea this time, " Amnon smiled and nodded at his wife. Then, he looked at his mother and replied, " Thanks, ma. "

" You're welcome, my son, " Karola replied and smiled back at her son.

" Amnon, perhaps we should check on Nir..." Glenda paused and heard the phone ringing.

The general practitioner got startled, picked up the phone handset, and answered, " Bonjour, c'est la résidence Montmartre. Puis-je savoir qui est-ce? (Good morning, this is Montmartre residence. May I know who's this?) "

" Ici l'inspecteur Tier Sauveterre. Est-ce que je parle au docteur Amnon Montmartre? (This is Inspector Tier Sauveterre. Am I speaking to Doctor Amnon Montmartre?) " another male voice asked.

" C'est moi, inspecteur. Qu'est-ce qui vous amène à m'appeler? (It is me, Inspector. What brings you to call me?) "

Tier deeply thought and answered, " Docteur, nous avons des pistes vers vos suspects jusqu'ici. Ils n'appartenaient pas aux partisans de l'empire Chegarian de votre défunt père. Nous avons émis l'hypothèse qu'ils venaient d'un groupe clandestin. (Doctor, we have leads to your suspects so far. They weren't from your late father's Chegarian Empire supporters. We have speculated they came from an underground group.) "

" Kakogo cherta...(What the heck...) " he anxiously thought in his mother's language and repeated the word in query. " Groupe clandestin? Qui sont-ils? (Underground group? Who are they?) "

" Umbral..." Tier sternly replied. " Ce n'est qu'une théorie de M. Homes. Mais si nous pouvons trouver des preuves ou des liens avec les Umbrals, nous vous le ferons savoir. (This is just a theory from Mr. Homes. But if we can find evidences or some ties with the Umbrals, we will let you know.) "

" D'accord, tenez-moi au courant de celui-ci. (Right, just keep me posted on this one.) "

" Pour l'instant, j'ai une affaire d'évasion de prison sur laquelle travailler. Je vous appellerai pour vos développements de votre dossier. Oh, eh bien, jusque-là, docteur. (For now, I have a prison break case to work with. I will call you for your developments of your case. Oh, well, until then, doctor.) "

" Au revoir, " Amnon replied and nodded as the call got ended. He heavily sighed as his wife noticed him.

" Something wrong? " Glenda asked with concern and gently rubbed her large tummy.

" The police just found Umbrals as a clue, but not specifically who's responsible, " he seriously spoke. " This will take time for them to solve the case and catch the perpetrator. "

" Well, I just saw a newspaper article about what happened two days ago, " she showed it to her husband. " It has been in the headlines. "

Amnon held the newspaper from his wife, intently looked, and turned the pages. He found the article's title and intently read it.

" LA CLINIQUE DE DIAGNOSTIC FAMILIALE SOUS LE FEU
par Neil Ingrid Carter "

Glenda looked at her husband who was focusedly reading on the page where the article was written. There were images of the ruins and lost structures and fixtures. Amnon frowned and took a deep breath.

" I know this is saddening, but I still have to keep going, " he seriously spoke. " But what's intriguing me, that there's a recent prison break? "

" I want to hear the radio, " Karola broke her silence and called the two's attention, pointing at the radio box.

" I think your mom is implying us about it, " Glenda interjected.

Amnon nodded and turned on the wooden audio box which he pressed the button. He was changing the local stations as they were just playing music. Finally, he found one when a male broadcaster was announcing a newsreport. Glenda and Karola intently listened to the news. Just then, Nirvana slowly walked downstairs and also heard the newsreport.

" Dans l'actualité locale, toute la population des gardiens et des prisonniers est retrouvée morte au Pénitencier Brochard dans la commune du Martinnois. La police et les autorités locales sont venues enquêter sur le soudain génocide. Ils ne peuvent pas trouver le mystérieux suspect et ses allées et venues. (In the local news, the entire population of both guards and prisoners are found dead at Pénitencier Brochard in the town of Martinnois. The police and local authorities has come to investigate the sudden genocide. They cannot find the mysterious suspect and his whereabouts.) "

" Bozhe! Chto na Iliade proiskhodit pryamo seychas?! (Goodness! What on Iliad is happening right now?!) " Karola exclaimed in shock. " Pochemu oni tak postupili? (Why did they do such a thing?) "

" Ma, pust' kopy delayut svoyu rabotu. Etot pobeg iz tyur'my daleko ot goroda. (Ma, let the cops do their job. That prison break is far away from the city.) " Amnon assured, recalled the astromancer Gideon Fionn's words to him and explained to her. " Ne vse mogut spasti vsekh v takiye vremena, potomu chto vsegda yest' smert'. My ne mozhem etogo izbezhat'. (Not all can save everyone in times like these, because there's always death. We can't avoid it.) "

" YA vse yeshche nadeyus' na kogo-to, kto smozhet protivostoyat' etim plokhim lyudyam. Ochen' zhal', chto tvoy otets skonchalsya iz-za takoy nespravedlivosti. (I am still hoping for someone who can stand up against those bad people. It's too bad that your father had passed away because of such injustice.) " she sadly spoke and asked. " Amnon, kogda-to ty byl khrabrym mal'chikom i soldatom. Teper' ty vrach. Vy sdelali tak mnogo veshchey v zhizni. Razve ya vospityval tebya tak dumat'? Skazhi mne, pochemu ty voobshche eto skazal? Chto podumayet o vas moya vnuchka, kogda vyrastet? Ty deystvitel'no sdayesh'sya?(Amnon, you were once a brave boy and a soldier. Now, you're a doctor. You have done so many things in life. Did I raise you to think that way? Tell me, why did you ever say that? What will my granddaughter think of you when she grows up? Are you really giving up?) "

Amnon remained silent, bowed his head, and heard of his mother's words which he felt convicted. Karola looked concerned at her physician son. Glenda held her husband's right hand and slightly smiled at him. Nirvana curiously eavesdropped even she couldn't understand the elderly mother and adult son's conversation. She sensed such disappointment to the elderly blonde woman and the general practitioner's bland response.

" Dr. Montmartre, I need your help..." the young woman broke her silence.

Amnon and Glenda exchanged glances and turned to Nirvana. Then, they asked her in unison, " Which one of us are you calling us? We're both Doctor Montmartre, here. "

" Oh, sorry..." she nervously chuckled at the physician spouses who looked baffled. " I am referring to the both of you. I mean I should have called you, Doctors Montmartre. "

" It's okay, " Glenda nodded and smiled back. " Anyways, how can we help? "

" I heard the news, " Nirvana said and heavily sighed. " I'm sorry about what happened. That genocide could be the work of an Umbral. How I wish I can fight back against them, but I can't. "

" Mademoiselle Felsong, we won't allow you to confront them, " Amnon explained. " Your life is grave danger aside you're from recovering from your serious wound. I just made an analysis to your blood sample last night. It's an Umbral substance that has been poisoning you. You could have died of sepsis aside from your stab wound from your abdomen. "

" What?! "

" It's a foreign object that caused you to have black blood in your system. In other terms, you were unaware that you had been suffering from blood poisoning, " Glenda interjected.

" Oh...I see, " Nirvana nodded and sighed which the doctors mentioned to her about the black blood.

" As well your cardiovascular and immune system were both compromised, " Amnon added and speculated. " I presume an Umbral named Damocles caused you that way. "

" It's not just him, Doctor Amnon. Even my former friends also summoned the other gods to make it that way, so I can achieve immortality, " Nirvana reasoned. " When I left the Umbral Cult, they summoned me a curse which I couldn't use my abilities. "

" What abilities? " Glenda asked.

" To cast and bend shadows, " she answered.

Amnon understood and knew what to do. Glenda looked at him and gestured a bottle of Holy Water which she had given it to him before. He nodded at his wife and told her, " I'll be right back. "

Glenda nodded back at him when he headed upstairs and went to the bedroom. Amnon checked the medical refrigerator and saw the bottle of Holy Water was full and being cooled. He prayed at Lady Photis first for her blessing, grabbed it, closed the refrigerator door, and went downstairs. Nirvana curiously tilted her head and cocked her eyebrows in seeing the doctor holding a bottle of clear water.

" Mademoiselle Nirvana Felsong, I know you have been inflicted by your former friends, " he calmly spoke. " By the Holy Water blessed by Lady Photis, it can help you to recover from the curse and ailments you have experienced. "

" I hope so, Doctor Amnon, " she replied and pleaded. " I don't ask for your second opinion, just heal and free me from this curse. "

" I must say, I'll start flushing out the poisonous black blood from your system, " the general practitioner reminded and casted Extract to ward and eliminate the black substance from the young woman's body. In this procedure, the poison was removed out of the system. Then, he picked up the bottle of water and summoned, " By the healing power of Lady Photis and Her Heavenly Hosts, I declare Nirvana Felsong for her full recovery. "

Just then, Glenda and Karola witnessed the young woman's healing. Nirvana felt the drops of Holy Water land onto her skin and moaned in pain. Suddenly, she felt a warm radiance on her body and became rejuvinated. The Umbral poison and curse had lifted out of her system. She was smiling and laughing.

" Thank you, sir! " Nirvana happily exclaimed.

" You should have thanked Lady Photis. Anyways, you're welcome. "

Suddenly, the phone was ringing when Glenda instantly picked it up and politely answered, " Bonjour, c'est le docteur Glenda Montmartre qui parle. Puis-je savoir qui est-ce? Droite. Merci. (Hello, this is Doctor Glenda Montmartre speaking. May I know who's this? Right. Thank you.) " Then, she turned to her husband, " Amnon, it's monsieur Isaac Dufresne, our accountant. He has to speak to you about our former medical staff's final pay and the damage loss. He's ready to meet you today. "

" Right, " he nodded. " I need to speak to him and start paying everyone before meeting Father Agapov this afternoon. "

A few hours later, the general practitioner had withdrawn some of the clinic's funds at the bank and gone home. He called his former medical staff when they had come to his house. They had received their final pay.

[Ouranist Church and Convent of Saint Isaiah, Monoceros Keep, Foranea 4:02 PM, 23rd of Umbral-Tide/Darktide, Year 426]

Amnon opened the envelope, released the X-ray film, and examined the image of Father Mar-Vell Agapov's left forearm. He intently checked if there were any bone fractures and dislocation, but there was none. The Ouranist elf priest awaited for the young physician's assessment before he could speak up.

" No major bone fractures and dislocations, " he broke his silence and showed the X-ray image of his left wrist. " It's just a sprained left wrist, Father Agapov. No need for a surgery. "

" Slava bogam! (Thank Gods!) " Mar-Vell commented and sighed in relief. " I have expected the worst, Doktor Montmartre, but my prayers to the Great Mother and Her Hosts were heard. "

" Still, you need to be careful with your extra activities. Have you ever assigned some people from the convent to help you with your chores? " Amnon asked. " I'm very concerned that you are two hundred ninety years old, yet you try to do some tasks like thirty to forty years old in human age. You might develop arthritis or another injury. But still, you need to wait until 5 days before removing those bandages. "

" Yes, I did ask for help from them, but doing chores help me to focus my mind from seeing prophetic visions. Definitely, will do. "

" Like those you have mentioned to me before? "

" Da, I want to do things in balance, yet those things still come out of my mind. Not to worry, young doctor, " the Ouranist elf priest assured. " I will lessen some hard labour work for now. "

" Right, " Amnon nodded and asked as he changed his topic. " Father Agapov, I am starting to deceipher in what you said about the prophecy about the angel losing the sword. Are you pertaining this to me? "

" Yes, " Mar-Vell seriously spoke. " You doubted of what I had said before about the hostage and fire. I warned you on this, but it already happened. Yet, you struggled to believe. "

" I'm sorry it's I am avoiding to get involved in fighting. It took a toll to me psychologically, " the doctor admitted. " You saw that my right hand is just a prosthetic one, because I lost the real one back in Aulia. Then, I ended up binge-drinking from that orc man's house. I didn't know what to do. "

" I understand the same sentiment, young doctor. I had been there, but worse than your experiences, " the Akrovian Ouranist Elf priest replied. " Before I became a priest, I used to serve in the Lusivakian Army during the glory days of the Yddrassin Empire, fought in the frontlines against the enemies, and considered my experiences as one of my wild days. When the Empire fell, I continued my military exploits by joining the Akrovian Air Force and used to fly air vehicles back then. I met your mother Karola when she was your age. She was just like you, very dedicated and resilient pilot. "

" So, you met my mother back then? " Amnon raised his voice in shock.

" As her supervising officer, but I was the one who pushed her to meet your late father Jean Meir Montmartre, " Mar-Vell chuckled and changed his tone into a serious one. " But something came up with me. During the Period of Crossed Steel, I had suffered from an accident which almost costed my life. "

" What kind of accident, Father Agapov? "

" I was flying a test plane in the skies of Akrehotsk when your mother came along with me as my co-pilot. We travelled around 100 kilometers above sea level, but we never realized that the plane was about to crash due to extreme weather conditions. We ended up at the forests near the town of Gagarin. I was heavily bleeding and severely injured while sitting on the cockpit, pinning on the tree. Your mother quickly got out of the backseat and cried for help. I fell unconscious and ended up in the hospital healed by physician-mages. After my recovery, I left the Air Force and spent my pension money drinking vodka, gambling, and dating several women: Leanan Sidhe, Elven, Tieflings, and humans. "

" Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. "

" I even ended up homeless and had the life of hopelessness. I was about to commit suicide by jumping off the bridge into the river to drown myself, " he admitted and sadly bowed his head. " But someone had prevented me from doing it, it was an elderly Foranean human nun casted a levitation spell and pulled me away. She nagged me to return into my senses and took care of me as her own real son. With her help, she brought me here to Monoceros Keep, embraced the Ouranist faith, and became very vital to my life. From then on, I left my war hero past and studied theology and other languages for four years. I have been serving as an ordained priest for two to three decades. "

" Glad to hear your story, Father Agapov. You've been to a severe trauma, too. I'm glad you were able to bounce back, " Amnon commented and suggested. " I hope you can visit my house and have a chat with her one day. "

" Thank you for your kind words. Perhaps, I'll visit your family one day, Doktor Montmartre. Please express my kind regards to her, " Mar-Vell warmly smiled.

" I will, " the general practitioner nodded and queried. " Father Agapov, how did you discover the gift of prophecy? "

" Those days when I was in coma, it was several years ago before you were born. I started to have visions of angels, daemons, and monsters, but I ignored them at first. The same Foranean Ouranist nun named Mother Superior Sofia who took care of me and brought me here. She said, I should never ignore those things because they all come from the Heavenly Hosts who revealed prophecies. I became a messenger through them. "

" I see. It must be very important for you. "

" I understood you are still baffled from what I have prophesied. A few of them has fulfilled. As much as I see things, it comes true, " Mar-Vell said and changed his topic into a new one. " I believe you have been rehired by the hospital and wait for your upcoming little daughter. "

" Yes, Father Agapov, " Amnon warmly smiled. " You will be pleased to meet her very soon. "

[Montmartre Residence, Monoceros Keep, Foranea 9:40 PM,
23rd of Umbral-Tide/Darktide, Year 426]

Amnon spent time in his study room and read letters from his old friends in Odyssea Academy's contractor guild and some of his previous subordinates and co-workers back in Asclepius. He found Sera building and forming a new dojo in Beirun, Sypher and Rin getting married soon, Felix continuing his career at the Odyssea Academy's student council, Gideon accepting his professorship from his Alma Mater, and Maevir having his own journeys. He yawned and covered his mouth using his artificial right hand. Thinking of responding them soon, he needed more time to do those since he would be anticipating his first day of work at Monoceros Keep General Hospital. He was about to stand up from his seat near to his desk when he had an unopened letter from his closest friend and adopted daughter. He sighed and carefully teared it with his extra scalpel. Amnon unfolded the piece of paper and intently read it.

To: Dr. Amnon Joseph D. Montmartre
From: Esmeralda la Farceuse

Dear Father,

How are you these days? When you immediately resigned from Odyssea Academy, I was surprised of why you did it. I found out it from Rin and Asharus that you had your personal reasons and completely understood it. You missed mother so much that you didn't want to lose the chance to see her and Little Emie coming. I knew she had been so stressed of your absence for almost a year. That long distance set-up costed you a lot. I'm really sorry for your prolonged homesickness. I have understood that your family has been very important to you, but at least I did my best to cheer you up and make up the things I have done to you. I remembered you said it once that you reminded me of your beloved patient Iris back in your internship days. I am really sure you will do the same thing to Emie as well, becoming a responsible and loving parent.

After the mission in Beirun, we had just graduated from Odyssea Academy's contractor guild. I moved to Arcane Stretch along with my dear Tulip. We have decided to remain here for good and have a peaceful life. A life in the farm is more fulfilling and worthy than fighting myriads of enemies like we had done before. At first, it is very difficult and taxing, but I get used to it. It takes time, hardwork, focus , patience, and responsibility in looking after for the crops, fruits, vegetables, and animals. It is entirely more different than what I have experienced before. Well, the past is passed. I am so happy that you have approved and blessed my proposal to marry Tulip. Sooner or later, you will be surprised that we gain children for some reasons.

Father, I have learned a lot of things from you and never forgotten your words of wisdom. They helped me to grow and become what I really want to be. I will carry and treasure those until my descendants will grow from them. You taught me how to be accountable for each other and even my own well-being, being respectful and patient with everyone, finding my true calling, developing my inner sense of love, joy, kindness, empathy, and child-likeness, and of course resilience. With those, you could have been my greatest teacher and life coach that I have met. I wished I met someone like you before going to Odyssea Academy. As you have understood, my life was full of pain and bloodshed. I was glad to meet a physician, teacher, and a father-figure like you. Thank you so much for being patient, understanding, and loving me.

I knew you had seen so much sufferings back from the war until the time we lost Kintor in Hurroka and your right hand from the Shuffler. From what you said back in Aulia, it was so difficult for you in losing it. I'm really sorry that you had to experience it. If ever you feel dismayed or giving-up, I don't want you to suffer emotionally. Whatever you have been experiencing right now, I want you to keep on going and focus on what you need to do. Like you said, you want to be the best damn physician and a father, I absolutely agree with that. I know you can do it as you will tell your story to my future siblings and their descendants. Keep fighting and striving for your family life and career.

Father, I want you to develop your mental catchphrase or a positive mantra in case you will be struggling again. I know this is cringingly funny and sounds bragging, but it will work on you. Please say this in your mind, " I'm the best physician and parent ever! I survived worse than this, and I'm gonna survive this too! "

Please let mother read my letter. I know she wants to find out how I have been doing these days. Someday, I want to write her a letter and thanking her for that advice she sent me. I am looking forward for my sister's birth. I wish I can visit Foranea and see your dream hospital someday, but my life in the Arcane Stretch is the home I have dreamed of. Maybe, you can visit us soon for your vacation.

I'm wishing and hoping you all the best and I love you so much along with mother. I am looking forward for your response.

Your big daughter,

Esme

P.S.

Please send me an adorable picture of Little Emie on her birthday when you write me back.

Amnon warmly smiled and wept for joy after reading Esme's letter. For him, it was too heartfelt that it reminded him of those days he had been with her. He removed his eyeglasses and wiped his eyes with a tissue, looking up on the ceiling, taking a deep breath, returning his glasses into his face, and confidently smiling.

" I'm the best physician and parent ever! I survived worse than this, and I'm gonna survive this too! "

(Darkvile, Odette Durand, Wilma Sinclair, and Nirvana Felsong by Knightfall077 along with the RP)

(Tier Sauveterre by BjornGamR27)

(Esmeralda la Farceuse by Chairity Owner)