Chapter 1 Akira Was Born

The rain soaked village of Rinnarie, the sound of raindrops pattering against the thatched roofs of the cottages. In a small cottage on the outskirts of the village, a young woman named Lyra lay on a bed of furs, her body trembling with the pangs of childbirth. The midwife, a wise and aged woman with a kind face and gentle hands, tended to Lyra with a soothing touch. "Push, child," she urged, her voice gentle but firm. Lyra's face contorted with pain as she pushed, her body straining to bring forth new life. And then, in a burst of blood and water, a tiny cry filled the air. The midwife held up the newborn, a girl with a mop of dark hair and violet eyes that seemed to gleam with an otherworldly light. Lyra weakly gazed upon her child, a sense of peace washing over her, and she whispered, "Akira... my little one." Her voice was weak, and her body went limp. The midwife's eyes widened in sorrow as Lyra's life slipped away, her final breath a whisper of her child's name. The heavy rain that has been pouring for three days immediately stoped after Akira was given birth to, and the sun came out. The midwife's face was etched with grief as she carried Akira outside to where Atals, her father, was standing with her grandmother. The midwife handed Akira to Atals, her eyes filled with tears. "Your wife is dead," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "I'm sorry, we couldn't save her." Atals's face crumpled in grief, his eyes welling up with tears. He stared at the midwife, his mouth opening and closing as if he was trying to say something, but no words came out. His eyes dropped to Akira, and he felt a pang of sorrow and loss. How was he supposed to raise their daughter alone? The grandmother's face was a mask of sorrow, her eyes red-rimmed from unshed tears. She reached out a trembling hand and touched Atals's arm, her eyes filled with compassion. "My son," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Just as they were grieving, a young woman ran towards them, her face etched with worry. "The Midnight Pack's army is here," she said, her voice breathless. "They're surrounding the village." The army arrived, their faces stern and unyielding. The leader, a tall man with a cold gaze, stepped forward. "The Alpha of the Midnight Pack awaits you," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "You are to hand in the petition of surrender and come with us." As Atals carried Akira to his mother, his face was etched with a mix of sadness and determination. His eyes, red-rimmed from grief, gazed down at his daughter, and he felt a pang of worry about the uncertain future that lay ahead. He handed Akira to his mother, and she cradled the baby in her arms, her expression a blend of sorrow and concern. The grandmother's eyes locked onto Atals, and she asked, "Do you really have to do this?" Her voice was laced with worry, and her brow furrowed in concern. She gazed at her son, her eyes pleading with him to reconsider. Atals's expression turned resolute, his jaw set in determination. "For the safety of my family, and this village I will have to pledge allegiance to the Midnight Pack," he said, his voice firm but tinged with a hint of resignation. He bowed his head to greet his mother farewell, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. As he turned to follow the army, he glanced back at his mother and daughter, his heart heavy with the weight of his decision. The grandmother watched him go, her eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and fear for the future. As she looked down at Akira, her expression softened, and she gazed at the baby with a deep affection. "Immediately you were born, the rain stopped," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "That is not a good omen. You will face struggles in your life." Her eyes clouded over, and she gazed at Akira with a sad expression, as if she knew the hardships that lay ahead for her granddaughter. The grandmother's face was a map of wrinkles and lines, etched by the trials and tribulations of her life. Her eyes, though, sparkled with a deep wisdom, and her voice was filled with a sense of foreboding. As she gazed at Akira, she felt a sense of trepidation, knowing that the baby's life would be marked by challenges and hardships. The scene was poignant, the air thick with emotion as Atals departed, leaving behind his mother and daughter. The grandmother's words hung in the air, a prophecy that seemed to foretell a difficult future for Akira. *TWENTY FIVE YEARS LATER* Akira's feet danced with excitement as she walked through the bustling market, the vibrant colors and lively chatter of the vendors and shoppers alike failing to dampen her spirits. Today was a special day, her grandmother's birthday, and more importantly, the day her father was finally coming home after 25 long years. Akira's heart swelled with anticipation as she thought about meeting her father for the first time. She had always wondered about him, about what he was like, what he liked, and what kind of person he was. She was wearing a beautiful blue floral gown, the intricate patterns and delicate fabric a testament to the craftsmanship of the village's seamstresses. A white cloth covered her face, leaving only her bright, violet eyes visible, which sparkled with excitement as she browsed through the stalls. As she wandered through the stalls, Akira's eyes scanned the various goods on display, her mind focused on finding the perfect gifts for her grandmother. Akira's fingers trailed over the various items on display, her touch gentle as she selected a few things for her grandmother. She picked out an ancient hair pin with a golden design engraved on it, the delicate curves and lines of the pin catching her eye. The seller, an old man with a kind face, smiled as he wrapped the pin in a small piece of cloth. "A fine choice, young one," he said, his voice warm. Akira smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners, as she handed over the coins and took the package from the vendor. She continued her shopping, picking out a pair of shoes that she thought her grandmother would like. The shoes were soft and comfortable-looking, and Akira could imagine her grandmother's feet nestling into them with a contented sigh. But as for her father, Akira wasn't sure what to buy. She didn't know what he liked, what his interests were, or what kind of gifts would bring a smile to his face. She decided to wait until she met him, hoping that she would get a sense of what he might like. For now, she would focus on celebrating her grandmother's birthday, meeting her father, and worry about her father's gift later. As Akira walked back home, her mind wandered to her father and how he would react when he saw her. She imagined him smiling, his eyes lighting up with joy, and her heart swelled with excitement. Lost in thought, she didn't notice the stranger standing in front of her until her shoulder hit his broad chest. The stranger, a man with a huge build, black short hair, and dark brown eyes, towered over Akira. His expression changed from calm to surprised as Akira's shoulder collided with his chest. Akira, realizing too late that she had bumped into someone, tried to regain her balance but tripped over her own feet. The man's hands shot out, grasping her waist to prevent her from falling. His grip was firm but gentle, and Akira felt a jolt of surprise as she gazed up at him. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. The bag of gifts that Akira was holding slipped from her grasp, falling to the ground with a soft thud. The contents spilled out, scattering across the ground. The acient hair pin and shoes lay amidst the dirt and dust, and Akira's heart sank as she realized her grandmother's gifts were ruined. The stranger's eyes flickered to the scattered gifts, and his expression softened. He released Akira's waist, and she stumbled backward, her face flushing with disgust and anger. As she bent down to gather the gifts, the man's hand reached out, his fingers brushing against hers. As they both reached for the gifts, their hands touched, and Akira felt a jolt of surprise. The man's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the world around them melting away.