Resistance

Chapter VI Prologue

It was a dark, stormy night. The air was cold, heavy rain battering and soaking the pavement, and not a single soul walked those dark streets...Naught but one.

A single, cloaked figure dashed along those streets, the sound of their shoes sloshing against the flooded, cobblestone roads towards the castle towering above in the distance.

A beautiful, white castle. With two towers, and a large, translucent, dome-like structure situated between them. Inside that dome, a bright, flickering light could be seen, shining brilliantly through the dark, night sky...

And within that castle, a king paced about nervously, pensively. There seemed to be a multitude of worries on his mind.

He was young, his hair a well kept, ashy brown, his eyes a vibrant, blue-green. Atop his short, slightly slicked back hair, sat a single, intricately designed, golden crown. That very crown seemed to glitter brilliantly, encrusted with various, crystalline gems.

He was garbed in what one would think a king would wear, but his demeanor lacked a sense of arrogance, despite that apparel. His face had a gentle feel to it, despite the clear sense of worry that was written upon it.

As for the room itself, it was unsurprisingly large, made of entirely nothing but beautiful, polished marble. Pillars made of the same material lined the sides of the room, covered with vine-like patterns.

Only when the large, wooden doors of the room suddenly swung open, did that worried pacing the king had been doing, finally came to a stop, his attention turned to the doors in surprise.

The two guards that stood beside his throne were immediately on alert, spears pointed outwards as they approached the intruder, a cloaked figure, refusing to allow this individual to approach any closer.

"Don't take another step!" One of them called out, pointing the spear towards their intruder more firmly, showing he would close that distance, if need be. "Who are you to dare intrude upon the throne room without notice?! Remove your hood!!"

The person in question would have done so without even being told, and perhaps to their surprise, when they did, it was to reveal a young woman, her eyes a bright, emerald green.

It was difficult to tell past the moisture drenching her entire figure, but her hair was a startling, pure white. Surely if not soiled by the rainwater, it would shine brilliantly.

The king in particular, was surprised by this individual, perhaps more than the others, and this woman had his full attention.

"...-ease..." The words that escaped her lips were faint, unable to speak well past her need to catch her breath. She had been running the entire time. "...P-Please..." She repeated, desperately trying to find her words, despite that fact, as she held out a previously hidden, wrapped up bundle...And as she unwrapped it, there was a baby. A very, very small baby. Rather, it seemed this child had only just been born into the world, and he bore a striking resemblance to his mother, aside from a pair of tiny, white and black ears atop his little head.

His eyes were closed, seeming almost...Lifeless. There was not a single bit of movement from his little body.

"...My baby..." The woman continued in-between her pants. "H-He's sick...Please...P-Please help him!" She pleaded, desperately so.

The king's expression softened, and there seemed to be a sense of familiarity between the two, but judging from this scene alone, it was anyone's guess. Not a single one spoke on that familiarity.

Of course, the king was saddened by this turn of events. Truly, he wanted to help, however...

"...I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do-"

"That's a lie!" The woman interjected, holding her baby tight, refusing to accept this response...And for good reason. "I...I know of the experiment you wanted to perform...How you needed a vessel!" The woman explained, hardening her resolve as she carefully held out her baby, her precious bundle. "My child! Use him!!"

The king was taken aback, shocked even, by these turn of events.

There was indeed such an experiment he intended to attempt to carry out. To hide something important.

"...There is no guarantee that your child will survive." He admitted honestly, wanting her to consider this offer carefully. There would be no going back on it.

"If I don't take this chance, he'll die either way." The woman replied, remaining firm on her decision. Without hesitation.

This...Was her only chance. Her only chance to save her child. There would be no others.

"I'm begging you...If there's a chance to save him...I'll take it. Please."

Silence followed the woman's pleading, the king deliberating his decision carefully, and then...He finally lifted his head to give the woman her answer.

"Very well."