NOVEL NEXT Chapter 416: When Our Baby Is Born
Ren sat with his back against the cold stone wall. The only light to see by was the flickering light of the lantern hanging against the wall, sending the shadows around the room dancing.
The silence of Carthage was still out there, but this one was the one that came with preparations for war.
There were still patrols searching for them, but Ren didn't care.
All he cared about was that here, in the warmth of the abandoned boathouse, there was only him and Lilith.
She rested her head on his shoulder, her silver hair spilling across his chest like a soft veil. Her breathing was slow and steady, though her voice when it came was soft, almost dreamy.
"When our baby is born…" she began, her tone carrying that fragile mixture of wonder and fear that Ren had rarely heard from her before. "We'll build a house. A proper one. With a patio where we can enjoy the view, a roof that doesn't leak, and a garden out front where the flowers will always bloom."
Ren turned his head slightly, watching her lips curl into the faintest smile as she continued.
"I'll hang curtains in every window. Bright ones. Not because I care what anyone else thinks, but because I'll want our child to see color every morning when they wake up."
"I'll make sure there's a room that's always warm, no matter the season. And…" she hesitated, her arms wrapping a little tighter around him, "I'll never let them doubt that they are loved."
Ren's heart ached at the quiet conviction in her words. He said nothing yet, letting her speak, letting her spill all the pieces of her heart that she'd always guarded so fiercely.
"I'll hold them, Ren. Always," she whispered. "Even if people tell me it's dangerous, even if they say it will make them weak. I'll never hesitate."
"Because no one ever held me when I needed it. No one ever looked me in the eye and said, 'you are enough, just as you are.'" Her voice trembled, but she steadied it. "Our child will never know what it feels like to be unwanted."
Ren closed his eyes, exhaling softly. He placed a hand gently over hers, grounding her.
"You're right." He said. "They won't. Because we'll be there. Both of us. Every day, every step. I'll make sure of it."
Lilith tilted her face up towards him, her violet eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Do you promise?"
Ren turned, pressing his forehead to hers, their breaths mingling. "I promise."
His voice was low, but the words burned with certainty. "I'll kill Yggdrasil, Lilith. I'll tear it apart, down to the roots. I'll make sure it can never touch us again. And when it's gone, when all this madness is over…" He cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb across her skin. "Our child will grow up with both parents by their side. In peace. In a home where laughter is the only medicine."
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She leaned into his touch, a soft smile breaking through the cracks. "You always say things like that as if they're simple." She whispered.
Ren chuckled faintly, though the sound was rough with fatigue. "Because for me, they are. You. Our child. A home. That's all I want. Everything else is just noise."
Lilith rested against him again, her hand sliding to her stomach. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Their hearts were currently filled with dreams that felt fragile.
Finally, Lilith murmured, her voice barely audible, "I never thought I'd have this. Not with who I am. Not with what I carry. But… if anyone could give me this, it's you."
Ren's grip on her tightened, his jaw firm. "Then we'll make it real. No matter how many battles it takes. No matter how many times I have to stand back up after being cut down. I'll fight for it. For you. For them. Always."
Lilith let out a shaky laugh, half a sob, half a smile. "You'd better," she said, lifting her face to kiss him softly. It was brief, but it carried with it, everything they couldn't yet say.
When they parted, Ren leaned his head back against the wall, his arm around her shoulders, her head against his chest.
They sat in silence, listening to the faint hum of the world above, and clinging to this small island of peace.
And as Lilith's breathing softened, Ren looked down at her, then at her hand resting protectively over her stomach. He then made a promise to himself.
Whatever it took, no matter how high the cost, he would give them the life she dreamed of.
"Urrgghh!" A voice filled with disgust broke the silence.
Thorn slipped into the room, his shoulders hunched and lips pressed tight as if he'd swallowed something sour. He rubbed his arms once, shuddering.
"I'd almost forgotten," he muttered, voice gravelly, "just how awful my information gathering enchantment always feels. I can't wait to burn off my Bloodbinding after we get the Primordial Flame."
Ren and Lilith both looked up, watching Thorn closely as he paced around the room before finally stopping, exhaling through his nose.
"Well?" Ren prompted.
Thorn grimaced. "The invading army's already outside Carthage. Apparently, Death's leading the army. But that's not all."
He raked a hand through his hair, eyes flicking toward the ceiling as if he could see through the stone.
"The elders aren't fools. They've pulled a chunk of their soldiers back. There's an entire division stationed in the deepest layer. Right where we need to be. The Elders' Building is locked tighter than ever. Getting there now… it's going to be harder than if Death's army hadn't shown up in the first place."
Lilith sat up straighter. "So even if we use the chaos of the battle, we'll still have to deal with the fortress at the bottom."
Thorn nodded grimly. "Exactly. The elders are betting on the invaders being broken in the upper layers. Meanwhile, they've braced the deepest one with every ounce of strength they can spare. No matter what happens, they're guarding their heart."
Ren's jaw clenched, but he forced his expression calm. "That means we'll have to time our move perfectly. If Death pushes hard enough to draw soldiers away, maybe a window will open. Until then…" He trailed off, eyes distant, already calculating.
Thorn sat heavily, rubbing at his temples. "I hate to say it, but right now, we're trapped between the hammer and the anvil. Death above. Elders below. And us, caught in the middle."
Lilith's fingers tightened around Ren's hand. "We'll find a way out."
She smiled.
"We always do."
"Damn right, we do." Ren glanced at her with a grin. "One way or another, we're going down there. The Primordial Flame is waiting. We just have to survive long enough to reach it."