The Bladeweaver [Book 1 Complete]

Rika had a big smile plastered on her face as they strolled through the bustling streets of Bjarnholl. The air was buzzing with excitement, the city preparing for something grand. "We have some time, right?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "Today just happens to be the biggest, most important festival of the year."

"Festival? What kind of festival?" Kale asked.

Rika nudged him playfully. "Jarodrattur, the Festival of Rebirth, of course! You're in luck, Kaley. I think you'll enjoy it."

Liliana floated beside them, her expression mildly curious. "A festival? It's not often we come across something that isn't trying to kill us. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to take a break."

Kale glanced between the two of them and shrugged. "I guess we've earned some fun after everything we've been through."

Rika's smile widened, and she spun around to face them both, walking backward. "Trust me, you'll love it. Food, games, and you'll get to see something really special—earthborn babies being pulled from… well, the earth. It's our most sacred tradition."

Kale blinked. "Wait... you're telling me earthborn literally emerge from the ground?"

"Yup. You'll see for yourself. Come on, let's have some fun before we get back to saving the world."

Liliana, for once, didn't argue, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Fine. But if something goes wrong, I'm holding you responsible."

"Relax," Rika laughed. "What could possibly go wrong at a festival?"

With that, they headed toward the heart of the city, ready to experience something new and, hopefully, filled with promise rather than peril.

***

The trio stepped into Bjarnholl's festival grounds, greeted by a vibrant scene of colors, laughter, and the intoxicating smells of spiced meats and baked breads. The towering stone structures of the city seemed to stand in reverence to the joyous event, as if the mountains themselves leaned in to witness the festivities. Earthborn of all ages moved with joy and excitement, weaving between stalls adorned with goods and stands overflowing with food. The air hummed with the strum of string instruments, while the soft percussion of drums kept a rhythmic pulse to the day's celebration.

Kale and Liliana couldn't help but marvel at the positive energy of the place. Earthborn moved together in groups, children laughing as they darted through the crowd, adults talking in low, animated tones. Every face they passed was lit with anticipation, the excitement contagious.

Rika led the way, her golden eyes gleaming with nostalgia as she pointed out different sights to Kale and Liliana. "This," she began, grinning broadly, "is Jarodrattur. Happens once a year. Everyone comes together to celebrate the pulling."

"I still don't understand what that means." Kale said.

Liliana floated alongside, silent but clearly interested.

"Literally," Rika said. "Earthborn are reborn through the earth itself. Every year, on this day, we pull the new children from the ground. It's not just a ritual, it's how we continue. The earth nurtures them, protects them, and when the time is right, we bring them into the world."

She smiled as she steered them toward the central square, where a large crowd had already gathered. "This is how earthborn are born, or reborn, I should say. Watch."

Ahead of them was a large field where dozens of earthborn had gathered. It was surrounded by a semicircle of caretakers, their expressions solemn, each of them wearing robes made from earth-toned fabrics. In the center of the field, the earth began to stir. The crowd hushed, leaning forward in anticipation.

"This," Rika whispered. "is where new earthborn emerge. The ground itself gives birth to them."

Kale blinked in disbelief. "Wait… they literally come out of the ground?"

"Yup," Rika confirmed, a soft smile on her face as she watched the ritual unfold. "The earthborn aren't born the way humans are. When a new generation is ready, the earth itself releases them. The caretakers perform the ritual, and the babies are pulled from the ground like freshly harvested crops. It's sacred. It's our connection to the earth, to the land. We don't just live on it, we're born from it."

Kale watched as the ritual reached its climax. The caretakers began to chant, their voices low and melodic. The earth trembled slightly, and then, slowly, a small hand emerged from the ground, followed by the squirming body of an infant earthborn. The crowd erupted into cheers as the caretakers carefully pulled the baby from the earth and wrapped it in a soft cloth, cradling it gently. The newborn had a dusting of pale green hair and skin that shimmered like wet stone.

Rika's eyes softened as she watched the scene. "That's how we all come into the world. And it's not just one baby, it happens with many at once during the festival. Each year, a new generation is pulled from the earth and placed in the hands of the caretakers."

"So the caretakers raise them?" Liliana asked.

Rika nodded. "Exactly. Earthborn are raised as a community. We don't have parents in the same way humans do. The caretakers are the ones responsible for guiding and teaching the children, raising them until they're old enough to begin their own journeys. It's all done together, as a tribe."

Kale watched in awe as more babies were pulled from the earth, each greeted with applause and cheers from the crowd. It was a scene unlike anything he had ever witnessed—sacred yet joyful, ancient yet filled with life. The earthborn weren't just born from the land; they were intrinsically part of it.

Stolen novel; please report.

"This was me once," Rika said. "I don't remember it, of course, but every earthborn has gone through this. We don't come from mothers or fathers. We come from the earth, and we belong to it."

Kale's expression softened as he watched her. He could see how much this ceremony meant to her, how deeply tied it was to her identity. It made sense now, why earthborn were so different from humans, why their connection to the land ran so deep. "And the caretakers? They stay with them until they're grown?"

"Yes," Rika said. "They're responsible for every child they pull from the earth. They guide them through life until they're ready to go out on their own. It's why we have such strong bonds. Every earthborn is raised with a sense of community and responsibility. We're never alone."

Liliana floated closer as she observed the scene. "And then what? What happens after they leave?"

Rika shrugged. "They find their own path. Some stay and become caretakers themselves, others travel. But the bond with the earth never leaves us. That's why Bjarnholl is so important. It's more than just a city, it's a sanctuary, a place where we're always connected to our roots."

Kale took in the sight of the crowd, the babies, the caretakers, and the palpable joy that filled the air. This was a place unlike any other, and he understood what Rika meant when she called this place home.

As the ceremony continued, a warm feeling of unity washed over them.

***

The energy of the festival surged as the main square bustled with activity. Rika, Kale, and Liliana strolled through the crowd, taking in the sights when a group of earthborn approached them, grinning and calling out to Rika.

"Rika! It's been too long!" one of the earthborn men shouted, his large hand clapping her shoulder with a thud. "You've got to join the test of strength this year! Show these pups how it's done!"

Rika's eyes sparkled, a grin spreading across her face. "You're on!"

The crowd began to gather near a large circular area in the square, where earthborn of all shapes and sizes were lining up to test their mettle. The rules were simple: whoever could wrestle their opponent out of the ring would be crowned the winner.

Kale leaned over to Liliana. "This should be interesting."

Liliana, floating beside him, glanced at Rika with an amused expression. "I have a feeling this will be a very short contest."

Rika stepped into the ring with confidence, her warhammer left behind as she cracked her knuckles and stretched her arms. A towering earthborn man stepped up to challenge her. He was broad-shouldered, with a mane of dark green hair and skin like stone. The crowd cheered as he flexed, but Rika was unfazed, her grin only widening.

The match began with a roar from the crowd. The man lunged at her, but Rika was quick, sidestepping his move with ease. With a swift motion, she grabbed him by the arm and flipped him over her shoulder, sending him crashing to the ground. The crowd erupted into cheers, but the match wasn't over yet. Her opponent got to his feet, his face a mixture of surprise and determination.

They grappled again, and this time, Rika let him get in close. With a sudden burst of strength, she lifted him clean off the ground and tossed him out of the ring, where he landed with a thud in the dust.

The crowd exploded with applause and laughter, cheering for Rika as she raised her arms in victory. Kale couldn't help but laugh too, marveling at her strength and ease.

"She's something else," Kale muttered, shaking his head.

Liliana, who had been watching with an uncharacteristic smile on her face, nodded slightly. "She's always been strong. But I think it's more than just physical strength. It's her spirit."

Kale turned to Liliana, surprised by the softness in her tone. He stared at her, noticing how her usual sharp features seemed to soften in the warmth of the moment. Liliana, despite her often cold exterior, seemed different today, more relaxed. It made her even more beautiful.

As the crowd continued to celebrate Rika's victory, Kale couldn't shake the feeling that Liliana was more than she appeared to be. Her guard had been up for so long, but here, among the earthborn, surrounded by a sense of community and celebration, she seemed at peace. For the first time, Kale found himself seeing her in a different light.

Liliana caught his stare and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Kale quickly averted his eyes, scratching the back of his head. "Nothing. Just… you're right. She's strong in more ways than one."

"I always am." Liliana said.

Before Kale could respond, Rika ran over, her face flushed with excitement. "Did you see that? They didn't stand a chance!"

Kale grinned. "You're unstoppable."

Rika threw an arm around his shoulder, squeezing him tight. "Damn right! And don't you forget it."

The crowd continued to cheer and celebrate, the festival's energy infectious. In that instant, everything felt right, and for a brief time, they were able to forget about the battles and challenges that lay ahead.

***

The fire crackled softly as the festival's excitement began to wind down. Kale found himself sitting on a stone ledge, away from the crowd, watching as the earthborn continued to celebrate. His attention shifted toward Liliana, who floated just a few feet away, her head resting against a low tree branch. The distant hum of laughter and the gentle flicker of firelight softened the lines of her normally stern expression. There was something in the air tonight, something different about the way Liliana seemed to carry herself.

Feeling the need to engage her, Kale approached slowly. "I saw you smiling earlier. That's rare."

Liliana's eyes shifted toward him, her expression guarded but not unfriendly. "It's the festival. The happiness here… it's contagious."

"I didn't think you were the type to be swayed by that kind of thing."

Liliana sighed. "I'm not as heartless as you think. It's just… seeing a place like this, where everyone's connected, where they have something greater than themselves to belong to… it reminds me of things I don't have anymore."

"What do you mean?"

Liliana hesitated. "Let's just say… the bond the earthborn have with their land? I had something like that once, with my people. With Valtharion. But it's gone now, and seeing them like this, it… stirs something in me."

"So, what I'm hearing is, you can smile, and you just choose to hoard them like some rare treasure," Kale said, teasing.

Liliana shot him a sidelong glance, the smallest laugh escaping her. "Careful, Kale. Keep that up, and you might just get another one."

Kale grinned, leaning slightly closer. "Well, I'd better start stockpiling. Smiles from you might be worth more than gold in the right market."

Liliana turned to him fully this time, a genuine smile breaking through as she shook her head. "And what would you even do with all that gold, Kale? Buy another tunic?"

Kale chuckled. "Maybe. But only if you promise to give me that look again—the one where you pretend not to be impressed."

That drew another smile from Liliana. "You're an idiot."

"A soon-to-be-rich idiot," Kale shot back, grinning.

As they rejoined the others, the festive warmth wrapped around them, a welcome reprieve from the battles they'd faced. Kale found himself grateful for this rare moment of peace, grateful for a day where survival wasn't the only goal. He looked at Liliana, her quiet reflections still lingering in his mind, and at Rika, whose infectious energy had carried them through so much. In this moment, surrounded by laughter and light, Kale felt something he hadn't in a long time—contentment. Whatever lay ahead, he wasn't alone. He had Rika and Liliana, their bond growing stronger with every step of their journey.