But just as he is about to strike, my mother blurts out.
“I am with child.”
Everything comes to a standstill.
The sword vanishes from his hand, and he drops his shield.
He stares at her dumbfounded.
“You… What?”
“I am with child. If you hurt me, you will also hurt the babe,” she quickly says.
Father narrows his eyes.
“Funny that you should care about thatnow.”
He tilts his head to the side and focuses on her belly, his ears pricking with awareness when he confirms her words.
His mouth is set in a grim line.
“You know I am telling the truth,” mother says, a twisted smile painting her lips.
As father struggles with the enormity of this news, mother takes advantage of his lowered guard to strike.
But not at him.
At me.
I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing myself for the impact.
A loud groan erupts, followed by a crash to the ground. My father falls in front of me. A gaping hole forms in his torso, blood dripping onto the ground in rivulets.
His eyes are wide, his features strained with pain.
My mother curses from behind, getting ready for another attack.
“I wish I could do more, Nykander,” my father whispers. “But whatever happens, you have to live. You have to live, you hear me?”
I nod numbly, my lashes stained with tears.
A cloud of electricity surrounds his body before slowly moving toward me, enveloping me whole. He chants something in a low voice, which is drowned out by my mother’s screeching as she sends blow after blow to the shield of electricity he created.
My body hums as I feel my father’s energy seep into my skin.
“This will protect you,” he says ambiguously. “At least until you find your own strength.”
He mutters another word, and the shield suddenly dissipates. Blood dribbles down his chin, and he coughs up more of the red liquid.
“What did you do, Hanth!” My mother yells.
Father gives her a lopsided smile.
“What I should have done a long time ago.” Then, turning to me, he whispers. “I transferred half my spiritual energy to you. It will act as a shield if your mother tries to harm you, but without proper cultivation, it will only protect you until you reach your majority. I trust you will find your way after.” He takes a deep breath, coughing up more blood. “Live, son. Live and prove everyone wrong.”
He stands up then. The hole in his body is not healing, which means he has truly reached his limit.
“You lost, Inaria,” he chuckles as he takes a step toward her. He can barely stand on his own feet.
