"The sea will dry,
the horses will fly,
everyone will be away,
from home to see the end of the day.
The last sun will set,
the scared men will bet
on the kid who all the wars will end.
In the home of the ancient gods,
he will be born before any odds"
That day, the 31st of Sagittarius, the orange sky roared like a dragon who hadn't eaten in a thousand years. Birds were migrating ahead of time, and the trees—bare from winter—suddenly grew their leaves back mysteriously. The clouds were moving faster than the birds, and the wind was hot, even though it was winter. Forest animals were flooding into the cities, and people were panicking. Horses that once galloped across the great plains now flew through the skies, with wings like butterflies.
The small village of Haldenreach was in chaos. People ran in every direction, thinking it was the end of the world. A man in an elegant suit, with blond hair and an unkempt moustache, knocked furiously at the door of the local doctor.
"Doctor Aino! Doctor Aino!!" he shouted, knocking four times in a row.
Doctor Aino, a young man with round glasses, black hair, and a slim frame, came quickly out of his home upon hearing the commotion.
"William, what happened?!" he asked, concerned. His shift had ended earlier, and no one was scheduled—so it had to be urgent.
"Doctor Aino, Luna's giving birth!!"
Aino looked confused. "Are you sure? Luna's only six months in—the baby shouldn't be born for another three months! It's way too early!" he exclaimed.
William looked at him almost pleadingly. "Please, Doctor. She's in pain, and her husband isn't even home!"
Aino finally gave in. "Okay, I'll come immediately. Just give me a moment to prepare my equipment," he said, hurrying back inside.
William waited by the fountain in front of Aino's house. He looked around, admiring the colorful medieval wooden houses and the narrow alleys. One of those alleys led to the local tavern, often filled with wanderers, knights, and the people of Haldenreach.
Inside, several men were celebrating the last day of the year 999. Soon, the year 1000 would begin. They played "Wooden Knight" with cards, but once the alcohol started flowing, the atmosphere turned rowdy. Jokes, shouting, and laughter filled the air.
Two of the men, however, remained sober, holding their cards quietly. One of them, Hilom, was about to take a drink but noticed his best friend Gorano looking troubled. He leaned closer.
"Gorano, are you alright? Did something happen?"
Gorano placed his cards on the table with his large hands and looked Hilom in the eyes. "Have you heard of the great seer Voestraeva?"
Hilom thought for a moment... Voestraeva... The name was familiar. Then it hit him.
"She's the seer from 500 years ago, right? The one who never got a prophecy wrong?"
Gorano nodded. "Her last prophecy was about the year 1000. She spoke of the world ending... and of a chosen child who would bring it about. What if—what if when the new year strikes... the world truly ends?"
Hilom opened his mouth to respond—but the tavern door burst open.
"LORD SIDHRA! THE BABY IS ABOUT TO BE BORN—WAY TOO EARLY!"
A hooded man turned. "William? Long time no see! So... it's really happening?"
William nodded quickly, grabbing his arm. "Yes, sir—come, hurry! Your wife could give birth any minute!"
With that, William pulled Lord Sidhra out of the tavern.
---
Meanwhile, high on a snowy mountain, three travelers moved with a purpose: to witness the birth of the chosen one. Cuprue, the most sensitive of the three, hesitated.
"Are you sure we're going the right way to Haldenreach? We're lost in the mountains!"
Aurus, the eldest and wisest, sighed. "Cuprue! That's the fifth time you've asked! I told you—we're on the right path!"
Silvye, the strongest of the group, laughed. "Cuprue, you always act like a child when we travel! You remind me of my little sister on family trips."
Despite the treacherous path, they pressed on, determined. Their religion spoke of a messiah—possibly the reincarnation of Ayen, the deity—and they believed the child was that chosen one.
Each had brought a gift. Aurus carried a book, to teach the child wisdom. Silvye brought a sword, to help him defend himself. Cuprue, only 16 and still nervous, had a magical amulet, to offer protection.
As the slope leveled, they entered a dense forest. Silvye remained alert, fists clenched. Cuprue, scared, hugged her from behind. Aurus lit a lantern and led the way. Suddenly, a strange energy filled the air.
The evening had arrived. The moon glowed gold. A comet streaked across the sky, its turquoise trail illuminating the heavens. Somewhere deep in the woods, the legendary knight known as the "Dark Sun" ran with inhuman grace. The trees shook in his wake.
Sidhra reached a wooden bridge—only to see it tremble. A massive troll with a wooden mace emerged.
"Damn! Another obstacle!" he shouted, drawing his sword, "Claíomh", and leaping high into the air.
The troll blocked the blow, but the enchanted sword—forged by the solar elves' greatest blacksmith, Herkali— damaged the mace. It was one of the Four Sacred Treasures of the Elves.
The troll swung its weapon to destroy the bridge and make Sidhra fall—but he was faster.
"Sun Departure!"
A radiant slash pierced the troll's belly. It collapsed into the river. Without stopping, Sidhra dashed forward.
---
Sidhra's home was a humble wooden hut outside the village. A mansion had been prepared for fatherhood, paid for with his war earnings, but the baby's arrival was premature—it was supposed to be born during Pisces, not Sagittarius.
William, the butler, had already arrived thanks to his unique power: the ability to teleport to any place he'd previously visited.
Inside the hut, Herta, another butler, assisted Doctor Aino. Luna lay in agony. Her moonlight-colored hair and forest-green eyes were soaked in sweat.
"Aino, please be careful! You're hurting me!" she cried.
"Sorry, Mrs. Luna, but it's necessary! Otherwise, your son might die!"
With a sudden push of his elbow, Aino broke two of her ribs but managed to guide the baby's head out. The child cried non-stop, making it hard to pull him free. Just as Aino finished, Sidhra burst in, breathless and sweating.
"That's my son!!!" he shouted, rushing forward.
He took the baby gently, staring at the crying red face and the tiny hand that barely clutched his finger. Luna smiled, then cleared her throat.
"Ehem!"
Sidhra understood and handed the baby to her. She cradled him, gazing into his dark purple eyes.
"I thought of a name," she said softly.
Sidhra looked sheepish—he'd forgotten to consider one. "Tell me, love."
She giggled, then stared at their child again. "Since your name is Sidhra Ciel Orion, and mine is Luna Lily Andromeda, I thought we could call him... Rentao Coral Orion."
She looked at her husband hopefully. "Do you like it? Rentao is a name from the eastern continent. Coral... because, just look at his eyes..."
Her gaze drifted into the baby's violet stare.
Sidhra nodded and pulled them both into an embrace, knowing that from that moment on, everything had changed.