A thousand years had passed. The Kingdom of Vanadias had transformed into the Vanadias Empire, sprawling across the entire continent. To the north, a gargantuan wall cut through the land, built to imprison the undead—spirits of a long-lost era—behind its cold stone. To the south lay the sea, the only path to the Black Continent. The people of the central continent called its inhabitants "demons," though in reality, they were just humans with deep tan skin, jet-black hair, and striking red pupils.
The central continent, known as Libelia, was ruled entirely by Vanadias and divided into five major territories. Each was governed by a Lord who acted as a regional king. Beneath them, lesser nobles managed smaller districts, reporting to their Lords, who in turn reported to the Emperor.
Border disputes and internal wars were constant, sparked by anything from territory lines to control over strategic trade cities. Despite the infighting, the Emperor's main focus remained fixed on the Northern Wall. He carried the heavy burden of the three fallen kingdoms from the Estorian War records, serving as the final shield against the darkness of the north.
(From this point forward, the internal thoughts of Alfonso, Alicia, and Anabelle will be denoted by [].)
One night, the rhythmic "splash-whoosh" of a ship cutting through the waves filled the air. Hushed voices drifted over the deck.
"I hope no one is following us from the central continent," a young girl whispered.
"I hope so too, Lady Eluisa," a woman replied.
[Alfonso, Alicia, Anabelle: "Huh? What is this?"]
[Alfonso: "Wait... that smell... is that the sea?"]
[Alicia: "Ugh... why is it so dark? I can't open my eyes."]
[Anabelle: "What's happening? Are you two... here with me? What is this? I need to ask—"]
The three of them tried to speak, but the only sound that came out was a high-pitched "Waaa! Waaa! Waaa!" The shock was instant. Suddenly, they felt someone gently rocking them, trying to soothe their cries.
[Alfonso: "No way... I'm a baby? Where the hell am I? Hey, Alicia! Anabelle! Can you hear me?"]
[Alicia: "Of course I can hear you. I'm just as confused as you are, so stop asking so many questions."]
[Anabelle: "Didn't we... didn't we die?"]
[Alfonso: "We should have. What happened after that? Why are we babies now?"]
[Alicia: "Will you just be quiet for a second? For some reason, this patting is making me sleepy. Plus, the swaying of the boat... it feels nice."]
[Alfonso: "Grrr... you always were a sleepyhead."]
The girl, Eluisa, looked down at the three infants in her arms. They all had tufts of jet-black hair and their eyes were squeezed shut, looking like they had only just entered the world. Her gentle hands took turns patting their backs, though she struggled to keep her balance as the small boat tossed and turned.
"Waaa! Waaa! Waaa!"
The triplets cried out again—not because they were hungry, but because they were completely baffled by what was happening to them.
"Helen, maybe they're hungry," Eluisa said, watching them wail in her arms.
"Shh... shh... quiet now," said the woman beside her. Helen reached out and carefully moved the baby boy from Eluisa's arms into her own.
She prepared to nurse him, and the boy immediately began to latch on with a ravenous appetite.
[Alfonso : "Wow... I really am a baby, and right now, I'm actually nursing."]
[Alicia and Anabelle : "What?!"] The two sisters were clearly horrified.
Alfonso felt a hand stroking his head. The warmth and comfort were overwhelming, making him feel incredibly drowsy. Meanwhile, Eluisa looked at the two baby girls still in her lap with a face full of sorrow.
"My little siblings... Leon, Lucia, and Livia... don't be afraid," Eluisa whispered through her tears, trying to force a smile. "Big sister is here. I'm taking you far away where you'll finally be safe."
[Alfonso : "Oh... so my name is Leon now."]
[Alicia : "I'm Lucia... not too different from my old name, I guess."]
[Anabelle : "And I'm Livia... we really have been born again."]
[Alfonso : "It looks that way... let me try to open my eyes one more time."]
Leon—formerly Alfonso—opened his eyes. Since he was busy nursing, the first thing he saw was Helen's chest, but then he looked up to see a kind, beautiful woman in her thirties with wavy blonde hair. Lucia and Livia opened their eyes as well. They saw a young girl, maybe twelve years old, with blonde hair in twin braids and dressed in noble attire. She was crying with her eyes half-shut, her expression a picture of pure heartbreak.
"L-lady Eluisa... Leon opened his eyes," Helen murmured, startled to find the infant staring intently at her.
Eluisa opened her eyes and gasped when she saw Lucia and Livia looking up at her too. Lucia glanced over at Livia and noticed a birthmark on the girl's cheek. It was shaped like the mark of the god Terranus—a jagged scar resembling a continent that covered half her face. Lucia's face lit up, and she let out a tiny, delighted baby coo. Livia, feeling Lucia's eyes on her, immediately pouted; she could tell exactly what Lucia was thinking about that birthmark. Leon even waved a tiny hand at his two sisters while his mouth was still occupied.
Seeing the three infants "interacting" and making cute noises, Eluisa finally let out a small laugh. She asked Helen to hand Leon back for a moment, then pulled all three siblings into a tight hug, smiling through her tears.
"It's a miracle, Lady Eluisa... they're only a week old and they can already open their eyes. It's hard to believe," Helen said, stroking Leon's head.
"If only... if only Mom and Dad could see this," Eluisa sobbed.
"Lady Eluisa," Helen whispered, shifting closer to wrap an arm around the weeping girl.
[Leon : "Wait... our sister is crying?"]
[Lucia : "Where are our parents? And hold on, are we actually triplets?"]
[Livia : "Looks like it. And judging by the fact that we're on a boat, our parents are gone, and our sister is a wreck... I'd say we're on the run."]
[Leon : "Yeah, that tracks. I heard her mention something about pursuers from the central continent when I first woke up."]
[Lucia : "The three of us as triplets... is this some kind of divine joke?"]
[Leon : "Why are you bringing that up now?"]
[Livia : "Exactly. It's not the time. Honestly, I'm just glad we're triplets; at least we don't have to fight over Alfonso anymore."]
[Lucia : "Ugh... fine."]
In the end, the three of them could do nothing but watch Eluisa and Helen cry. They could only put on their saddest baby faces and offer silent comfort. The ship continued its long journey across the sea, heading toward the southern horizon—to the Black Continent, the land of the "demons."
Both Eluisa, still drying her tears, and Helen, who continued to comfort her, couldn't help but smile. They watched the three infants, who seemed to be deep in their own little conversation, making adorable noises with wide grins on their tiny faces.
For now, the crying had stopped. Eluisa leaned her head against Helen's shoulder, and Helen wrapped an arm around her, helping her steady the newborn triplets. Together, they looked out at the sea, praying for a quiet, peaceful life—one far away from the Empire's reach—in the Black Continent, their new home.