Chapter 1 - The Birth (1/2)
Rainbow Island, Southwest of the Sun Empire, Multicolor Leaf Forest outskirts.
They called it Multicolor Leaf Forest because every tree in the forest had leaves of different colors that all together created a fantastic sight.
Although it possessed such a scenario, the forest was little frequented due to the various dangers within. However, from time to time, some people dared to approach the forest - whether it was to take advantage of its resources or to save time by following the path that skirted it closely, instead of having to go around by using a longer road.
On a cloudy day in autumn, while a cold wind was carrying away the leaves that had fallen from the trees, creating a rainbow of leaves and dust, a convoy of merchants was following the path just outside the outer boundary of the forest.
The convoy consisted of one dozen of people divided into four wagons that contained various types of goods that would be sold as soon as they arrived at Leaf City. That was the nearest city in the vicinity and took its name from the forest. At the head of one of these wagons, two male merchants were happily talking.
”You have to admit this time we have amassed a nice amount of goods, haven't we? As soon as we arrive in the city and sell this stuff, we will no longer worry about money for a while,” commented the man who had the reins of the horses pulling the wagon.
The man had blond hair and a healthy pink complexion. He was wearing a purple vest with golden patterns that was a distinctive vest, generally used by merchants. His light eyes, together with a round face, conveyed a feeling of cheerfulness and vivacity.
”Yes, we can't complain at all. Fortunately, we were able to complete everything on time, and we shouldn't be too far from our destination too.” The companion answered in a relieved voice.
Unlike the first man, the second one had black hair with dark brown eyes. Although wearing the same vest, because of the dark circles and the stern expression on his face, he conveyed a feeling of tiredness and worry.
”Right, your wife... At the thought of all that money, I forgot for a moment that your wife is pregnant. I understand that you have to work to support the family, but wouldn't it be better if you all stayed in some city, Old Jian?!” The first merchant who acted as the wagon's driver asked.
The man named Qin Jian looked at his colleague with a dejected expression and answered as he sighed.
”And where Shang? We are itinerant merchants, and we must constantly move to do business. Furthermore, we have no close relatives, and I don't trust leaving her alone in a place where I don't know anyone. I prefer to keep her with me; at least I know she is safe.”
Shang noticed the mood of his friend and promptly tried to cheer Qin Jian saying, ”All right, all right... Well, luckily, your wife has spirit power and has had no problems so far. I can't imagine what we would have done if she had given birth outdoors. I'm still young; I don't want to have to deal with brats for a while longer.” He concluded this last sentence with a loud laugh before returning to focus on the path, hoping to have brighten up his partner.
Meanwhile, a young woman with brown skin and long brown hair was sitting with the goods in the carriage driven by the two men. Her light eyes that contrasted with her skin were looking at her big belly that contained the little life form still not born who was living inside her.
'We almost there now, my little one. Soon we will be in the city where you can be born. Then we're going to live with Dad. Hold on just a little bit.' She said while stroking kindly her belly. The child in her belly then produced a little sound as if he was listening and wanted to respond to his mother.
The woman's name was Farah, the wife of the merchant Qin Jian.
In the past, she was a slave who was bought by Qin Jian to help him in his work as a merchant since she could read and knew arithmetic. Later, she was released by Qin Jian, but she decided to stay with him, and they ended up falling in love and got married.
Despite her delicate state, she decided to follow her husband on a journey not to be separated from him at this critical moment and allowing him to complete his business as they needed money for their incoming son.
They were a young couple waiting for their first child and eager to start a quiet life together and settle down somewhere. Unfortunately, fate isn't always benevolent and often leads to misfortunes that change a person's life and sometimes the whole world for good or for bad.
*
As the sun was setting, while the convoy began to get ready for the night, twenty men dressed in black clothes were watching the merchants in the distance, glancing at the wagons like hungry wolves waiting for their prey.
”Boss, what do you say? It seems feasible. It will soon become dark, and it is perfect for a surprise attack. Let us do it.” Asked one of the men in black to his team leader who was next to him.
”I also think the same. We've been quite unlucky lately, but this looks like a succulent convoy. With this, we will be without economic problems for a while, although I hope the goods inside are of good quality to have a better profit. Get in position first, and then wait for my signal. Remember, don't f*ck this task. Kill them all immediately without wasting time playing f*cking stupid games.” The chief said in an authoritative voice while watching the merchants. Those had finally finished their operations for the night and were preparing to dine.
An hour later, when the sun had already set completely to make room for the evening, the bandit chief gestured with his hand to his closest man to move.
The latter communicated the gesture to the rest of the group that had scattered around. Shortly afterward, a rain of arrows rained down on the place where the merchants had gathered.
Then, the sound of twenty or so bows shooting arrows reverberated in the air, interrupting the calm that dwelt in that place.
This sound alerted the merchants who realized too late the danger, and they were forced to endure the rain of arrows directly without time to find a place where shelter themselves.
”Arrows!? ENEMY ATTACK!!”
”Sh*t, Bandits?!”
As they pulled out their weapons, a slight aura arose from the merchant's bodies while they tried to endure the arrows. However, not everyone was so fast, and a couple of men fell to the ground spraying blood on the cold ground.
After the barrage of arrows, the bandits arrived with their swords raised, starting a fight against the merchants.
Although they were people devoted to business, the merchants had all been trained to defend themselves and began to fight back. However, with the numerical disparity and more exceptional skill of the bandits with the sword, they soon began to fall one by one on the ground where their comrades laid lifeless.
Among them, Qin Jian was fighting with three people at the same time, demonstrating great skill with the sword, while his wife was behind him with her hands outstretched on her belly to protect their child.
”Farah, listen to me carefully. I will open a gap, and I want you to ride a horse and get out of here.”
”No, how can you ask me this!? How can I abandon you here!?”