The Fallen World: Kriel and Reginald

Kriel lifted her head towards the bright sun, smiling at the new day. Her snow white hair, blew gently with the wind as she hung clothes onto the clothesline. Kriel’s hazel eyes turned towards the woods, patiently waiting for her husband, Reginald, to come back home from hunting. Kriel had come to take a liking to this peaceful way of life. There was no more surviving the demons of old, fighting for her right to live, or living under a rule that was bound to fail. She smiled to the fact that peace had finally come, and that she could rest knowing the demons would not invade this world again. Kriel’s smile turned into a morbid gaze. She knew that deep down inside her, that she couldn’t keep this façade of a life at bay. She knew that one day, she’d had to pick up a sword and fight again. She would have to lose everyone she loved all over again. Still, she was happy in this period of time, there is no war, no famine, just peace and love. Then, she froze. A looming presence mounted over her, engulfing her in total darkness. Her eyes wide with fear, as she readied herself for the attacker, then she swung with all her might, ready to face the attacker. By instinct, the attacker dodged, and fell over. The attacker made a familiar grunt and soon Kriel realised who it was, It was Reginald. Kriel consciously stopped her attack and scurried to his side.

Reginald was a heavily built man, with amber-rose hair and emerald eyes. He wore, lumberjack outfit that suited him quite well. For a time, Reginald had been the king’s personal chef, until he got chased out for stealing the king’s jewels. Reginald moaned softly as he felt the pain entering his body. Kriel looked at her husband with worry.

“I’m sorry, my dear, are you alright?” Kriel spoke gently.

Reginald then looked to Kriel as she lovingly lifted him up. Reginald gave a boyish chuckle as he emerged from his fall.

‘Even after all those years, you still have that warrior instinct in you…”

Kriel’s concern grew into a deep sigh.

“And even after all these years, you still haven’t learned to dodge properly.”

The couple looked at each other fiercely with an intense glare. Them the wind blew harder and clouds started forming in the distance. Kriel started chuckling girlishly and Reginald followed suit. The couple then laughed their troubles away as the wind calmed down.

“Well, time to bring home tonight’s dinner!”

Reginald exclaimed proudly as he marched towards a wagon containing a giant boar. Kriel moved towards the dead animal. On closer inspection, body of the boar had been charred and roasted, and there appears to be no cuts. Kriel gave an introspective look and tilted her heads to meet Reginald’s gaze, who turned away.

“Reginald, did you burn this boar?” Kriel asked.

“Well, you see, the hunting tools didn’t work right, and I had to improvise.” Reginald sheepishly answered.

“So what you’re saying is, you got too lazy to hunt and used fire magic.”

Reginald’s face was riddled with guilt and he unwillingly nodded.

“Reginald, we’ve been through this, we have to bring in food the normal way, or people are going to drive us out again.”

“I know, I know, Kriel, humans haven’t appreciated the uses of magic yet.”

Kriel gave out a huge sigh.

“Just be careful next time, alright? I don’t want this peaceful life to end just yet.”

Kriel then looked towards her belly, rubbing it gently. Her eyes riddled with sadness. Reginald, noticing her distress, went behind her and embraced her. Reginald then shifted his hands to hers as he whispered in a soothing voice.

“Don’t worry, my darling, everything will be alright, no harm will come to us. I will make sure of it.”

Kriel then closed her eyes and rested her head onto Reginald’s neck, feeling a warmth like no other.

Nightfall came, and so opened up a gateway of stars that shone through the skies, but tonight, tonight was special. It was that time of the year again, where the stars would fall from the skies and shower the world with droplets of light. Kriel and Reginald had finished their meal and are now headed towards the woods.

“Reginald, where are we going?” Kriel announced curiously.

Reginald looked back at Kriel with a joyful gaze. Kriel was met with intrigue, as she had never seen such excitement from Reginald at all. Reginald then extended his hand to Kriel, inviting her along. Kriel accepted it and was then pulled along to Reginald’s mysterious location. The couple walked for a good half an hour before they had arrived at a lake in the middle of the forest. The lake was filled with glowfruit and lantern bugs as they elegantly float above the lake. Kriel gazed in awe as she bore this natural wonder.

“Every year, the lantern bugs would gather in this very lake to meet and mate. They would first float mystically upon these waters, dancing in unison, awaiting for the Starfall.”

Kriel fixated her eyes onto the scene. The lake was filled with life, from plants to fishes. They too were dancing around the bugs hoping to have them as a meal. The couple then took a spot near the edge of the lake. They sat down and admired the breath-taking view presented to them. Kriel then turned towards her husband.

“Reginald, how did you find this place?”

Reginald shifted his head to meet her. A genuine smile broke through his excitement.

“When I first came to this earthen plane, I fell in love with it. From its wonderful landscapes to its interesting creatures. It was like nothing like how they had described it. Its days were filled with life and its nights were filled with light.”

Reginald turned back to the skies.

“It was such a magical experience. During one of those adventures I had, I stumbled upon this very spot on this very day, only to bare witness to a stunning sight like this.”

“I see…” Kriel smiled. Her eyes turning back. For a split moment, Kriel felt a sadness lingering in Reginald’s words. A type of sadness, unknown to her but she had been burdened by. As her thoughts wondered off aimlessly, Kriel felt a sharp pain in her stomach. Kriel screamed out in pain, alarming all the creatures in the night. Reginald stood up, startled by her sudden reaction.

“Kriel, what’s wrong?”

“Reginald, I think our child wants to come out!”

“B-but its too soon, we haven’t eve-“

Kriel let out a painful grunt. Reginald, quick-wittingly, called upon a mud golem from the lake, and commanded it to assist Kriel.

“Kriel, hold on tight to the golem. I’ll deliver the baby.”

Kriel let out a worried nod and grabbed onto the golem. Kriel then began pushing the baby out. Constantly forcing air into her stomach. As each passing moment went through, Kriel’s angelic wings spread out wildly. In response to Kriel, Reginald’s devilish wings emerged from his back. As Kriel pushed her baby out into existence, she crushed the golem’s hand breaking its arm apart. Fortunately for her, the golem regenerated its arm instantly. After a long hour of breaking the golem’s arm and pushing, the baby had come out safely. In the time when the birthing had taken place, Reginald’s minions had furnished a resting area made of leaves for Kriel to rest on. While holding her child in her hands, Kriel was carried by Reginald to the make-shift bed to rest. Holding her child tightly and warmly in a silk wrap, she lay down comfortably as she smiled at her child. Reginald then turned to the ground where a pile of solidified mud laid. Kriel had crushed many mud golem arms for pain relief. Reginald was glad that he had not taken the golem’s place.

Just when the chaos had ended, the peaceful night returned to its original state. The lantern bugs had become frightened and moved away from the scene, yet for some reason, two remained dancing along the lake. Reginald took his place beside Kriel and brought them closer to him. The couple gazed lovingly into their child. As they share this beautiful moment, Starfall had arrived. The stars began to fall from the skies, illuminating the darkness that clouded them. The goddess and the devil stared in awe as they shared this magnificent sight.

“Our wings haven’t disappeared yet.” Reginald whispered.

“Our child has been born.” Answered Kriel.

“A child made by a devil and a goddess.”

“What shall her name be?”

“Her name shan’t be the devil’s-“

“Nor a goddess’.”

Reginald held them closer as the couple’s wings covered them from the light. “Her name shall be-“

“Artemis.”

Moonlight shone upon the child, exposing her wings to the light, A devil’s and an angel’s. Reginald kissed Kriel on her forehead and held her closer.

“That’s a wonderful name, my dear.”

The goddess and the devil laid at the lake, watching the stars fall, and awaiting the future for their daughter that will be shaped by then. The lantern bugs made a harmonious tune, insinuating the light’s embrace. In the cold of the night, the bells ring silently to mark the first child ever being made by a devil and a goddess.