Twenty-two years ago…
The village of "Lima" lay nestled in the embrace of nature, more tranquil than ever before. It was a place where no crowns were worshipped and no kings imposed their will. Here, the law was a collective word, and justice was forged by the consensus of its people. It was a village of honest toil, where the scent of plowed earth and the sweat of laborers formed its eternal morning fragrance.
Inside a modest house, Minahoke moved with grace despite the heavy burden of her pregnancy. She was setting the breakfast table as golden sunbeams filtered through the window. But the morning calm did not last. With a voice full of patient reproach, she called out:
"Haman! Shira! Come on, breakfast is getting cold... Hamaaaan! Shiraaaaa!"
She sighed deeply, resting a hand on her stomach. Haman emerged from the room, his features masked by drowsiness, the remnants of sleep still clinging to his voice.
"Ah... Good morning, dear..."
Minahoke cut him off with a sharp look. "Hurry, you'll be late for work and the food will get cold! Shira! Wake up this instant!"
She headed toward her son's room, opening the door with a mysterious, unsettling smile that made young Shira leap from his bed in a panic as if he'd seen a ghost. "Oh no! I'm getting up right now... Good morning, Mama!"
Minahoke chuckled softly, stroking his hair. "Good boy."
The small family gathered around the table, the clatter of utensils mixing with their laughter. "So delicious! Thanks, Mama," Shira said, savoring the meal.
"It's no surprise, coming from my dedicated wife," Haman replied with pride.
Minahoke smiled. "You are the most precious things I own. Soon, a new member will join us to complete our happiness."
Shira's eyes gleamed with excitement. "I hope it's a boy! We'll be the best brothers. I'll protect him from all dangers, and we'll play and become the strongest in the world!"
Haman laughed, but his tone carried a hint of wisdom. "Even if it is a girl, it is your duty as the eldest brother to be her shield and protector."
Suddenly, the harmony was shattered. Minahoke tried to stand to fetch water, but a stifled cry escaped her lips as she gripped the edge of the table.
"Aagh... Haman!"
The peace instantly dissolved into chaos. Haman rushed to her side, dread consuming his features. "What is it? Is it time?"
She nodded, breathing with difficulty. "Haman... get me to the room... Shira, run! Fetch Doctor Megan, now!"
Shira took off like a lightning bolt, his small heart pounding with fear for his mother. Inside, Haman tried to soothe Minahoke though his hands were trembling. "Hang on... finally, our new family member will see the light."
Minahoke whispered weakly, "Our family will only become more beautiful..."
Minutes later, Shira returned followed by the doctor and some neighboring women. The door was shut, leaving Haman and Shira outside, exchanging anxious glances. The silence in the hallway was broken only by Minahoke's labored moans.
Then, the unthinkable happened.
The sound of a newborn's cry rang out, but with it, an extraordinary light burst through the cracks of the door. A sacred golden aura radiated from the infant's body for several minutes, turning the room's dimness into a blinding noon. The doctor and the women recoiled, their faces pale with shock. One of them stammered in terror: "It's... It's him... Oh, heavens!"
Haman and Shira rushed inside to find a heavy silence hanging over everyone.
Haman spoke with a trembling smile, "He's here... It's a boy, Shira!"
Shira jumped with joy. "Yes! My little brother is here!"
Minahoke asked, gathering her strength, "Haman... what shall we name him?"
Haman thought for a moment, then looked at his eldest son. "I'll leave that to Shira."
Shira's eyes widened. "Me? Really? Hmm... how about Nazaki?"
The parents exchanged impressed looks. "Nazaki... a wonderful name."
But behind this joy, a ghost haunted the truth. After everyone had left, Minahoke whispered to her husband, "Nazaki... he is the Miracle Child, isn't he?"
Haman replied with grim gravity, "According to the legend, his birth signifies war. The Golden Mikano Tree must have glowed somewhere by now."
"Are we leaving?" she asked fearfully.
"Yes, at midnight. Everyone knows his identity now. Even if they stay silent, those scoundrels won't spare them until they confess. We will forge new identities and vanish."
Midnight arrived, and the village was drowned in ink-black shadows. As Minahoke packed their belongings, clutching Nazaki to her chest, she noticed her eldest was missing. "Haman, where is Shira?"
"He went to get something important; he'll be back shortly."
Indeed, Shira returned, but he wasn't carrying an object—he was carrying pure terror in his eyes. "Father! Mother! There are armies... massive numbers surrounding the village!"
The blood froze in Haman's veins. "Curse it! They've arrived sooner than I thought! Move!"
They had barely stepped out the door when hell erupted. Screams, rising flames, and the rhythmic clashing of steel. The armies hadn't come to conquer; they had come to seize the "Miracle." Destruction spread to every corner. As the three ran toward the southern exit, a squad of soldiers cut them off.
A massive explosion rocked the earth beneath their feet. Thick dust and roaring flames tore through the family. Forced by the sheer pressure of the blast, Minahoke—still clutching her infant—was driven westward, separated from Haman and Shira... separated from everything she knew.
To be continued….