Ceres

46

Cerbous can't leave the baby Ceres alone. He doesn't trust that much people in the mansion. That's why, even though Ceraph called for him, Cerbous brought the baby Ceres with him.

Ceraph was a loving husband and father but he can never show his love that easily. The moment he saw the baby Ceres on Cerbous' arms, he took her from him and carried her. Baby Ceres was sleeping and never woke up even though Ceraph took her. Ceraph, seeing the baby Ceres sleeping, finally let out a smile.

"She will grow up like her mother."

Only if she can live far from this family; is what the young Cerbous thought.

"You have to protect her well, Cerbous."

Ceraph looked into his son's eyes. He personally trained his son and wanted him to be a general like him. However, when Soaring Dragon wanted to take in Cerbous, he knew that he cannot do anything about his son wanting to leave. Yet, he still hopes that his son won't forget his roots and become strong to protect his loved ones.

"Your mother... What did she tell you?"

"Mom told me to take care of Ceres."

Ceraph nodded. His eyes only stopped at Cerbous for a moment and then, returned to the baby Ceres in his arms.

"Ceres is special. She is the last thing that your mother left to us. We have to take care of her."

Ceraph gave baby Ceres to Cerbous and told him to sleep early. They all left Ceraph's study room. In the next years, Ceraph still continued to patrol borders and watch out for enemies but the difference this time was that, he was much more frequently home than usual. He personally sees Cerbous training with the sword and also, takes good care of Ceres. Unfortunately, when Ceres was three years old, Ceraph met his end on a battle. No one saw it coming. The kingdom mourned the loss of one of their heroes. Cerbous was once again, left with the responsibility to take care of Ceres alone.

What Iona and Ceraph didn't know was that Cerbous has long read the letter that Iona left for Ceraph on the day she died.

---

"Oh, about your attribute?"

Cerbous stopped stroking Ceres' hair and looked at her excitedly.

"This..."

Cerbous knew from Ceres' reaction that she didn't want to tell him anything.

"It's okay. If you can't tell big brother, I will understand."

Cerbous scratched his nose. He could only be this loving and silly in front of Ceres.

"But, you know, I already figured it out."

"What?"

"You have a rare attribute, right?"

Ceres didn't want to lie in front of this person and she can only nod lightly.

"I know because mother knew about it, too."

Ceres was stunned. Their mother knew? But, how? Isn't that only when one is five years old and one is tested with magic attribute that one can know about it? She wasn't even a month old when their mother died. How can she possibly know?

"Mother left a letter to father. I... Even though it's not right, I read it before I gave it to father."

Cerbous scratched his head this time.

"On that letter, mother stated that you were special and that we should keep you safe at all times."

Iona was the only daughter of a village head. It was only a small village near the border of Winsterein kingdom and it doesn't even have a name. However, Iona has always been special in that village. That is also one of the reasons why the village didn't want her to leave with Ceraph.

---

"Father..."

It was Iona, kneeling in front of his father and pleading that she would be able to leave with Ceraph.

"I... I only want you to live long and be safe."

"But father, I do love Ceraph and I believe he does love me, too. Why can't yo---"

"Enough! You can never leave this village. I forbid you! If he loves you then, let him stay instead! You know that I'm already breaking a lot of rules with allowing you two to be together. You should understand it more than anyone on this village!"

Iona cried. She has never seen her father this angry and so displeased. How can she not know why her father is like this? She does know but...

"Iona, you have a responsibility on this village. How can you abandon us just for a man?"

Iona can't answer. Instead, she continued to cry and kneel.

"You should know that the moment you leave this village..."

"I... Know."

Her father, the village head, tightly clenched his fists. His words don't even have any meaning to his daughter anymore.

After a long silence, the village head turned around and told Iona that she can leave. She will not have to say goodbye to anyone but instead, leave right away.

"Goodbye... Father."

The village head only nodded his head and still, didn't look back at Iona. But from his shoulders, one can know that he was also crying.

---

"According to mother, you will be a special existence as foretold by the heavens. Mother was, surprisingly, a priestess in their village. She wrote on that letter that she was a bringer of heaven's message. One of the messages was that she can never leave the village no matter what because... The moment she leaves, the heavenly laws will take place and will execute her and her daughter."

Cerbous looked at Ceres with sorrowful eyes.

"Daughter... That is me."

Cerbous nodded.

"If that is so... Why did mother waited and allowed me to be born? If only she didn't, she may have lived longer."

Cerbous pinched Ceres cheek.

"Silly. Of course mother knew about that but she also knew that no matter what, you are still her child. She loves you. All she ever wanted was for you to be safe and happy."

"Is that why I was killed? The heavens wanted me dead?"

Rather, the heavenly laws killed Ceres?

Ceres already died. She wasn't Ceres to begin with. Did everything happen to make way for her transmigration? Or everything was only coincidental? And, that it was just a chance that she was there when Ceres died so she transmigrated? But then again, why?

Is it really all according to the heavenly laws? What are the heavenly laws in the first place? Is it the same as fate and destiny?

Is there something in this world like a god? Someone who is overlooking this world and making sure that everything is in order?

Did Ceres' death signify the end of heavenly laws taking action or is it her transmigration that the heavenly laws will act against?

Why is it specific to a daughter, too? Why wasn't it about a son instead? What's wrong with having a daughter?

"That..."

Cerbousonce again became quiet and stared at Ceres before he spoke again.-tbc

A/N: I went online so that I could post the subbed videos I did last time (the life of a fan girl hehe). I pretty much learned how to do things like translating, subbing, photoshop, and many more just because it was pretty rare back then (in one of my fandoms). Right now, I guess I have a number of skills unnecessary for my profession. -_-

Like what a favorite translator of mine said (to himself/somebody/idk), '...knows a lot of things and doesn't specialize in any thing at all'. It pretty much goes along those lines. Haha!