After a few more moments ZaiWin¹Literally zai (blade) + win (chaos). realized that, even though he couldn’t see or touch anything, he still could hear. And so he focused his attention on the muffled distant sounds that he could capture.

“This child will be perfect!” a man’s voice said, sounding clearly elated. “After so long, after so offering so many prayers, the Heavens have finally decided to bless us.”

Even though he couldn’t see ZaiWin closed his eyes. Now that he’d calmed down he actually felt very good. In fact, he couldn’t remember having ever felt this warm and safe in his entire life.

Outside, a woman’s voice was singing gently. He felt so comfortable that he almost fell asleep.

“How are you feeling, dear? Please be careful when you walk outside,” the male voice said again with warming concern, and a female voice laughed, bringing a sweet taste to his mouth.

“Don’t be silly. I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine,” she proudly corrected. “There’s nothing wrong with my feet!”

“Please be careful, nonetheless. Maybe I should have them take down these steps!” the man argued and more laughter filled the world around him.

“And then what? How are people, me included, supposed to go out into the garden? Besides, those steps have been there my entire life! Stop fussing! Instead tell the women in the kitchen that I really want to eat roasted sweet corn.”

“Roasted sweet corn?!”

“That’s right! Now go! Go!” she playfully insisted and the singing returned, lulling ZaiWin into that sleepy state again.

“Quick, quick! Help me braid my hair!”

ZaiWin couldn’t say how long had passed, since he’d been thrown into that darkness. But the urgent tone on the woman’s voice reawakened him from that wonderful drowsiness.

“The esteemed Varsen²Literally var (sky) + sen (star). Meaning that who reads the stars in the sky. Name given to the Temple’s Seers. They can live in the Temple or as honorable guests of a Clan. is here. I cannot afford to make such an important guest wait!”

The world around him was suddenly taken by small tremors and ZaiWin attentively waited to hear more.

“How is it, esteemed Varsen. Is the child healthy?” another woman asked, her voice sounding more distant, probably belonging to an older woman.

“All of you! Kneel in reverence! And praise this holy vessel,” a deep male voice commanded, full of awe and authority. “The Heavens have truly blessed this Household. The child is Heaven sent.”

“What?! What does that mean?” the older woman asked, sounding more afraid than curious, and the world around him grew colder, fear pouring in from everywhere.

“This child is a Tien’Elhar³ Literally tien (Heaven) + el (supreme) + har (girl child). The Heavenly Beings also known as Celestials in the common language.. And this blessed mother must enter the Temple as soon as possible. Make sure that travel arrangements are made within the next days. I will personally escort her there.”

Tien’Elhar?!

ZaiWin opened his eyes, forcing his sleepy mind to work.

That’s right! He had been dragged into Snow’s memories. So where was he? He tried to look around again, but he still couldn’t move.

“Tien’Elhar …?” a man’s voice breathed, sounding incredulous and outraged. “How’s that possible …?”

“I … I don’t know …” the same woman that used to sing replied, her voice sounding small and afraid.

“What have you done, woman?!!” the man angrily demanded.

“I didn’t do anything!!” she replied, almost panicking.

“Is that even my child?”

“How can you say that? Of course it is! Whose else could it be?” she fired back, and more fear poured in. Fear and sadness, painting the darkness around ZaiWin in hues of red.

“No! That child is no child of mine!” the man angrily stated. “Take her away. Lock her in her chambers.”

“No! How can you say that?” she pleaded, but the man’s voice remained dry and unchanged. ZaiWin could hardly recognize his voice anymore. He sounded like an entirely different person from the man who had sounded so worried about the woman’s wellbeing not too long ago.

“Don’t let her out. And don’t let anyone in, without my permission. We have to carefully ponder what to do about this.”

Sadness was all ZaiWin could feel now. All he could breathe. It made his chest ache.

The singing returned, but there was no warmth coming from it anymore. Only pain.

“You’re not his. You’re not mine. So who do you belong to?” she softly asked, her voice bitter and sorrowful. “They will adore you. But will they love you? I would have loved you. No matter what they may say. I would have loved you. But you’ll never be mine. So I won’t love you anymore.”

ZaiWin focused his attention even harder, trying to see more than the red sea now surrounding him. It was as if he had been thrown inside a lake of blood.

“Have you seen my husband?” the woman asked, sounding hopelessly hopeful.

“I see …” Disappointment.

“Have you heard anything about when I’ll be allowed outside?” More disappointment.

“It’s been two months … Do they really intend to keep me locked up in here until this child is born?” This time she actually sounded angry, but her anger didn’t last for long.

“What about the esteemed Varsen? He never returned? He said he would escort me to the Temple …”

The sound of a heartbeat trampled over the voices reaching ZaiWin, coming from the outside. It sounded extremely strong and fast.

Outside, the woman was singing again, but now she didn’t feel sad anymore. She didn’t feel anything.

“You know? They say she’ll be a beautiful baby-girl. With golden hair and golden eyes like the sun. I wonder if they will allow me to see her … Probably not. Yes … maybe they’re right. Maybe is best if I don’t see her at all. What for …?”

Pain rocked what was now ZaiWin’s entire world. And not only emotional pain. Some of it was physical as well. Everything was shaking, the already constricting space feeling even tighter, hard shock-waves propagating through the entire world. The woman outside was crying angrily, hate darkening everything around him as she repeatedly punched herself.

“Why?? Why are you still here?! Why did it have to be you?? I never wanted you! I want a normal baby!! I want a normal child! I want you out of me! Get out already!!” she kept screaming and the fast heartbeat sounding all around him became even faster, replying to those hateful words with fear. “If you won’t come out I will cut you out myself!”

ZaiWin looked franticly around again. Where was he?? And suddenly, as if a dark curtain had been raised right in front of his eyes, he could finally see. A small silver glow, no larger than the palm of his hand. ZaiWin wanted to hold it. To keep it safe. But by then he had come to understand that he had no physical body, in that place. And so he simply tried to expand his consciousness, carefully surrounding the trembling silver star.

Calm down. You’re safe. You’ll be fine., he pushed his thoughts towards the silver glow, trying to saturate the darkness around him with those words.

Outside the woman was still screaming, still thrashing around, still making everything shake as if the entire world was about to crumble.

“Let go! Let go of me! You too! You’re such a dumb creature!! Isn’t it ironic? They locked me up in here, and the only company I’m allowed to keep is a dumb, stupid, mute girl!” she screamed, and then laughed. And then cried. Her mind was clearly and slowly breaking down.

Don’t worry. Don’t listen. I’m here. I’ll keep you safe., ZaiWin focused on sending more bright thoughts into the darkness, like bubbles of light to keep the small glow company.

The woman outside was singing again. But, after a while, she was crying softly. She sang and cried a lot, now. She rarely spoke anymore.

Silvareiel

When tragedy occurs it never encompasses only one ?