Pathless: Outcast

Cintra, 16th of Suncrest, year 300 UC

It was the first blood moon in five decades.

The red moon shone brightly as if it wanted to outshine the numerous stars in the night sky.

The citizens of Cintra knew what this meant, heck, the continent knew what a blood moon signaled.

It was a tale passed down from generation to generation. A tale widely believed.

A god had been slain.

Their blood soaked the moon crimson red for an entire night.

That same night the world was silent.

Animals slept until it was over, sensing the changing tides.

No one wanted to disrespect the god that was slain in fear of angering the deity's family, causing them to bring their divine wrath down on anyone who dared to make a peep.

On the continent of Milthur, The Holy Empire, and the three kingdoms forbid their citizens from traveling during a blood moon.

If word got out that someone went against the word of the numerous kings and the empress they would be executed, no questions asked.

This was a divine law that no one could break.

That did not stop criminals from making deals in the dead of the night.

A blood moon meant the streets would be clear, and the guards would be holed up in their barracks.

Making it prime time for business.

They had to be careful, instead of taking any streets that would normally be bustling with people they stuck to the alleys.

Some used the underground tunnels to travel the city.

No matter what, they could not be seen. If they were and some brave citizen told the guards the next morning, an investigation would not even take place.

For any noble that ruled over the commoners, a blood moon brought about a lot of headaches.

Neighbors told on one another, rivals accused each other of leaving, and petty disputes would be settled by whoever told the guards first.

A god may have died, but many people did as well.

No one was safe.

Yet if you gazed out your window you'd find a figure clad in black.

They were difficult to make out, almost as if they were one with the darkness.

Except, they were walking out in the open, where anyone could see.

Cintra was known for a lot of things, and they had their fair share of mysterious figures popping up every so often.

But no one was so brazen to defy the law out in the open.

The figure was carrying something in their arms, cradling it like a newborn baby that had to be cared for with the gentlest touch.

Slowly they made their way down the streets, passing corner after corner until they stopped in front of a building.

The building was wide with with a flight of stairs that led to a brown wooden door. Light could be seen shining inside from the multiple glass windows, and above the doorframe was a wooden eagle with its wings spread wide.

Kneeling they laid the black-wrapped item they were carrying on the front step.

Getting up, the figure knocked on the door.

Not gently either, the knocking sound was loud enough to wake anyone sleeping within the vicinity.

Loud enough that the object on the ground began to move and make sounds.

Turning the figure fled the scene.

There was turning to look back to see what would happen next, they simply vanished behind a corner.

A young woman in her early twenties opened the door slowly.

The door creaked as it opened and the light from the inside showed off the features of her face. Blue eyes that seemed to glisten in the night with long brown hair that flowed gently down her back.

She wore a white gown that reached her ankles, nothing noteworthy of its design. It was as plain as could be, yet it couldn’t hide her stunning beauty.

Gazing left then right, she saw no one.

‘Strange.’

She thought.

‘I could have sworn there was someone at the door.’

The crying coming from below grew louder and alerted her until she saw the pale face of a newborn baby.

Deathly pale at that.

"My goodness! What in the... come here."

She said as she picked up the baby.

The baby was wrapped in a black cloth protecting it from the cold wind.

She shushed the child calming them down as best she could and rocking them in a soothing motion.

"Who would leave you out here? Where did your parents go?"

She asked but knew she'd receive no response.

The baby couldn't have been more than a month or two old at most. They couldn't speak.

"Kelly, who's at the door?"

A voice asked from inside.

Kelly, the woman who picked up the baby turned and headed back in.

"A baby, a newborn baby."

Kelly replied as she closed the door behind her.

The baby after being rocked slowly stopped crying and closed their eyes.

Their eye color was a bit odd, being red instead of the normal brown, blue, or even green.

The child did seem sickly from its skin, so maybe it had some sort of aliment that she didn't know about.

"A baby?"

A woman appeared coming from around a corner. She was holding a candle in her hand and wore the same kind of gown as Kelly.

Her hair was beginning to gray and she was a bit on the rounder side.

Kelly nodded her head as she lowered the baby's cloth from around their head.

The two women gasped.

"What kind of sorcery is this?"

The woman asked.

"I've never seen this before. White hair, is that even possible?"

Kelly asked as she was just as confused.

The baby had snow-white hair, something that's never been seen before in either of their lives.

Even old people had gray hair, but never white. Add in the baby's deathly pale skin and red eyes, must mean the child was sick.

Gazing out the window, the older larger woman shivered.

The moon was red tonight, and now this. Thinking about it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand.

Her stomach twisted at the sight of the child. She knew it was a warning.

"Get rid of it! This child is cursed, cursed I tell you!"

"What? We can't, we have to take them in. It's our job."

Kelly said fighting back against the woman's words.

They were caretakers of the orphanage and it was their duty to accept any child seeking or needing shelter.

The older woman wasn't having any of it. She pointed at the window.

"Look outside, this is an omen. Why do you think they dropped the child here? Because they knew! They knew this... this thing would bring nothing but bad luck. Get rid of it before you damn us all!"

"Bertha! You can't be serious."

Bertha was, she was dead serious.

She's heard too much, and seen too much to know otherwise.

This baby was anything but a bundle of joy. Only misery would await those close to them.

Even now, she was refusing to even consider the child as a baby, referring to them as it instead.

Bertha's heart pounded as she stared at the baby's unnerving features.

The blood moon's eerie glow cast a sinister light through the window, deepening her sense of dread.

Her breath quickened, and she could feel a cold sweat forming on her brow.

"I am serious, Kelly."

She hissed.

Her fingers tightened around the hem of her gown, knuckles white with tension.

"Do you think I want to throw a baby out? But this... this isn't natural. It’s a warning."

Her gaze flicked to the window, the moon's crimson hue reflecting in her wide eyes. She shivered again, her superstitions gnawing at her.

"We can't risk it."

Bertha continued, her voice softer now, almost pleading.

"You’ve seen the signs. We both have. This child will bring nothing but misfortune. We have to protect the others."

Kelly's heart ached as she looked at Bertha, seeing the fear etched into every line of her face. Her own blue eyes softened with compassion, and she took a tentative step closer, reaching out a hand gently.

"I know you're scared."

Kelly said in a soothing tone.

"But we can't let fear dictate our actions, especially not here. These children depend on us for love and protection."

Her mind raced as she tried to find the right words.

She understood Bertha's fear, the superstitions that had been ingrained in them both from a young age. But she couldn't bear the thought of abandoning a helpless child, no matter what ominous signs seemed to surround them.

Bertha clenched her jaw.

She glanced again at the baby, then back at Kelly, whose calm demeanor only seemed to heighten her own anxiety. Her hands trembled slightly as she crossed her arms over her chest, trying to steady herself.

"Listen to me Kelly, if you don't get rid of that thing then you'll be cursed. Keep it if you want, but don't expect me or any of the others to look out for it. We'll keep our distance."

Kelly glanced over at the child, the tiny baby swaddled in a blanket, their small face scrunched up in sleep. The thought of leaving them to fend for themself was unbearable.

Kelly reached out again, placing a hand on Bertha's shoulder, squeezing it gently.

"I won’t force you to help if you're uncomfortable, but I can't turn my back on a child. I’ll care for them myself if I have to, but I hope you'll see that they're just a baby and deserve a chance."

Bertha felt the gentle squeeze on her shoulder, but it did little to ease the gnawing anxiety in her chest.

She looked down at Kelly’s hand, then back into her earnest eyes. The room seemed to grow colder, the shadows cast by the blood moon dancing ominously on the walls.

"Kelly, you don't understand what you're inviting into our lives. The moon, the baby's appearance, it's all too much of a coincidence."

Bertha said, her voice strained and filled with a deep, lingering fear.

Her hands clutched at her gown, fingers digging into the fabric as if to anchor herself to some semblance of control.

She had nothing but doubts, yet, she couldn’t help but wonder if Kelly might be right.

A child that would bring them nothing but misfortune?

It sounded crazy, even to her. But that feeling in her stomach, the one she desperatelty tried to ignore told her otherwise.

‘Let’s wait it out, see if that thing is merely sick, or if it’s truly the bringer of our downfall.’

She thought to herself.

"Fine."

Bertha muttered as she stepped back, away from the baby and Kelly.

She couldn’t bear the weight of abandoning a child based on her feelings alone. Kelly’s look was also starting to get to her, and she knew if she stayed any longer she would begin to falter.

"But don’t expect me to help. This is on you. And if anything happens... if any of the children get sick or worse... it’ll be on your conscience."

She turned to leave, but her steps were hesitant.

Each footfall was heavy with doubt and fear.

As she reached the door, she glanced back, a mixture of pity and apprehension in her eyes. She saw Kelly’s determination, and a part of her envied it, but her own fear was too strong to overcome.

"May Pater protect us all."

Bertha whispered, making a quick prayer as she exited the room.

Kelly watched Bertha's retreating form with a hint of sadness in her eyes. The room felt colder now, the shadows cast by the blood moon seeming to deepen as Bertha's presence faded.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her own nerves, and turned her attention back to the baby.

She walked over to the baby, her movements slow.

Bending down, she picked up the tiny bundle, cradling it against her chest. The baby's warmth and the soft, rhythmic rise and fall of their breath provided a strange sense of calm.

Eyeing the baby sleeping soundlessly Kelly smiled softly. They were so cute, she wished she could have one of her own. But she couldn't no matter how much she wanted to.

"Ahh, let's see if you're a boy or a girl."

Kelly said excitedly as she began to check.

Seconds later she looked at the baby and tilted her head slightly.

"Bryan. Your name will be Bryan."