**200 Years Later**
In a small Etherian town outside the Kingdom of Atlas, the Heatherson family lived in a quaint house on the plains. The household consisted of Madeline and her spouse, Arthur. Their bond was stronger than any wall ever built.
Madeline was a caring and hardworking woman, always ensuring their home was kept in perfect order. Arthur, a retired army knight, spent much of his time in the forest chopping wood. He made sure they were never short on firewood, providing warmth and light even in the darkest of nights. The couple deeply cared for each other and did their best to lead fulfilling lives. However, one issue weighed heavily on their relationship: Madeline's infertility. Despite a year of trying, they had seen little success and found no solutions.
Eventually, they decided to stop trying for a biological child and explore the possibility of adoption. However, the thought of adoption ached Madeline's heart, as she longed for a child of her own.
On the annual Celebration Day, meant to honor the nine legendary heroes of Etheria, Arthur and Madeline chose to celebrate differently. They enjoyed a romantic night together under the stars, which shone brighter than ever. Afterward, Madeline suggested visiting the Tree of Eternity. Since Arthur had been saving gold for a year, they felt they had enough for the journey.
Their adventure began and took them from the Kingdom of Atlas to the center of Averidia, a journey that lasted exactly four months by carriage. Madeline was eager to see the Tree and secretly hoped it would cure her infertility.
Upon their arrival in the Kingdom of Averidia, they were greeted by the sight of a massive dome created by divine soul energy, which protected the land from danger. The view was mesmerizing and almost ethereal. It took them a while and considerable waiting, but the wait was worth it. They witnessed a sprawling kingdom where hollow beings and humans coexisted, and seraphim flew overhead as if angels were descending from the heavens. At the heart of it all stood the Soul Tree, its leaves sparkling like stars and giving off an otherworldly glow akin to a galaxy.
A large crowd gathered around the Soul Tree, for no one was allowed within thirty feet of its brilliance. However, when a royal of chosen blood was present, they could interact with the tree. During this ceremony, Prince Noral of Rethil, the selected noble, was about to receive the fruit of the Soul Tree. It was said that the tree bore one fruit every fifteen years, and only a chosen royal could consume it, becoming a divine being known as a "Bloom of Averidia."
As the ceremony unfolded, Arthur instructed Madeline to stay in the crowd while he excused himself, disappearing into the throng before she could respond. Alone among strangers, she watched the event with anticipation. As Prince Noral approached the Soul Tree to try its fruit, a sudden blinding flash enveloped the entire kingdom, then abruptly faded away.
Confused, Madeline gathered her bearings only to find that time seemed frozen. Not a soul moved, and even the birds hung still in the sky. In the silence, she called out for Arthur, but there was no answer—only a deep, chilling voice that sent shivers down her spine.
"Madeline!" the voice echoed once more. This time, she recognized its source—it was the Soul Tree, beckoning her closer. Hesitantly, she approached the tree and witnessed it bear a second fruit, dark and swirling with shadows.
"Eat!" the voice commanded again. With no other choice left, Madeline complied, picking the fruit and taking a bite. Suddenly, a bright light flashed again, and she was transported back to her original position as if nothing had happened. The crowd was still lively, and the ceremony continued. Confused, Madeline wondered if she had imagined the whole experience, and if so, why.
When everything concluded, Arthur and Madeline began their journey home, which surprisingly took three months. They were left with a month of free time to rest and reflect on their adventure.
Eventually, Arthur noticed that Madeline was eating excessively and, in the mornings, she often vomited or felt sick. Most days, she was nauseous and tired, which deeply worried Arthur. Finally, he decided to take her to the local infirmary for an evaluation.
After waiting for some time, Arthur began to feel impatient and restless until the doctor finally delivered the news.
"What's wrong with my wife? Will she be okay?" he asked frantically.
The doctor reassured Arthur that his wife would be fine and then told him something that shocked him to his very core.
"Mister Arthur, your wife, Miss Madeline Heatherson, is pregnant."