A colossal blaze consumed human flesh. It was part of a religious burial ritual, sending the person back to the Mother, hoping she would grant them the warmth denied by this world, filled with plague, wars, and calamities.

Felix, watching the immense flames, prayed to the Mother that the child heading to her embrace would not accidentally stray into the Abyss and become a monster.

While Mariana and her husband wept inconsolably for their endless loss, Felix could only offer his silent prayers. He had witnessed child mortality countless times, as well as the deaths of hundreds of adults. He had survived a grand battle, the Battle of Lorten, which had occurred thirteen years ago.

Felix wished to comfort them, but he knew so little about them that he silently observed, with little Bernard sleeping nearby on a bench.

Stepping away from the bonfire, he picked up the child and walked away. Felix had a thought to find out the reason behind the child's death. He didn't want to inquire too much from the locals, so he went straight to the tavern, to the innkeeper he had already spoken to. Felix shook his head and took a seat at the main bar; the man immediately approached him.

"Did you know?" The innkeeper was taken aback; he looked at Felix with surprised eyes.

"About what?" He hesitated to ask.

"Mariana's child," Felix swallowed. "Dead..."

Not only the innkeeper, but everyone nearby seemed shocked. They hadn't known about it, at least that's how it appeared. Mariana's house was quite far, and they only went there to fetch clean water.

"I didn't know," he was distressed; he had known this beautiful young woman for a long time. "But the old woman, Calma, should know. She's been delivering babies in the village for over forty years."

Felix nodded his thanks and immediately left; he didn't want to wander around the village until evening, but the sun was already high in the sky.