Two months had swept over the city of Caria, and the brutal, suffocating winter was finally beginning to yield. Outside the frosted windows of our home, the thick blankets of snow were starting to thaw, turning into a steady, rhythmic drip from the eaves as the crisp Mediterranean sun beat down on the cobbled streets. The world outside was slowly waking up from its three-month slumber, but inside, my world had completely narrowed down to the quiet, domestic rhythm of a mother.
With Evelyn away at the Bureau handling our tavern logistics and keeping the guild inspectors off our trail, the house was entirely peaceful. I was sitting comfortably on the soft cushions of the sofa, cradling little Cliff against my chest. At two months old, he was already growing stronger by the day, his beautiful, delicate features becoming more refined, and those striking hazel eyes of his tracking every single movement I made with a sharp, inherited focus.
"Here, Cliff," I murmured softly, my voice filled with an uncharacteristic, gentle warmth. "Time for your food, little guy."
I reached up and slowly unlaced the front of my green kirtle, letting the heavy fabric part down the middle.
Revealing my chest, my breasts were modest... a firm, soft C-cup that had grown slightly fuller since the delivery... but the skin remained strikingly pale and smooth, contrasting beautifully against the dark fabric of my clothes. Because of my unique hybrid biology, my body didn't produce anything monstrous; there was no blood or dark essence here.
Instead, a steady, warm stream of normal, rich human milk was already beginning to bead and pour out from the soft nipples, perfectly suited for my two-thirds human boy.
The moment Cliff smelled the milk, his little mouth opened eagerly. He latched on with a sudden, surprisingly aggressive strength, sucking hard as his tiny hands pressed against my pale skin. As he drank hungrily, his little tongue flicked and swirled inside his mouth, completely tickling the sensitive skin of my nipple in a chaotic, desperate attempt to get every last drop.
A sudden, sharp wave of intense discomfort shot straight through my nerve endings. I caught my breath, my single jade-green eye widening as a heavy flush crept up my neck. I couldn't help but let out a low, breathless gasp, looking down at the tiny boy who was currently dominating my personal space.
"Ow... seriously, kid?" I wheezed out, a scandalous, highly amused smirk tugging at the corner of my lips despite the strange sensation.
I reached down and gently tapped his soft, chubby cheek with a single finger.
"You really are a literal pervert, aren't you? Just like your mother. You didn't waste any time figuring out how to maximize your efficiency, did you?"
Even though the sensation was entirely bizarre and overwhelming for someone who used to be a feared, blood-drinking legendary bounty hunter, I didn't pull away. I simply leaned back into the sofa cushions, my massive crimson blood wings gently unfurling behind me and wrapping around the edges of the couch like a soft, protective barrier. This was for Cliff. This was the quiet, peaceful life I had promised him, far away from the blood-soaked trenches and the cold survival metrics of Andromeda. I gently stroked his soft brown hair, tracing the tiny, distinct silver tips near his crown as he continued to feed.
After about ten minutes of aggressive, rhythmic nursing, Cliff finally let go with a soft, satisfied smacking sound. He looked up at me, his face absolutely milk-drunk and relaxed, before letting out a remarkably loud, incredibly cute little baby burp that echoed in the quiet living room.
I couldn't help but burst into a soft, genuine laugh. "Good boy," I whispered affectionately, wiping a tiny stray drop of milk from his chin with the pad of my thumb.
Carefully adjusting him against my shoulder, I pulled the pale edges of my skin back beneath the fabric and meticulously laced my green kirtle back up, securing it tight. I held him close, rocking him gently as his eyelids began to grow heavy, completely wrapped in the fierce, unbreakable warmth of a mother's love.
I gently shifted Cliff against my shoulder, his small head resting heavily in the crook of my neck as his breathing slowed into a steady, rhythmic pattern. Standing up from the sofa with practiced care, I navigated the living room floorboards, deliberately avoiding the ones I knew would creak. I approached the beautifully carved wooden crib resting in the warm corner of the room. Above it hung a custom-made crib mobile... delicate, tiny wooden figures of stylized birds and soft clouds that Evelyn and I had painted ourselves, turning slowly in the gentle draft of the room.
With absolute tenderness, I lowered my son into the soft blankets, ensuring his tiny, undeveloped hybrid wings were tucked comfortably beneath his sides so he wouldn't awaken from a sudden pinch. As I pulled the warm wool blanket up to his chest, his little hazel eyes fluttered open just a fraction, a tiny hint of fussiness crossing his features.
To soothe him back into the dark, peaceful depths of sleep, I leaned over the railing of the crib, my massive crimson blood wings draping softly over the sides like a canopy, filtering the ambient light. I began to hum a low, sweet melody, my voice dropping its usual flat, pragmatic edge, melting instead into a poetic, deeply affectionate lullaby that felt entirely foreign to the feared Crimson Phantom, yet perfectly natural to the mother I had become.
"Rest your wings, my quiet storm,
The snow has gone, the hearth is warm.
The stars above will guard your sleep,
While secrets in the shadows keep.
No sword shall strike, no bow shall bend,
Your mother's blood will yours defend.
So dream of light, my beautiful son,
Your peaceful life has just begun."
As the final words drifted through the quiet room, Cliff's tiny hands twitched once, his eyelids closing completely as he surrendered to a deep, restful slumber. I smiled down at him, a profound warmth filling my chest.
Suddenly, a heavy, measured knock echoed from the front door, shattering the domestic tranquility.
My single jade-green eye narrowed instinctively, the vanguard reflexes returning in a heartbeat. I carefully stepped away from the crib, ensuring the mobile was spinning silently, and walked down the short hallway to the doorstep. I placed a hand on the handle, checking the weight of my posture before swinging the heavy wooden door open.
Standing on the threshold, framed by the bright afternoon sun reflecting off the slushy, melting snow, was Captain Friedrich of the Luminous Knights. His polished armor gleamed, catching the crisp Mediterranean air, and his posture was as rigid and official as ever.
"Greetings, Eirene," Friedrich spoke, his deep baritone voice carrying the weight of the upper districts. He looked down at me, his gaze sweeping over my simple green kirtle before locking onto my eyes. "Your maternity leave is officially over. The Bureau needs you back on active rotation immediately. The paperwork has been processed, and the high commanders are requesting your tactical assessment on the lower sector borders."
I leaned casually against the doorframe, crossing my arms as my expression slid right back into my signature, unbothered deadpan.
"Wow, Friedrich. No 'congratulations on surviving childbirth,' no 'how's the kid doing?' Just straight back to the grindstone, huh?" I let out a lazy, sharp-fanged chuckle, completely informal despite the grand title he held.
"You guys in the LKBA really have zero concept of work-life balance. The snow hasn't even completely melted off my porch and you're already standing here acting like a living quest-marker."
Friedrich exhaled a sharp plume of white mist into the freezing air, his strict expression softening by just a fraction, though he remained perfectly composed.
"You know how the Bureau operates, Eirene. Talent like yours isn't meant to sit idle for two full months, regardless of domestic milestones. The high-tier ranks are shifting, and frankly, we're short-staffed on leadership."
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you, give me a few minutes to get my gear sorted and let Evelyn know she's on full-time babysitting duty. If I'm coming back to the office, you'd better have a damn good budget allocation waiting for my team."