Chaos' Heir

Chapter 1326: Yeza

"[Come on, Lii]," Zalpa said in a loud but uncharacteristically gentle voice. "[You are almost there. Breathe and push]."

Liiza cried loudly, her teeth sealed shut, half-suppressing her voice. Her furrowed brows and closed eyes conveyed her pain and effort, but the struggle was for naught.

A groan escaped Liiza’s mouth as she threw her head back on the pillows supporting her. She breathed deeply, doing her best to relax, endure the pain, and prepare for the subsequent, imminent struggle.

"[Hey, look at me]," Khan called, placing a hand on Liiza’s sweaty hair. "[You are doing perfectly. It’s just a little longer]."

Khan obviously couldn’t know that, but Zalpa’s glares from the other side of the bed were enough to tell him he had to be encouraging in that situation.

The labor had entered its second stage for two hours already. Zalpa was at the bed’s bottom, standing before Liiza’s open legs while dealing with whatever unfolded between them.

Meanwhile, Khan was on Liiza’s left side, leaning on the mattress to offer as much emotional support as possible. He had held Liiza’s hand ever since the labor’s second phase had started, and the effort had been more challenging than carrying the outpost through the sky.

"[Why did you stay here]?" Liiza complained, shining her white light on Khan’s face. "[You saw-]."

"[Nothing you do will ever make you look disgusting in my eyes]," Khan promptly reassured, interrupting Liiza.

Liiza had her fair share of unwanted releases, creating that concern. Yet, Khan couldn’t care less. Realistically, he was the only person strong enough to hold Liiza’s hand without breaking bones, and leaving her alone during that critical time wasn’t an option.

A faint smile appeared on Liiza’s face before a painful frown retook control of her expression. She closed her eyes, throwing her head on the pillows while squeezing Khan’s hand, sealing her teeth to release another loud cry.

The cry was far longer now, but led to something that made Khan turn his head. The warmth inside Liiza had finally left her body, and Zalpa was now holding it in her hands.

Liiza began to relax while a silent question rose inside Khan’s mind, only for a shrill cry to answer it. That childish voice didn’t belong to any of the three people in the room, but Zalpa didn’t say anything while turning and approaching a previously prepared bowl.

Khan couldn’t help but feel tense, his eyes fixed on Zalpa’s back. Liiza also looked at her, but a smile had already appeared on her face.

"[Congratulations]," Zalpa announced. "[It’s a healthy girl]."

Zalpa turned at that point, approaching the right side of the bed while carrying a dark figure wrapped in a white towel in her arms. Liiza let go of Khan’s hand to receive that warm bundle, and the two could finally lay their bright eyes on that small miracle.

The baby now resting in Liiza’s arms shared her dark blue skin, but was warm, exactly like Khan. A few thin strands of blue hair also grew from the newborn’s forehead, and Khan could swear he had seen a flash of blue light under her closed eyelids.

Most importantly, the baby was born with mana. It was faint, but Khan could sense that energy inside her, as well as something else, something familiar. The newborn had his genes, so she had inherited his cells’ power.

Khan couldn’t help but jump on the bed to lie at Liiza’s side, and she lifted her head to let him wrap an arm around her. She also leaned on his torso as the two stared down at their small but beautiful creation.

It seemed unbelievable, but Khan couldn’t even attempt to dismiss it. His daughter had truly been born. He had become a father. He and Liiza had really created a family after what felt like a lifetime of struggles.

"[Hello, you]," Khan muttered in a childish tone, carefully placing a hand on the baby’s side, rubbing her cheek with his thumb. "[Is it me or you are way too cute? You must have taken my good looks]."

Liiza giggled, nestling deeper in Khan’s chest, making sure to tease him back. "[Papa has already fallen for you. I’ll have to teach you all my tricks for you to date boys safely]."

"[Mama will teach you all she knows]," Khan replied, his body tensing up, "[But you’ll have a hard time dating anyone since boys won’t exist anymore]."

Liiza giggled again but looked up, lifting the baby to hint at an invitation she promptly voiced. "[Hold our daughter for a bit]."

In the past, Khan would have hesitated, which he still did, albeit for different reasons. He would have been too afraid to touch something so pure with his hands, but his scars didn’t exist anymore.

So, Khan carefully took his bundled-up daughter, replacing Liiza’s hands with his. Meanwhile, Liiza adjusted herself, sitting up so that she could lay her head on Khan’s shoulder.

"[I thought we had a deal]," Khan complained, pretending to be angry. "[I only came up with boys’ names]."

"[Keep them for next time]," Liiza suggested. "[Though I wouldn’t mind giving her a little sister]."

"[Mama truly enjoys putting the entire male population of the universe at risk]," Khan shook his head. "[I’ll spoil you so much you’ll have standards too high for anyone]."

"[Papa will spoil you no matter what]," Liiza reassured, wrapping an arm around the baby. "[Papa also had a mother he never spent much time with]."

Khan glanced at the head on his right shoulder, and Liiza looked back at him, starting a silent conversation that soon led to actual words.

"[Mama also had a mother who sacrificed herself to save us]," Khan pointed out.

"[Are you sure]?" Liiza asked, arching her eyebrows in surprise. "[I like it, but you know how my mother was]."

"[Our daughter will never get the chance to be like your mother]," Khan said, warning while lowering his eyes to the baby. "[And Elizabeth sounds a bit too human for her]."

"[Alright]," Liiza agreed, carefully caressing her daughter’s exposed face. "[Hello, little Yeza]."