Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 827: Wrong Timing All Around

Linkle was already made aware that Raven had slipped back into town. But unfortunately for her, something far more important than a reunion had occurred. June was in labor a whole three months before her child was due, and to make matters worse, whatever was wrong with the child was also affecting the magic around the laboring mother. The witch suspected that the father being infected by the dark water back during the conception of the child had something to do with the strange occurrence, but alas, these were no more than mere speculation.

The powers of the horrors were similar to those born from the infected, and if Linkle’s assumption was right, then this child was part true monster or part horror, for that matter, much like Arche or Raven’s corruption boosted fay form. Either way, she had to deliver the child with help only from the people around her.

Making matters worse, the group was in the upper rooms of the spire with Shamisha gone, looking after Mono as she’d collapsed yet again after working herself to exhaustion.

"For the love of–" Watching June lying in bed with nothing more than a towel over and under her, Linkle stared at her with a racing heart. "Why now!?"

Looking around, she was met with the expectant gazes of Aradin, Tris, and Hannah, each of whom was relying on her to guide them through the tense situation.

"Come on, you can build a flying ship for god sake! Delivering a child should be no problem!" Aradin screamed, his voice carrying more than a tinge of desperation.

"Yes! Please do something!"

"Ahhh! I-I think I’m going to pass out!" Running her hand all over her swollen belly, June screamed louder than she ever had. Drawing everyone’s attention to her, she looked at Linkle through tear-pooled eyes. "P-please, help me... I don’t want my baby to–"

"Don’t!" Grabbing her hand, Aradin stopped her from completing that sentence. "Don’t say that, please. Nothing is going to happen to our baby, you just..."

Slowly turning his head to Linkle, he pleaded with her through his eyes.

"Can’t you do something? Some magic to help her with the pain at least?" Tris suggested, taking a nervous stance for the first time through this mess.

"In her state?" Shooting him a glance, Linkle anxiously heaved. "She might never wake up if we do anything of the sort."

"Then, deliver the baby quickly, please! You should know something about this, right?!" The horned demi-human kept pushing, and at this point, it was getting on Linkle’s nerves.

With a shake of her head, she grunted in response.

"My people aren’t born like you guys, alright? We form... in the stars as stars, and eventually we break from our hang and move along the stream of our people amidst the cosmic oceans that lie beyond." Closing her eyes, Linkle delved deep into the vistas of knowledge which she’d retained even after her true body was destroyed. "The child of a human and an elf–a half-elf, half the lifespan of the elven parent with the versatility of their human parent."

Opening her eyes, Linkle dropped the worst sentence that she could’ve given the circumstances.

"They also inherit the worst traits of both species, so it’s no wonder we’re gonna have some complications even once the child is born." A grimace had taken over her face, she didn’t wanna lean her head in through the towel and guide the pale elf to push her child out. But she had little choice when everyone was staring at her like hawks. "Three months early, we’re gonna need a healer, a bucket of warm water, some blankets, and blood compatible with her type–although half elves, you’re not gonna find any if it’s truly that and not fully one parent or the other."

Walking closer, she gestured for Tris to get most of the items that she’d listed. While getting down on her knees by June’s legs, she shot Hannah one last glance and added.

"Go get Shamisha, I need her to bring that stupid core thing. In the unfortunate case we need to transfer the baby’s heart along with its soul to a non-human body for it to survive." Her words were haunting as they were, but Hannah did not question them. Nodding at the witch, she rushed to the lower floors of the spire.

Meanwhile, Linkle told Aradin to be next to June’s face and hold her hand while she urged her to push the baby out of her body. Before that could begin, however, there was one last thing the witch needed to do.

’My magic isn’t working. Is it because of her or...’ Remembering the king’s guard, Linkle questioned the source of this magic nullification. Was it the child after all, or were the king’s guard watching the birthing process transpire? ’They did kidnap June with Shamisha last time, maybe the child is somehow important to them. But why? And how would they even know that she’s about to be born when the delivery month is three months into the future?’

"Van, can you make sure that nobody comes in?" She said to her undead vampiric servant.

Its head emerged from thin air, and with its eyes glowing bright red, the vampire started looking around frantically. A hiss came not long after, confirming Linkle’s doubts–the king’s guard was there.

"Wrong timing all around... tsk," clicking her tongue, she decided to ignore them for at least until the baby was born.

’I can’t do much without magic, and I doubt Aradin can either.’ Cursing her luck, for she could neither confront them yet nor postpone the delivery, so she could get June to safety around Raven and the others.

"Aradin, can you still turn into that monster if the need arises?" She asked, a last-ditch effort to ensure their safety.

Blinking in confusion a few times, he nodded with hesitation.

"Good..." And at that moment, both of them knew what was truly at stake. A matter of life and death, and the only thing keeping either side from making a move, was the early birth of a half-elf child.