Chapter 21: Crisis

“W- What did you say?” Zax asked with a quivering voice, heart throbbing and head feeling like above it a storm is brewing.

“I’m pregnant”. Anet repeated, amused by Zax’s response. “Soon I’ll be a mother and you’ll be a father!”

BOOM!

Zax heard a thunder rumbling in the sky of his Inner Panorama and a black glint reflected in his eyes, quick as lightning. He simply had no idea how to digest the notion of him becoming a father. Yes, he assumed that he would become one someday in the distant future, after all, for cultivators at his and his wife’s levels, even though they just married, thousand years later they would still look the same and very much capable of procreating.

‘Am I ... fit to be a father?’ This question was his biggest concern.

“Relax”, able to read his mind, Anet warmly caressed his cheek. “It will all be fine, you’ll see”.

Pulling her closer to him with one hand and with the other holding her hand, bringing to his lips, Zax drew strength from his beloved.

“Yes, it will be”.

...

Laivien’s valley.

The entire Martial family gathered beside the pavilion.

“I want to join!” Mes shot up to his feet and declared. “When you first left to Ercas Mir, worrying to my safety, Master did not let me come along. Now, my little Martial brother is practically unrivaled both below and on this earth. Moreover, this is just a short trip!”

“Shut up, Mes! The main topic is that little brother Zax and little sister Anet are about to add a new little member to the family; be tactful!” Rarahel snapped.

“Little brother Mes, little sister Rarahel, stop arguing”. Simel rebuked. “Little brother Zax, little sister Anet, congratulation!”

“You humans mature rather slowly, but why is it when you reach adulthood you still look like children”. Laivien jeered. Her big doe head was down and on her face climbed a little figure, Jingrow.

Neither Zax nor Anet were offended by her comment. When playful, Laivien loved to lovingly tease. Besides, apart from Grandmaster Kartion and her elder brother Kartius she regarded all members of the Martial family from a parental viewpoint.

Ignoring his little sister’s comment, Kartius examined his sole apprentice and daughter in law. “Good, Martial son! Good, Martial daughter! This Martial father has no other blood expect his sister, yet I somehow still managed to become a grandfather. Thank you...”

“Don’t, Master!” Zax rose to his feet, deeply shaken. “From the moment you accepted me, you treated me as a son, while like Laivien said, I was slow to realize I gained a second father. It’s I that should be thanking you!”

“Thank you, Martial father!” Anet quick wittedly said.

Grandmaster Kartion watched as Laivien played with Jingrow. Up till now, he was the only one to remain silenced. Perhaps, of all present members of the Martial family, only Kartius, who was the first to be taught by him, Simel, who spent most time with him and Raroen, his eldest apprentice, were able to comprehend the sorrowful emotion in his eyes before it concealed itself.

“Thank you, Anet”. Zetsa interrupted, heaving a deep sigh and held Grerown’s, her partner, hand. “Mom and dad will surely rejoice to learn that you are pregnant”.

Once, Marco and Laylen could do nothing but dream of their children someday, in the distant future where only cultivators can live long enough to be part of, settling down. Thirty three percent of this dream turn a reality the day Zetsa discovered she is pregnant. Of their remaining two children, the old Zel couple was not worried about their youngest, Liz. However, they were concerned about their middle child, Zax. In fact, even after he got married, they did know what to assume of the future. Familiar with his and Anet’s temperament, which resembled what was frequently talked about in the low and middle class forums, they were not sure whether in this century or the next, meaning in this life or the next, their son will bless them with a child of his own.

“They will be angry that we did not tell them immediately, but you remembered how they reacted when you announced your pregnancy with Jing Jing. Considering that Don Ram might also get involved, it’s hardly probable that for the next nine months they would let me out of their sight...” Anet admitted the reason for which she and Zax decided to first share the news with the Martial family.

By the side, thinking about his parents’ reaction, Zax shook his head wearily.

‘At least I can now be considered as being filial... ‘

...

“Hurry, Anet, come close for us to check you!” Laylen, as well as Anet’s mother, Beka, urged.

“Mom, aunty, there is nothing to check, I’m not even a week pregnant”. Despite saying it, Anet yielded. “Don Ram, you too...”

“Twenty five years old and about to be a father, hahaha!” Marco could not believe his ears, yet could not be happier.

“Oh Zax, you did not disappoint this old man”. Anet’s father was also gratified. “Allowing you to marry my girl was a good choice”. He and his wife kept it to themselves, but initially they both hoped for their daughter to ultimately end up with someone aligned to their standards; not necessarily someone more outstanding than Zax, but a man with accomplishments on both the cultivation path and status, that is, a member of a high class family that would be suitable to the Tal of a Dauch heir.

Zax was more than satisfactory to the criteria, but at the same time, his achievements were too great, the Lensi couple could not see through him to decide. All they could determine was that his aspirations are too fixed on cultivation; he cared very little about integrating in society.