This short story is an account of what is colloquially referred to as "Darkest Night", the night that Das'Vengar, the capitol of the Da'Lyan Empire of Mar'Kaa, fell to the Onderian Queen Elvira and her armies.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
- Rayden, the last Prince of Da'Lyan, Child of Water and Son of the Allfather [Mar'Kaa, Imperial Family of Lian]
- Lian Xi, Grand Princess Liyang and State Duchess of Yin, Commander of the Imperial Guards [Mar'Kaa, Imperial Family of Lian]
- Lian Ke, Grand Prince Ji, twin to Grand Princess Jia [Mar'Kaa, Imperial Family of Lian]
- Lian He, Grand Princess Jia, twin to Grand Prince Ji [Mar'Kaa, Imperial Family of Lian]
- Yunle Emperor of Da'Lyan Dynasty [Mar'Kaa, Imperial Family of Lian]
- Liya Rou, Liya Empress of Da'Lyan [Mar'Kaa, Liya Tribe]
- Liya Yu, Vice-Commander of the Imperial Guards [Mar'Kaa, Liya Tribe]
- Noble Consort Yuen [Mar'Kaa, Yular Tribe]
- Consort Xian [Mar'Kaa, Yular Tribe]
- Consort Hui [Mar'Kaa, Kherqin Tribe]
- Elvira, Queen of Onderon [Onderian]
- Lady Martia Nerus, the Snake of Enyallus, Commander General of the Fifth Army [Onderian]
- Ellyria Dragon-eye, nulla domus, the Queen's Shield [Onderian]
- Annyla Bloodwolf, the Black Wolf, the Slayer of Lianmeng [Onderian]
- Lord Luka Ga'as, Heir Apparent to the House of Ga'as, Commander General of the Elva Army [Onderian]
PROLOGUE
Rayden, the last Prince of the fallen Da'Lyan Empire of Mar'Kaa and the Child of Water, has been exiled to the Eastern Continent of Istar by Adeline, the Onderian Queen and Child of Fire. He was accused of kidnapping his namesake and godson, Ayden, the Prince Royal to strong-arm the Onderian Queen into signing into law a bill that would "free" Southern Mar'Kaa from Onderian occupation. One rainy night, he is suddenly attacked by a group of masked saboteurs/assassins. Rayden is saved by a group of Mar'Kaa soldiers, led by an older woman called Lady Yuen. Rayden is slightly stunned by how she acts when she sees him - she is extremely relieved and happy.
Rayden takes Lady Yuen and the Mar'Kaa soldiers to his abode where he thanks them for their help. The soldiers try to convince Rayden to come back to the Continent and help save Southern Mar'Kaa from Onderian occupation but he refuses - he doesn't want to cause more harm than he already has. He also doesn't think Mar'Kaa can win against the well-trained and experienced Onderian armies.
The Mar'Kaa soldiers are highly disappointed in him and leave. It is only Lady Yuen left. Rayden tells Lady Yuen to not bother trying to convince him - he's not coming back. However, she just simply asks him if he wants to hear the story of his birth, which happened on the night of the Fall of Das'Vengar and thus, the Da'Lyan Imperial Dynasty. Rayden sits down with her and listens to her account.
DARKEST NIGHT
It is a windy night. We find Grand Princess Liyang, the only daughter of the Liya Empress (obviously all princes and princesses are children of the Emperor so going forth, everyone will be defined by their maternal tribes/identities) who is also the Commander of the 50,000-strong Imperial Guards of Das'Vengar, standing at the city walls. She sees the approaching Onderian armies and looks very, very worried. The Vice-Commander of the Imperial Guards, Liya Yu, who is also Liyang's maternal cousin, approaches her with a recently returned sentry. They both look extremely grave.
Liyang: "What happened?" The sentry tells her that the Lianmeng Army was defeated by the Onderian Elva Army. The
Taizi (pronounced tai-zuh) or the Crown Prince (who was leading the army) is dead.
Liyang: "And my husband? My sons?" The sentry shakes his head:
"There were no survivors."
The news is terrible.
Vice-Commander: "We were depending on the Lianmeng Army to return in time and help defend the capitol. Now, they are gone. And the Elva Army is here with the Fifth. Led by the Snake of Enyallus and the Onderian Queen herself." Liyang wonders how it is possible that the Elva Army was able to so thoroughly (and quickly) defeat the enormous Lianmeng Army. The sentry reports that Annyla Bloodwolf, the
Black Wolf, is in accompaniment of the Elva Army - she was the one who killed the
Taizi. Liyang's husband,
the State Duke of Yin, died defending the Crown Prince. The situation has turned from bad to worse. With the twin Onderian armies of the Fifth and Elva being led by the Onderian Queen and the Black Wolf, Liyang doesn't think she can hold the city for long. Vice-Commander Liya remarks that they only have to hold out until the morning when the Puyang Army of Das'Puyang is set to arrive. However, the worse situation turns even worser. They are joined by the Grand Prince Ji and Grand Princess Jia, the twin children of Consort Hui and younger half-siblings to Liyang.
Das'Puyang is under siege on land by the resurgent Samara Army and at sea by the Second Onderian Fleet (Elvinport). The Puyang Army had to return to the city of Das'Puyang to break the siege. Liyang comes to the realization that Das'Vengar will fall tonight - there is no stopping it. She tells the twins to inform their father, the Emperor, as well as the Empress and the Inner Palace, and then stay with them to protect them. The twins are reluctant to leave their older sister but she tells them that they need to do their best to evacuate the Emperor, if possible.
In the Inner Palace, Consort Xian of the Yular Tribe of Das'Yulan is in labor, or more specifically, has in labor for almost twelve hours. Noble Consort Yuen, also of Das'Yulan, worriedly waits at the door for news. The healers tell her that they can either save the mother or the child. Noble Consort Yuen tells them to save the mother - the Emperor has many sons and daughters, but only one Consort Xian. However, the healers insist that by imperial custom, they must prioritize the life of the Emperor's child over that of his consort. Noble Consort Yuen grabs the healer by his collar and tells him that if he doesn't save Consort Xian, she won't have to lay a finger on him - the Emperor will have him dead by the morning, "
if we're not all dead by then". Consort Xian is the Emperor's favored and most beloved consort.
The Emperor, the Empress and the other consorts and concubines of the Inner Palace are nervously awaiting news. Grand Prince Ji and Grand Princess Jia arrive and tell them of the terrible news:
the Lianmeng Army has fallen and its commanders, the Crown Prince and the State Duke of Yin, are both dead. The capitol is under siege from the Fifth and Elva armies, led by the Demon Queen herself. And the Puyang Army will not get here in time to save them - they are stuck at Das'Puyang. The Emperor and Empress take these news terrible. They are incredibly shocked and saddened over the death of their child, the
Taizi. The twins attempt to convince their father to secretly evacuate before the Onderians break-through but the Emperor is adamant on staying.
He refuses to run like a dog with his tail between his legs. Besides, Consort Xian is still in labor and cannot be moved. The Emperor refuses to leave without her.
Grand Prince Ji and Grand Princess Jia try to convince their mother, Consort Hui of Das'Kherqing, to try to convince their father the Emperor to leave the city while he still can. However, Consort Hui knows that it is futile - once the Emperor has made up his mind, there is no changing it. She tasks her children to hold the "door" for as long as they can, and that she is proud of them. Consort Hui also grants them use of her tribal guards (she is of the Kherqin Tribe of Das'Kherqing) to help them.
The Empress clearly upset by the Emperor's desire to stay. However, out of loyalty, she and the other Inner Palace consorts also refuse to leave and instead choose to stay with the Emperor. She tells the Emperor that Noble Consort Yuen should be here with them but the Emperor tells her to leave it alone -
Noble Consort Yuen would want to be by Consort Xian's side. The Liya Empress beckons her tribe's secret guards towards her. She commands them to kill Consort Xian and her child.
If her son (the deceased Crown Prince) can't ascent to the Throne, then neither can Consort Xian's son. She wanted to remove Noble Consort Yuen, a skilled fighter, from Consort Xian's side to make Xian easier to kill for them but her attempt to summon Noble Consort Yuen was unsuccessful. The Yular Tribe of Das'Yulan is known for producing many Empresses and thus many Emperors. The Liya Tribe, through this Empress, finally found their chance to enthrone a Liya-blooded Emperor (the now deceased Crown Prince). This Empress can't let the Yular Tribe win - not this time.
Outside Das'Vengar and in the approaching Onderian forces, we see the Demon Queen, Elvira, alongside her Shield, the mute and Houseless Ellyria Dragon-eye, and Lady Martia, the Commander General of the Fifth Army. A little behind them stand Annyla Bloodwolf and Lord Luka Ga'as, House of Ga'as, the Commander General of the Elva Army. Luka remarks to his friend that it was lucky that Annyla and the Bloodwolf private army came to the Elva Army's aid when they did. He doesn't think they could have defeated the infamous Lianmeng Army without her. He is confused though. Luka thought she and the House of Bloodwolf were absolutely against this "war".
Why did she change her mind? Annyla darkly replies that she is against this war. She can't stop the Queen from pursuing this war, but at least she can help end the war quickly to minimize the loss of Onderian lives. The House of Tylena was so angry with this war that they boycotted and recalled all their soldiers enlisted in the Onderian armies, which made a sizable dent in the Elva Army, and almost crippled the Samara Army (many high-ranking officers were of the House of Tylena). Annyla respects that they are sticking to their beliefs but she can't bear to withdraw the Bloodwolf soldiers from the Onderian Armies as it would only prolong this needless war and take more Onderian lives.
As if on cue, Elvira makes a remark about how long the breaking of the walls are taking. Lady Martia "apologizes", but does give a side-eye/glance at Annyla. Annyla rolls her eyes at Luka and Luka responds with an understanding grimace. Annyla volunteers to lead the Bloodwolf protectorate/private army and help break-through the gates. Elvira thanks her with a sharp smile and says that with the Black Wolf leading the charge, they will surely take Das'Vengar before daybreak.
Back in the Inner Palace, Noble Consort Yuen tells the Yular tribe guards to be on the lookout. The Empress surely sent her Liya tribe assassins after Consort Xian and her child. The Empress always felt threatened by the Yular Tribe and Consort Xian. The healers tell Noble Consort Yuen that Consort Xian is asking for her. Noble Consort Yuen goes to her sister's side (they are of the same tribe and share the same blood but are not blood sisters). Consort Xian pleads with Yuen to save her child, no matter what it takes - even if it will take her life. Noble Consort Yuen is saddened but to appease Xian, promises her to save the child. Consort Xian finally gives birth to a boy and soon dies. Noble Consort Yuen sobs her heart out, holding the child in her arms.
The city walls are soon breached by Annyla and the House of Bloodwolf. Grand Princess Liyang tells her soldiers to keep fighting until the last breath and to never give up.
"I, Lian Xi, will fight to my last breath!" [Lian/Lyan Xi is her birth name. Grand Princess Liyang is an Imperial title bestowed at birth. State Duchess of Yin is the title she received as the legal wife of the State Duke of Yin.] Annyla approaches the Grand Princess and commends her for holding out as long as she had. However, the end is near. If Liyang surrenders to her, she will ensure her safety. Liyang laughs and tells her that she cannot keep that promise - for her liege is the Demon Queen who killed her own blood to take the Throne. The two of them are about to face off. As Annyla approaches, Liyang commands her maternal cousin, Vice-Commander Liya Yu, to leave them. Liya Yu refuses to leave her but Liyang orders him to go save Consort Xian and her child.
Her mother the Empress has always been jealous of Consort Xian and feared the dominance of the Yular Tribe. She will surely try to harm Consort Xian and her child. This is the only thing Liyang can do for her youngest sibling. Liya Yu, not wanting to disobey Liyang's last order, leaves. Liyang and Annyla fight. There is a brutal scene in which Annyla literally chops off one of Liyang's arm but since Liyang is Mar'Kaa, she barely feels it. However, Annyla defeats and kills her soon enough. She is very saddened by the loss of such a worthy opponent.
The Onderian Queen Elvira, her Shield Ellyria Dragon-eye, Lady Martia and Lord Luka are at the doors of the Emperor's Palace. Grand Prince Ji and Grand Princess Jia do their best to hold the doors but the Dragon-eye cuts them down. Elvira enters the throne room and is now face-to-face with the Da'Lyan Emperor and Empress, as well as the wives of the Inner Palace, and the other Imperial children. The Dragon-eye flees the mauled bodies of the Kherqin twins in front of the Emperor, the Empress, and the Inner Palace. Everyone is shocked and traumatized. In her anger over the death of her children, Consort Hui stands up slowly and goes to face the Dragon-eye. The Emperor tries to stop her but the Empress tells her that this is the way of the Kherqin Tribe - they must seek vengeance for spilt blood. While Consort Hui does put up a fight, even surprising Elvira a little bit with her skills, she is soon killed and beheaded by the Dragon-eye. The Emperor tries to negotiate with Elvira - his life in exchange for that of his children but Elvira simply orders everyone of Imperial blood to be killed mercilessly. Luka protests but to no avail. The Dragon-eye slaughters the entire Da'Lyan Imperial Family.
Liya Yu arrives at Consort Xian's palace. However, at the same time, the Liya Tribe's assassins (sent by the Empress) also arrive and start engaging with the Yular Tribe's guardsmen. In the confusion, the Yular Tribe mistake Liya Yu as an assassin sent by Grand Princess Liyang and the Liya Tribe to kill Consort Xian and her child. So they try to kill him too. Noble Consort Yuen, hearing the ruckus outside, leaves the newborn Prince with the healers and immediately goes and engages Liya Yu and the Liya assassins. Liya Yu tries his best to explain to Noble Consort Yuen that he's here to
protect Consort Xian and her child, but Yuen doesn't believe him. However, the Onderian soldiers arrive and the Liya and Yular Tribes have to band together to defeat them. In the chaos, Noble Consort Yuen is knocked out. Wanting to save her life, her Yular subordinates drag her out. They successfully escape Das'Vengar. It is unknown what happens to Vice-Commander Liya Yu but the last Noble Consort Yuen saw of him (dizzy and only semi-conscious from the head knock) was him fighting furiously against the Onderian soldiers.
In the Throne Room, we see the pile of dead bodies - those of the Imperial Family of Mar'Kaa. Elvira seems very satisfied until an Onderian soldier arrives and reports that there are two members of the Imperial family missing: the Noble Consort Yuen and recently deceased Consort Xian who is thought to have given birth to a Prince just an hour ago. The Noble Consort is missing and the Consort dead from childbirth but the Prince is still alive - they have located him. Elvira is determined to
rip out the Da'Lyan Imperial Dynasty from root and stem. She and the Dragon-eye set off to Consort Xian's Palace. Luka worriedly looks after them.
Annyla has arrived at the Inner Palace when she is accosted by Luka who tells her of what the Queen did (killing the entire Imperial family) and what she is planning to do (kill the newly born Prince). Annyla thinks killing a baby is going too far. Although she couldn't save the other underaged children of the Imperial Family, she resolves to do what she can to save this baby.
We see the inner chamber of Consort Xian. Her body has been covered in white cloth and littered around her bed are dead bodies of Mar'Kaa healers and maids. It is clear that the Dragon-eye has slaughtered them. The Dragon-eye slowly stalks towards the crib where the newborn Prince, still unnamed, is crying. She makes to kill the baby when all of the sudden, she is stabbed in the back by
Annyla who has arrived in the knick of time. The Dragon-eye drops dead.
"You are aware that killing the Queen's Shield is an act of treason." Elvira enters the room followed by Lord Luka. She obviously saw Annyla murdering the Dragon-eye. Annyla says she accepts all punishment and charges - please just spare the baby and do not punish her House. She will give her life in return. Elvira scoffs and replies that Annyla knows as well as she does that her killing the
Black Wolf will not go unnoticed and uncriticized.
She can't and won't kill Annyla and she has no desire to harm the House of Bloodwolf - they have been loyal soldiers of the Onderian Royal House since its Kastus days.
Elvira moves to kill the crying baby. Lord Luka tries to stop the Queen. He implores her to take the child as a hostage Prince - something to ensure that the Mar'Kaa do not attempt to resist. Elvira is not convinced.
She doesn't want to keep a potential problem alive. Annyla gets up and tells Elvira that if she does this, the Celestials will never forgive her. They will curse her, especially the
Child Celestial, to never bear children - if Elvira is not able to produce a daughter, there goes the blood of the House of Kastus. Elvira darkly replies that
the Child and the other Celestials have already abandoned her. Why else would she have miscarried eight children??? Why else is she unable to carry a child to full term?? There is no coming back.
As the Demon Queen is about to kill the newborn Prince, a blue mark appears over the child's head. She is then flung by an invisible force towards the other side of the room. Elvira, Annyla, and Luka are shocked as they turn their heads and see another present in the room...
An ethereal figure in white robes bathed in white light... It is the Child of Air, the only Child of the Allfather who can travel across space and time and through different realities - the only one who doesn't require a physical body as a host to appear in real-time.
The Child of Air informs his audience that the newborn Mar'Kaa Prince is his brother,
the Child of Water. The First Prophecy of Cassandra is about to come to pass. Soon, his other siblings,
the Child of Fire and
the Child of Earth will appear on the Continent. He tells Elvira that if she kills a
Child of the Allfather, it will not only be the end of the Kastus bloodline of Onderon but the Onderians will not be able to host the coming
Children (the Child of Fire or Child of Earth). Additionally, given that the Onderians have always wished to host
the Child of Water in their kingdom, Elvira also knows that she can't straight up murder the Child, even though he is a Mar'Kaa. Before the Child of Air leaves, he tells Elvira that soon she will have what she wishes for most, but due to her sins, she will not see it come to fruition. He then leaves.
Elvira takes the newborn Mar'Kaa prince as hostage and charges Annyla with the responsibility of raising him. Half a year later, the Onderians are finally able to take the last holdout in Southern Mar'Kaa - the port city of Das'Puyang after the death of the Yellow Tiger and Puyan Di, his last disciple, surrenders. Most of Southern Mar'Kaa is left in the control of Lady Martia Nerus, the Snake of Enyallus and Commander General of the Fifth Army, who is also made Governor-General of Occupied Mar'Kaa. The Fifth Army does make attempts to take the Northern cities of Mar'Kaa, including Das'Khitan and Das'Yulan (the tribe city of Noble Consort Yuen and the deceased Consort Xian). However, due to its tricky terrain, they are largely unsuccessful. After the death of Elvira the Demon Queen in the Battle of Widow's Peak (the last battle of the Human civil war) and birth of Adeline, the Child of Fire, the Onderian government decides to stop trying to take Northern Mar'Kaa and be satisfied with what they have.
EPILOGUE
Lady Yuen finishes her story, and reveals her identity - she is the
Noble Consort Yuen of Das'Yulan, the only surviving member of the Imperial Family alongside Rayden. She tells Rayden that most of her recounting of Darkest Night are cobbled from her own experiences and other survivors of the Das'Vengar massacre. Rayden rebuts - but that doesn't explain how she knows so many of the events that could only be known by Annyla... Lady Yuen admits that the Black Wolf eventually tracked Lady Yuen down to give her an account of what had happened that night and to convince her to do nothing - that Rayden was safe with her.
Rayden stands up and walks to his window. He remarks how every
Remembrance Day (the annual holiday on which Onderians pay respect to their teachers and masters, dead or alive), he lights a candle and pays respect to Annyla, the Black Wolf. She taught him, Adeline, Tallus, and Cassander everything they knew - all the fighting skills and martial arts he has ever learned came from him. Although he is grateful to him for raising him (along with the Old Lady), now he knows that she was the one who killed his sister and brother (Grand Princess Liyang and the Crown Prince), and his brother-in-law. If she and the House of Bloodwolf hadn't joined the Elva Army, the Lianmeng Army wouldn't have been so easily defeated.
Rayden asks Lady Yuen why he is only seeing her now. Where has she been all this time? She tells him that as soon as she escaped, she tried to find him and get him back, but it was impossible. Annyla was guarding him so tightly - there was no way she could reach him. And then the Demon Queen died at the Battle of Widow's Peak. The one-day-old Child of Fire, Adeline, was made Queen. Kaelin Tylena, the Duchon of House Tylena, was made Regent. Given his and his mother's sympathies and sentiments towards the Mar'Kaa, Lady Yuen knew that though the Lord Regent did not have the authority to free Occupied Mar'Kaa, he would at least do all he can to work against
the Snake of Enyallus (Lady Martia, Governor-General of Occupied Mar'Kaa). As Rayden grew up and was raised alongside the child Queen Adeline as siblings, for all intents and purposes, though he was a hostage Prince, he was still treated as the Crown Prince of Da'Lyan. Lady Yuen, like the other leaders of Free (Northern) Mar'Kaa, thought that he might have a good chance of freeing Mar'Kaa, having grown up with Adeline.
And so, she did the worst thing possible. She broke the promise she made to her
sister of blood, Rayden's mother, Consort Xian, on her deathbed. She let Rayden live as a hostage prince in Onderon. Lady Yuen hasn't forgiven herself for this.
But what changed, Rayden asks? Why did she come find him now? Why has he heard reports of guerrilla groups from the Northern States of Mar'Kaa attacking Onderian-occupied Southern Mar'Kaa?
It was the kidnapping of the Onderian Prince Royal and the resulting consequences that changed everything. Lady Yuen and the other Northern leaders are obviously super angry with the Khitar Tribe for doing something so rash and attempting to frame Rayden for the incident. Not only did Adeline refuses to sign the bill to free Mar'Kaa, Rayden was punished and banished from the Continent. This changed everything. Before, the Mar'Kaa knew that anything they did, it might hurt Rayden. Now Rayden has been hurt. But fortunately, he has escaped Onderian clutches. The Mar'Kaa can finally start to fight for independence without or at least with little consequence on Rayden. They want him to join.
Rayden doesn't want to join the movement. He believes it is immoral to join a fight that he doesn't think can they win. How many Mar'Kaa lives would be lost then? He would be responsible for all these lives. Lady Yuen pushes back - clearly the Onderians and his beloved sister Adeline have sent assassins after him! He should at least attempt to defend himself! Rayden tells her that it's his fault - he has stayed in one place for too long. He will leave the town tomorrow and go to a larger port or trade city, where it would be more difficult to find him. After much back-and-forth, Lady Yuen gives in. She recognizes that Rayden is unwilling to join their cause and although she disapproves, she respects his decision. However, with or without him, the Mar'Kaa will start and keep fighting. They have to.
At that moment, the Yular tribal guards run into the house and tell them that they are under attack by Onderian assassins! Rayden tries to talk to the masked Onderian assassins but to no avail. They start to attack the Yular guards. Of course, Rayden can't just let them do that. As it is raining, he calls upon his power to wield water and uses it to defend themselves. However, one of them captures Lady Yuen and is about to kill her when---
All of a sudden, some other Masked people appear out of nowhere and save Lady Yuen. They kill all the Onderian assassins! When Rayden goes to unveil the Onderian assassins, he doesn't recognize them. Lady Yuen demands their saviors to reveal themselves.
Who are they? What are their attentions?
To both her surprise and Rayden's, the masked saviors get on one knee and bow to Rayden. They then take off their masks to reveal themselves -
they are Mar'Kaa bearing the characteristic markings of the Liya Tribe of Das'Liyan. Lady Yuen gasps when the leader of the Liya Tribe reveals his face - it is
Liya Yu, the former Vice-Commander of the Imperial Guard and the subordinate and maternal cousin of the deceased Grand Princess Liyang. He had been sent by Liyang to rescue a newborn Rayden but Lady Yuen and the Yular guards mistook him for the Liya tribal assassins sent by the Liya Empress to kill Consort Xian.
Lady Yuen apologizes to Liya Yu for what happened that night. She only learned the truth much later on from survivors of the Imperial Guards who overheard the conversation between the Grand Princess and the Vice-Commander. Liya Yu, respectfully addressing as Noble Consort, generously accepts the apologies. He tries to convince Rayden to come back to the Continent and free help free Mar'Kaa from the Onderians. The Grand Princess knew she would never live long enough to see Rayden with her own eyes but still sent Liya Yu after him, despite knowing that fighting the Black Wolf one-on-on would mean certain death. He appeals to Rayden to see how many sacrifices and promises, broken or kept, have been made to ensure his safety. He must bring back the Da'Lyan Empire!
Lady Yuen tells Rayden that the Liya and Yular Tribes being on the same side of any situation almost never happens. He can unite their people. Rayden is convinced and resolves to join them. They will leave tomorrow.
The next day, we see the tribal guards burying the bodies of the dead Onderians. Rayden packs up his belongings, which are very minimal. The Mar'Kaa group, now of both Liya and Yular Tribes, make to leave. Lady Yuen asks Rayden why he chose this town of all places. Rayden shrugs and says it just felt right. Then as he leaves, he turns around and gives a long look.
We see that he is looking at a young child - a boy of roughly six or seven years of age.
(This is the lost prince of Onderon, the child Adeline and Ganner had to give up).
[/I]
--THE END--
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