Codex Umbra (English version for)

Prologue

The small cabin, made of weathered wood, creaked softly with each movement of the waves. The walls were dark and close, with only a single porthole letting in a faint breeze and the salty scent of the sea. The space was claustrophobic, with few pieces of furniture—it was here that Rhea lay on a narrow bed, writhing in the suffocating heat.

Her symptoms worsened drastically as her pregnancy advanced.

Her delirium came and went as her body, exhausted by magic and deprivation, grew weaker. For a brief moment, she felt an unexpected relief, as though the weight of her pain had dissipated. Her body now felt light, and her eyes closed on their own, drawing her into sleep.

It was then that Rhea found herself in a desolate land. The dry, lifeless ground stretched out before her, while the murky sky hung overhead, impenetrable. She looked up and saw the first ashes beginning to fall, drifting softly through the air until they touched her skin. Rhea felt nothing—only emptiness. And, somehow, she knew exactly where she was.

"It's the sacred indifference," Rhea thought. What am I doing here?

Confused, she touched her belly, and the moment her fingers met it, a sharp pain shot through her body like a surge of energy. Feeling weak, she lay down, and everything around her was consumed by the void.

The silence was absolute. Rhea opened her eyes, feeling her body heavy against the cold ground. The pain in her belly seemed to ease slightly, but the oppressive sensation still lingered. With great effort, she sat up. It was like being in a place so dark that one couldn't tell whether their eyes were open or closed.

Rhea felt a presence, and as soon as she realized she was not alone, she began to hear a low, dragging sound, like something heavy moving slowly across the ground. She couldn't tell where it was coming from. She tried turning her head in every direction, searching for an explanation, but it only heightened her anxiety. She shut her eyes tightly, like a frightened child trying to hide from the darkness of their room.

Umbriel emerged from the shadows, immense, far larger than any human, wearing a heavy black robe. His presence lit up the hall, but subtly, like the flame of a candle breaking the darkness without drawing attention to itself. Rhea couldn't believe this was the face of the god of souls. His face was angular and highly symmetrical; his skin was pale, a dark gray tone with a metallic texture. He extended his hands toward Rhea's face and gently touched her, lifting her gaze to meet his.

"In this moment, both you and she are dying," said Umbriel, breaking the silence. "Only one of you will remain."

Rhea awoke, still not fully conscious of what had just transpired. It was hard to distinguish a vision from a dream in the state she was in.

Thalion, the captain of the ship, entered the cabin just moments after Rhea woke.

He approached in silence, holding a damp cloth in his hands. He knelt beside the bed and wiped her face, drying the sweat that dripped from her forehead. "Rhea..." he murmured, hoping for a response.

Rhea opened her mouth, trying to say something, but the words came out slowly.

"The child has been touched by Umbriel. I will not survive the night."

Thalion was desperate. He knew there was no way out; births like this were cursed, and choices would have to be made, but he couldn't bring himself to act. His eyes, wide and fixed on the cabin wall, barely blinked as he sat motionless, hoping for a miracle he knew would not come.