The dawn came gently, creeping slowly through the cracks of the half-destroyed palace walls. The golden light was like a soft brush on Beelzebub's face, slowly waking her from a deep sleep—the first sleep she truly felt since her existence began.
Beelzebub opened her eyes slowly, still lying in the warm embrace of Fitran. She gazed at the face of the man who was still asleep, so calm and peaceful. Beelzebub's heart beat slowly, filled with a strange feeling that she was beginning to recognize as love. But along with that feeling came deep fear and anxiety.
Slowly, she sat up and touched her belly, as if trying to feel whether life was truly growing inside her. Something real yet frightening, a miracle that felt so foreign to her, who had just begun to understand the meaning of being human.
"Fitran..." Beelzebub's voice was soft, her eyes searching for the man, "I don't know what's happening to me." She looked down, feeling her heart pounding. "There is a deep happiness, but at the same time, I also feel very scared."
Fitran turned gently, sitting closer and taking Beelzebub's hand, their fingers intertwining tightly. "Beelzebub," he said in a soothing tone, "I am here. You are not alone. This is all part of your journey. Facing these feelings can be frightening, but remember, I will always be here with you."
Beelzebub looked into Fitran's eyes, filled with sincerity, feeling the warmth seep into her soul. "But I feel like... like I am losing myself," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't even know how to be a good human."
"You just need to be yourself," Fitran replied, gently stroking Beelzebub's head. "Every human goes through this stage, and I believe you will find the light within you. You are stronger than you think. And most importantly, you have me by your side."
Fitran held her hand gently, their fingers intertwined, creating an unbreakable bond. "Beelzebub, you are undergoing a beautiful transformation. Being human means experiencing the entire spectrum of emotions. This happiness and fear are part of the journey, especially when facing something so great and meaningful like this," he expressed with understanding, his eyes shining.
Beelzebub nodded slowly, but tears began to well up in her eyes. "I want to feel ready, as if all of this is within my grasp. But I feel confused; I don't even know what it means to be a mother," her voice trembled, reflecting the vulnerability she had just realized.
Fitran gently touched her cheek, looking deeply into her eyes. "Being a mother is not a lesson learned in an instant. It is a journey you will take with the little one. You will feel love grow over time, and you are not alone. We will go through this together. I am here to support you, to learn with you," he said, his warm smile igniting hope within Beelzebub.
Beelzebub fell silent for a moment, her gaze shifting to her growing belly. "I feel so scared," she said softly, her voice trembling. "Afraid that I won't be able to be a good mother. Afraid that I won't be able to protect this child from the darkness of the world that lurks."
Fitran moved closer and pulled her into his warm embrace, feeling the anxious tremors in Beelzebub's body. "We will protect it together, dear," he whispered while gently stroking Beelzebub's back. "You are not alone anymore. I will always be by your side, like a shield against the storm."
Fitran's words whispered calmness into Beelzebub's soul, but the anxiety still gripped her heart. She slowly stood up, stepping toward the broken window, gazing at the foggy outside world, savoring the hazy beauty. In the distance, the silhouettes of ancient buildings emerged in the dawn light, evoking a sense of nostalgia.
"This city holds all the painful memories," she murmured softly, her eyes tracing the scattered ruins. "Every step we take here feels like stepping on old wounds that have yet to heal."
Fitran stood behind her, his hand gently touching Beelzebub's shoulder, flowing with loving energy. "The Philistines may be shrouded in sorrow, but remember, we are here to create something new—a beauty born from this pain," he said with a calming determination, signaling a commitment to their future.
Beelzebub turned slowly, her gaze deep penetrating Fitran's eyes. "Do you really believe we can give birth to beauty in this dark place?" she asked, seeking reassurance within herself.
"I believe in you completely," Fitran replied with conviction, his eyes shining with hope. "You have the power to change everything—even emptiness can become true love. We will face this together, no matter what lies ahead."
Beelzebub felt her eyes welling up again. She smiled faintly, resting her head on Fitran's chest, feeling the soothing warmth. "If you believe in me, then I will try to believe in myself too," she said softly, her voice filled with doubt.
They stood for a long time in front of that window, enjoying the calm of the morning. However, that tranquility was soon shattered when a low rumble was heard from outside. Both of them immediately became alert, their gazes fixed on the street below the palace, which suddenly began to be covered by a thick shadow.
"Fitran..." Beelzebub's voice trembled, her fingers gripping the man's arm tightly, as if seeking a hold to face the threat. "Something is coming."
Fitran squinted, feeling the air around them suddenly turn very cold. He looked at Beelzebub gently, trying to calm her. "Umbra-Khalid," he murmured softly, his tone filled with caution. "He has awakened. But whatever happens, I am with you."
The black shadow slowly formed into a large figure with glowing red eyes in the middle of the street, staring directly at the window where Fitran and Beelzebub stood. Its gaze was filled with deep hatred, piercing to the bone.
"Humans and emptiness are never allowed to unite," Umbra-Khalid's voice echoed, low and threatening. "What you are doing here will bring destruction to everything."
Fitran stepped forward, standing protectively in front of Beelzebub, his eyes blazing with determination. "We will not back down. Whatever you say, whatever you do, we will not stop now. I believe in our strength, Beelzebub. We can fight this together," he said passionately, looking into Beelzebub's eyes with hope and deep love.
Umbra-Khalid smiled coldly, his expression filled with mockery and hatred. "The love you create is merely an illusion. You, Beelzebub—you think you can love? You think you can protect what you have created? You are just emptiness pretending to be human."
Beelzebub felt her chest tighten, those words piercing deep into her heart. However, this time she did not let herself drown in doubt. She stepped forward, standing beside Fitran, staring into Umbra-Khalid's red eyes without fear.
"You do not understand," Beelzebub said, her voice trembling with emotion. "This love is not an illusion. It is part of who I am now." She gently took Fitran's hand, holding it tightly while looking deeply into his sincere eyes, as if seeking strength in them. "I may have once been considered emptiness, but with you, I have found true meaning. I am a woman—a human capable of loving and protecting my child. And I will not let you take that away from me."
Fitran nodded slowly, feeling warmth as he heard Beelzebub's words. He held Beelzebub's hand again, creating a deeper bond between them. "I am here with you, no matter what happens," he whispered, his voice filled with conviction. "We will face all of this together. I believe in you, Beelzebub. And I will always be by your side."
Umbra-Khalid growled low, his eyes radiating nearly uncontrollable anger. "Then prepare to face the consequences of your choice. I will ensure you never feel that happiness again."
With his last words, the shadowy figure slowly faded, leaving behind the cold air and a threat that felt so real in the morning silence.
Fitran immediately turned, gripping Beelzebub's hand tightly. "We have to go now. We can't stay here any longer."
Beelzebub nodded, trying to calm her still racing heart. "We need to hurry, Fitran. I don't know what will happen, but I feel something is lurking," she said while gently squeezing Fitran's hand, seeking strength in that contact.
Fitran looked deeply into her eyes, sensing the panic within them. "Calm down, dear. We will face this together. You are not alone," he said, pulling Beelzebub into his arms for a moment, providing the sense of security she needed. "I promise to protect you, whatever happens."
They hurriedly gathered what they could carry and quickly left the palace, moving toward the city center—toward the place where they would have to face the greatest challenge waiting for them. "We will find a way, Beelzebub," Fitran continued, his voice full of conviction. "You are a part of me, and I will not let anything separate us."
As they rushed through the quiet, ruined streets of the city, Beelzebub reflected on Umbra-Khalid's words. She was fully aware that being a mother meant she had to protect her child with everything she had—including her own life. "But what if I fail?" Beelzebub asked, her voice filled with doubt.
Fitran paused for a moment, holding Beelzebub's shoulders and looking at her gently. "You will not fail. We will learn together. Your mother, my mother—everything may seem frightening, but we will get through this. You are much stronger than you think," he said, the confidence in his voice reassuring Beelzebub to believe in herself.
Yet, in her heart, Beelzebub still felt fear. Not of the darkness threatening them, but of the reality that she did not yet fully understand what it meant to be a mother—a role that felt so foreign to her, yet now was part of her destiny. "I just want to do my best," she whispered, her face showing a vulnerability she rarely displayed.
And as they continued their journey under the slowly rising dawn, Beelzebub promised in her heart that she would learn to be a mother—not just for herself, but for the new life that was now beginning to grow within her, a life that she and Fitran had created from a love that should not have existed. "I promise, Fitran. I will fight for us," she said with renewed determination, holding Fitran's hand tightly, as if challenging the boundaries of the real world.