Free Web NovelChapter 13: The Planet That Needed Babies to Survive
"Baby... placentas?" she repeated slowly, staring at him in complete disbelief.
Ikarus nodded calmly, even though the topic itself sounded completely insane.
"Every placenta that comes with our children contains a huge amount of aether energy," he explained patiently. "That energy helps keep the nature on this planet alive, and it also allows us to use the energy."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Hundreds of years ago, we didn’t need to rely on it because nature could naturally produce aether energy on its own."
"But after the planet slowly began dying, the natural flow of aether energy became weaker and weaker," Ikarus said. "The rivers started drying up, the forests stopped growing properly, and even the animals slowly began disappearing."
Maeve could only stare at him in shock, trying to process everything he had just said.
"So... your people are basically using baby placentas to keep the planet alive?"
"When you say it like that, it sounds terrifying," Ikarus admitted with a tired sigh. "But yes. Without enough aether energy, the barrier protecting Lumivale Forest would eventually collapse."
Maeve fell silent for a moment before quietly asking, "What actually happened to your planet?"
On Earth, the planet was slowly dying because of human greed and the fact that Earth itself was growing older over time.
But this planet, she wasn’t even sure these aliens used nature for industrial production like humans did.
Ikarus did not answer right away. Instead, his gaze slowly lifted toward the sky above the trees, as if he were looking at something far beyond the forest itself.
"No one truly knows," he finally said. "At least... not anymore." ƒreewebɳovel.com
Maeve blinked. "What do you mean?"
"There are many old stories," Ikarus explained. "Some believe our ancestors angered the Sky Mother. Others think people became too greedy and abused the planet’s core aether." He paused briefly. "And some say the world simply reached the end of its lifespan."
At the end of the day, a planet could not live forever. And when its people were unable to explore outer space, they were forced to survive with limited resources.
Still, wasn’t it too early for this planet to be dying? These people were still living in a primitive civilization!
[Pinky’s knowledge to the rescue: there’s no guarantee a planet won’t die just because its people never reach a modern civilization.]
[After all, every structure has a point where it eventually collapses, and planets are no different. People can try their best to protect nature, but if the planet itself has already started dying from the inside, then there isn’t much they can do.]
Maeve frowned deeply. ’If a structure can break down that fast, then the designer should be blamed for it. Seriously, where’s the warranty or insurance?!’
Unfortunately, a dying planet was very different from a broken building.
"That’s why..." Ikarus spoke again when Maeve stayed quiet for too long. "We need you to save our future generations... and our nature."
Maeve opened her mouth, then closed it again. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say, but after thinking for a while, she simply asked, "Why me?"
She looked straight into Ikarus’ golden eyes. "Why does it have to be me? There are billions—maybe even more than that—people in this universe, so why me?"
Ikarus’ eyelids slowly lowered. "We don’t know." He added honestly. "If I had another choice, I would never have dragged you down from heaven." His voice became softer. "But I’m sorry. I don’t have another choice. My people don’t have another choice."
Honestly, Ikarus and his people were not the only ones trapped without choices, Maeve was the same.
If she wanted to survive, then she had to play her role as the savior of this planet. Otherwise, she would definitely die.
Even if she somehow managed to return safely to her own world, she would probably still be captured by the cartel and sold off anyway.
Honestly, that sounded far scarier than having children with... three aliens.
Well, maybe not? Ugh, whatever. Maeve didn’t even know what kind of choice she was supposed to make anymore.
Besides, it felt strange knowing she had been summoned to this planet because they needed babies. The more she thought about it, the more she felt like some kind of baby-making machine.
"I don’t know how to take care of children," Maeve said at last. "And I’m not even sure I’d be a good mother." ƒrēewebnovel.com
Ikarus looked at her calmly. "You won’t have to do everything alone," he said. "There are many older women in the tribe who are experienced in raising children. They will help take care of our babies, make sure you eat properly, clean your living place, and teach you whatever you don’t know."
"And you have three mates. I think we’re more than enough to take care of our children," he added.
Maeve fell silent for a moment after hearing that.
She thought carefully about his words before asking softly, "So... I won’t have to raise the children alone?"
"No," Ikarus answered immediately. "Besides, Azuryn children grow up very quickly. By the age of three, they can already do many things on their own."
Maeve blinked. Three years old?
"Do I have to pay for food, clothes, or the hut I’m staying in?" she asked the most important question.
Ikarus looked at her with clear confusion, obviously unfamiliar with the idea behind those words.
Maeve quickly tried to explain herself better. "I mean... do I need to hunt for food myself?"
"For what?" Ikarus asked instead. "My brothers and I will hunt for you."
Maeve’s eyes immediately lit up because that meant she did not have to worry about food expenses.
"And... I can keep living in my current hut without giving you something back?" she asked carefully.
"That hut already belongs to you," Ikarus replied calmly. "We gave it to you, so why would you need to pay us for it?"
Maeve’s eyes sparkled even more after hearing that. No rent too?!
Honestly, before this conversation, she thought having children here would mean doing everything by herself.
But could anyone really blame her for thinking that way? Even back on Earth, there were many women raising children alone while their husbands barely helped at all.
That was exactly why she assumed life as a mother in a primitive world would be much harder.
"Then... what am I supposed to give in return?" Maeve asked in confusion.
This time, Ikarus looked genuinely puzzled. He even frowned a little, like he truly could not understand why she would ask that.
"You are our Goddess and our savior," he said gently. "Your presence alone is already a blessing to us."
