It was te into the day, the sun kissing the horizon goodnight while its enemies rose in its wake. The twin moons were now visible, indicating that the annual Descent Festival was near. It was a time to celebrate their world's creation according to the old legends. To the vast majority of the mortal races, it was the first twelve gods of the pantheon that shaped the world into what it was then but the jealous thirteenth god gave life to the monsters of old. They were cast down from the heavens and became the first of the demons, their profane creations following them into oblivion. That day is celebrated worldwide by those who see that as the truth. Fulger was taught something different though. That the twelve gods were jealous of the thirteenth and they tried to take the power of the thirteenth for they held the power to shape life into what they wanted. Personally, Fulger thought that both sides were wrong and that the truth was out there somewhere in the world. Not that it mattered much to her at the moment.

  "This is an absolute ripoff!" she yelled the goat therianthrope in front of her. "Fifteen copper coins for a sack of potatoes! It was ten a week ago!" she yelled as she smmed her hands down on the merchant's portable stall. She was currently in the night market trying to restock some of her missing ingredients and was trying her hardest not to strangle the merchant in front of her.

  "I'm sorry that you're upset miss but a herd of wild Stoneskin Boars recently attacked the farms. They have increased the buying price to recover from the damages and so I have to increase the selling price to make a profit. I hope you understand the predicament I'm in miss." replied the goatfolk with a thick accent that showed he was from Helostriope to the west-southwest. A rge conglomeration of isnd nations into one unified body. At least on paper that is what they are supposed to be. It is more accurate to say that a bunch of isnd nations are trying to usurp and absorb the others for their own goals. A fact so widely known that any noble from Helostriope is thought to be scheming something, whether or not it is true.

  "The same farms that don't grow potatoes st time I checked. So unless they miraculously switched crops within a week then I expect the same price it was st week." The merchant grumbled to himself and begrudgingly gave her a sack of potatoes for only ten coppers. Fulger walked towards her house while merrily humming an old tune that only meant something to her, a song sung to her long ago.

  She looked around the vibrant streets as she did. Even though it would take around another three weeks for the twin moons to be full at the same time the air around town had a festive vibe to it. Preparations for the festival were underway though. Mostly small things like decorative banners or fgs, flowers, or decorations made from 'sacred' materials like small statues or clumps of crystals called World Tears. World Tears were said to symbolize the spirit of the world celebrating the birth of the mortal races and wherever its tears of joy nded would turn into crystals the color of dawn and dusk in harmony and so clear that they could supposedly let one see through all things that would obfuscate their sight. Hence why some eccentric people would turn this uncommon crystal into lenses for gsses.

  However, Fulger could feel no magic from the crystals so she didn't buy into it too much. But she enjoyed the atmosphere and the sounds of happiness around her, so she would never reveal the harmless lie to everyone. Sometimes little things like that must be maintained for the happiness of others. A small smile crept onto her face as she was reminded of her great-grandmother who had told her those exact words when she was just a little softscale.

  Her great-grandmother was the one who raised her until she left to go on her coming-of-age journey that all dragonkin take. She traveled a lot until she ended up in Kirikuni for five years. The five kingdoms there ended up having a war that only ended when her friend Ash slew all of the leading generals of each kingdom in honorable duels. It was also there that she learned a lot about martial arts and eventually created her style of fighting. However, her mentor spent more time trying to find 'true love' than they ever did teaching.

  'Maybe after the festival, I should go on a journey to visit my grandmother. I could also stop by and visit Ash and congratute her on her marriage. She must be quite happy with her wife if all the rumors I hear are true.' A slight blush could be seen on Fulger's cheeks. 'Maybe I could get Orstelia to join me? We could go around hunting monsters, getting stronger and just having a lot of fun together. And maybe when we are all alone camping in the wilderness we could cuddle for warmth. Yeah just for warmth and for no other reason.' Fulger sighed heavily at the train of impure thoughts that danced across her mind. Thoughts that would have continued for a while if she hadn't suddenly felt a sickening aura behind her. She instantly dropped the groceries she was carrying and fell into a fighting posture while quickly pivoting her body to face behind her.

  Her surroundings were swallowed up by a bck fog that created a dome around her while avoiding anyone else. Despite being surrounded by a dome of bck fog she could see perfectly fine. It was only as if it got dimmer than it was outside the barrier. Fulger heard a malicious giggle echo through the space and something formed before her eyes. It was something that resembled a humanoid form but that wasn't the presence it gave. The humanoid form was made of the same bck fog as the barrier around them but only two things could be made out from it. The sickly green eyes that glowed with profane light and the five serpents that made up its hair, whose eyes glow with the same light as the main body. Fulger couldn't see a visible mouth on it but the way the eyes were squinting made it obvious that it was smiling.

  "Well well. Would you look at this one? Unafraid of my shallow form and willing to fight. But that is only what is expected of the dragon blood is it not? So tell me wrathful penitent, why have you not already struck me down despite your curse vanishing if you do? Maybe you are so absorbed in your penance that you refuse to kill me? What is it that stays your fist lowly penitent? I am dying to know." asked the being. Its voice was a symphony of six others, all harmonizing to form something that turned the stomachs of lesser beings that heard it. But Fulger was not one such being.

  "I do not strike you down for that is what you wish. Is that not true demon? What brings you to slither out of the hole you slinked into after I almost killed you st time?" Fulger responded venomously. Her hatred for the being in front of her not being concealed at all.

  The demon's expression changed. One half of its face snted upward into a wide knowing grin while the other half dropped down into boredom. "You are knowingly no fun Penitent Wrath. Well, I came here for a simple errand if you must know. You will anyway since you are my errand. I have come to give you a prophecy of your doom. It is boring if you don't struggle against my grand machinations. You are permitted to appud my extreme generosity." It said knowing that Fulger would not do such a thing. "My warning is thus lowly penitent. My perfect vessel has been made. It is somewhere in this city but I cannot cim it yet as I need to gather my power to do so. You have until the Descent Festival to find it as then my power would have been fully gathered for the ritual. But I am not an unfair being so I will give you an important piece of information. They bear the divine title 'Horizon Eating Serpent'. If you can stop them from falling into my clutches by midnight on the day of the Descent Festival then I will not be able to take form in the mortal world ever again and I will die which will undo your curse. What do you say, am I not a truly generous being for giving you such precious information? Now I have plenty of things I need to prepare so I will leave for now. We will see each other soon. Ta-ta little halfblood."

  With those final words, the demon and the barrier around Fulger disappeared into nothingness. Fulger sighed as she lowered her fists and picked up her groceries. She scowled at the pce the demon disappeared from. Her thoughts were deary as she reminded herself what it said to her. She remembered it all and when she thought of two words her mood and expression soured. Penitent Wrath. Just the thought of how she acquired that title made her blood boil. She could feel the Curse of Wrath trying to overtake her mind, trying to make her succumb to her bloodlust. She closed her eyes and deeply inhaled then she slowly exhaled. It was a simple trick but effective. For now at least.

  She opened her eyes and stared at the palm of her hand. The stigmata of the god she swore her penance to slowly appeared on her hand. The symbol of a dragon coiled around a sword that was wrapped in briars and roses would stay as a grim reminder on her body until she completed the penance given to her by the only god she would ever acknowledge. The stigmata vanished as quickly as it showed up, leaving only the calluses on her hand to be seen. Fulger clenched her hand with enough force to shatter the haft of a spear.

  'Never again. Never again will I allow either that demon or me to commit those heinous acts ever again. I swear on my ancestors that I, Sothqothur Fulger of the noble Ebongloam dynasty, will not rest until that demon is vanquished.'

  *****

  Fulger's home was quite lively despite her not being present. Three beastkin were performing chores around the house while a tall and unnaturally thin and pale woman was guarding a door. Each was diligently doing the task they decided to do despite the boisterous banter each was having with each other. The rose mantiskin was cooking with the certainty of someone who had done this for years. The dwarf rabbitkin was scurrying about cleaning various things around the first floor while using her small size and her natural physique that enhances her ability to jump to reach areas that would normally be difficult. The bck-furred catkin was sprawled out on one of the sofas and appeared to be napping. But the various magics she was casting, maintaining, and tweaking showed that while her eyes were closed she was very much awake and alert.

  "Hey Pinky when will the food be ready?" asked the rabbitkin as she sat down in a chair, her breathing ragged from the excessive cleaning she just did.

  "A few more minutes. Can you please go check if the zy cat is awake and see if Her Majesty has woken up? I need to know how many people will be eating for now." responded the mantiskin.

  The rabbitkin sighed as she just sat down but went to do what was asked of her. But her task was made easier as the catkin sat up from her rexed position and started nguidly stretching her sore muscles. The catkin looked around through her half-squinted tired eyes before sauntering toward the dining room table and taking a seat in a chair next to where the rabbitkin sat previously.

  "I examined the neighborhood with an animated shadow," blurted out the catkin. "I saw no signs of any danger but it never hurts to be cautious in unfamiliar territory."

  Both the mantiskin and the tall pale woman nodded in acknowledgment. All three then heard the hurried footsteps of their companion coming down the stairs. She was halfway down when she stopped to make sure all three of her companions were present.

  "Her Majesty is awake and hungry."

  PgueDaddy