First day of the Usurpation, end of the First Age
In the magnificent central city of Meru, situated atop the tallest mountain at the heart of Creation who bore the same name, a tragic event unfolded. Hundreds of Solars met their demise at the hands of their once-loyal Dragon-Blooded Chosen. This treachery occurred during the annual Great Banquet of Calibration, a five-day period at the end of the year marked by unusual phenomena that permeated all of Creation due to the thinning of barriers between dimensions. The Celestial Exalted had established this ancient tradition thousands of years prior to gather all the Chosen of the gods during the only time when the most dangerous Demons of Malfeas could be summoned by sorcerers who had reached the pinnacle of power.
However, not all of the Solars and their Lunar companions attended the Great Banquet every year. Among them, an ancient veteran of the Primordial War—a conflict that marked the end of the rule of primordial entities over Creation more than three millennia ago—had long ago chosen to hold a similar tradition within his domain. Deep within the endless sea of the West Direction, standing as the final barrier before the chaotic realm of the Wyld, existed the island-nation of Iriadon. This secluded landmass had been the personal project of the Sun's Chosen known as Last Shining Beam since the early days of the First Age. When he was but fifty years old, Beam crafted the very land of Iriadon from the formless Wyld, dedicating his extraordinarily long life to its constant improvement. Iriadon, home to millions of mortals and hundreds of thousands of Terrestrial Exalted, earned renown across Creation as a second Blessed Island—a younger sister to the magnificent center of the world itself. While Beam and his Lunar wife Tysa were still undisputed rulers of the island, they had long since entrusted the daily affairs to a Council of elder Terrestrial Exalted who were devoted to the prosperity of Iriadon. This arrangement allowed Beam and Tysa to devote their days to pursuing what they loved most: creating new wonders that would elevate Creation to a more perfect state, in accordance with the desires of the Unconquered Sun. The masterminds behind the Usurpation found this situation frustrating, for it meant they had no easy targets to sway to their cause and aid them in their quest to eliminate the ancient Celestial rulers.
That was because Iriadon had steadfastly rejected any form of slavery or the existence of a servant class. Maintenance and service were carried out by highly advanced automatons constructed on the island, liberating its inhabitants from the necessity of laboring for their livelihood. Instead, the people dedicated their lives to education, creation, and art. Creativity was the most valued currency in Iriadon, and its residents embraced the challenges that accompanied it. This rich culture had been meticulously shaped by the two ancient Celestials. As a member of the Twilight Caste, Last Shining Beam had been Chosen as an educator, sorcerer, and craftsman. Tysa, being a Lunar, complemented his inclinations with her infinite adaptability, bringing balance to their endeavors. So the only alternative the leaders of the Usurpation had was to send assassins against the couple. They would fail, of course, it would take more than just a few assassins to kill someone as powerful as Beam and Tysa. They were a mere distraction to tire them and leave them unprepared enough to the real attack.
"Pharenalisae, Shadows of the End of Days." Said Beam after defeating five demons in mere moments with his Daiklaive.
Tysa immediately recognized the name of the demons. "Who dares to assail us with assassins?" she demanded, her voice seething with anger as she reverted from her towering nine-foot-tall werecat battle form. Her Moonsilver claws had effortlessly torn through seven Shadows. However, the memory of his previous life remained elusive, fading in that moment and leaving Haruki once again frustrated. He couldn't comprehend why that particular memory had surfaced from the swirling depths of experiences inherited from his past incarnation. Most of the time, they were inaccessible and incomprehensible. Nevertheless, for the past two days since his arrival in Nexus, he had sensed an unusual pull from something, a sensation that was simultaneously familiar and unknown. Haruki suspected that this peculiar feeling might be the reason behind the clearer memories that began to resurface while he slept. Now awake, he rose from the bed in his inn room, freshened himself, and enjoyed a modest breakfast by the window, allowing his mind to wander as he observed the bustling street below. He failed to notice a cat, adorned with intricate silvery tattoos, watching him intently from the rooftop of the building across the street.
For the past two days, Allekae had felt an inexplicable pull, a mysterious force drawing her towards something. As a young Changing Moon who had recently been called by Luna, she had spent her entire life in the city and had never experienced such a sensation before. Taking to the skies in her magpie form, she flew over the city, content in her anonymity as she searched for the source of this compelling force. It didn't take long for her to locate it—a place nestled within the Cinnabar District on the city's north side. She couldn't help but sneer at the area in general; as an orphan who grew up on the streets of Nexus, she still viewed wealth and luxury as a crime, especially when people around her were starving. Life had been harsh for her, and she had resorted to stealing to survive. If Luna had not chosen her, she would likely have perished. She recalled the day it had happened—the day she was desperately trying to secure a meal for herself. The Little Market seemed like a less risky option, with fewer mercenaries patrolling the area and the Emissary unlikely to care about a few loaves of bread. She approached one of the bakers and began surveying the offerings, intending to move to the next stall and pretend she was merely a customer. However, her scouting was abruptly interrupted when a large, armed man grabbed her by the arm. Allekae struggled to break free, but his strength far surpassed her own.
"Look what we have here. I've caught myself a nice prize today," the man sneered, his eyes lingering on her body. "Keep walking, or I'll break your arm. I'd rather have you intact before selling you to the slavers. And before that, I'll have a bit of fun with you," he concluded. Fear gripped Allekae; she knew that unless she escaped soon, she would be enslaved and subjected to unspeakable horrors. Frantically searching for any means of escape, she reluctantly chose a desperate plan. She decided to comply with the man's demands until they were out of sight of the market area. And so, she resigned herself to the current situation as the larger mercenary forced her to walk with him down one of the smaller side streets. Allekae mentally prepared herself for what awaited them around the corner, but her hopes were shattered when she saw two other men, donning the same uniform, waiting for them.
"We're going to be rich, gentlemen. I've captured this little morsel, and I know she has no one to protect her. We can enjoy her for a while, but don't damage her body. We want to sell her when we're done," the other two men grinned wickedly at Allekae. Just as she was about to steel herself mentally against the impending assault, she began to feel a warmth emanating from deep within herself. As the sensation intensified, a voice called out to her. "My Child, you who have endured so much when others could not. I have witnessed your struggle for freedom, and I deem you worthy of my Gift." Gathering her courage, Allekae opened her eyes once more, only to behold a maternal figure surrounded by a radiant silvery glow. The figure extended her hand, beckoning Allekae to take it. Without hesitation, she reached out, and in that moment, everything changed. A primal beast, dormant until that very instant, awakened from the depths of her soul. A powerful roar erupted from Allekae as the transformation consumed her. The three men surrounding her dropped to the ground, overwhelmed by sheer terror. A silver light enveloped everything, and her hands began to morph. Her entire body trembled and shifted until, within mere moments, she was walking on all fours. Her hands transformed into massive paws, equipped with claws capable of rending a horse in half, while her feet became hooves. She felt an immense surge of strength and freedom, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Her rage was immeasurable, directed solely at the three men who had sought to rape and enslave her. Scarcely a moment had passed since her transformation, as her thoughts became focused on the new sensations coursing through her being. Time seemed to slow as she swiftly eviscerated the nearest mercenary with a single swipe of her left paw. Deep gashes tore through the slaver's abdomen, causing his entrails to spill forth, and he died instantly from the shock. The other two fared no better—one had his bones crushed to pulp under Allekae's pounce, while the other lost his head to her powerful bite.
Once she regained her own sense of self, Allekae swiftly fled from the scene, still in the form of the Simhata she had transformed into. The lion-horse shape allowed her to run swiftly, and before long, she found herself near the outskirts of Nexus—a place she had never been before in her life. It wasn't long before other Champions of Luna discovered her and introduced her to the Silver Pact, a loose association of Lunar Exalted like herself. Through her trials, it became apparent that she possessed a strong inclination towards subtlety, marking her as a Changing Moon. As a result, she was bestowed with Moonsilver tattoos to signify her Caste. Months had passed since then, and she had returned to Nexus. Her life had been dedicated to vigilantly watching over the streets, protecting the innocent in need of her aid. And that had been her existence until she felt the inexplicable pull that brought her to the rooftop of a hotel.
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Internally, she debated how to approach the man who had been causing these unusual feelings within her. Despite her Exaltation, she remained a shy girl at heart, and the prospect of initiating a conversation terrified her. Therefore, she had decided to initially observe him in the form of a cat, gauging his reactions and gathering more information. Today, she planned to tail him after he left the hotel. An hour later, once he had finished his breakfast, Allekae finally set her plan into motion. Her heart raced faster than ever as she silently approached the man from behind. She intended to wait for him to turn into a side street, finding irony in her chosen method of approach. And so, she waited for that moment for half of the day, as the sun began its descent in the west. The man had spent considerable time in the market, visiting libraries and temples, seemingly in search of something. Keeping her distance, she hadn't heard any of his conversations, but she sensed he was a scholar of some kind. Brutes like those who had tried to enslave her cared nothing for books.
Finally, as the man entered a side street, she cautiously approached him at last. Emulating her best cat impression, she stealthily crept as close as possible before emitting a soft mew to capture his attention. He turned around, spotted her, and replied, "Hello there." Finally meeting his gaze, something stirred inside her, triggering a memory. In the recollection, she found herself within a grand palace, hand in hand with an impeccably dressed man with short red hair, who smiled warmly at her. The memory quickly faded, but her emotions surged. The pull now possessed the strength of an unstoppable river, dragging her inexorably toward the man before her. She stood frozen in place, while the man crouched down to make himself as small as possible, extending his closed right hand. Only someone who loved cats would be aware of this gesture, and Allekae advanced, sniffing the offered hand.
"I like your silver markings," he said, causing her mind to reel once more. People rarely noticed the Moonsilver tattoos of Lunars, as they were usually imperceptible. However, this man could see them. Fighting against the impulse to flee, she remained in place and allowed him to stroke her. He knew precisely how to pet her, and she melted under his touch.
"Are you hungry, little one?" he inquired, and she nearly broke character, on the verge of speaking. However, she caught herself in time and simply emitted another mewl. He retrieved a few portions of dried meat from a small bag on his belt and offered them to her. Never before had she been given food without having to steal or hunt for it. Against her instincts, she accepted the food and began to eat, all the while questioning her own behavior.
"I hope you enjoyed the food. I'm sorry, but I have nothing else to offer at the moment, and I need to continue my journey. I'm researching the ruins beneath the city. There's much to explore down there. You see, I'm searching for something special to aid me in resolving a significant problem," he shared with her in a cultured tone, likely assuming she was merely a hungry street cat. She concluded that this man was too good for Nexus. If the criminals and the government were to discover him, they would surely kill him. The Oligarchs despised anyone who delved into the underground, as anything that obstructed trade was swiftly crushed, often by the Emissary. He needed her protection, and she was determined to provide it, even if it meant sacrificing her own life. At that resolution, a primal part of her stirred, and in a distant realm, a silvery strand of Fate vibrated, intersecting with a golden strand. The mechanical spiders responsible for maintaining the tapestry created by those strands congregated near the merging point, chittering excitedly in approval.
Allekae let the man depart without saying a word. Once he was out of sight, she shifted back into the form of a magpie. Following him from above proved easier, and as she had suspected, someone else was tailing him. Her keen eyesight revealed a short figure wearing a hooded cloak, concealing its features and preserving its anonymity. Whoever it was, this individual possessed the skill to discreetly trail others. Descending from her higher vantage point, Allekae drew closer to the would-be thief. However, before she could intervene and prevent the cloaked figure from snatching its target's coin purse, the man being pursued shifted slightly to the right. Without even looking, he swiftly caught the thief's outstretched hand with his own. Panicked, the criminal struggled to break free, but the man Allekae protected possessed an unyielding grip.
"Stealing from others is wrong. It will never heal the hole in your soul," the man declared, turning his head to look the thief directly in the eyes. Allekae could sense the power behind his words, a power she attributed to the impression he had left upon her. She couldn't help but notice the growing panic among the people in the street, who were starting to flee. Two armed men approached the thief and his target—one with long, flowing hair as blue as a river, and the other with short red hair and yellowish eyes. Both appeared angry, but their demeanor differed. The red-haired man seemed ready to explode at any moment, while his companion exuded an air of suffocating control. They immediately emanated light of their respective colors as their bodies started to glow. Both were Dragon-Blooded, yet judging by their equipment, they weren't mercenaries. Though they carried weapons, their armor was hardly worth noting. They placed a hand on the man Allekae had followed all day and issued demands.
"Release our slave, or we'll kill you where you stand," they threatened. In an attempt to emphasize their threat, both Dragon-Blooded tensed their muscles and attempted to force the man downward. However, to their disappointment, the man stood his ground, impervious to their efforts. It was evident that they struggled, as indicated by the increasing size of their animas. The red-haired Fire-Aspect's anima grew so hot that smoke started sizzling from the man's clothing. In that moment, Allekae lost control. A fury unlike any she had ever experienced surged forth, accompanied by a profound sense of betrayal that gnawed at her soul, reminiscent of the day she was chosen. No longer concerned with subtlety, she shifted once more. However, this time, it was not into another animal form, as she had an arsenal of dangerous shapes at her disposal. This time, her fury demanded a different outlet. Her body began to contort, transforming into a massive 9-foot-tall amalgamation of her human form and the Simhata, her totem animal.
In the midst of her transformation, she continued to watch the unfolding scene. The man released his grip on the scrawny teen who had attempted to steal from him. In his now-free right hand, a massive sword materialized out of thin air. It shone with the brilliance of the midday sun, radiating purity unlike anything Allekae had ever witnessed. A sunset-purple aura enveloped the man. Before the two assailants could react, he cleanly sliced off the hand of the Fire-Aspect, which fell to the ground without fanfare. The Dragon-Blooded began to scream in agony, clutching his severed stump with his remaining hand. The Water-Aspect's eyes filled with hatred and sheer terror, fixated on the man who had rendered them utterly powerless. However, before he could even make a move, Allekae pounced upon him, her powerful jaws and claws aimed for his head. Employing all her strength, she tore his head from his body, which thudded to the ground with a hollow sound. Her fury remained unabated as she swiftly turned her attention to the Fire-Aspect, tearing him apart while he screamed in agony. At that moment, people in the streets scattered in full panic, and amid the incoherent screams, the word "Anathema" could be heard from time to time.
Finally satiated, Allekae allowed her war form to dissolve back into her silvery anima. She stood before the man who had shattered all her expectations during their initial encounter. Sensing herself beginning to blush in front of Haruki, she struggled to maintain her composure and speak. "We need to leave now. We've caused disruption here, and the authorities will punish anyone involved. They don't care about innocence," she said as she took hold of the man, still bathed in the sunset-colored glow. When she finally looked up at him—since she stood a head shorter—she noticed a mark on his brow. A golden circle with the bottom half empty shone brightly, not unlike her own Mark of Exaltation, a silvery crescent moon. His eyes were deep blue and perceptive. Whenever he met her gaze, she couldn't help but melt inside. Lowering her gaze once again, she insisted that they must flee far from this place. The man, who had proven unmovable against the Dragon-Blooded, allowed himself to be led by her. She guided him to a safe area near the Firewander district.
Half of the district had succumbed to Wyld contamination, rendering it uninhabitable due to the gruesome mutations that awaited anyone who ventured there. The remaining portion consisted of rickety homes that could barely stand, yet few mercenaries patrolled the streets. Allekae was familiar with all the safe spots. Finally feeling a sense of safety, she relaxed. Haruki sensed her calmness and decided to speak. "I'm assuming you were the cat with the silver markings in the alley. You bear the same markings. That makes you a Chosen of Luna, and if that weren't proof enough, your massive battle form provided quite the spectacle," he said, stating the facts without a hint of mockery. "I'm Haruki, a Chosen of the Unconquered Sun—a Solar, in short."