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Hakan
The Land of Gold and the Shifter's War
The Tayar Kingdom had long been known as the Land of Gold. Its fertile plains, abundant resources, and strategic location made it a prize few could resist. Wandering Shifters, unable to settle anywhere, had waged countless wars against the Tayars, each time hoping to claim this prosperous land. Yet, despite their relentless assaults, they always emerged defeated. Time and again, the Tayar tribe's resilience and unity had repelled the invaders.
The New Strategy
Among the Shifters, one stood apart—Marissa. Unlike the others who attacked openly, she devised a subtler, deadlier strategy. Shifters possessed the extraordinary ability to disguise themselves as humans, an ability that could be extended indefinitely by consuming a human heart. But there was more: by devouring a human heart, fragments of that person's soul would enter the Shifter's body, granting them some of their abilities.
Eliminating the Weakness
Marissa's ambition went beyond mere disguise. Shifters had a critical vulnerability: exposure to a Holy Relic could force them back into their monstrous forms. Marissa wanted to eliminate this weakness entirely. Her plan was audacious—if a Shifter could gain a body imbued with holy powers, they would be immune to the Relic's effects. In her mind, consuming a heart imbued with holiness was the ultimate solution, granting her permanent human form and unassailable power.
Marissa's Motivation
Marissa could not bear the thought of existing as a hideous monster. She craved beauty, grace, and acceptance, which is why she always disguised herself as a beautiful woman. But mere human hearts were not enough. She needed something far greater—the heart of someone possessing holy powers. Her ambitions led her to the Tayar Kingdom, a land renowned not only for its wealth but for its people's holy abilities.
The Moon Tribe and Lady Lierre
Marissa's path first crossed with the Moon Tribe, founders of the Cameru Religion. Known for their ethereal beauty, they were descendants of the Lumarouh Principality's rulers and held in high regard. Yet, most lacked true holy power, with only a select few possessing such abilities. Marissa, noticing their beauty and influence, assumed they must hold extraordinary powers, perhaps even greater than what the Tayar Kingdom was known for.
Her attention soon turned to Lady Lierre—the most beautiful and wise woman of the Lumarouh Principality. Lierre was not only admired for her appearance but revered for her holiness and wisdom. For Marissa, Lady Lierre's heart represented the ultimate prize, a key to achieving eternal human form and power.
My Connection to Lady Lierre
I too had been captivated by Lady Lierre. My beginnings were humble: I was the son of a farmer, tending horses in the Lumarouh Principality's stables. Fate brought her to my care one day when she asked, "Are you the stable boy who treated my horse?"
Trembling, I answered, "T-that's right. I found poisonous herbs in the horse feed."
She regarded me thoughtfully. "Really? You know a lot about medicinal herbs?"
"Yes," I replied. "I've read a few books about them."
Her eyes softened. "I see… then from tomorrow, you will stop working in the stables and begin working in my residence."
Thus began my journey closer to her, learning not only of her wisdom and kindness but forming a bond that would define the course of my life.
The Fall of the Lumarouh Principality and My Rise
But the Principality fell into decline. With nowhere else to turn, I joined the Cameru Religion, beginning as a humble priest. Through dedication and service, I rose steadily through its ranks, eventually earning the title of Cardinal.
It was during this time that Marissa arrived, likely seeking to claim the holy power I now possessed. But her true objective had always been clear: she wanted Lady Lierre's heart—the ultimate source of the power she coveted. And with that, her plan, her ambition, and her danger became inseparably entwined with my past, my love, and the fate of the Tayar Kingdom itself.
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My Past and Lady Lierre
Marissa's first encounter with the Moon Tribe set the stage for everything that would follow. The Moon Tribe, founders of the Cameru Religion, were descendants of the leaders of the Lumarouh Principality and the council of the Cameru Religion. Their ethereal beauty earned them their name, and they were admired far and wide. Yet, despite their reverence, only a select few among them truly possessed holy power.
I had realized that if most of the Moon Tribe lacked this power, then it must have been Luona who inherited the gift of healing. But Marissa, ever cunning, saw only their beauty and assumed they must possess even greater abilities. She became fixated on Lady Lierre—the most beautiful and wise woman in the Lumarouh Principality. She was not just a prize to Marissa; she was the key to eternal human form, the ultimate source of holy power. And to me, she was everything I loved. I had been entrusted with her care.
I had humble beginnings: the son of a farmer, working in the stables of the Lumarouh Principality. It was there I cared for Lady Lierre's horse. One day, she approached me and asked, "Are you the stable boy who treated my horse?"
Trembling, I replied, "T-that's right. I found poisonous herbs in the horse feed."
Her eyes softened, and she asked, "Really? You know a lot about medicinal herbs?"
"Yes," I replied earnestly. "I've read a few books about them."
Her gaze held a quiet appreciation. "I see… so you can read. From tomorrow, you will stop working in the stables and begin working in my residence."
That moment marked the beginning of my closeness with her, a bond that would shape my life in ways I could never have foreseen.
The Path to Cardinal and Marissa's Return
The decline of the Lumarouh Principality forced me onto a different path. With no other place to turn, I joined the Cameru Religion, beginning as a common priest. Years of dedication, faith, and relentless work elevated me steadily through the ranks, and eventually, I became a Cardinal.
It was after reaching this position of influence that Marissa appeared once again. I knew her intentions immediately—she sought to steal my holy power, to claim the abilities of a Cardinal for herself. But her ambition was not limited to me. Her ultimate target was Lady Lierre. After Marissa consumed Lierre's heart, the true extent of her conspiracy became horrifyingly clear.
Marissa's Conspiracy and the Kidnapping
Soon after, I discovered that the Baron's eldest son had been lured into contact with a black mage. Each time I tried to intervene, someone obstructed my path, preventing me from stopping him. It was then I realized the black mage was working for Marissa.
As the eldest son spent more time under the mage's influence, his judgment became clouded, driving him to commit acts he would never have considered otherwise—such as robbing the graves in Mezaluc. The desecration of these sacred sites, and my subsequent retaliation, were all part of the Shifters' meticulous plan. Every event, every act of chaos, had been orchestrated to serve Marissa's ultimate goal.
When asked why I had not warned anyone sooner, I explained that Marissa had kept me under constant surveillance. I had been trapped, unable to act—until Lucina's letter arrived. Without her intervention, without that letter, we may have been completely overwhelmed by the Shifters.
"But it's all over now," I told them grimly. Marissa's target had shifted. Now she was after your child—a child who carried both Lucina's blood and the blood of a Draconian. She planned to consume the child's heart, to gain holy power and the abilities of a Draconian simultaneously.
My Escape
The Dragon King looked unconvinced. "Now that Marissa has kidnapped her—I still don't understand why you're acting like there's nothing we can do," he said, his tone a mixture of disbelief and frustration. "Where were you when she was kidnapped? Did the Shifters spare you?"
I revealed the truth: Marissa had indeed left me alone for a brief moment, and during that window, someone had helped me escape. That person might hold the key to finding Marissa's current location—and to rescuing Lucina.
Now, with my path set and hope flickering in the darkness, I am determined: I will save Lucina, no matter the cost.