Prologue

Rumbling footsteps broke the silence of the forest. Soldiers, clad in armor, stormed through the woods behind their Captain. Ready at arms, they chanted their king’s name. Arriving at the lake, they proceeded to encompass their targets. A couple, wanted for committing the ultimate taboo. 

The Captain stepped forward and said “We knew you’d be here. Would you peacefully shame us and lay down your arms or would you bless us with your heads.”

The young couple in question stood up and turned to face the Captain, their black robes fluttered in the wind behind them. “We dare not oppose the royal family, what brings you for our heads?” the young man replied in a dissonant voice, showing not a sliver of worry.

“You disgraced our kingdom. You absconded with what rightfully belongs to the Royal Family. Forgiveness shall only be granted to your dead bodies.”

As a group of soldiers ceased the young lady, the Captain walked towards the man as he signaled a soldier to hand over a torch. Grinning, he said “You may not die, but I have a feeling that your harpy will share a more painful fate. Men, subjugate him.”

Held down to the ground, the young man watched as the Captain grabbed his love by the hair and set her robe ablaze. He tried to pull his arms out of his captors clutch, but was unable to unfetter himself. He could only bear witness to his love’s burning body shine with red flames. The stench of burning flesh penetrated the air, but not a single scream was heard. As the lifeless charred body fell to the ground, the young man swore to take his own life and reunite himself with his love.  

“Enjoy an eternity of loneliness you foul monster,” the Captain said as he and his men left the scene, dragging the unfazed robed man with them.  As the distance between him as his discarded love increases, his only thoughts were of her name. A name that would no longer trigger a response from its owner. Unable to grasp the lonely future ahead of him, he gave in to his captors and gave up his freedom. 

Thoughts of suicide bombarded his conscious mind. What was once a blessing is now a curse. A life without her was not worth living and yet he could not shed a tear or even show how he felt. All he could remember the following day was the image of a charred corpse and …

… Luna.