1 The Descent

It was the middle of the heavy afternoon, the sun was set up high. Ten year old Raven was sitting peacefully on the thick root of a gigantic tree near the cold, flowing river, taking glances on the clear water wherein nymphs are showing their beauty off.

Young Raven couldn't help but to fall in deep adoration as she watches how their skin glows in different and magnificent colors. "You looks so magical... pretty," she murmured.

Synthia, the pink-haired nymph and the closest one to Raven, got out from the water, and sat on the greenish grass while combing her silky and soft hair. "Jealous?" asked by her with a tone of disbelief.

Raven smiled, "Do you think I will become a beautiful and strong witch in the future?"

Synthia giggled, "Of course you will! You're still young, little bird. You still have a lot of destinations to fly through."

She pouted, "I want to become as pretty as you though!"

The nymph, softly looked at her direction. "You flatter us that much that you forgot about yourself. You're even more beautiful, Raven."

True to her words, Synthia thought of how unique and beautiful Raven is.

In their clan where she came from, it's not different nor shocking to see a girl with a cloud like skin tone, white grayish hair, charcoal eyes, white lashes, and apple red lips.

It became the proof of their bloodline, as the last lineage of Witches.

The Moonfalls.

But as someone who have always encounter mortals with the same appearance, for them, Raven is one of the beauties.

Raven narrowed her almond eyes. Did not agreed on Synthia's words. "I am not worthy of your praise yet, Synthia. Save it for the real deal." Shaking her head, she stood up and fixed her green tunic dress. "I'll excuse myself first. Mother would surely go mad again if she spots my presence here. You know her."

Synthia and the other nymphs nods their heads, agreeing. Raven let out a chuckle. She's been staying on the riverside for a long time now, surely, her mother is already furious of her whereabouts. She's the youngest on the clan that's why talking to Synthia and to other nymphs make her feel better before attending their schooling. Although she desire to stay, she can't hide the truth that she's scared of her mother, she's the most scariest witch in the clan after all, aside from the achievements she received so far ever since she made a pact with the late Dux, she's also the scariest because of her aura that could choke anyone to death.

Raven bowed her head at the nymphs before making her way home.

Contrarily, gasping for air, a man was seen running away from the deep forest. With his hands tied using an unknown silver material, destroyed clothes, and deep wounds on each corner of his body; marks of torture, he fell on the dirt as his knees got tired of moving, reaching his limit.

"Raile?" Juria, Raile's partner, stopped from her tracks when she realized that it was her companion. Slowly, she decided to move closer to him but all of sudden, her body stopped on its own.

She shivered.

The sight of him, nearly dying, is not the one that frightened the woman, rather the people on his trail did.

"Moonfalls!" A man in a familiar gray cloaks with embroidered thorns pattern shone under the sunlight. The golden crest on his clothes is enough to bring horror.

Everyone was alarmed by their sudden arrival.

"T-The... Carpathians. They're here... t-they found us?!"

Fear crawl into their minds like an anime instinct telling them to run before they fall into a deep slumber in the hands of their enemies.

The thoughts of them, relocating, finding a better and safe home for their families and escaping the land of south; Carpathia, the Moonfalls couldn't help but to feel ashamed of running away, hiding for years... and just gain nothing.

Far from freedom.

In vain.

The glimpse of the sorcerers from Carpathia made their heart sink into the depths of darkness.

It's heavy.

The burden they carry along for being a witch.

"SAVE YOUR LIVES!" said Raile on his last breath, as sharp light blades dug into his chest. Juria, screaming on the top of her lungs, rushed towards the sorcerers to avenge her beloved but... her attack didn't make a change, and even lost her precious life.

Her body fell beside Raile. For the last time, she held his husband with her warm yet blooded hands.

Bodies may be cold, regrets cannot be seen on their faces.

Chaos even more exploded the moment the Carpathian threw magical metals that wraps around the witches bodies, releasing a great amount of heat. "Burn them to death! BURN!" yells the man in armor.

"Raven!" Escaping from the sorcerers, a mother worriedly called her daughter out to hide, thankfully she immediately saw her at the entrance of the woods, painfully looking at how the fire that Carpathian created, started to devour their beloved forest.

"Synthia... No..." Going back home, Raven never expected a disaster will welcome her. A disaster that will ruin everything she cherish the most. Clenching fists she stepped into the woods once again however the lady ran towards her and violently led her inside their wooden house.

"Mother! Synthia! They are still in there! The forest! They will die, Mother!" she cried, desperately, in pain.

The lady's nails dug into her skin, forcing her to follow obediently, Raven winced. "This is not the right time to think about others, Raven! The Carpathians are hunting us down! We have no time to save others if we can't save ours!"

Sobbing, Raven bit her lower lip and nodded. Trying to understand her mother's words even though there's a burst of emotions inside her.

"You need to survive, Raven!!" her mother held her shoulder tightly, as if waking up her mind. "Be selfish and survive!"

"Survive.." she whispered under her breath.

Her Mother nodded, "You should, Raven! Promise me!"

She looked straight into her eyes, "I promise."

The lady smiled in satisfaction. "Let's see each other later."

"Vow."

She kissed her forehead, "I vow in the name of our clan. Under the crescent Moon. I will carry thy honor."

As the time passes by, promises are either words created to assure, or words to hold onto as someone's farewell.

**

The memories she had that day are not vivid. The night was falling when she woke up, head spinning like crazy, the scent of iron lingering in the clear air as if a rough battle left the place abandoned, and the ashes along the wind that makes her remember every bit of her life deep down the woods.

Raven couldn't remember anything except her mother's last words.

At that moment, she realized that the ground she's stepping into... became the grave of her precious love.

"You're the descendant of darkness, Raven Moonfalls. Go forth, and avenge us all."