Flash!

The snowy forest carpeted in pitch-black nightfall was briefly lit by a blinding purple light. At its source were two women, one donning black, unusual attire that looked similar to a tunic in the top half and an open dress with pants underneath in the bottom, as well as cradling a scarlet blanket. The other was wearing a white dress that gave the facade that she had been returning from a cheap soiree.

The first brushed her obsidian hair away from her dark blue eyes and asked, "Where are we, Aileen?" After quickly scanning their immediate surroundings.

Aileen ran a hand through her blonde hair eyeing the powdery snow suspiciously. "I don't think we're in Síochain anymore." She then quickly started feeding her arms inside of her dress closer to her torso, lowered her top and with the exception of her chest which was covered by loosely bound bandages, exposed the upper half of her body. Ignoring the biting cold of the evening breeze, a pair of white wings extended out from her back and with one forceful flap, she lifted herself above the tall trees.

"What the hell is all this? A city?" She whispered to herself and gazed out beyond the forest's perimeter. In front of her was a sea of lights, bustling horseless carriages which seemed to roar despite there being no animals in sight, a series of small structures made of vibrantly coloured wood which eventually became much larger structures made of concrete and glass. The lights flooding out from the carriages and from each structure alike were much too consistent and bright to be from candlelight. "Is this what he meant?"

I'll tear this world apart, burn it to the ground and when nothing but embers dance on the surface a new world shall rise from the ashes. My only hope is that this new world does not repeat the mistakes of the original.

"That crazy coot actually pulled it off." Aileen muttered under her breath and descended to the ground once more.

I'll entrust my daughter to you two, Stella and Aileen. Lilly will send you well into the future so that if we succeed here today, Luna can grow up in a world devoid of discrimination. She may live out her life as a normal human girl, even if she isn't one herself.

Aileen approached her partner, Stella, who had unwrapped the blanket slightly to check the condition of the silent infant inside. "They must've done it." Stella told her as she approached.

Confused, Aileen asked, "I was about to say the same thing but how do you know?"

Her partner then held the newborn baby up to her, "Look at her eyes." Stella instructed.

Aileen first noticed that the baby had silvery hair and lacked human ears. Instead, closer to the top of her head protruded two grey wolf ears, and a tail to match dangled loosely below the blanket. "This is-" Aileen cut herself off in shock and noticed that the baby's right iris was blood red but otherwise normal, however, her left eye bore no pupil at all, nor an iris. At the centre of her sclera was instead a crimson line with three curved triangles pointing towards it.

"Ríastrad. The wolf bearing its sword." Stella finished her thought for her.

Aileen stared at the child's eye blankly for a moment then leaned towards Stella, "I figured out on my own that it's really dangerous but what exactly does it do?"

"You joined and stuck with all of us without knowing that?" Stella asked in awe and put a hand on Luna's cheek before explaining, "The wielder can summon tremendous strength, speed, and perception but the claws that wrap the sword's handle dig into the hand that holds it, damaging the user with prolonged use. The tighter they hold the handle, the more they hurt themselves until they can grasp it no longer. Ríastrad is a weapon born of hatred and he or she who possesses it is the living incantation of wrath itself, the most dangerous of the seven deadly sins. There can only be one bearer of each of the sins at any point in time and it can only be extracted through death. If she now bears it instead of her father..."

The child looked up at the ladies innocently but expressionless. Her gaze slowly switched between them one after another. He wanted you to be happy in a peaceful life. Stella thought to herself while returning her stare. It would seem that reality will never be kind to hybrids such as ourselves. I'm sorry Cain, I don't think we'll be able to fulfill this task you entrusted to us as long as she has your eye.

"How can a child inherit one of the sins?" Aileen inquired. "Cain became its bearer because he craved revenge and held an unshakable hatred for human kind. Luna was only just born, how could she possibly hate something so much already?"

Stella was at first hesitant to speak and on her first attempt no sound came out. On her second she choked on the words and finally with the third she managed to meekly reply, "I don't know. It isn't fair that she has to suffer like he did." She told Aileen, a tear forming in her eye.

"Stella..." Aileen spoke softly and extended a gentle hand out towards her, wiping away her tears before they fell. They sat in silence for a moment before Aileen steeled herself, turning in the direction of the bright city. "We should find somewhere warm to stay for now. Cain and Lilly's daughter must be freezing."

"Aye." Stella responded, regaining her composure and took her place beside her partner.

"Don't worry my dear." Aileen said first without looking at her then flashed a wide, optimistic smile. "Even an old grump like Cain was capable of being happy and this young lass has Lilly's genes in her too. We'll definitely give her a life where she can be happy. We told her parents we would and we haven't failed any tasks that Cain has given us thus far so we won't botch this one up either!"

Stella looked at her dumbfounded for a moment and returned her a weak smile. "Absolutely. First things first then," she continued and looked down at young Luna, "let's find someplace with less snow for you to sleep."