You still remember her final screech.

The dying cries of Flora as you struck the decisive blow with your blade, as she dissolved into mist. That feeling of overwhelming power, then your vision turning black.

The moon presence had been slain, and you took her place.

You remember the first few millennia spent in this dream. An infant Great One, with the Doll taking care of you, treating you almost as a son. In a way, she was everything to you. An ally, a mother, a caretaker.

Slowly, you grew, both physically and in power. Over the years, you became child, to young adult, to adult. Years passed, and no soul in the waking realm had the courage-no, the desperation to cry into the abyss of the unknown. Once, a century ago, some cult had formed, worshipping the moon. You listened to them in curiosity, but their devotion was to the moon itself, abandoning the thought of the Great One symbolizing it. So, you didn't answer.

But... after almost a million years of this...

"Oh Great One..." you turned your vision towards the doll, as she bowed. In response, you dipped your head as you spoke.

"You've come to inform me of the prayer, no?" You asked. You had no physical mouth to speak from, so none could tell how you spoke in a fleeting tone, almost like the wind rushing past your ears. The doll gave you a smile, as she turned, walking back to her post in from of the dream workshop.

Meanwhile, in an alternate realm of the waking world, a woman took to her knees, alone in a circular room. Beside her, on a stool, lay a golden crown. Behind her we're several books, each containing almost indecipherable runes, known to the great ones as Caryll Runes. Outside of the room, two woman in bright dresses stood. The unsuspecting passerby might mistake them for maidens, covering for their friend as they explored a forbidden room.

None would guess that they were Shadows, guarding their Queen in prayer to a forgotten god.

"Oh Great One of the Moon, hear my prayer..." Mirellia Melromarc, queen of her country, began her hopeful prayer.

"My country lies in dire need. Left in the hands of a king who has lost his way, easily swayed by our daughter. Waves of Catastrophe threaten our land, which my husband the king aims to push back with blasphemous means..." with her eyes closed, and nobody in the room, none could see the silver mist beginning to form in the air around her.

The queen continued her prayer, not noticing the change in the air around her.

"Protect this country, and help the hero of the shield, should my family forsake him as I fear. For this I ask...." the Queen was about to end her prayer, heart sunk. She opened her eyes, which were slowly tearing up from speaking her emotions, before she noticed the change in the ground. Instead of the wooden floor she had prayed on, the Queen was on a stone pathway. She looked up, to see a hill, upon which, a burnt building resided. Just before the hill curved upward, a life sized doll sat upon a niche made from dirt and stones. She looked around at all the gravestones surrounding the hill, covering the hillside, and the area beside her, before speaking drew her attention.

It was low gibberish, coming from below her. The queen looked down to reveal a small, pale white creature on the ground beside her. Only its upper body, resembling a humans, was visible, holding up a plain white flower.

Mirellia crouched down to face it, gingerly taking the flower from its grasp. Then, in front of her, another appeared. Then another. Crawling out of the ground, all holding white flowers, these creatures made a trail. Cautiously, Queen Mirellia followed them.

Passing through an iron gate, Mirellia walked into a field of flowers. She would've been relaxed, had she not held the feeling of impending demise, like something was watching, waiting for her.

She turned the corner, and gasped in shock. In the far end of the field, at the top of the hill, a massive being lied down. It's flesh seemed to be almost entirely missing, with only the bloody spine and ribs remaining of its torso. Despite its nearly skeletal limbs, it carried itself like a lion. It's tail was massive, barbed, and split off into a few ends, all waving mindlessly. It's face, was gone, only a hole, staring into it seemed to entrance the queen, like staring over the edge of a cliff. Around its head, countless numbers of tentacles swayed, like a mane.

"Mirellia Q Melromarc." A voice whispered in her ears. She flinched, turning around to see who spoke.

"I see you hold fear. Is it in me, this land, or your desperation, for you to have come to me, instead of my brethren?" The voice asked once again. The queen looked back to the massive beast, realizing the source of the voice. In a rush, she fell to her knees, her head almost touching the floor. After a moment of silence, you spoke.

"Rise, young one." Shakily, Mirellia got to her feet, barely able to look away from you.

"I have heard your prayer. Now, answer me this. How did you discover me?" Despite your weird wording, Mirellia knew what you meant.

"We...we had miners digging new tunnels to find ore, and we found a sealed off labyrinth. It contained books speaking of the Great Ones. I will soon be forced to leave my country to go to others, and ease tensions that will arise in about a weeks time. I came to you to-"

"Request that I help your country." You interrupted. Mirellia nodded, trembling.

"So many people are in danger because of my husband, and I fear that it could even be the end of order, that Melromarc may fall completely. As their queen, I cannot let that happen!" Mirellia fell to her knees.

"Please, O Great One, I beg of you!" You watched as she bowed to you, leaving behind simple kneeling.

"Mirellia Melromarc..." She froze around the mention of her name.

"You ask that I save thousands, if not millions of lives, correct?" You asked. Mirellia nodded.

"And what of repayment? Do you have something that could possibly be worth so much?" You asked. Mirellia froze at the words. After a moment, she nodded, drawing a knife from her boot. Standing, you saw a tear slip from her eye as she pointed it towards her throat.

"I can offer my own life." She shakily offered.

Moments passed, silence between you and her evident. After about 10 seconds, you spoke again.

"Look around you, in the field." You ordered. Mirellia looked around, admiring the flowers.

"At the flowers?" She asked. You dipped your head in a nod.

"They have been carefully kept over the years. Would you be better off helping trim these blossoms, or on the ground, with your blood staining them?" You asked. Mirellia nodded, understanding your point.

"I see. In that case, I will immediately-"

"I am not finished." Mirellia flinched, looking down. You made a noise reminiscent of a sigh.

"I have a proposition of my own, Mirellia Q Melromarc." You spoke.

"I have not faced a hunt since I slew Flora many centuries ago. I will personally enter your world, and help these heroes you speak of. In return..." Mirellia watched as a messenger crawled out of the ground beside you, holding up an empty blood vial. With blinding speed, you whipped your tail, cutting open a gash on a tentacle. Mirellia watched as thick red blood dripped into the vial. Your wound sealed itself, and the messenger disappeared, only to appear by the Queen, brandishing the vial.

"That is a vial of my heavily corrupted blood. You must take it to any place with thriving plant life. A castle garden will suffice. On the night the heroes arrive, pour this blood into the soil, and you will release a scourge on your land." Mirellia took the vial, turning it in her hands as she processed the words.

"Scourge? What do you mean?" She asked.

"A plague of beasts that will make the waves you describe seem tame. That blood will infect the land, and turn people and animal into beasts, born of blood. Death is inevitable, but since you were so willing to give your own, I will accept those who become beasts and get slain, as well as those who fall to the beasts, as the payment for those who live." You spoke. Mirellia gulped, looking at the blood.

"And... what if I don't?" She asked.

"Then, a messenger shall come to retrieve the tainted blood, and until you bring a better bargain, or your country is certainly doomed, your prayers will fall on deaf ears." Mirellia nodded, looking into the blood. She was conflicted.

"However, I do realize my price is a bit... high, so I shall add onto yours." Mirellia looked at you with curiosity and concern.

"Any decree that you make, I will follow without question, until you, or anyone acting in your name are to move against me. If they are fraud, I will forgive, but I will not forget betrayal. Do you accept?" You asked. Mirellia continued to look at the blood, before clenching her fist. She looked up at you, courage filling her eyes.

"I must confirm something first. You cannot be everywhere at once, and you used to hunt these beasts, so what of the fates of the people you cannot protect?" She asked. If you could, you would smile.

"I understand your concern, good Queen. To that, I answer, simply have faith. The beasts will only grow stronger when faced by the hero's. All others will be safe, granted they can escape." You assured the uneasy Queen. Mirellia nodded, taking to another knee.

"Then... I will accept your offer, O Great One." She said. To her surprise, when she looked up, the massive beast that stood before her was gone. No trace of you remained. She blinked again, and just like that, she was back in the room she had prayed in. She looked around, seeing silver mist around her head slowly fade away. She looked down to her hands. Slowly opening them, she saw the deep red vial of your blood. Behind her, the door opened.

"Your Highness, the allotted time has passed. Was your prayer successful?" Her shadow asked. The Queen turned to face them, gently holding the vial.

"Yes, it was. Delay my stay here for a moment. We leave the night the heroes are summoned." The Queen ordered.

"Yes, Majesty." Came the response. As the Queen began to clean up the room, she felt something behind her. Turning to look, she saw nothing. She sighed, slowly calming down, before exiting the room.

Soon, a week had passed, and Mirellia, true to her word, was in the castle garden. Her trusted daughter Melty was sent to her room, to avoid her, or anyone else witnessing the potential atrocity she was about to commit.

In the castle behind her, chatter began to fill the air as the ritual to summon the heroes began. The Queen slowly uncorked the vial, letting the foul smell of blood hit her nose. With a deep breath, she slowly turned it over, letting the blood seep into the ground. As it slowly disappeared, the air around her began to change color. She looked up, into the sky, as the moon turned a blood red. She had done it.

Queen Mirellia has unleashed a plague of beasts upon Melromarc.

"Well done." A deep, male voice spoke behind her, in a heavy accent. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, before turning to face you, in your human body.

You were of a respectable height, easily as tall as the queen, and the heavy scent of blood hung over you. Most of your face was hidden behind a strange feathered cap, and a mask, but once she saw those piercing e/c eyes, she seemed to grow entranced, like she was staring at the drop of a cliff.

"Great One." She said, looking at the weapon you held. It resembled a segmented club, with one edge covered in barbs.

"I suppose I should go by the name I once called myself while here. While you see me in this body, I am Y/n L/n. And now, as long as I stand in this land, I shall follow your decree." You took a bow to the queen, as she knit her brows.

"Please, sir L/n. Help the heroes. The shield hero in particular is likely to be targeted, thanks to a vendetta held by my husband." Mirellia asked. You placed your weapon, the Beast Cutter, on your back, as the Queen pulled a roll of paper from her sleeve.

"This is a signed order from me to my husband, to allow you to join the mighty warriors who are to help the heroes. Use it, and please help the shield. This is my first order, Great One L/n." She spoke in what could be described as a cross between a fearful and confident voice. You nodded, turning to the doorway.

"Great One L/n, I wish you good fortune. Please, protect this country with all you can." The Queen bade you farewell as she left, no doubt for a while. You walked out of the garden, looking at the castle halls. They were mostly empty. By this time of night, there would be no doubt that the heroes were asleep at this point. Tomorrow, they would gather, and you would get to work.

You smiled, letting out a satisfied sigh as you walked down the hallway. The Queen had poured the blood, so there was no doubt. The scourge has begun.