The Way It Burns - BbangNyu

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The world was once separated by vast kingdoms, dividing most creatures from one another. There was an unspoken rule, that you must be with your own kind, or life would be cruel to you. No mercy was spared to those who broke the rule, there was no such thing as forgiveness in those days. The modern world grants fortune on most, but there are many more similarities to those times, then we'd like to admit. 

I would like to share with you a story, of rebellion, and great tragedy. A story that changed the coarse of history, yet, seems to be erased from all the history books we read.

Beginning in the Kingdom of Pudicitia, the realm of the pure angels. With a young girl, named as Lucilla, daughter of Tatius, the ruler of the angels. She spent her days high up in the clouds, sheltered from all unpurites in the world bellow. She longed for adventure, she longed to explore, though, she accepted that this would never be a possibility. Until, one day, a firefly guided her to the great library of the saints. After reading for almost a full day, she found a hunger that could not be ignored.

Gathering a few items, Lucilla left her house, with 4 oranges, and a single book. She walked to the very edge of the clouds, taking a single glance back at the world she knew. Then she lept, into the sky. It took all her faith, but she had no fear, this was something she had to do.

For Lucilla, luck was on her side, as she fell into a crystal pond. She traveled for 10 days, and 10 nights, discovering much more than she could have ever imagined, whilst, documenting it all in her book. 

On the 11th day, the angel took rest beside a grand oak tree, reading over some of her past adventures. That is when she first laid eyes on Domitia, the most incredibly beautiful woman she had ever seen. But what truly captivated her the most, was the deep red eyes, she'd never stumbled across anything like them. Engulfed in the allure, Lucilla's curiosity over took her. She ran up to Domitia, questioning her as she did with everything new she came across. 

A demon.

Lucilla had read about them briefly, creatures forged from darkness, who prayed on the innocent. However, she believed that no creature could be this way, as there was good in everyone. 

From her questioning, Lucilla found out that Domitia was traveling back home, to the Kingdom of Tenebris, the realm of the dark demons. With no thought, the angel asked to accompany the woman on her journey's, as she wished to see all of the world. Domitia was hesitant, but agreed, being just as captivated by Lucilla, as Lucilla was with her. 

As expected, their travels only brought them closer, blooming a love that had never once touched this world. Upon arriving at the kingdom of Tenebris, Lucilla was welcomed with open arms. Ignatius, ruler of the Kingdom, even planned for a wedding, hoping that it could unite the two Kingdoms.

This may be shocking, but let me tell you something about the kingdom of Tenebris. It wasn't only for demons, it was for all dark creatures. If you were feared, you were welcomed to stay. For Ignatius believed that no creature deserved to be exiled, until they did something worth the punishment. He even had a prison, for any creature who performed an evil act, he didn't condone these behaviours. He was desperate for the angels to join them in harmony, create a world free for all.

Unfortunately, Ignatius's dreams would never come true. For on the day of the wedding, the angels infiltrated Tenebris with thousands of soldiers, brutally murdering the creatures of the kingdom, on what was to be such a joyous day. 

Tatius, ruler of the angels, took great pride in stabbing Domitia through the heart, killing her in an instant. Lucilla wept over the body, begging for anyone to save her love, yet, there was nothing that could be done. Terrified of her father, Lucilla escaped with Ignatius, to a secret cavern on the other side of the world.

Ignatius returned to his kingdom, rebuilding the best he could, with all of the survivors. He'd visit Lucilla once every year, to restock her food, and water, whilst providing her with some company. He'd bring her books, as she just kept writing, of which he was never allowed to read.

Then one year, on his visit, Ignatius found the cavern empty. The only things left behind, were Lucilla's books. He spent weeks reading through every one, until he reached the very last. 

'The book of the freeland'

Documenting all of Lucilla's dreams for the world, it went into detail about everything she wished the world would be. With everyone living peacefully, and most importantly, loving whoever you'd like to, freely.

The final passage of the book, was a note directly from Lucilla, written for Ignatius.
It read:

My dear friend,
I have lived many lives,
One of isolation, One of Happiness, One of devastation,
I no longer desire to write about my ideals, I must now take action,
The hatred I hold can only be diminished by revenge,
If I did not leave now, I may have been destroyed,
I pray the world is kind to you,
Purity is only a thing of myth.

Lucilla left to create true purity, something she imagined solely as, demons.

She traveled for 25 years, searching for the most powerful sorcerer in the land. Which she found, in form of Roman, the most feared, magic wielder to ever exist. Lucilla commanded him to curse the angels, and that he did. He made it so, that if any angel is touched by a creature of such purity, that they will burn from their past sins.  

When Tatius heard about Lucilla's curse, he journeyed to the kingdom of Tenebris, demanding to be touched by a demon. One strike from Ignatius singed a deep black mark on the angels face. Furious, the ruler returned home, only to have his people turn on him. They threw him off the clouds, and he had no luck like Lucilla, for he fell straight onto shards of rock, impaling him, thus killing the man.

That is how angels began to fear, what they called as 'demon marks'. If any angel returned with the black marks, they would be disposed of accordingly. Some angels took it upon themselves to search for a spell to break the curse, though nothing was ever strong enough. Over the centuries, demon marks weakened, fading over time, but never gone entirely.

No one knows what happened to Lucilla, some say she ended her life after casting the curse. Yet, some believe, she fell in love once more, this time with a fellow angel, one who had run away from the kingdom of Pudicitia. Justus was said to have dark burn marks, from his past relationship with a demon. They had children of their own, never named in history, there is nothing known about them. 

It is said, that only a descendant born of light and just, can reunite the world after such betrayal, and hatred.