Golden scales of the Empress

Despicable, that's what they were, pigs groveling in the mud waiting for their next meal. They bowed at the gods' feet begging and pleading for them to help them, they were idiots all of them to ever think the gods' would help them. I learned long ago that the gods were to selfish to care about anybody but themselves and if they did care it was for their own personal gain.

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Even from a young age Dayra had been different, bred different, raised different and looked different, she was teased and taunted but none of that mattered to her as long as she had her family. One day a farm boy and daughter of a merchant fell ill, it was a deadly disease they called The Wood's Will for it originated in the black misty forest behind the village.

This disease spread and spread until no one was left but Dayra but all that time as each one of her family members fell ill she'd prayed for sign, a miracle, anything but nothing showed. Dayra walked into the woods one day ready and waiting for the disease to claim her, but she found something else instead, something to give her reason to start anew.

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The story gets better I promise.