Year of Aeyar, 1156
The rain poured down from the sky as if to try and stop any adventurers from venturing forward. A lightning struck on the road, illuminating two humanoid figures, covered with a dark brown tettered cloak. They were steadily approaching to a distant abandoned building. One of them seemed to be carrying something in their arms while the other held their shoulders and helped them walk.
After reaching their destination, they opened the doors of the abandoned building and entered in. Both of them removed their hoods to reveal a beautiful but tired couple. The woman had long red hair with vibrant emerald green eyes while the man had blonde hair with amber eyes.
They dressed as if they belonged to a noble family. A dress made from highest quality silk covered the woman's features while the man's black expensive looking jacket peeked from under his cloak. Both of them looked like they were worried and scared. But they continued to walk forward.
The wooden window covers creaked with the wind blowing outside while the lightning and thunder caused an eerie atmosphere. The place looked like a church. Or at least a place to worship someone but it was very rundown and clearly forgotten, deserted.
An old and clearly neglected statue stood at the far end of the room. It portrayed a woman with bat like wings, opening her arms in a welcoming way. Even with the cracks and crumbled pieces on the stone, the woman still looked breathtakingly beautiful. Her left wing was broken, fallen to the ground, and her right hand was missing.
"Are you sure you want to do this, my love? You know the dangers of-" The man asked, looking worriedly at the woman.
"What other choice do we have, Claude? We tried everything. This is our last hope." The woman replied, cutting him off. She looked down at the bundle of blankets in her arms before determinedly walking towards the statue.
There was a stone altar in front of the statue, covered with ancient writings and intricate carvings. The couple stopped in front of the altar before kneeling. The man named Claude searched his bag and pulled out a shiny dagger and a bloody pouch.
He opened the pouch and removed what was inside. The item fell on the altar with a disgusting splat sound, revealing itself to be a hand sized heart. It was, surprisingly, still beating.
"I, Claude Von Silford, give this offering to the Goddess of Blood willingly. I humbly ask for your aid."
He then raised his dagger and stabbed the heart. The blood poured from it, covering the altar's surface as well as the writings. The couple silently waited for a while, but nothing happened. The woman's eyes filled with tears as she started to cry, cuddling the blankets in her arms.
"She won't come. We are truly abandoned!"
Claude looked at his beautiful wife and felt helpless. He dropped his dagger and hugged her, pulling her to his chest.
"We did all we could, Lilia. It was not meant to be..."
As the couple sat down on the ground, accepting their fate, the air around them started to change. The sound of the rain and thunder disappeared, filling the area with an eerie silence.
"Who are you to dare offer a sacrifice to me?"
The alluring yet terrifying voice echoed in the abandoned building. It was wild yet balanced, calming yet scary, powerful yet also gentle. It contradicted with itself magnificently.
The couple froze in their places, dare not raise their heads to look at the owner of this voice. They quickly went back to their kneeling position, keeping their heads respectively low.
"W-we apologize for disturbing you, Goddess of Chaos." Claude spoke before gazing at his wife. "But we are desperate. I beg of you, please, hear our prayer."
A long silence filled the room. The only proof that the Goddess haven't left their presence was the eerie feeling they felt behind their necks.
"Very well. Since you have showed the courage to come here, I will reward you by listening to your plea. But be warned, if your desire of summoning me here does not appeal to my interest, there will be severe consequences."
Lightning struck when she voiced the word 'consequences', scaring the couple. But they have received some hope; hope that she will help them.
"Of course. We are ready to receive any kind of punishment, for you are our only hope." Claude spoke with a slight tremble in his voice. He looked at his wife, Lilia, and motioned for her to speak.
Lilia opened her arms and raised her hands slightly, showing the bundle of blankets to the possibly watching Goddess. She removed some parts to reveal a sleeping baby. Her pale skin resembled a corpse as its red hair looked like dying embers, lifeless.
"She born sickly. Cold as ice, barely breathing. We went to see every healer, every cleric, every priest. They all said she won't last long. Please, we beg of you, please save our daughter."
"You called me here so I could heal a dying mortal?"
The voice echoed in the room once more, this time filled with fury and annoyance. While the husband lowered himself to the floor more, the wife stood her ground.
"Yes."
The silence that followed her answer was so intense that it could be cut down by a blade.
"Why?"
"Because I am a mother. I am willing to sacrifice anything to even have a sliver of hope to save my child. And I have no doubt that you, Mother of Monsters, can understand that better than anyone."
"I certainly can."
The Goddess replied calmly. After another long pause the air shifted once more. A blinding light appeared in front of the couple. It's presence lasted a minute as they covered their eyes.
"I will grant your wish..."
Lilia's eyes filled with tears upon hearing her words. She opened her mouth to thank the Goddess but she spoke once again.
"However, there will be consequences. For such acts cannot be done easily."
"I am willing to do anything, my lady. Just name it, and it will be done."
"Very well. Place the child on the altar without the blankets."
For the first time since they arrived there, Lilia felt true terror. Not for her own safety, but for her child as she was afraid that the Goddess would harm her while the baby was on the altar. But she did as commanded.
As she placed her baby on the altar, she noticed that every single drop of blood that previously spilled on it was now gone. Which only increased her worry. After all, she was being called Goddess of Blood for nothing...
"Listen well, both of you. I will heal your child by bestowing her with my blood. In return, your family shall become my followers. You will repair my statues and build my churches. You will gather more believers under my name, and you will do all this in secret."
Both Claude and Lilia stayed silently, nodding along as they listened the price they needed to pay. For them, as Silford Duchy, this was a simple request that they can comply with. But then, the next words froze them in place.
"And when the time comes, I shall come for this little girl. For her fate will be intertwined with mine."
Lilia raised her head in a panicked way, looking up at the Goddess that was standing between her statue and her stone altar without thinking.
The Goddess resembled the beauty and power incarnate. Her skin was pale but it didn't looked sickly. She had long, straight hair as white as freshly fallen snow. Her eyes did not had whites nor irises. Instead they reminded pools of blood, leaving a soft red mist as her lips had the same colour.
She wore a black crown, decorated with a single big ruby in the middle. Its sharp and long ends pointing the ceiling as her head held high. Her wings were a combination of a bat's and dragon's. The upper parts had a single sharp claw on each while the lower ends looked like a freshly sharpened spear. The outer layer of its skin was black while the inner part was blood-red. Her ruby necklace was her only accessory aside from her crown. She was wearing a black strapless dress that hugged her body, showing her curves. Upon closer look, it was clear that her dress had some sort of armor on it, protecting her.
"But she is just a baby! How can sh-"
"SILENCE!"
The building shook with the single command from the powerful figure as Lilia realised what she has done. She grew pale and immediately lowered her head. She tried to utter any kind of apology and beg for forgiveness but all she managed to do was to cry silently.
"For looking at me without my permission, I would normally end your insignificant existence..."
Lilia lowered her head more and waited for the blow to come while Claude looked at her helplessly.
"However, I still need your house. For that, I will only give you a punishment."
A relaxed sigh escaped from the mother. "O-of course. I apologise for my arrogance. Tell me what I need to do."
"You shall restore this building and offer me sacrifices every full moon until your child reaches the age of twelve."
"It shall be done, my lady."
"Good. You may watch."
The Goddess sounded pleased as she focused back on the sleeping child. Lilia gingerly raised her head and started to watch as the Goddess used one of her long red nails to cut her wrist.
"I, Goddess of Chaos and Blood, Mother of Monsters, Embodiment of Pain and Beauty, bestow this child with my blood, taking her as my own."
First few drops of her blood fell on the child's forehead while the rest started to cover the altar. The Goddess' burning gaze turned to the couple.
"Do you, the mortal parents of this mortal child, willingly accept my blessing and swore to protect her at all costs as she grows? Provide her with the best care you can muster?"
The couple hold each others' hand and spoke at the same time, determination evident in their voice.
"We do."
"And so it shall be."
With that, the Goddess pulled her hand back, her wound healing immediately. The altar was now covered with a thin layer of blood as the baby laid in the middle, still. The Goddess gently swiped her hand from one side to the other, her nails leaving a red mist. As the rain stopped, her echoing words filled the building before pouring out.
"Hear my words, awaken from your slumber. Your name shall be known as Lilith, Child of the Goddess of Chaos."
The blood on the altar slowly moved and gathered under the sleeping baby. First, the little drops on her forehead, then the remaining blood found their way under her skin as she absorbed them like a sponge while her hair turned white.
Lilith opened her eyes and started to cry. Her eyes resembled a pair of one of the most vibrant rubies. The Goddess lightly leaned forward and made a little cut on the baby's cheek, causing Lilia to instinctively move forward but Claude was there to stop her from doing anything rash.
The Goddess grabbed the single droplet of blood with the tip of her finger and raised it up. The blood levitated from her finger and stayed still. Goddess spoke in an ancient language, causing the blood to glow. Soon it turned into a shiny ruby.
The Goddess turned and looked down at the two mortal parents. She then pointed them, causing the ruby to levitate and land into the father's open palm.
"This ruby is enchanted to suppress Lilith's abilities. Make sure she wears it all the times until she comes of age and learns to control them."
"As you command." Claude closed his fist and lightly bowed his head. Then Goddess turned to look at Lilia.
"When she is five years old, one of my servants will be at your door. Follow their instructions as they will be there to train her on how to control her powers."
"As you wish." Lilia spoke lightly.
"I have fulfilled your request. Now it is your turn. I will be watching."
And with that, a blood storm appeared out of nowhere, surrounding the Goddess. Once the storm settled, they turned into red rose petals and she was gone.
Lilia immediately rushed forward to hold her crying child. And as soon as she saw how healthy her baby was, she also started crying, letting out tears of joy.
"Claude, listen to her crying... She sounds so alive and well. I cannot believe it."
Claude moved to hold his wife and daughter, hugging them close.
"Yes, my love. She is alive and healthy now, thanks to our Goddess."
They stayed there for a few long minutes before turning to leave. They now had so much work to do...