The Peerless Huntress of Silvermore

Life is but a mystery. A series of unanswerable questions, a journey to create an unquestionable answer.

It's all but a game of choices.

The little choices that we think don't matter, that we believe wouldn't affect us; they're the ones that alter and determine our fate in the long run.

Fate, which we unquestionably accept as it is, something ordained by the Gods above us, is nothing but a road paved by the building blocks of these choices.

Over the years, I've made thousands upon thousands of such seemingly trivial yet important choices, and they've led me to where I am. Back then, I didn't think of the consequences before making any of those choices. It was truly a blissful time.

But the bliss was short and transient. Before I even knew it, my frail shoulders, that once used to feel light with the wings of my dreams and passions, were loaded with a heavy responsibility that made it hard for me to breathe.

It was also a consequence of my choice, yet, even then, in all my youth and naivety, I kept on making those choices, the uncertain, hesitant ones, and as a result kept experiencing the impacts.

Although there definitely was a wave of realization that attempted to guide me through logic and reason, it never was as clear, as piercing as the one I'm feeling right now.

Surrounded by lush greenery, I feel the calmness of the two picturesque streams crossing each other bordering the corners of my sight. I sit slouched, on a lone mountain peak with clouds caressing my face, the face that once used to be tender and naive, dripping with ample yearning for love.

Now, it is a tear-stained mess that appears to be on the verge of falling apart like crumbs of bread.

I kneel, embracing the cold body of a young girl that looks to be the pristine artwork God has given all his love and care to, taking His time to carve each of her features.

Just her alluring eyes are enough to draw the stares of both men and women into themselves, like an abyss that sucks all their attention. Innocence and virtue once used to radiate from them, enough for even the hardened criminals to feel a sense of shame and guilt upon making eye contact.

Her lustrous pink lips, adorable little nose, and perfectly symmetrical face had once made me feel inferior and imperfect for days.

This girl had once promised me a lot. Those words, which were seemingly uttered in pure naivety, led her onto a despairing road, one that she couldn't escape from in the end.

It seems to be the magic of fate that even someone like me, a little human girl lost in the chaos of who-knows-how-many supernatural species, ended up becoming more familiar with her than those of her own.

As I embrace her tightly in my arms, crimson blood staining both of our light-pinkish skirts, I'm reminded of everything we've been through together: the perilous journeys, the beautiful encounters, the enrapturing sights, the sweet honeyed giggles, and glaring mistakes.

The blood that is staining our clothes is not mine, it's flowing from her chest, just above her heart. She's cold, but she's not dead yet.

Perhaps, if it might have been anyone else, they would've succumbed to the sweet embrace of death and despair, but I know she isn't the one to give up. Even if she wants to, her royal blood wouldn't allow her to give up.

I know this because I also know who she is, the venerable Princess of the Sankrusk Vampire kingdom, the daughter of the dreadful Eastern Vampire King, Zhumorian, and perhaps also... my sister-in-law.

How did it come to this? How did this seemingly impossible connection happen? I was also only beginning to think of this, yet events that continued to lead me around to places kept happening, not giving me any time to have a breather.

Somehow, with the culmination of everything, I found myself lying here alone, with a heavily injured Vampire Princess in my arms. And now as I stand on top of this giant twisted mountain, instead of feeling small and fearful as I usually did, I feel  something different. A mix of bitterness, longing, hate, and… pure rage. Rage at my inability, rage at the circumstances, rage at the people that caused this, and even more who could change things yet didn't.

Again, at this crucial checkpoint, as I think of all this, I'm making a choice, another seemingly minor one but this one is firm and determined.

This time, I know… how far-reaching impact this choice of mine would have on the common subjects of the massive Kingdoms of both the Humans and Vampires.

Despite the chaotic visions of the future troubling me, despite the realisation of all eventual harm along with the fearful uncertainty hammering my roused spirits and blazing soul, I feel momentarily clear-headed from time to time when the clouds pass me by.

Yet again, when I look down on the seemingly frail young lady's body shivering coldly in my arms, I'm overcome by a vengeful passion that just wouldn't dissipate.

Something is changing in me, somewhere deep, a momentous change is occuring. It might be related to but is definitely not caused by my heaving emotions.

What… is this?

The tears blurring my sight have evaporated, the metallic stench of blood and exhaustion that was harassing my nose is also gone. I can hear the cries of the eagles that are far away, far higher than me.

Other than my emotions, I feel full of something else as well, this pure energy, this raw power that's urging me to let out a cry.

This is… wonderful!

This… is the perfect time for this decision of mine to echo into the wilderness and into the river of space and time.

Sigh~

I, Tiffany Windsor, take an oath upon my totems, my family name, and heavens to KILL every single person, humans, vampires, elves, werewolves, or whatever that caused this!!