The skies were restless.
Rain drowned the earth, and thunder rolled like a warning.
A light tore across the heavens, burning flashes of whiteness against the storm, before falling with a deafening boom.
To some, it looked like lightning. To others, a falling star.
But it was neither.
It was the curse of the gods.
Through the window of a small, cozy home, a girl watched the storm unfold. Her face pressed against the glass, eyes wide; she caught sight of the falling star. The impact made the earth tremble, and for a moment, her breath caught in her throat.
The girl was small with curly blond hair and wide blue eyes, dressed in a pink outfit. And with a smile so bright on her face, it was blinding.
She watched the falling star, which was fascinating. She then went to her mother.
"Mommy, can I go outside and see the rain?" the girl asked her mother.
Her mother, an older woman with long, brown hair and green eyes. Her face a mix of tiredness and joy because of her daughter's antics.
"Sweetie, it's dangerous."
"But Mom, I'm old enough to take care of myself!"
"I know you are, but I can't let you go. I'm sorry. I don't want to see you fall and hurt yourself."
The girl pouted angrily in protest and went back to the window. She observed the rain for a bit and then heard some whispers from beyond the window, "Come, child, bind your fate to me."
She turned her head back and asked her mother: "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" her mother asked, confused, whilst washing some dishes
"Hmm, nothing..." replied the girl
Yet as she continued to watch the window, the whispers grew louder and louder. Piercing through her small brain: "Come, come closer." They never stopped.
And seconds later, like she was possessed, she ran out of the house like her life depended on it. Her mother turned back when she heard the door open and saw her daughter running out of the house.
"Eva, come back...", her mother shouted, but her words fell on deaf ears.
The girl ran and ran towards the whispers, deeper into the forest, but they seemed like they weren't getting any closer. Behind her, the mother was running to catch up with her.
As the minutes ticked by, both were out of breath, but neither stopped. The mother thought to herself, "Please don't do anything stupid."
In the distance, towering over the forest was the looming presence of the kingdom's castle. Graven keep, now set on fire.
Shoes slapped the muddy soil until only a pair of sounds was heard.
The mud covered the girl's dress as she came to a stop. What she saw in front of her was not from this world. A straight black sword was poking out of the ground. Its design was that of a normal sword, but pure jet black and with a red eye resting where the guard meets the blade.
And it's also the source of the whispers:
"Come, hold me."
She wanted to pick up the sword; she needed to pick it up. Step by step, she walked closer to it. The sword started glowing in a red hue. Increasing the potency of the bright aura as she got closer.
Right before she extended her hand to grab the handle, a shout was heard from behind her. A tired shout, it was her mother.
"What are you doing? I told you not to leave the house. You could've fallen, hurt yourself! Now look where we are, in the middle of the forest. I will ground you once we get home..." She realised what her daughter wanted to grab.
"What are you doing? Don't touch it! Please, it looks dangerous! Come home, we'll play with the wooden swords, I promise, just—don't—please. Stop Eva."
She turned her head when she saw the castle in flames. Whilst they were running, she didn't see it. She was too focused on her daughter.
"What is going on? I hope her father is safe; he is on duty today. Once I calm Eva down, I will go and search for him." she thought to herself.
"Let's go, Eva, please, sweetie."
Yet again, her words didn't have any effect.
The girl grabbed the sword, and a blinding light illuminated the forest. Painting the trees in a bloody red color.
Moments later, Eva was standing alone, covered in blood. The blood of her birthgiver, the one she called mother. Silence filled the branches of the forest.
"Mommy?" said the poor, frightened Eva.
Silence filled the forest. Then, next, a faint sob, echoing through the forest. Tears were spilling freely. "Mommy!" only silence. Her mother's lifeless body was sprawled across the mud. Right next to her feet.
The flames in the background turn to ash, washed away by the rain. Yet a fire starts burning inside of her. Hate, hate for the gods.
She was alone, and alone she will be. Like every single water droplet from the rain, alone and not touching eachother. Forever bound to fall until they crash.
Cursed by the gods to wield a relic they didn't need. The same one that took the life of her mother. Yet, the sword didn't do anything; she did. Killing her mother was her fault. Yes, she wasn't thinking straight. But she reaped her mother's life.
The sword felt as heavy as the world in her hand, but she didn't drop it.
It was her sin to carry, her mistake for not listening to her mother. From this day onward. She will take revenge on the gods; she will kill them. With the powers of the sword. Thus becoming a true human, a sinner.
"Show kindness to the man who forges infinities." the sword whisper's grew.
No, it's much more than a sword. Her name is "Nightfall". The former sword of the goddess of hell.