NOVPUBFrom a very early age, Kana knew she was different from the elves around her. For one, the girl's skin was much darker in color. She had dark grey skin, and every other elf was much more fair.
Her adoptive mother patted Kana's head. "You're growing up so big. It wasn't even that long ago when we took you in."
Kana smiled and wrapped her arms around Mother Theresa. The little girl was only about 10 years old, and she still had no idea who her real parents were. Nobody ever mentioned them, and even when Kana asked, Mother Theresa always shook her head and claimed she didn't know.
However, even though people kept secrets from her, Kana knew that it was only because she was a little girl. The adults in the village kept secrets from the other kids as well. If Kana could change anything, it would only be the way some of the elders looked at her.
"I want to play outside," Kana said. "I can bring back some apples for later."
Theresa laughed and stroked a few strands of hanging hairs on Kana's head. "Let me brush your hair first. If you run around looking like this, they're bound to think I don't take proper care of you."
Kana nodded and jumped onto Theresa's lap. 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝒄𝙤𝙢
"You're such a good girl, Kana."
The little dark elf girl grinned as she felt a brush running through her hair. "Mama, why do all of the elders look at me strangely?"
Theresa stopped and tilted her head before continuing with strokes of her brush. "It's because they worship the Light of Hope."
"I don't understand, Mama. What does that have to do with anything? I can also worship that light, and then they won't look at me strangely, would they?"
Theresa sighed and her brush moved slower through Kana's hair. "You've never seen a painting of Lady Hikari, have you?"
"No, mama."
"And therein lies the problem. They're just jealous because you share her beauty."
"Did she also have this same skin color?"
"No, but I'm certain you were given to me for a reason. All of those under Hope's guidance will find what they desire, even if it's in the afterlife. I desired a child, and the world gave you to me. In a sense, you can call yourself a true child of Hope."
Kana's grin widened. As her hair finished, she turned back and hugged Theresa. "Thank you so much, Mama. I love you."
The elderly elf kissed Kana's forehead. "I love you, too. Now, go play outside! Don't let any of those stinky elders get under your skin."
Kana jumped from Theresa's grasp and ran out of the door to their tree house. The forest outside shone with the bright morning sun. Their pink tree's vines waved in the morning breeze. The little girl smiled and ran to one of the vines throwing herself over the tree house railing.
The dark elf ran through the trees, looking for a game to play. Most of the other children avoided her, yet the little girl didn't mind. She ran all the way to a flowing river that served as the life essence of their village. She hummed a happy tune and crossed over a large fallen tree, joining the land on the other side of the river.
Kana observed this place with strange glee. Even though it wasn't too far from their village, the landscape was completely different. On this side, there was no grass, and all of the trees appeared burnt and completely missing their leaves. There were many stumps, and it became quieter over on this side.
The purple sand beneath her feet was similar to the color of Kana's eyes. Indeed, this was the place that they had found Kana. Theresa had always told the little girl that it burned down in a fire, and in the wreckage, they found a little dark elf baby. However, Kana knew that was another lie.
Even though, her mama lied to her, Kana didn't hold it against her. There was one thing that the little girl knew. From an early age, she'd already learned how to use magic. Nobody in the village knew.
"But they keep secrets from me! It's only right!"
Kana stuck out her tongue. If it wasn't for the magic that coiled around inside of her body, the little girl would be completely frail. The only way she was able to push herself was by channeling this thin purple barrier around herself. One she was shocked to learn that only she could see.
The little girl looked up at the sky where purple clouds hung in the air. These floating things never left this place and constantly hovered overhead. Yet, the best thing about them was that a sliver of golden light edged around them.
Kana produced a small purple sphere in her hand, noticing the small golden trim around her own magic as well. It gave Kana a strange feeling of warmth. Even though all of her magic power looked like something conjured by an evil sorceress, there was this small sliver of light. This small echoing of Hope.
And if she truly focused on it, the little girl could feel it calling out to her. It gave a whole new meaning to what her mother had said. I am the true child of Hope.
The little girl smiled. Now that she was 10 years old, she wanted to do the right thing. She wanted to repair all of this land around her. All of this decay was the result of bringing herself into the world, and she knew it. She had always known. Though her mama had tried to hide these facts, it was obvious.
However, before she could realize her dream, a figure emerged from behind her. Kana whipped around, finding herself face to face with an elder.
The old elf man stared down at her with narrowed eyes. He tapped his staff on the ground impatiently, but none of this served as a deterrent to Kana.
She smiled at him. "Elder Osman, how did you know I was here?"
Osman sighed. "I should be the one asking you the questions, little devil. Our people have fed you for 10 years already, and in all of those 10 years, nothing good has come of your existence."
The little girl's eyes widened. "What are you talking about, Elder Osman?"
"You don't deserve Lady Theresa's kindness. Do you even realize the burden you place on everyone? All of us have grown weary of you, and then there is this place. Your very existence is a plague. Look around you, devil child. Do you not see the damage you've done here? Theresa told us to keep quiet, but I can't keep silent any longer!"
Kana shook her head. "I don't understand what you're talking about! I already know about this place. That's why…"
"Silence, that's why you will die right here. If you truly love Lady Theresa, then you will allow me to make everything right in the world."
Kana covered her ears. She watched in horror as the man pointed his staff at her head. Tears filled her eyes. Osman was completely wrong. She'd only come here to fix this patch of forest. How was she burdening everyone in the village? All she did was eat and sleep there. Were those things really a sin?
For the first time in Kana's life, she saw the dark purple clouds moving up above. They roared with thunder, sparking to life.
Osman shook his head, his staff glowing with magic. "So you won't even die properly, then? Oh well, at least I can serve as the protector of our tribe. Goodbye, devil child."
The elder launched a golden spear of light. Yet, that served as the catalyst of the cloud above.
A great beam of golden light connected from the cloud to the Elder's spell. A flash of light struck down from the heavens, and Osman's body turned into ashes.
Kana looked up from her fetal position. Her clouded eyes could barely see the elder's ashes blowing away in the wind. She struggled against the reality before her. Everything was wrong. It was like some vivid nightmare playing in her head.
"Mama!" The little girl screamed and started running towards the village.
Tears flowed down her cheeks, and the cloud of purple darkness followed her. As she ran across the log separating the two sides, the river turned darker. Trees wilted as she passed them, and nearby flowers that were once pretty and vibrant with life flopped into dark masses.
It didn't take her long to reach the village, yet by the time she arrived. Everything was not as it should be. The council of elders were all outside, and they all had staves prepared for the danger. The tribe's warriors had bows held at the ready, and worst of all, Theresa was tied up at the back.
"I told you," one of the elder's said. "I said that this child was the devil, but you never listened to me. The prophecy said she'd bring about our destruction!"
"You're wrong!" Theresa shouted. "Kana is a good child."
"Silence, you will watch what this good child really is..."
