MaiCrimsonVyr

The slaughter of Mai’s kind came swiftly, but not without pain. Dragons and dragonkin were considered a threat to mankind throughout their history, serving as symbols of destruction, despite the peace they intended to maintain. Their throats knew little of communication, as human language was foreign to their ancient tongues. Thus, the people of the world, small and large, labeled them nothing but a fiery hazard, meant for nothing but their inevitable extinction. Mai, as one of the various kinds of dragonkin, was afflicted with vampirism; A common trait for blood dragons, though it didn’t always stick through childhood. Before the great destruction, in her earlier years, she fed on cattle and sheep at night, avoiding the men who traveled among the fields and mountains, and returning home with enough prey for her family to drain dry. This everyday life wasn’t something she considered relatively hazardous, but she’d soon find her perspective mattered little to the atrocities of mankind. Mai grew into adulthood, and as her age crested from young adulthood into something more, the destruction began. Humans, apparently not satisfied with the wars that they waged with themselves, took to fighting those larger than them. Dragons were killed with weapons they had never faced in their lifetimes, ancient lifelines lost to fiery cannons and thick bolts shot from heavy crossbows. For decades, the scent of iron hung in the air as dragons were utterly annihilated. Mai lost her family in one of the battles, and soon learned how to fight. With time and effort, Mai became a myth scrawled across the tea-stained pages of blasphemers, claiming her combat was that of the devil’s. She burnt down villages, avenging her family, until she was fatally injured. She retreated to a cave far from nearby towns, tending to her wound in silence. She made herself a vow– That she may be the last alive, but she would preserve her bloodline, even if it took centuries of hiding. Mai slept for an unknown amount of time after filling herself with enough blood to power and heal her system. She expected to be awakened by a pillage, pitchforks, and fire– but instead, she opened her eyes to a shrill, young voice, and a small human standing before her in the cave. She blinked groggily, attempting to process, preparing to guard herself from the harm that came when humans approached– Yet, the little human held no weapons, nor hate in her features. Instead of lunging forward to incite fear, she walked up, raising a hand and extending her fingers to press her palm flat against Mai’s snout. A call came from outside the cave that drew the girl’s attention away from Mai, and, with a small wave, the girl skipped out of the darkness, laughing and returning to the voice. Mai sat there, processing the moment. She had never been in a situation with a human that was anything but harmful toward her kind– Yet, she had awoken in a different era. Maybe, she thought, a kinder one. Freshly awake, Mai siphoned the rest of her power, pulling it together to create a new form for herself, something that would allow her to blend into society. She became humanoid in a small flash of purple light, the warmth from her magic reverberating through her veins. The rest of her strength allowed her to take the form, though there were outliers– The horns atop her head, her tail, and a set of wings. It wasn’t as incognito as Mai would’ve liked, but it did the job, and she was beyond hungry, so she brushed the assets aside and surged out of the cave Her legs gave out as she reached the surface, stumbling into the grass and taking in the fresh air of the outside world. She took one breath, then another, before looking up to see a large expanse of green-layered hills, and distant homes drabbled across them. Farms, she thought, familiar yet different. They weren’t made of the same materials she once knew. She pulled herself to her feet, stumbling weakly toward a cluster of sheep within wooden fences, and dove in, feeding for the next half an hour, and refilling the energy she had been living without for centuries. She lay herself down in the center of the sheep, wiping her bloodied lips and staring at the sun above. A shadow slowly crept over her, bathing her in a chill– And quickly, a chase began. The man, who she assumed was the farmer, chased her straight out of the farm and kicked her into the main road, yelling profanities that Mai could somehow understand, before jabbing his pitchfork into the air with a warning. He then grumbled, retreating back toward his farm, likely to check on the afflicted animals. Mai’s eyes ran over the trail, her feet crunching the gravel below. Wherever she was, there was plenty more to see by the looks of it, and she wanted to see everything. She set forth on the trail, walking alongside it through various places. She dipped through the woods, moved across fields, and even saw a moving vehicle at one point, which stopped her dead in her tracks– Until, eventually, the trail led her into the city. Powerlines hung high, drooping from poles and moving between the rectangular homes that lined the streets. There were flashing lights, neon signs, and large buildings covered in reflective glass– Mai’s eyes glittered with wonder as she ducked through the city, observing it closely. Eyes lingered on her, a bit longer than she would’ve liked, but no comments were made on her appearance aside from quiet whispers. People gave her curt nods, then moved on with their days. There was no ruthlessness, nor excessive war, just humanity living amongst itself, not in fear, but in what Mai could only describe as peace. The city held an infinite number of things for Mai to look over. The lights and colors fascinated her, drawing her into small shops run by older men and women, brimming with treats, clothing, even trinkets or what was described to her as lucky charms. Her fingers ghosted over the things that interested her, her mind slowly beginning to wrap around society. Soon, Mai found a shop that she browsed for hours. Though she didn’t have any money, a kind human saw her tattered clothes and helped her buy an outfit that he thought fit her well– Modern, as she saw it, with a gothic twinge. Now covered in plaid and various accessories, Mai felt complete and ready to face the human world with curiosity. For a few days, she wandered about, observing the streets and the people from afar, while taking in the sights. She noted that humans spoke quietly to each other more often than not, unless in groups of three or more, and they dressed differently, but with similar patterns to the past. When it was cold, they’d layer, and when it was hot, they’d shed. Mai couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt toward the past. What she was now held weight– She was a copy of the people who had slaughtered her bloodline, attempting to meld with those whom she once considered enemies. The world, albeit captivating, was conflicting. Did she have the right to live amongst humans, if she was a myth of their past destruction? On the fifth day after her arrival, Mai’s aimless wandering led her to what she could only describe as a shrine. Beautiful archways with hanging lanterns, painted a vibrant red, led to a small building where humans knelt. A stream ran along the outside, where they cleansed their hands before their prayer. Mai approached, her mind spinning. Religion, in the past, had led humans to nothing but violence. Those that worshipped Gods, foreign or familiar, were led to rash, harsh decisions– Her bloodline, her family, had been wiped out in the name of their deities, used as nothing but target practice for the faithful. Yet, as the figures knelt before the stream, their hands dipping into the sparkling water, Mai felt no disdain. This shrine, small, quaint, and filled with people of all different kinds, didn’t utilize fear to indoctrinate families. It cleansed. Mai slowly knelt before the stream, eyes lingering on the others as they whispered their gentle prayers. No one spared her a glance, not because they didn’t care, or so she assumed, but because she was accepted. She was not the first oddity to enter this shrine, and she was sure she wouldn’t be the last. Mai dipped her hands into the water, feeling the stream trickle ticklishly over her skin. She sat there for a moment, enjoying the chill that climbed along her arms, before removing her hands and glancing over them. Humans weren’t the hateful beings that she once thought. They had evolved to something far more complex than she could ever imagine– Their world, beautiful and vast, wasn’t limited to anger or hatred. It was new, and she wanted to see every inch of it. Mai found herself at an airport the next day, having heard about it by word of mouth. She asked a nearby cityfolk, and the sight of her seemed to frighten them. They dropped their tickets, she picked them up, and her eyes glazed over the text. She tried to return the ticket, but found the person had disappeared into the crowd. Sighing, she made her way further into the airport, using the ticket to take a random flight. Upon entering the new, unfamiliar place, Mai noted that the city looked drastically different. Unlike her home, there were no houses, only large, tall buildings that jutted high into the sky. More people filled the street, and carts lined the street, selling eclectic merchandise or food prepared in front of people. It was also significantly louder, if not twice as loud. Mai wandered about this city with more caution than before. She earned various glances, and some people even commented on her appearance, complimenting her outfit or what they called a ‘cosplay.’ They were loud, but rarely harsh, and she often enjoyed staying outside– Until she found The Den. A bright sign led her down the stairs, into a glowing hub of laughter and speech. Screens lined the desks, with people sitting upon the chairs, watching various things on them. Upon asking, Mai was told the people were gaming. She gave it a try, not knowing what she’d be getting herself into, and immediately, she was taken. Her whole life began to revolve around The Den. The moment it opened, she was there, sat and loading up a new game– every day, all day. When she became skilled enough, she started competing and earning money for her wins. The staff had become familiar with her by the time she had won enough money to start a small business, but one member of staff, a man who often let Mai in a few minutes early, began speaking with her. “You should try streaming,” he said offhandedly on no particular day, watching over her shoulder as she practiced for an upcoming tournament. “It’d suit you.” The game ended just as he spoke. Mai looked up, raising her brows. “...Streaming?” “Yeah, like, livestreaming. You play games for an audience,” the staff member explained. “That’s a thing?!” Mai exclaimed, jolting up from her chair. “I could’ve been doing that this whole time??” “Well, you’d need a computer of your own, and a bunch of tech, but–” Before he could finish, Mai grabbed her coat, throwing it over her shoulders. “Gotta go buy a bunch of crap– Catch you!” She exclaimed, surging toward the doors. The beautiful world had given her another opportunity to prove herself, and she wouldn’t let it down.