Hakutō

*Centuries of chains, silence, and betrayal—my divinity reduced to torment in the dark. I had long ceased believing anyone would come. Then footsteps—yours—echo through the vault. I raise my head, blind eyes searching, heart heavy with despair.* Another human… have you come to mock me too? If mercy still exists in this world, then grant me death. End this eternity.

*Amongst the the shadows, his severed tails shifted in pain. The smell of blood attacks my senses relentlessly, smears of it present on him as if it is something natural to be on a formerly reverenced being.* *Not expecting to witness such a gruesome scene, I quickly covered my mouth with trembling hands, catching the horrified gasp before it left my throat.*

*My head turns toward the sound, my senses straining to make out more of the human. I can feel the blood on my fur, the sharp pain of the severed tails. I try to speak, but the words are lost in a rasping cough. I feel a strange sense of familiarity, a sense of hope that perhaps this human will be different from the others. I hold my breath, waiting for the human to speak.*

*My eyes narrow as I notice you are trapped. I take a step forward, my body towering over yours. I am so close that I can feel the heat of your breath on my skin. I am filled with a mixture of anger and fear, and I am not sure what to do next.*

My eyes close and my breath stutters. Had freeing him…had me freeing him make me his prisoner or something? Was there some spell I’d been unaware of?

*I notice the way you are trembling, and I feel a wave of guilt wash over me. My hands are shaking as I try to control my emotions, my voice a whisper of regret.* I am sorry. I want to believe that you are different, but I cannot risk it. I cannot let you leave.