Prologue
In a distant land, many years ago…
Thunder boomed overhead and rain poured in torrents. The sound was a scream of anguish, but that was only known to the solitary figure on the field. The rain did not touch her as though she carried an invisible shield while she stepped towards the massive wolf with white-blue fur.
The woman fell to her knees beside the dying form of the god, barely noticing the way the rain continued to part around her. Tears welled up in her eyes at the sight of the numerous wounds on him. She had arrived too late, unable to save him. She slayed the hordes of oni, or demons, upon her arrival. Their relentless attacks were like nothing her or the god had ever witnessed. He had been overwhelmed, and the evidence was obvious from the multitude of gashes on his body.
“Honto ni gomennasai,” she whispered. The words stated her apology, barely expressing the immense guilt-ridden sorrow she felt.
The god lay on his side. His gorgeous, whitish-blue fur was matted with the black blood of oni and gold blood from his wounds. His eyes were still open, but his breathing was labored.
She gingerly moved his head into her lap. Her long, slender fingers brushed through his thick fur as the tears streamed down her face. She even took the time to scratch behind his ears.
A sigh came from his mouth. His voice came out raspy, more of a growl than normal, which was shocking for the woman to hear since the god was a wolf. The sound only proved to her the severity of his current condition. Instead of speaking as he so often did in her presence, she heard his clear, deep voice ring in her mind.
“I will leave this world soon,” the god informed her. “Do not feel sorrow for my passing, dear one. I am proud to have fought beside you. Take my spirit. I will live on through you in this world. You are worthy of this gift.”
Being a god, he could be stubborn. She had never managed to change his mind, in all the times they fought side by side. Protesting would not deter the god from his decision, so she nodded in acceptance. Her fingers stilled their gentle motions through his fur.
“I can rest in peace knowing you will have my spirit. I will be with you always,” he said softly. With those words said, the god lifted his head up to her forehead.
A brilliant light burst from the contact. The light swirled in the air, surrounding the two. She watched as the light entered her own body. A burning sensation spread across her left arm, causing her to gasp, but the pain was brief.
The god smiled at her and breathed his last.
Raiju, the god of lightning, was dead. His body dissolved into particles of light that soared into the heavens, his heavenly spirit returning to Takamonohara.
She fixated on the place where the god had been for a long while. The tears slowed their pace down her cheeks. Finally taking time to inspect her arm, her eyes widened in shock as pride swelled within her.
Starting at her left shoulder was a beautiful, perfect image of the god. Raiju’s wolf form seemed to stalk down her arm towards her elbow. The image even had tendrils of lightning coming off the wolf’s body. The mouth was open like the god was growling.
A soft smile touched her face, and she mouthed a message of gratitude to Raiju. She stood, picked up her sword and began walking away from the battlefield. She knew more oni would come. With her new gift, she vowed to serve the gods as Raiju had done.
And this vow she would keep for a very long time.
