Katelyn & Kira: A God and His Goddess

[Chapter 1] The Girl Beneath the Moon

The moon was unusually bright that night.

It hung above the kingdom like a great silver eye, lighting the mountains, forests, and old stone walls surrounding the capital.

Most people were already indoors.

They knew better than to wander after midnight.

Stories had been told for generations about creatures hiding beyond the walls.

Wolves larger than horses.

Spirits that whispered people's names from the trees.

Ancient beings who had existed long before mankind ever built its first city.

But there was one creature people feared more than all the others.

Kira.

Some called him a king.

Others called him a monster.

Most simply called him God.

Kira walked alone through the dark corridors of his palace, his black coat trailing behind him.

Servants stepped aside whenever he passed.

Guards lowered their heads.

Nobody looked directly into his eyes.

"Good evening, my Lord."

Kira said nothing.

Another servant bowed.

"My Lord."

Again, nothing.

Kira continued walking.

He hated nights like this.

The palace was filled with people, yet somehow it always felt empty.

Everyone respected him.

Everyone obeyed him.

Everyone feared him.

But nobody truly knew him.

Nobody asked whether he was tired.

Nobody asked whether he was lonely.

Nobody dared.

He reached the enormous doors leading outside and pushed them open.

Cold night air immediately touched his face.

Finally.

Silence.

Kira stepped into the palace gardens.

Purple flowers surrounded the stone pathways, glowing faintly beneath the moonlight.

He slowly breathed in.

His eyes closed.

For a few seconds, he wasn't a God.

He wasn't a ruler.

He wasn't the creature whispered about in stories.

He was simply Kira.

Then his ears picked up something.

A sound.

Very faint.

His eyes opened.

His hearing was far stronger than any human's.

Branches moving.

Footsteps.

Someone was nearby.

Kira's eyes narrowed.