Elune

## Background Story

What does the sky beyond this cage look like?

Elune did not have an answer to this question. In fact, being held captive all her life, Elune never once wondered about it.

As a rare and beautiful harpy, Elune’s fate would undoubtedly be a miserable one. Her feet had been bound by cold shackles for as far as she could remember. A series of merciless whips and insults would rain down on her whenever she tried to break free.

Each time Elune was tortured, her disposition was hidden deeper within her. Because Elune did not dare to resist, she gradually grew numb to the torture, which was exactly what her human captors desired. As their egos swelled, they truly believed that they had succeeded in taking a wild beast like her.

Some time after, Elune was gifted to the daughter of a noble family. An apathetic Elune barely noticed this occurance, so much so that she did not even pay much attention to her “new owner”.

This continued until one night, when a dazed Elune suddenly heard the sounds of light footsteps. Elune turned around subconsciously, only to discover that her “new owner” Karinya (Elune only learned her name at a later date) had walked to the side of the cage.

Elune warily shrunk into herself, afraid that Karinya would suddenly fish out a whip, restraints, or something more horrific from behind her. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.

Instead, Karinya smiled at her softly. Under Elune’s astonished gaze, she pulled out a key and unlocked the shackles on Elune’s feet.

Thereafter, Karinya sat beside the cage and slowly confided her innermost thoughts to Elune. “What does the sky beyond this cage look like?” This was the first sentence which Elune heard Karinya utter. From her mild but pleasant tone of voice, Elune noticed an intense feeling of melancholy. The feeling had a name: loneliness.

Even though Karinya was the daughter of a noble family by official title, she knew since young that she was nothing but a tool for her family to use in accomplishing their political machinations. She was required to maintain her elegance and poise for all eternity. Trapped in a castle that was so large and yet so minuscule at the same time, Karinya could not detect even a hint of freedom.

People of similar nature always seem to attract one another. Perhaps it was due to Karinya’s kind gestures, but Elune could not take much precaution against the girl in front of her eyes. Even if it was a mere gaze, or a slight smile, Elune begun to respond to Karinya.

The seed of friendship thus germinated between these two girls of different lineage and continued to grow until it bore a succulent fruit. Several months later, while the rest of her family was away, Karinya made a bold decision. She stealthily opened Elune’s cage. Holding hands, both girls stood at the castle’s apex.

Feeling a cool breeze blow across her cheek, Elune felt an irresistible impulse to cry out with joy. At that moment, the disposition that had long been hidden away in her veins finally broke free. Under Karinya’s gently encouragement, Elune attempted to flap her wings for the first time. Despite her awkward motions, her instincts as a harpy were never in doubt. In no time, Elune mastered the ability to harness the winds. As she flew into the clouds, she cast her eyes toward the distance…

So this was what the sky outside her cage looked like. As she looked at the soaring Elune, Karinya smiled brilliantly. As a tear silently slid past the corner of her eye, Karinya felt both happiness and loneliness. This was exactly what she craved, but could never possess…

Sadly, this period of happiness was short-lived. Karinya’s family quickly learned of this incident and was inordinately furious, viewing her actions as a challenge and rebellion against her family’s authority. In their eyes, pets should stay in their cages obediently. In order to teach Karinya a harsh lesson, the decided to execute Elune.

Right as the blade was about to pierce the innocent Elune, Karinya sensed danger and rushed in front of it, placing her slender body squarely in front of Elune. However, while Karinya attempted to wrest the blade away, it accidentally swept across her neck.

Karinya slowly collapsed in Elune’s arms. A sea of crimson began to cover the ground, Elune’s wings, and her eyes. Elune flapped her wings furiously and the resulting gale engulfed everything in its vicinity. Elune picked Karinya up and soared outside. The girls flew over the mountains and skimmed past the clouds. Even though Karinya’s life was gradually fading away, Elune could still see a radiant light in her eyes that was becoming increasingly brighter.

So, this was what the sky beyond the cage looked like. In that instant, they could finally embrace freedom without inhibition.

## Hero Skills

 Tornado
 Hunter's Instinct (Passive)
 Full Concentration (Passive)

## Hero Lines

* *I have worn the crown, and I have suffered imprisonment, but nothing will stop my quest for freedom!*

* *The raging winds sing my freedom!*

* *Let the winds howl!*

* *Begone chains. Farewell cage. Hello freedom.*

* *The gales of victory sing with joy!*