It was not so long ago as Aelfinn consider time, but long enough so humans have completely forgotten and even only the oldest Aelfinn even remember hearing the story (which could be anywhere from 100 to 1000 years ago- why do people never write down dates?!).

It began when a young circus performer gathered an army. He was put on disply at the circus, not because he had exceptional talent, but because he could grow wings at will. He was considered the resident freak, and had been billed as "the Earth-bound Angel" since childhood. His resentment of the people who treated him so, and the people who came to gawk, escalated until it encompassed the entire human race. He decided to destroy that which tormented him.

But in one of the towns his army destroyed, lived a young woman the same as him. Except she had grown up in a loving family who concealed her abilities. The townsfolk viewed her as a skillful healer, for she used her in-born magic only to heal. But the boy's army attacked her town, and her beloved husband was killed. Throught her despair, she vowed revenge.

She rose throught the ranks of the opposing forces, using her formerly helpful powers to kill. Finally, they met. She had sought him out in battle. (I almost understand not recording their names- almost- but it still drives me insane that they have no names) And he realized that he was not alone. He begged her forgiveness, sought to win her over. But she could not forget her husband, and although he escaped her that day, she vowed to destroy him. She followed him on his quest.

Having lost his army, embittered at the world itself, the boy now sought to erase everything (when in doubt, destroy the world- how cliche). He searched until he found an object, a magic stone of unsurpassed power, that could grant his wish. He found where it lay.

But the girl had followed him. There, before the very object he had sought, she slew him (legend says that the cave and the stone itself were dyed red by his splattered blood, something I take to be an artistic embellishment). But she did not escape. The Aelfinn had found them both, and dragged her away. For her part in the war, and for invading the sanctity of an Aelfinn artifact-house, she was to be crucified.

So the history began of the Half-Aelfinn, a terrible and violent history of creatures little better than demons. The Aelfinn decreed that any Halfs born would be watched, kept in Aelfinn lands if possible, and killed at the slightest trouble.

I expect the assassins any day now.

Those Who Fell From the Sky|Rise of Technology|Love's Bounds