"Ladies and gentlemen! For this day, I will perform amazing feats the likes of which you'd have never beheld!"
The party cheered and Zarc could only grin, relishing in the attention he received. There were a multitude of reasons to constantly look forward to his birthday. The adoration, the lavish gifts, people practically throwing themselves at his feet more so than any other day of the year. But most importantly, it was the one day of the year he could truly do as he pleased. And the one thing he desired most was entertainment. Be it giving or receiving, he relished in it.
Each year, friends and acquaintances of neighboring lands would come for a special event. Always, Zarc required the highest degree of entertainment and on his birthday, he allowed for a role reversal where instead he was the performance. He gave the people what they wanted – dazzling tricks and dangerous feats, everything within the imagination and beyond.
A former tutor begged him to jump from a waterfall. Zarc could only gladly fulfill his wish and up the factor by jumping backwards. An admirer whom he rejected asked for a kiss on the hand but instead, granted her one on the lips – only muttering afterwards that once again, he was not for sale. A jealous noble wanted to best him in a race and Zarc taunted him by blinding himself and winning only by a hare.
All such acts had become flashier over the years – his friends and admirers and subjects looked forward to the yearly spectacle.
"Who has such a challenge for me?"
It was nearly sunset. He was tired, growing weary of the dares and epic feats. Passing out on his bed tonight was to feel amazing. But one more… if he could push himself for one more feat and truly blow their minds.
Just one more. One more moment of glory and cheer, for the eyes and attention to be on him before the spotlight was gone.
"I have a challenge for you!" A voice from the crowd called out and Zarc perked up. It better be good – he wasn't sure if he ever seen this man before. "Go into the forest and bring back the head of the famed golden hippo."
The crowd gasped and for the first time, fell silent. Even Zarc had looked shocked, offended – how could he accept? Not only was that the most difficult animal to capture, let alone kill - it was unspoken rule that breaking hunting season was dangerous. The consequences were never said, never given but Zarc knew the risks. He could hear the spirits who served him screaming at him to reject this. It wasn't worth it.
But all he could think was the praise, the fame…
"I'll do it."
How foolish.
Zarc was blind.
So utterly and completely blind.
The hours he spent hunting that creature down before finding it grazing and resting against a lake. The time it took to jump atop one of his dragons and glide over to it. The hippo escaped him once, twice. Each time it had, the light grew dimmer in the forest. His heart constricted. Tiny pricks annoying his skin. He heard them, over and over again – stop.
Turn back.
It's not worth it.
But he ignored them. He knew better. Of course, he did. The praise was worth whatever punishment that was to fall.
At last, he found the hippo. His eyes were focused, his grip on his sword tighter than ever. The next few moments as he jumped from the tree down to the hippo was almost a blur. But he knew, he could feel his arms flex and his muscle convulse as he struck his sword down, spearing the head of the creature.
His breathing labored as the loud, ungodly screeched echoed for a few moments before he was left in silence with blood on his arms and legs.
He… he did it!
A laugh… a nervous chuckle as he slowly took out the sword. An amazing feeling and yet, no one had watched. No one except the hippo and the spirits looming around – no, there were none. They were gone. Why were they…
He couldn't hear them. Why did…
A loud ringing – no, not ringing, screaming. It was the hippo squealing and screaming betrayal. But he had…!
"How dare you!?"
His heart raced as the hippo rose back up, its form blinding in shimmering light before transforming to that of a woman clad in robes. A large bow in her hands, her grip tight. Her eye – the only one he could see, was staring with fire and hatred toward him.
Zarc sank down to his knees, realizing what he had done wrong. "I… Mistress Xiangsheng, I hadn't known that you were…" It was coming to mind, the clues coming together. Why the light vanished and pains in his body had increased and why the spirits were gone.
She caused it. She was warning him. Back off, they told him repeatedly.
He knew now.
"Shut up!"
It was an unspoken rule to never hunt outside the season.
"Please, it was a mistake! I was challenged and-" Zarc wasn't given the chance to explain further. Flames appeared in a ring around them and she stood, raising her bow and an arrow manifested in her grip. Before he had the chance to blink, she shot the arrow and pierced his heart.
And yet, he wasn't bleeding. There was no blood but rather… his chest was ablaze and sharp pains, almost like daggers were shooting from his spine. He screamed, hot tears flowing down his cheeks as something… something was coming out of him, the pain unbearable.
"You wish to hunt beasts?"
"No!" He screamed again, collapsing as his bones tore out of his skin, muscles tore, "No, I never – ah!" A last horrified scream as his hand dug into the earth, his eyes bulging as the muscles and bones tore and engorged and… his hands were large now, claws – there were not his. No, it wasn't…!
Zarc ran forward, his feet large and claws – claws ripped up the dirt as he ran to the lake. He needed to see himself, to confirm that he was indeed…
"You want attention so bad? You wish for eyes to be on you? Then have at it – your selfish desires are all you shall see!" The woman vanished in that moment as he saw his refection in the water. He couldn't recognize himself.
No… it wasn't him. He couldn't have been… the claws, the wings, the cracks and scales along his skin… Zarc was newly made.
The unspoken rule.
To hunt the beasts - monsters, was to become one.
