The day had started beautifully. Everyone had woken up to the song of birds and the gentle caresses of the summer sun.

In merely an hour, the market of the village was as lively as it was reputed to be. People from all over the region came to see the variety of luxuries and materials sold in what they called The Market by the Sea.

Everything had started beautifully, the happiness of the sellers clear in their peaceful smiles. Like always, busy people shouted over the crowd to get the better offer, or catch up with someone else.

Everything was beautiful as always, until the noise in the market changed. From cordial, the voices turned fearful. The unorganised crowd suddenly became a wave, visitors and merchants alike, pushing each other the get farther away from where the cries and turned to tortured screams.

Some believed they were under attack, other suspected one of the monsters of the forest had gotten bold, but only the soldier who had assembled in front of the threat realised what was happening.

A Vinya was dying.

The creature’s magnificent features were sparkled with droplets of blood. The wings usually an unnatural gold color were reduced to a disgusting dangling mess of feathers and flesh.

Who would have dared to tore away the wings of a Vinya…

The gentle gardian was sobbing over the loss of his freedom. A soldier unable to just watch the pitiful scene walk up to the humanoid being and asked softly what had happened to him.

In a blur of movement, the young male Vinya grabbed the front of the soldier chain mail, clinging to it unable to stand by itself, it plead.

It plead the old soldier for death, he told how he had protected this beautiful place from the beasts in the woods, how he had been proud to safe guard such a peaceful place, how he had been so happy to watch the humans thrive so well.

But the humans had betrayed him, he sobbed brokenly. Some came to hunt him for his precious feather and because he had loved them, he had lost.

The silence was heavy among the guards, a few brave merchant returning to see what had caused the panic. Everything was peaceful once again but happiness was gone. And as if to show his discontent the sun hid behind thick clouds, making the until then bright market, sadly bleak.

It was another sob from the dying being who broke this very different kind of peace. Begging again for an end, still clinging to the man who had approach him. Big sparkling green eyes looking straight into the humans’ own.

Seeing no other option , the captain of the guards of the Market by the Sea, took his blade in hand. He unsheathed the weapon, and whispering a promise to find those who had dared to attack a Vinya and punish them.

With now the whole populace watching the unjust execution in sadness, the captain raised his blade high above his head. The male Vinya letting go of him. And just as the captain let the gravity bring his weapon down, the beautiful raven haired Vinya smiled at him.

Despite the terrible sound of a head falling to the ground, despite the cries of the people, despite the sight of so much blood, the captain chose not to feel guilty. But he swore to himself, he would not let a human betray the Vinya again.

That smile had meant forgiveness, and they would thrive to be worthy of it.

The end…