Curse by Priah

Prologue: Midoriko's Beginning

This is my first fanfic here. it might go a little slowly. I will try to write long chapters but it depends on how my writer's block I get. I hope you like the beginning.

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From an early age she had been groomed for the life of a priestess. It had been drilled into her that there was nothing more important than that she

protect everyone else.

As a child her power had been remarkable. She had already been able to purify small demons without a single thought. She had been the monk and riestess's miracle miko.

As she grew she learned to channel her extradoridinary power into helping

her to develop her fighting skills. With her bow she was amazing better than many of the experienced troops of Japan's army. Her ablilty with the bow was second only to her skill with her katana.

Despite the constant reminders that she was a priestess not a warrior she continued with her training in both spiritual means and those physical means of a warrior.

A demon attacked the village when she was merely fifteen. Many men were slaughtered and the young miko knew what she had to do. The elder

monks and mikos had her hiding with them inside the shrine using their spiritual power to help protect those women, children and elderly who fled the attack. Knowing what the outcome of the battle would be without her, she quietly slipped away from the watchful elders.

Outside in a small shed that kept the tools for the gardening, the young priestess had hidden the specially made armour for the battle she knew was

coming.

As quickly as she could the miko had donned the light but strong and durable armour over her kimono. She braided her hair deftly securing it with

strip of white cloth. Her katana glowed a light green aura and pulsated for her touch. Swinging a quiver of arrows and a long bow over her shoulder, she walked over to her sword. The green aura reached out in welcome to the miko

as her hand wrapped around it.

Ready, she rode out on a stallion, a brilliant chestnut with a black mane and tail. Her sword safely sheathed at her side.

The demon had been easy to find. The string of dead bodies leading her straight to him. The lizard demon was much stronger and much more powerful than anything that she had ever gone up against before. She pushed the dark

thought from her mind before they formed. All emotion was pushed aside from her mind as well as she came face-to-face with the demon.

The demon looked like a crocodile that stood on its small hind legs using its massive tail for balance. It wore no armour and used its powerful jaws to kill

its victims. When about to attack it was rumoured that they would run on all fours in great bursts of speed.

She halted her horse and drew an arrow, notching it and aiming it subtly using her spiritual energy to flow into the weapon. She let the taut string go and

used her power to guide the arrow to its target. The arm of the lizard demon that held a man dangling helplessly from it.

The lizard let out a loud shriek and looked unbelievingly at his arm where the arrow protruded burning his flesh and rendering his arm useless. The man in his grasp fell to the ground with a thud. The demon's angry eyes searched out

his assailant. Amazed when he saw the woman with another arrow notched in her long bow, aimed directly at him. He hissed.

A woman. She let her arrow fly. Her form holding the demon captive. The arrow pierced his low left leg. Once again it burned and his limb was rendered useless. He screeched. Fury led his actions as he charged the girl who wore armour. He opened his wide jaw with the intention of devouring her. All too late he realized his folly.

With prenatural speed, the miko had slung her bow back over her shoulder and drew her katana. The green glow emanating from it had been the last thing the demon saw.

The pulsing blade had torn through him like nothing, purifying him and killing him instantly. His blood spilled forth and drenched the miko's front. His

death rattle was cut short as his large body disintegrated into dust.

And thus the legend of the warrior priestess, Midoriko began.