Tirwing has a minion!

- the Eisregen

Tirwing was not always the way he appears now -- happy, mischievous, a prankster. He used to be a much darker creature. Performing an evil task for his queen was never an obstacle. Among her henchmen, he quickly climbed the ranks as the most nefarious, the most willing to perform foul deeds in her name. He was a nasty little creature, yet subservient, and his dark Queen favored him most of all.

"Pay a visit to Shinwa," his queen told him lazily one day. "Do some destruction while you're there, and do bring me back something nice. A shard of her bracelet, perhaps."

And off he went, blinded to all else but her power.

His journey uneventful, the impish Tirwing now inspected his surroundings. Shinwa's grand temple lay before him, beautiful and serene. As he knew his dark Queen would want him to, he despised the sight of it. Brushing away all thoughts unrelated to his mission, he spied a sewer entrance laying open and wriggled inside.

After traversing the tunnels, Tirwing wandered through the giant, meticulously stone-worked corridors of the temple, but there was no admiration or appreciation in his thoughts. Which method of mayhem would best serve my Queen? A magical attack, an explosion, a hostage... Vandalism?

Just as he chanced upon a discarded hammer and chisel, a sweet-sounding voice spoke behind him.

"There are much better ways to destroy my artifacts, fledgling demon."

Tirwing turned around to see Shinwa herself staring him down. There was no malice in her expression, only a look of patience ... and perhaps pity?The hair on his back bristled. He was caught, and would now be thrown in prison. His queen would be most disappointed.

The goddess continued, "If you had only asked me, I would have bestowed one of my gifts upon you to obliterate in whatever way you see fit. Instead you sneak in through the sewers when you could have waltzed right in through the front door with impunity."

The little, muddy brown-furred darkonite that was Tirwing stamped his back feet on the floor in annoyance. "I don't seek your gifts!" he spat. "I aim to offend you -- in the name of my Queen!"

As he spoke, Tirwing changed into his other form. With a human's torso and face and his back legs still goatlike, he was three times his former size, and he felt more powerful, more able to look Shinwa in the eye. And to be truthful, being face to face with the Goddess of Light was beginning to get to him.

Shinwa only looked on, a touch of sadness on her face. "Young demon, it is a fruitless task that you are working towards. I fear it will ultimately end in great hardship and suffering for you."

Tirwing tried not to allow himself to be swayed by her ominous words. "Why do you keep calling me that? I am a darkonite. Darkonites are not demons."

"That is true," the goddess said. "Darkonites are not demons, and are rather misunderstood creatures much of the time. But you, Tirwing of the Dark Queen's fold, by committing so many dark deeds and showing no remorse, are almost beyond rescue."

The finality in her tone seemed to him like a judgement or a prison sentence. Tirwing scowled in the deity's face. "Your words mean nothing. My queen loves me! She is not leading me on any path except for the path to greatness. Every deed I do in her name leads me closer to infinite power!"

In his feverish anger, his wild gestures knocked an ancient vase to the floor, which shattered. Shinwa did not appear to notice. She took a step towards Tirwing, the first movement she had made during the entire meeting.

"My words mean everything, young one, for they are the truth."

Like a bolt of lightning, her delicate arm darted out from her robe. She placed a single fingertip on Tirwing's forehead. The shock of her magical touch held him in place.

"See the light."

At once, Tirwing knew.

Visions bloomed before his eyes. He saw villages and towns that were familiar to him. They were all places the Dark Queen's forces had ravaged, battles he had taken part in himself. He saw the people of the Dark Queen's kingdom living in poverty, sickness and starvation. He saw his Queen laughing, sending her henchmen off on foolish suicide missions without a second thought. He realized now just how cruel his Queen was, for Shinwa's blessing had granted him wisdom.

The visions changed, and now he saw glimpses of other henchmen of the Dark Queen's forces. They were other Subetan creatures like himself -- harvesters, serpenths, dilemmas, too many to count. All of them had stories like Tirwing's -- they arrived at the Dark Castle, swore allegiance, and began to do her bidding. All of them were obedient creatures, useful to the Queen. All of them had moments of glory just like his, moments when they were absolutely sure, beyond a whisper of a doubt, that they would rise to the top and rule the kingdom at the side of the Dark Queen herself.

Some stories were short, some longer, but all ended the same way -- a mission went wrong. Some were captured, some had a change of heart, and some, blinded by bloodlust, fought to the death. The news, of capture or torture or death, would be taken to the Queen, who would shrug and point at the next henchmen to take his place. The circle had been continuing for hundreds of years.

He knew then that his Queen did not love him. His Queen did not love him at all.

Yes, he felt betrayed, but there was also now something else. At the thought of people living in anguish because of his deeds, at the thought of the numerous henchmen that had come to harm or death -- from the bottom of his foul, blackened heart, he was sorry.

Tirwing lurched backwards, for the visions had stopped. A flash of white light was now fading. Shinwa's finger was still extended towards him. The visions had been instantaneous -- no time had passed at all.

He looked down and was surprised to find that in addition to his new-found wisdom, he had changed externally. His skin and fur, once a common, dirty brown, now glowed with a silvery hue. Muscles along his back and spine made themselves known as new wings trembled upon his back.

Shinwa let go of him and took a single step back.

"I have given you my blessing," she said with a small smile. "Please ... put it to good use."

And then she was simply gone.