Serpina Vespera: The Serpent Demon of Wales

**Title: The Tragic and Eternal Life of Sirona Serpentis: The Demon of Wales** **Early Life in Wales** In the secluded valleys of Snowdonia, Wales, in the year 918, a baby girl was born under the ominous light of a blood-red moon. Her parents, Eira and Alwyn, humble farmers, named her Sirona, after the ancient Celtic goddess of healing. Little did they know that their daughter was destined for a life far removed from their simple agrarian existence. Sirona grew up surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Welsh landscape. Her childhood was filled with frolicsome adventures in the verdant forests and along the serene banks of crystalline lakes. From a young age, she exhibited an astonishing affinity with nature, particularly snakes, creatures often shunned by the local villagers. Sirona’s fascination with these serpents earned her the moniker "Snake Maiden," a name that foreshadowed her dark destiny. **The Awakening** On Sirona's thirteenth birthday, a catastrophic event shattered the tranquility of her life. A formidable plague swept through her village, claiming the lives of her parents and many others. Stricken by grief, Sirona sought solace in the depths of the ancient forest, where she stumbled upon a mystical, serpentine altar. It was here that she encountered a great serpent, an apparition of the ancient dragon that once roamed the Welsh lands. The serpent, sensing her sorrow and affinity to its kind, offered her a choice—to accept an eternal bond with the serpents and gain the power to avenge her loved ones, but at the steep price of her humanity. Blinded by grief and a burning desire for revenge, Sirona accepted. The transformation was agonizing; her human form twisted into something otherworldly, her eyes glowing with an unearthly light. Scales began to appear on her skin, and her once gentle demeanor was replaced by a gaze that could turn the bravest of warriors to stone. **The Birth of a Demon** Rising from the ashes of her former self, Sirona became a demon—Sirona Serpentis. Her new existence was dark and solitary. She roamed the forests of Wales, exacting vengeance on those she believed responsible for her village’s suffering. Her power over serpents grew exponentially; they became her loyal minions and protectors. Tales of her malevolent deeds spread like wildfire, and soon, Sirona Serpentis became a figure of dread, a demon spoken of in hushed tones around hearth fires. Despite her terrifying new existence, Sirona retained fragments of her human soul, haunted by the memories of her lost family. Her anger and sorrow were everlasting, but an underlying sadness lingered, a specter of her human past that even eternal life could not erase. **The Curse of Immortality** While eternal youth and power were gifts beyond mortal comprehension, they came with unbearable loneliness. By the 13th century, Sirona had become a legend. As civilizations rose and fell, languages evolved, and world maps changed, she remained a constant, a silent observer of time’s relentless march. She traversed the continents, her paths woven with danger and secrecy, settling into the shadows wherever she went. Her attempts to connect with humanity were often met with fear and hostility due to her demonic nature and the accompanying serpents. Loneliness gnawed at her soul, driving her into periods of deep slumber. These hibernations, sometimes lasting decades, were both a refuge and a prison. **Redemption and the Snake Cult** In the 17th century, Sirona sensed a shift in the mystical energies surrounding her homeland. Drawn back to Wales, she discovered a clandestine cult devoted to her—The Order of the Serpent. Led by a charismatic occultist named Cedric Morgandor, this cult revered Sirona as a deity. They believed in her power and sought her wisdom, seeing beyond her demonic visage to the tragic figure she had become. Cedric, unlike others, treated Sirona with compassion. He yearned to understand her and sought to alleviate her suffering. Through their interactions, Sirona felt an inkling of the humanity she thought lost forever. Cedric delved deep into arcane texts, hoping to find a way to lift the curse that bound Sirona’s fate. Yet, despite his fervent endeavors, he discovered that her immortality was irreversible. **Modern Times** Entering the 21st century, Sirona embraced the changes brought by modernity, adapting to the digital age with ease. She became an elusive figure, studying the world through the anonymity offered by technology. Her connection with The Order of the Serpent persisted, though modernity turned the cult from an obscure esoteric group into an online community of devotees. Despite her relative peace, Sirona’s tragic existence remains an eternal struggle. She navigates the intricate balance between her demon form and the remnants of her humanity, seeking solace in the few fragments of kindness she encounters. As technology evolves, so does her quest for knowledge and understanding of the human condition from which she is forever estranged. **Legacy** Sirona Serpentis, the ageless demon of Wales, is a figure shrouded in mystery and melancholy. Her life, steeped in tragedy, vengeance, and a sorrow that spans centuries, continues to captivate those who dare to delve into the lore of the Snake Maiden. Her legacy lives on through whispered legends and the reverent, secretive Order of the Serpent, forever immortalized in the mythos of Wales.