Wu Yijun

A few years ago, a gruesome disease plagued the land. Infected Kirins suffered from their horn(s) becoming more and more brittle until they eventually shattered. This caused the affected persons to be stuck in a hybrid appearance, unable to shift into full Kirin or full human form. Far more tragic though is the loss of all magical powers, only those  who  were lucky enough to save a large fragment of their crystallized   antlers or horn were able to access at least a glimpse of the potential   power they once had. The origins of that disease and why some were spared and very few were even able to recover from it is still unknown. Some said it was a divine curse unleashed to punish arrogance and other sins which had infected the hearts of people. But whatever the  origin of  this plague had been, it disappeared after the Emperor's  family and the  most mighty mages came together to perform a cleansing  ritual for the  entire empire. However, the immense magical powers required a vessel and  the ruling couple's only child volunteered for this task, well aware that the  power would consume her.

Her  sacrifice saved Kirins, but even this  amount of magic combined was unable to restore the lost horns and antlers. The emperor and empress  wear white mourning colours ever since.