The pink haired scout was far far behind enemy lines. Which is why she was so confused. She was inside the imperial capital of Tash’Gerran, yet there was no one in sight. No guards, no nobles, in fact there was no living soul in sight even as she entered the throne room. Everything suddenly shakes as she tries to keep her footing, not to mention these seemingly random tremors. She doesn’t recall reading anything about Tash’Gerran having them often let alone in their capital. She says to herself “Just…where is everyone? Not even the emperor is here…” She hears a familiar voice from behind “Oh I ate them. I just keep the building for the fond memories of my first feast” The scout’s eyes go wide as she slowly turns around. As impossible as it seemed there was Rena Palemare. Though with her sclera now black and her iris and purple seeming like a burning fire.  The scout asks surprised “ate them?” “Yes. I devoured him, his family, his court, and all their slaves. I then became Tash’Gerran’s Empress.” The scout stutters “you…you…monster!” Rena grins “That’s Empress Monster to you.”

The scout manages to shake off her fear and draw her sword and with a mighty war cry she rushes Rena and plunges the sword into her chest! She did it! Then, her victory shatters as Rena asks “That all you have? A snack of steel?” Did she say snack? Veins begin to wrap around the sword coming from Rena’s bloodless ‘wound’ and begin to deform and pull the blade in. The shocked scout lets go of the blade and stumbles away as she sees the blade disappear into Rena and the ‘wound’ close as if she was never stabbed. Rena continues to grin “Not as tasty as flesh but steel still does make for a good snack.” The scout takes another step back as Rena takes one forward. Thinking she has to get out of here. Rena says “Oh no dear. I don’t think so. Let’s see if you can stay standing after I let all my mass hit the ground” Rena’s next step is right in time with the most violent tremor yet causing the scout to fall to the ground.

The scout looks at Rena and asks shocked “The tremors were you!?! But your first step I saw didn’t…” Rena chuckles “Oh yes it was me. See I have devoured quite a bit since my master’s alterations. Which means I’m more massive than I appear. I’m quite good at condensing myself and appearing mostly human, it didn’t take long to learn to step lightly. Still, I do enjoy seeing my property scramble about when I let my mass fully hit the ground.” The scout realizes she can’t escape. “Please…just…just let me go. I promise I won’t tell anyone!” Rena walks up to the scout still laying on the floor and crouches down beside her “Oh I know you won’t. Unfortunately for you though I don’t want the bitch that sent me to the mines to know Tash’Gerran is all mine now. And you do look rather delicious.” She reaches out and grabs the scout by the neck standing and lifting the scout in the air. The scout desperately tries to pry Rena’s fingers off her neck but finds they won’t budge and says “Please. I don’t want to die. Not here! Not now! Don’t send me to the elements now!” as tears stream down her face. Rena’s grin grows wider “Oh your soul isn’t going to the elements. It goes to my master. Draxia. Your body, however. Well, that’s mine” and thrust her free arm through the scout’s torso. The scout grunts from the pain and looks down at her wound to see the same black veins that surrounded her sword start to worm around her. The scout mutters with her dying breath. “I’m sorry brother…I’m not coming…home after…” She doesn’t get to finish as Rena finishes absorbing the scout’s body.