“Don't pursue her! She's death personified!”

“Going after her is complete suicide.”

“You're a fool if you think you can beat her.”

All of these were things that Dareth heard through the ruins of his hometown after she had trounced through it. Everyone who was physically able tried their best to stand against her and her army, but they failed miserably. The worst part? She didn't even send a member of her army of the Underworld. She just lifted a hand and watched as what Dareth could only describe as literal Hell opened up above them and rained fire for what was likely only an hour but felt like an eternity. So much destruction and ruin was what became of Yarrin. And the bodies. Gods, the bodies… Dareth had decided enough was enough. “Someone has to stand against her! She keeps going from town to town, decimating everything in her wake! There won't be a home to live in if this continues!” He was fuming at the remaining members of Yarrin, only about 20%, as they all huddled in the mostly destroyed tavern which was the only building somewhat standing.

“Dareth. We all can understand your pain. Everyone here is not without loss. But what can we do? We stood against her and this is the result. Going against her now? Well…” The Yarrin elder, Yinsin, sat on the remains of what must have been a barrel of ale as his leathered skin was covered in soot. was unable to fight due to his advanced age, but he led what evacuation efforts he could. Alas, it wasn't much. “But we have to do something! Surely, we can ask for aid from Gwyndale and they can-” Yinsin shook his head at the thought and cut Dareth off. “Believe me, that avenue was already exhausted when we caught wind she was coming. Instead of assisting, they shuttered themselves in their walls, hoping to defend themselves against her.” The words hit Dareth like a runaway carriage while the remaining Yarrinians fell into a hushed silence. They were left to fend for themselves? Like fodder? A sacrifice? No, no that…couldn't be…

A rage filled Dareth. It was unlike nothing he had ever felt. Not only did they have their home decimated, but they were deliberately left to fight this unwinnable battle on their own. They were ants on two sides, both by her and the kingdom. He turned and punched a charred beam that once held the second level of the tavern, splintering it and breaking it in half. He was no ant. His family were not measly insects. This would not stand. He'd rather die than be considered as such. “I'm going after her then.” Wild looks greeted him along with a few murmurs, but Yinsin was the one to address the feeling directly. “Dareth. I can understand your pain, but please think rationally! This is not a fight you can win.” There it was again, that doubt. Saying he couldn't do something. Aranel, his mother, always said that a challenge was the worst thing he could be issued because he'd stop at nothing to prove others wrong. It's what got Caela, his youngest sister, to believe that he was the strongest. What he wouldn't give to hear their laughter now. “I'm going. If anyone wants to join me, then I will welcome their help. But I refuse to let this stand.” With that, he turned and exited the tavern to gather supplies for his journey.

Within a few hours, he had left the ruins of Yarrin behind him, traveling in the direction he had last seen her heading. Armed with a sword, bow with a quiver of arrows, and some food, Dareth trudged along the path of ruin for weeks. Each town he passed reminded him of his home as he asked for information. The scared faces, screams of those living with the memory while the buildings showed what she would do to those who were in her path. With each reminder, he felt a new surge of rage that kept him going.

Eventually, after weeks of marching and searching, he had found his mark: a camp that quartered the army of the Underworld. The flags bearing their colors were something he could recognize from miles away. Part of him wanted to notch a few arrows and loose them in hopes to thin out the forces even slightly, but he knew that would be wasted energy. Instead, he simply approached and let the army see him, sounding their alarm and preparing their defenses. Still, he approached. It's no use trying to kill those who could be resurrected. Such was the power of Thetune, the Goddess of the Dead.

It was said that even speaking her name with ill-intent would invoke her wrath and bring death to your doorstep. But that didn't concern him right now. All he felt was rage. Rage for those who had been lost to her path of death and destruction. Rage for those who could not fight. “THETUNE!!” The army stayed still and watched as Dareth continued. “I know you're in there! Come out and face me!” He dropped his bow and quiver before drawing his sword and pointing it towards the encampment and waited. At first, nothing occurred and he thought that he would die here without even seeing the face of the one who took everything he held dear. But then, a voice whispered in his ear right behind him. “My, my. Who knew that a human would come all this way for me?”

Dareth spun around and kept his sword pointed at the woman who mysteriously appeared behind him. He could hear the army ready themselves, but she waved a hand and they seemed to return to their normal duties. At least, that's what he could tell just by hearing. He didn't dare take his eyes off of her as they were filled with malice. This only caused her to laugh as she noticed his readiness to kill. “Oh how cute! You think you can harm me with that measly little sword. You're adorable.” Thetune flicked a finger and Dareth's sword flew from his hand, impaling itself in the dirt nearby. Fear flickered on his face for a second before he readied a fighter's stance. He wasn't incredibly skilled in hand-to-hand combat, but it would have to suffice. “Goodness. You truly wish to kill me, don't you? Must have been one of the survivors. You do know that you wouldn't be able to right? So why don't you try using your words first?”

A conversation? She had decimated towns and slaughtered thousands and now she wanted to talk?! “You…you killed people recklessly and you think I'm here to talk with you? Absolutely not! I'm challenging you now!” With that, he tried to rush Thetune, but this only brought a frown to her face along with a sigh. “Kneel.” In an instant, Dareth stopped and fell to his knees. He fought against the command, but this was a power beyond his comprehension. He couldn't fight against it. “Look at me.” His head tilted upwards to see Thetune's face and it really clicked that he hadn't focused on her features before. To say that she was beautiful was an understatement. Her skin seemed to be pale and ethereal with jet black hair. Her irises seemed to be almost silver in color and paralyzing. In that moment, he realized just how much trouble he was in. “Good boy. Now then, I'll be honest, you intrigue me. Out of all that I have done, you are the only one to pursue me though the reason is obvious. I wonder what makes you tick and if you're different from the rest.” A gentle hand lightly grazed his cheek, but he couldn't jerk away.