Minaterosa

As Fred ran into the temple, he saw a scene of awful carnage. Here was where the guards had gone - they had gathered for a final stand and been slaughtered en-masse. Exactly how they had died was unclear - they were pale and the hair on most was now white, but there were no signs of cuts or burns on any of the corpses. Fred kept going. He had to ensure Tarsa's safety, and exact payment from someone or something.

He had thought no sight in the world would ever again seem strange after Tarsa floating in a cloud of darkness - but the sight that greeted him in Suivant's chambers was indeed even stranger. Suivant himself was transfixed by some strange power, and was shrieking and vomiting incoherently as the color drained from his skin. In front of the cleric stood a woman - her hands stretched toward Suivant, clearly absorbing the man's lifeforce. The woman had a long, dark horn in the middle of her forehead - for a second Fred thought she might be Tarsa, but then realized her features were far different. Her beauty was sharp and angular, almost vicious, framed by long ashen-white hair. She wore dark robes with glistening red sigils upon them, robes that displayed tantalizing flashes of arm and leg, and heavy black leather boots.

"Allright ma'am, please step away from the Granas groupie." Fred said, hefting his sword. "No one needs to get hurt."

The woman glanced at Fred and smiled. "That's allright. I'm done with him anyway."

She waved her hand and Suivant fell to the floor, where he lay motionless. "Aah, feels nice!" the woman laughed. "I feel so refreshed - so full of power! I've been asleep for far too long. Valmar's Breath is now mine - this pathetic fool was no match for me!"

"Did I ask for your life story?" Fred said impatiently. "I'm here to find Tarsa. Why you burned the town is no business of mine - probably 'cause you're just as psychotic as you look!"

"Why you impudent little cuss!" the woman sneered. "How dare you imply I would waste my time destroying this worthless little town?! Here, this'll teach you to hold your tongue!"

She cupped her hands and a sphere of dark energy burst forth, exploding in front of Fred, sending him flipping into the air. He hit the ground and got up just in time to see the woman descending upon him to deliver a one- two lunge punch combination that left his face quite bloody, followed by a spin-kick to his gut. As Fred stumbled back he knew he wasn't gonna hack this one on his own. Loudly he yelled out "Skye, take flight!" Fred's faithful animal friend descended upon the woman and dug his paralyzing claws into her hair. Skye's special attack was a mystic lift & drop, which Fred had turned into a vicious sword combo. The temporarily immobilized woman was lifted into the air and promptly released. Fred stood beneath, sword ready. With a cry of "...here goes! Flying Tenseiken!!" he slashed out with an attack that would've cut an ordinary person in half. But the woman seemed to roll with the swing, landing in a half-crouch next to Fred and sweeping his legs out from under him. Fred hit the floor face-first, and then felt the woman's boot pressing on his neck, while her other boot pinned down his sword.

"Dammit! Get off of me!" Fred choked in abject powerlessness. Skye could do nothing - at his age he needed time to recharge his paralysis power.

"You're a good plaything! I like you." the woman said sweetly. "My name is Minaterosa. Next time we meet, I'll make you mine. Till then, practice up, Geohound! Toodles! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!"

1. The boot was removed, and Fred could breathe again. When he looked up Minaterosa was gone, vanished from sight. Her laughter echoed in his ears.

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