Lisha walks forward towards the tree line. The sun is starting to show its smile over the horizon near Ifer. The solems emerge from the brush, a distance away from the outskirts of the town.
A sentry on a wooden lookout tower near the town's perimeter sees the solems walk out the woods.
"Ring the alarm!" he commands. "It looks like we'll be having company."
Another sentry nearby rushes to ring the bell.
"Oh, they rang the bell," Lisha says. "How pitiful. Well, it's time to launch a full assault. Go, my lovelies, and wreak havoc on those pathetic humans."
"They are about five hundred feet away!" the sentry shouts.
"Close the gates," the other man commands. "Now!"
Two knights rush in and close the ten-foot-tall gates to the city. Lisha flies toward the sentry in the wooden tower and grabs his head. Petrified with fear, he looks into Lisha's eyes as she licks his face.
"Oh, why did you ring the bell, sweetie?" Lisha asks. "I wanted our little visit to be a surprise."
Within a flash, Lisha snaps the neck of the sentry.
"Ah! The intoxicating sounds of bones breaking really vibrates my body." Lisha shivers with delight as she throws his body out of the tower Underneath, the solems run headfirst into the gate, breaking it open in an instant.
"Run!"
The townsfolk cower as the solems grab people and throw them forty to fifty feet in the air.
"Where are our knights?" asks one of the townsfolk. "Quickly send a messenger to Glashmere, lest we let our town come to ruin."
Lisha flies down toward the middle of the town, gazing upon the chaos brought by her army. A grin forms on her face as the screams of innocent townsfolk surround her.
"I guess I can have a little fun." She laughs. "Set fire to the whole town and kill them all."
"You witch!" A man with a pitchfork runs toward Lisha.
She steps to the right, easily avoiding the attack before she manifests her scythe.
"You're a naughty boy, aren't you?" Lisha cackles before slicing off the man's right leg.
The man howls, groaning in agony. "You demons have no right to attack us. The king will make sure you pay."
"Do not waste your breath on this human, Mistress." A wolfen speaks behind Lisha. "Allow me, Mistress."
The wolfen digs his claws deep into the flesh of the man's neck killing the man. His blood paints the claws red.
The wolfen laughs before running off to attack a woman, gnawing on her neck. The screams of villagers being slaughtered echo throughout the small town. Lisha relishes in their screams once more.
"Hellfire Storm!"
Lisha opens her hand as flames burst out. She yells as she throws fireballs. A maniacal smile graces her face. The flaming balls find their mark slamming into the houses. The flames cackle as the wooden foundations crash upon the people inside, screaming for help, as the barrage of fire explodes around them.
"Oh. Here comes the backup."
Lisha looks toward the hills. Hundreds of knights are coming down the road. Lisha whistles, calling a few wolfmen around her.
"Lovelies, go and take out those archers before they can quiver a single arrow."
"Do not let them have any quarter!" a knight yells.
A volley of arrows rains down on Lisha.
"My lady!" A wolfen howls, running toward Lisha as he spreads his arms out, covering her. Five arrows pierce his back and neck, killing him immediately.
Lisha leaves his body on the ground as she stretches out her hands toward the archers, fifty feet away, pointing at them.
"Solems, crush them. Leave none alive."
Twenty solems charge toward the archers. The archers fire at them but the arrows bounce off their rocky exterior.
"Retreat!" a knight commands the archers.
The archers shuffle back in the direction they came from, but the solems quickly grab them by their legs. Lifting them up then slamming them into the ground.
"This is a slaughter!" another knight shrieks. "We need reinforcements. 'Tis getting more dire by the moment!"
Lisha walks through the chaos, looking for anyone who might be left behind. She spots a solem lifting a group of children in its hands.
"Please spare the children," a woman begs.
Lisha looks over at the solem, signaling him to hold.
"You heard your momma," she says to the children. "Scram before I change my mind!"
"No, we won't leave her!" one of them cries out.
"Well, little brats, it's either your momma dies or you all die together," Lisha explains, lifting up a little boy by his ears.
"Run!" The mother pushes them away. "Run to the next town Shekainah, take care of your brothers. Don't look back!"
The tallest amongst the children, Shekainah, drags her brothers away One of them turns their head to look back as the solem pummels the woman on the ground, her body bursting into a fine red mist.
Lisha walks away from the carnage, not bothered in the slightest. War isn't pretty, but it is necessary. Lisha bows her head, thinking so much has already been lost to senseless violence. She forgot what grief or remorse feels like. I've lost count of the dead, but there is still so much left to do. This scythe will never be satisfied.
"My lady." A wolfen bows before Lisha. "We have killed all the knights and townspeople here. Shall we proceed to Glashmere?"
"Not yet." Lisha waves her hand in the air, signaling all the troops to come to the middle of town. "We need to account for our losses. While the carnage must go on, there is no need to be reckless. Gareth would have us all killed should we fail in our conquest."
Some time passes as Lisha's army regathers itself. She sits on the ground pondering her daughter's existence.
Where are you, my daughter? You should be the spitting image of me. Busty, sexy, full of vigor, and virility.
Lost in thought, Lisha licks her lips as a wolfen walks up to her.
"My lady, we have a report that the knights of Glashmere are heading this way to stop our advances."
"Oh, what a pity. I didn't get enough time to even relax and enjoy the scenery." Lisha sighs, patting the dirt from her palms. "Well, I guess it's their grave."
Lisha stands up, walks over to an untouched fruit stand, and grabs an apple. Such luscious fruit. Taking a small bite, she smiles. I will enjoy this apple before the slaughter begins again. Let's see what type of faith these men have. To make it fun, let's head back out to the field for a clash.
"Gather to rest," she calls out. "We'll meet them on open ground."
"But, my lady. I mean no disrespect, but that would put us in a disadvantage."
"We have everything we need right here, brave warrior." Lisha's words are soft but her glare is piercing, holding the wolfen in place.
"Yes, my lady." The wolfen bows before leaving.
The flames continue to roar, burning many of the houses down in minutes. The only ones left standing are those built of stone and brick. What was once a bustling town has now been reduced to ashes.
Without saying a word, Lisha flies out of the village, followed by the rest of her troops. Time passes by before Lisha sees a group of around five hundred soldiers marching down the long road to Ifer.
"Oh, what joy. Here comes the cavalry," Lisha says in mockery.
The knights of Ifer pass through the village, searching for survivors. At last, they reach the plains on the other side.
"Lord Regal." One of the knights speaks. "There is none left alive, my lord. They killed them all.
"Divine, have mercy! What in Astra have they done?" Regal says stunned by the situation.
Lisha flies toward them at a safe distance from above, to everyone's surprise. Signaling to Regal and his men that she wants to talk. Regal motions his archers to lower their weapons before dismounting to meet the demon mistress.
"Vile witch, if you have any honor, come meet me in the middle to negotiate. We will spare you and your men. We outnumber you. We are the shining knights of Glashmere. There is none better than us," Regal shouts.
He does not look like a knight, Lisha thinks to herself. He wears not the heavy plates nor the brigandine that sports of combat. I wonder if he is some sort of significant figure among the knights.
Lisha floats down to meet him.
"Speak your name, witch, and make it quick," Regal commands.
Lisha leans back, shaking with delight, greeting Regal with a malicious grin.
"Why the rush, human? You only need to hear it once and it will be the last name you ever hear," she replies, licking her lips seductively. "I am Lisha. I am one of the demon army's finest generals serving the Exalted One, Lord Gareth, the future ruler of Esteria.""Like hell, he's the next ruler," Regal yells. "I damn you all to hell."
Pulling two knives out of his pocket, Regal charges toward Lisha swiping at her neck. Lisha narrowly dodges his attack.
"The poor wretched fool thinks he's fast," says Lisha, mocking him "Tsk tsk. That's no way to treat a lady, pathetic worm. You did not even give me your name."Lisha looks intently at Regal, eyeing him from top to bottom.
"A hasty one. Are you like this with all the wenches you meet?" asks Lisha, licking her lips again.
"Spare me your devilish tongue, vile creature. You speak to Lord Regal, the protector of the region before Glashmere. I am a knight and governing Lord. Your head will be decorated on a pike before you set foot in Glashmere."
"Good job, Regal. You did a pathetic job of protecting your people. Going through you is naught but a chore."
Regal clenches his fist, snarling as he puffs his anger out of his nose with sweat sliding from his head. Without a second to waste, Lisha flies with her foot aimed at Regal. He quickly sidesteps and takes an opportunity to swipe at her head, barely missing and cutting off a piece of Lisha's hair.
"Oh. How rude. You call yourself a lord, yet you act like a scared beast." Looking at the locks of her hair, Lisha narrows her eyes at him. "You need to be punished."
Lisha manifests her scythe, twirling it behind her back. A wolfen runs up beside her.
"You need not waste your energy, my lady."
"I appreciate your concern, warrior, but I will waste my energy how see fit."