After the attack at the border by the creatures of the plane of Mono the news finally arrived at the ear of the emperor. As soon as he heard this he immediately gathered his most trusted aids and counselors to figure out what was the best solution.

After hours of talking he finally arrived at a decision. The current troops that were stationed at the border (the ones that had survived)would retreat to the nearest fortified city and wait for reinforcements that would be sent ASAP from the capital.

An army of 50000 soldiers which in it were included also a lot of elementalists would march towards the border led by one of the most trusted generals of the emperor , general Skilt.

He was a recently promoted fourth stage  Wind Elementalist that had at least 30 years of experience on the battlefield so him dealing with the creatures of the plane of Mono was a good decision. The other reason that he was chosen was because he was the only general not occupied at the moment with any important business like the other generals who were out there doing their thing.

Some of them were at the border of the Eternal Light Empire  while others were stationed at the coastal border where a lot of islands under the jurisdiction of the empire were constantly harassed by the navies of the nearby continent and also pirates.

Adding to this lack of generals was also because recently there was an uprising of tens of thousands of beastfolk  prompting a rapid response by the empire ,so they sent one of their generals there also to cull the rebellion on it's infancy.

.....

At the royal palace inside the emperor's chamber's.

He was lying beside a beautiful black haired woman whose beauty seemed to radiate to the surroundings making even the most dull things beautiful. 

She looked in her early twenties with black cascading long hair, green emerald eyes ,long legs and a modest chest.

"Hmmm....

The emperor a seemingly middle aged man with long blue hair tied on a ponytail ,blue eyes a stern face and square chin was looking at the ceiling without blinking seemingly thinking of something important.

*Slither*

The woman slowly slithered her small dainty had to the chest of the  emperor and coyly said.

"Was my service not up to your standards my liege."

The emperor woke up by this statement and a  perverted smile manifested in his face.

"Oh my precious Mala it's not your fault but there have been some developments in the empire that have required my total attention so I have had no time to relax.

Even now that I'm laying here beside you I'm constantly thinking of these problems.

Being an emperor is not easy you know."

"How can being an emperor be easy. Only people as my liege can fulfil such a sacred duty as that, so I'm happy to help you in any way possible."

"Hmph..

The emperor rolled on top of the beauty and said.

"Then don't mind if I do."

"Ahhhn..

They continued their lovemaking session until they couldn't anymore.

......

At Faley's mansion.

He was in a room filled with different types of jars ,some made of clay and some made of glass each holding some type of paste, liquid or plant making the room smell of medicine.

Before him was an old man that looked like he was with a foot on his grave by the looks of it. His eyes had sunken into his skull and he was like a skeleton wearing human skin seemingly having no muscles or fat on his body. His head was bald except for some strands of hair and surprisingly his face was that of a 20 year old man.

*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*

The old man moved all over the place taking all kinds of plants, liquids and powders and then put them in a mortar before mixing them and then poured the resulting mixture on a long glass tube.

"Are the preparations done , because I can't wait anymore."

"Ah ah, the preparations are finally done .All that remains is the final process."

"Good, then proceeded with it."

The old man nodded and then took a feather that was lying to the side and poured into it three droops from the mixture he had just concocted.

The feather was from the dead bird I gave to Faley.

* drip drip drip*

The three droops clung to the feather like gravity didn't exist  before slowly being absorbed without a trace.

*Sizzle*

 5 seconds  after absorption the feather started emitting a sizzling sound like dropping water on boiling oil.

*Phew* *Phew* *Phew*

Then the feather disintegrated  quickly while small explosion sounds were heard from it.

The feather finally disintegrated into a grey mist. 

The old man then inhaled that mist before going completely still. He was like a mannequin not even breathing but he was definitely alive by the looks of his eyes. They were constantly moving from side to side and up and down in a quick fashion like he was following something with his eyes but nothing was there. 

......

After 5 minutes.

"Aaaaaaaa...

The old man gave a still scream while holding his head. Sweat rolled down his face and his eyes were dilated.

He seemed to have witnessed a horrific thing.

"Hey, what happened to you? Why are you screaming so suddenly?"

The old man didn't answer but immediately  fell silent. He then turned to face Faley .

*Shiver*

'This...

Faley was frightening by why he saw. The old man eyes had turned completely black and on his face was plastered a chilling smile.

"Human bug, you will pay for your for your insolence."

Out from the old man's mouth didn't come the previous calm voice but a tyrannical booming one that sent chills to the spine.

*bulge* * bulge*

Immediately after the old man's body started to inflate at a rapid speed turning twice his normal size .

"Get back."

Gale who was as always to the side got in front of Faley and erected a wall of wind.

*Bam*

The old man's body couldn't handle the pressure anymore so it imploded throwing piece's of dark flesh and bone to the four corners of the room.