An Exchange of Equivalents

— In the Empire of Arwen —

"AHHHHH!" an anguished voice screamed.

Heat seared through the beautiful Elven princess's soul as the corruption turned her vision into a hazy red world filled with rage. Biting her tongue to regain self-control, she winced and clutched the hems of her bed sheets tightly, holding on for dear life.

"It hurts," she murmured to herself. "It…it really hurts."

She clenched her chest for the eighth morning in a row and stared blankly at the floral decorations on her wall.

The flames of corruption slowly fanned back toward her soul, wrenching her from her consciousness, and she screamed loudly in pain once more.

Immediately, the doors to her chamber swung open with a bang, and the servants by her side quickly parted through the left door.