Siliru breathed deeply, staring at the hostile ranks drawn up across the plain before her. 'Time for the reckoning' she muttered to herself; 'time for Death and destruction'. Her mouth twisted into a smile that did not reach her eyes. The small jewel, her amulet, hanging from the silver chain around her neck began to glow a fierce blood-red, and raw power flowed from it into Siliru's blood; now, she thought, now they will feel my strength, now let them burn and dissolve. The enemy were shouting, waving sword and shield, laughing at their single opponent, jeering, mocking her; and they began to advance slowly. No need to rush, just surround her and cut her down. The blood roared in her head and the sharp voice of the amulet urged her on - 'now, now, kill!' Siliru raised her arms, stretched out her hands, her fingers pointing at the invading troops. Bolt after bolt of carmine lightning shot from her fingers, striking the soldiers, burning and destroying them faster than they could being themselves to scream, flames roaring, hissing ... Black foul-smelling clouds boiled around and above them. Silence. Nothing remained of the soldiers but black shadows burnt into the ground and the few rocks scattered on the plain. Siliru smiled at what she had achieved, but the fierce burning rage she had felt began to ebb away; suddenly she felt cold, empty, lost. 'What have I done?' she cried. "This is not me - never have I killed before, never felt such hatred and rage - why?' She looked down; the jewel was dull now; 'You,' she whispered, 'You have brought all this about - what have you done to me?' Cold laughter answered her, and an icy voice 'Did you not choose the pretty jewel from the treasures in the wizard's castle; did you not steal it despite the signs warning thieves that all were dangerous in the wrong hands? Ah, but it was so pretty, wasn't it. And now we go together, my pretty, now we are joined as one forever.' 'No!' Siliru screamed, 'No!' and tore at the light silver chain. It would not break. 'We are one.' 'No! You have made me into a monster -' 'All I have done, my dear, is to encourage and enable thoughts, desires and deeds that have always been part of you - hidden wishes for power, for greatness - and now you have them - no longer just a simple human, eh? No, now a mighty warrior and ruler. I have added nothing; I have merely allowed you to release your dark side.' Siliru wept, 'Goddess, my Goddess, help me!' Somewhere, in the back of her mind, a light voice spoke. 'Everyone must face his or her dark side, and master it. This now is your greatest challenge, Siliru. And you will have to resist the power of the amulet until it falls away by itself.' Miserable, alone, lonely and downcast, Siliru turned back towards the castle. 'But,' added the voice quietly, 'I will give you strength'. (Background uses wombo art images)