Her Palace had seen better days, Salem had to admit.
A century ago, she had dozens of courtiers. The halls filled with quiet, hushed conversations and discussions and plots. Internal alliances and feuds wove themselves into the great, endless tapestry that was her Court. All for her glory and her goals. There had even been a school here, and she'd even taught the children of the Court lessons from time to time.
Over Seventy years ago, they had all been entertained by the 'Great War' unfolding across Remnant. A mix of Strix and Seers providing them with a bird's eye view of various battles. Some of her courtiers had placed bets on who would achieve victory in battles and theatres. Ozma might be the greatest thorn in her side, but He was always so generous in providing her entertainment. After all, she had had nothing to do with this particular conflict.
If she was being fair, neither had He. But He had been one of the principal commanders during the conflict, leading his forces against the enemy. He slaughtered countless enemy soldiers and engaged in ruthless calculus whilst she feasted and laughed and applauded with her loyalists.
Forty years ago, Tock had fallen to the Grimm Reaper, along with her team. Complete lunatic though she had been, she had been a damn good warrior. Perhaps a tad too enthusiastic at times, but that enthusiasm had enabled her to kill at least a dozen Silver-Eyed warriors.
Less than thirty years ago, Ozma's champions had launched a raid against the Palace itself. Team HMMR had paid for their place on the Wall of Names in blood. She had slain them all personally, the first time she had needed to actually battle someone in so very long. But the enemy had slaughtered her Court, leaving barely a handful of survivors.
Perhaps that had been when she had truly lost Luna Fall. She mused. Trauma of such magnitude at such a young age, coupled with the knowledge that the ones that had slain her Mother were the ones attacking was doubtless poor for one's mental wellbeing. Or perhaps she was always destined to betray her. Salem wasn't sure which thought she preferred.
She would need to find a repla-...a successor to Tabitha. It would likely be a tough job, Tabitha had been one of the most competent and successful enforcers she'd had in centuries. Her semblance, Auratophagy, made her more akin to a monster from a child's tale than a person. In eras past, she likely would have been turned into some folk tale or other.
She found herself walked down an old path, one that once would have cut straight through her vast gardens. If she tried hard enough, she could even smell the scents of flowers and herbs, fruits and vegetables that had once filled the air. Perhaps it was time to renew them, her time in her laboratories would be diminished for a few years after all. At least until such a time as she could trust the child to walk the halls and grounds alone.
Speaking of whom.. The child was silently following along behind her. Her red hair fell down her back and her green eyes were fearfully drinking in her new surroundings. That would have to change. With Tabitha now dead, the child was her only courtier. That would prove most….problematic if not rectified. She would deploy the Strix to scour the world for candidates.
She stopped once she reached her destination. A ring of smooth, inky black stone walls. Its surface was covered with column after column of names. The aptly named 'Wall of Names', where her servants (and those of Ozma's that proved worthy enough of remembrance) got their final reward.
It was fitting then, that it would be here that her newest servant would receive her first.
"Child." She began, gaining the girl's attention. "I have something for you."
The child's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "O-Oh? May I uhm...ask what it is, Miss Salem?"
"A name, child."
"..Uhm...Miss Salem?" The child asked timidly. "I uhm...I already have a name..Pyrrha Nikos.."
"No no." Salem all but cooed, bringing a hand to the child's cheek. "Pyrrha Nikos is gone, because Pyrrha Nikos died with her parents. Pyrrha Nikos was a little girl without a grand future and destiny ahead of her. The girl you are now, the Courtier that serves me now is someone else entirely. So I grant unto you a new name. A new existence with a new purpose..."
Pyrrha shivered, whether with anticipation or fear Salem could not tell.
"Petra Nullus." She smiled serenely. "You will end the world for me."