The Sweet Taste of Betrayal           

Azazel's expression turned serious. "Don't judge her because she has done awful things. There's a reason behind it."

The group, their faces now serious, waited for Azazel to elaborate.

"A reason?" Ren inquired.

Azazel nodded. "She suffered from extreme hunger before I founded her, and dying of hunger is one of the worst ways to go. So her love for food and hoarding it stemmed from that."

Ren and the others exchanged glances.

"But it's not a reason to do what she did to these lands," Lorelai insisted.

Azazel agreed, "True." He then gave them a beguiling look. "But, like I said, everything has an explanation."

"And what is that explanation?" Ren asked.

Azazel was about to respond when they felt the air grow colder, and the ominous energy intensified. As they approached the heart of the fortress, Voraxa's presence loomed like a palpable force.