Repentance: The action of repenting; sincere regret or remorse.

Aboard the Nero in thralls of darkness a meeting takes place...

An Emperor has called upon one of his own subjects in order to discuss a plight from his past, yet another sinful action that needed closer. This time it was an elderly woman named Oanna that is granted her Emperors council.

Oanna had heard of these meetings, she had expected her time would come. Yet, she was not prepared for meeting such a great one as her Emperor. She could recall many nights before the great release that she cursed his name, and wished his death. Alas those nights had ended with the understanding that the loss she had suffered was to serve a greater purpose than she could ever imagine.

"Oanna... I have wronged you more deeply than I can ever repay." Says a humble Emperor to the old woman. "Did I not slay you're husband... You're three children... In cold blood, for acts of treachery against our old masters?"

The old woman trembles as her Emperor speaks. Her eyes fill with tears as she remembers the night that Tiber Nero the loyal lap dog of the Empire had entered her home, and slaughtered her family. She understands now of course that his greatness had larger plans in mind for her and the rest of their people, than anyone could ever imagine. Still the images of her loved ones being brutally torn asunder did burn freshly in her mind. She knew she would not be able to resist what she knew was to come, and so she wept.

An Emperor kneels down before his subject as he displays the flesh of his body to be graced with the kisses of many lashes. Each lash that scores his skin leaves welts and tares the skin and flesh drawing blood in a mere matter of moments. The whips used for the lashing are crafted from the only substance that is known to be able to cause such damage to Nero flesh in such a small amount of time.

And so it does come to pass that an Emperor is beaten half to death in the still darkness of seclusion, paying penitence for his past misdeeds. The ones carrying out his orders eyes are filled with absolute sorrow as they lay waste to his flesh as they have done so many other nights past. They look to the old woman, whom watches on as her own sorrow fades with each stroke of their lashings. Their eyes attempt to plead forgiveness in vain for the sake of their Emperor. It is not an easy road to repentance, and Oanna makes a night of it. After this night however, the healing can begin yet again... Between both an Emperor and his subject, a new future to look forward to.