What does it take to be a hero? To save the world and humanity? Not very much apparently...

"Unbelievable! Beaten, by children no less!" Which is what made Merlot's loss all the more… infuriating.

"Perhaps you should-"

'Tyrian is no doubt trying to convince me to follow along on some stupid idea again.'

"No! I am going to get my revenge for this, it will be slow and painful…"

Tyrian seemed offended at this, after all Tyrian was the most likely to suggest such an idea.

"But my dear Doctor I with to help you, surely between the two-"

"No, I will do it alone. I will rebuild my laboratory, I will engineer the perfect Grimm, I will destroy Beacon!"

Silence hung in the air for but a moment before Tyrian's maniacal laughing broke it quite thoroughly.

"You-you think you, alone could do that that?" Wiping tears from his eyes, vaguely pointing in his direction.

Cinder seemed to be enjoying it as well.

"She's been working for years to do that, what makes you think you could do so before her?"

Gah, Cinder and her damn children were going to be the death of him at this rate.

'Infuriating, The lot of them!' "I have half a mind-" The sound of opening doors stopped the man in his tracks

"Merlot, you have failed me." 'What? Surely... she didn't mean it?' "I apologize my queen it's just-"

She looked straight at him with her blood red eyes, sending a cold chill throughout his body.

"No. You failed, Ozpin sent four children to stop you, and they succeeded." Salem turned her head towards Cinder. "Cinder, watch those four would you?"

Cinder cast a cursory glance towards Merlot, fear evident in his eyes.

"Of course, it would be my pleasure." Tyrian started clapping trying to gain her attention.

'You gain more attention standing on the table than you deserve already!'

"Oh, oh, what can I do?" He could almost swear he saw her smile at that.

"Hmm, I'm sure I'll think of something for you to do Tyrian."

The man in question let out a small 'Yay' before falling back first into his chair.

"Tyrian?" The man spun quickly, a little too quickly considering the torch he was bearing.

"Yeeeessss?" He was really unaware of the flames wasn't he?

"Firstly don't do that, secondly I wished to speak with you about Merlot."

He looked… suspicious?

"You wish to speak with me? Who are you and what have you done with the real Cinder?"

He reeled his body back in an overreacting manner.

'Trying to make another joke? This is why I don't speak with you.'

"Tyrian, don't you think Merlot has out lived his use?"

He seemed to think on that for a moment before giving his answer.

"Oh certainly, no use to us with out his lab." The man was pondering something.

"Should we do something about him you think?"

His eyes lit up at this, a clear an answer you could ever receive from him.

"Shall we?"

Honestly she almost felt bad for Merlot, the man was no fighter…

The short lived scream of terror from his direction was one of the many sure signs of that…