Shadow of the Abyss

Altair looked at Aurelia seriously, remembering her image through his vision into the past. He might have smiled if the notion of a war with every single angel didn't seem like an absolute nightmare.

"What do you gain from that?" he asked, as any normal man might.

"There isn't any benefit," Zariel said wearily. "And how'd you know where we were?"

Aurelia snorted, throwing her head high. "Did ya think I'd flee while you negotiated our freedom? Lilith and I didn't even require ten minutes to gather an army to annihilate these Ilvarians." she glanced at Corvin with a chilling look that felt like a lance through the chest. He paled, finding a part of himself recede into some unseen place in his heart. "Anyway. We followed you here.

When we learned you were safe, we disbursed our armies."

"Looks like your kind caught a break," Zariel said, standing to his feet. "I'm going to sleep for the first time in a very long time. I've used too much Astral Qi. I'll see you… whenever."

"You turning in already?" Arsene said, looking around for his wife, finding not even a trace of her existence. "What about—"

"That's why we have vassals. They'll handle the rest. Go to sleep. I know I am. Aurelia…" Zariel's voice trailed off as he pulled Aurelia along before she somehow managed to pull Altair into her madness.

"But I'm not sleepy…' Aurelia whined, vanishing from the great hall with her husband.

Setting an arm across his son's shoulder, Arsene said with a weary grin. "I'm about to turn in for the day. Who'd ever thought that infinite energy didn't mean infinite."

"Soul Exhaustion?"

"And then some," Arsene admitted, though he didn't divulge all that occurred in that empty void of nothingness. "I'll tell you about it another time. See you around, son."

When Arsene took his leave, Altair glanced at Corvin, who looked a little lost about what to do. He smiled and waved his palm to summon Aurora. He felt a tinge of guilt, noticing the bags of soul exhaustion bleeding through the bags of her eyes. Ever since he'd made her his shadow, had there ever been a day she'd had to herself?

"Master!" Aurora greeted with a half bow. You're back." Her eyes trailed towards the Ilvarian, and she smiled a smile that was neither to welcoming nor cold. "And who might this be?"

"This is Corvin, High Elder of the Ilvarians. Our new Engineers." Altair said. "Offer them some land, and find them some work within these lands. I don't want them on earth just yet. And Corvin, exactly how many of you are there?"

"238, 384, Men, woman, and children," Corvin said, suddenly breaking out in tears, startling Altair and Aurora. He fell to his knees before Altair and echoed a cry that came from his depts that no words could express.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, oh child of the Night Mother!"

Perhaps it had been attributed to his youth, but Altair had never seen an elderly man weep as such. He was nearly threatened to feel guilty but held it in.

Corvin, who'd lived for some incalculable time, could never imagine he'd be able to see the rise of his race once more. Like most of the children that had been born to the Void, he'd only known the darkness of that hell. The only light they saw was the azure light that was their elemental half.

There had been some who'd lived their entire lives in a sea of endless nights, never to see an end to that hell.

As Ilvarians, the concept of food didn't necessarily exist. They'd evolved past that, but to see a new generation born into the light, capable of feeding on anything they desired or living past a predetermined time, was something that left him shattered.

Corvin, who'd never allowed tears to fall after watching his mother and father perish before his eyes, wept for the first time like a child.

"Give them the land and anything they might desire. I want children educated like the children of Genisis. Hire professors if you must, for there will not be another generation of children that will be more dedicated to knowledge than those who only knew darkness all their life."

Aurora bowed, "As you command, your grace."

Altair patted Corvin's shoulder. "Congrats, but if you want to see your kind grow, there'll still be a lot of things to do." He smiled, waving as he departed beneath Corvin's kowtow, returning to the rift he'd reacted in his rage, and stepped through.

[Penalty Aquired]

[For leaving Babels Tower amidst the Trail, your Record of Time has been reset.]

"Is that supposed to be a penalty?" Altair laughed, catching Raven charging into his chest. "Master abandoned Raven!"

"There was a bit of drama," Altair said, patting her head. "But it's over. I've taken care of it."

Tasha, Morrigan, and Seina walked over with visible expressions of relief.

"We were threatened to leave," Tasha said, glancing at Morrigan, back to Altair. "I heard what happened."

"It's taken care of," Altair said as a glint of omniscience flickered across his eyes. A cruel smile rose on his lips as a trap began to coalesce across his mind. He could feel the Mark of Cain begin to throb the more he thought of his scheme. His laugh resounded across the barren world. "Shall we continue?"

Morrigan lips began to curl down. "Altair…" she stopped as Altair raised a palm.

"All you need to do is determine if you're an alley or not. That's it."

Without expression, Altair hoisted Raven up so that she sat on his shoulder. The young woman giggled, throwing her head up high as if she was claiming everything around her. The sight alone made Tasha giggle. Cute sights like this were rare within the hells.

"Let's go," he snickered, vaulting high into the air, catching sight of the Ascension Gate, reaching the dark clouds.

For nearly a mile, Altair saw through the monolithic buildings, entangled by foliage, at the endless hordes of undead standing guard. It was a terrifying sight to anyone that wasn't a seventh circle or higher, for there stood over a dozen sixth circles scattered about. He closed his eyes, peering through the eyes of his shadow, summoning Jorm, Nia, and Alyssa to his side.

"Thank! The Vale!" Alyssa shouted, throwing a hand through her pale white hair, far in contrast to her dark skin. She grinned feral like a true Amazonian. "I was getting so bored!"

"We greet you, Your Eminence," Jorm said in an elegant bow, throwing his hand in the air. A translucent barrier coalesced around them, and a wave of arrows came like rain above their heads, only to be shattered by first contact.

"Aye," said Nia in response to Alyssa. She smiled. "It's been a while since we fought. Although…" her eyes met her Master. "I don't like that whatever we kill, you get all the exp."

"Are you complaining about becoming a monster? You match my level, you know," Altair waved her off, unsure why he was even trying to argue with Nia, knowing she was only teasing him.

Nia grinned. "Master… would you mind if I try out a few things I created."

"Run wild, Nia. You can do whatever you want. You are immortal, after all. If you should fall, I shall raise you from the dead. Although Jorm is the commander, ask him."

"Ehhh!" Alyssa whined. "Why Jorm?! He's the weakest! And where is Talia? That crazy bitch is no doubt about to be wet with jealousy."

"She's surprisingly busy," Altair said before giving out his command. "Nia, target all the mages; your eyes ought to be able to see everything on the battlefield; slaughter them first. It'll save me trouble later. I'll be on the ground, making my way forward with my group. Raven, what do you—"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"I'm with you, Master," Raven said, throwing her hands up high, unable to hide her excitement. "Let's kill! We'll make that bastard lich crawl out from whatever hell hole he's hiding in."

Jorm smiled, glancing at Nia. "You take the southern side. Hit the targets with Infernal Lightning, then Enma to create a few craters. These Undead are strong, but we can use the terrain to our advantage. If we are lucky, the Lich might be hit. Alyssa, take the West and run wild, but don't worry about collateral.

I'll take the eastern side."

Seeing Jorm take charge, Altair bent to Alyssa's side and whispered something in her ear that made even her dark skin blush.

[A/N: Alyssa Image]

"You serious?"

"Have you known me to lie?"

"Yup"

Altair rolled his eyes. "I'm serious. Don't disappoint me," he said, raising his own barrier as he descended beside his group. Arrows and spells struck and shattered into dust and modes of light. "Seina, you'll be our tank. Morrigan, you'll take care of her life. We can't have her dying so young.

Tasha… just do you. Watch, chill; you're lowkey too powerful.."

"I'm offended," Tasha said, feigning anger. "I can seal myself."

"I've seen your attributes. They don't make sense. Is it even possible to seal that much power?"

"My Lord, always remember it's easier to seal someone rather than kill them. I wouldn't be surprised if your enemies start trying to seal you rather than kill." Tasha mused with a teasing smile. "I believe it was the Second Monarch, who holds the Aspect of Darkness that revolves around sealing one's power."

Altair hummed in response, summoning Gram into his palm as a surging force of omniscience began to flicker across his eyes. With his father staying in his palace, he had time to ask as many questions as he wanted. But more than that, he wanted to try something with his Aspect of Rule now that Tasha had brought up sealing.

Suddenly, Raven hopped from his shoulder, conjuring her glaive of Vale Qi, prepping herself, watching the approaching hoard. "Don't worry, master. I'll protect you while you cast." To her rear, Morrigan summoned her sword alongside a second weapon, a spear.

"Oh?" Altair said. "You're a dual wielder?"

She smiled. "You're not the only one training."