Shadow of the Abyss

With a half-distant look in his eyes that seemed to take on a violet hue beneath the rising sun reaching its highest point, Altair's silvery hair billowed, spiraling around his body as if he had been lost in the depths of some ancient seas of old.

When Tasha had returned, even she could not but be taken aback by the strange phenomenon. Despite being an arm's length away, she could not feel any sort of Mana, much less any other type of energy around him yet…

"Is this the room?" A haunty voice echoed, betrayed by its childish timbre.

The door to Altair's room shot open, stopped only by Tasha from slamming against its hinges by catching it with a hand. She glanced back at her master, then the little thing barely the size of a young fawn. The boy's brows were nudged together, with his strikingly amethyst eyes glaring up at Tasha, barring his way. He couldn't have been more than four or five.

"Young Master!" said a young maid, nearly in tears, grabbing at the boy's tunic. She tried taking him into her arms, but the boy stomped forward.

"Get outta my way!"

Tasha tilted her head, curious if offering the boy's head to her master would earn her cookie points. She smiled coldly, raising the hair on the young master's neck. The sensation was perhaps so visceral that he shuddered, drawing two steps back, shaking with a cold sweat running down his spine.

"That's enough," Altair said lightly, returning to himself from the Realm of Spirits. His tone, while distant, was very much noble, seemingly refined by years of etiquette.

Tasha had to take another look, caught off guard by the palatine accent that couldn't be emulated by those who didn't have the blood. She smiled, bowing as she retreated to her lord's side.

"Come to me, boy," he said, allowing himself a smile at the frightened boy, who seemed to have caught the attention of his first demon.

Noctis De Nier blushed, pulling himself from his maid's embrace, and tiptoed forward, glaring wearily at Tasha. Finally, he turned to Altair, focusing his large eyes on him, and asked in a squeaky voice he could not control, "A-A-Are you, my Brother?" He blushed even harder, lowering his head.

Altair allowed himself a frown. "A brother?" he glanced at the maid, who dared not look him in the eye, then back to Noctis. "So it would seem. How old are you?"

"Four!" He said excitedly, seemingly proud of himself.

"Oh?" Altair's eyes narrowed, and he opened his mind to his omniscience. "But we're not blood-related. At least not fully."

"Papa married Mommy fifty years ago," Noctis said.

Altair wasn't that much surprised by the boy's intelligence. Most world children were very well-spoken, learning how to properly talk, read, and count by age two. Altair, himself, had learned to talk after nearly two months with the help of Tenebrae.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Fifty years," Altair mused, glancing around his room. The degree of deterioration appeared to have taken at least fifty years to occur.

"Then what might your name be, little man?"

"Ah!" Noctis's beady eyes twinkled. "I am Noctis de Nier."

"And I am Nox De Nier, pleased to make your acquaintance, little brother. "Care to give me a tour of our manor? It's been a thousand years."

Noctis practically leaped at the opportunity, grabbing Altair by the hand and dragging him out of his annex. Tasha followed, silently observing her Master, curious about what sort of knowledge he had gained in such a short time. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she might have thought he was truly Nox De Nier, for even the way he walked and talked seemed to have changed.

They toured from the common room to the servant's quarter to the training halls to the massive atheneum, with Noctis giving a detailed overview of everything, taking pride in each word he spoke. Within the estate of Nier, there had only ever been fifty staff members. Sixty, if you counted, the servants taken in by the Dutchess.

Each member was either vetted by the imperial house and condition since birth.

Altair only seemed to listen, not necessarily to the boy, but to the whispers of history throughout the manner. With each step he took, his Omniscience echoed every word spoken through the halls. Secrets that were never to be shared all flashed across his mind as names, dates, and people all embedded themselves in his Sea of Consciousness.

"Are you feeling alright?" Noctis asked, noticing how sweaty Altair seemed.

"Just a little lightheaded. Being asleep for a thousand years will do that," Altair replied, rustling the boy's hair. He glanced at Tasha and said, "Can you get me something to quench my throat? Cold. And maybe a little sweet."

"Have you ever had a White Lotus?" she asked him.

Altair lifted a brow. "Can't say I have. Is it good?"

"I'm sure it'll knock you on your ass." She bowed, though not before giving Noctis's maid a warning look.

"Well, Noct… How does it feel to have a big brother?" Altair inquired, returning to the common room to sit. He smiled, looking at the starry look in the boy's eyes.

Noctis flushed. "It's fun! I want to see brother every day!"

"Everyday!" Altair gasped. "You must really like me."

Noctis looked around, whispering, not aware his words were quite audible to anyone with functioning ears, "It's so boring here. Mommy doesn't like inviting my friends."

"Oh?" Altair whispered back. "What type of friends."

"Young Master, you shouldn't talk about her lady behind her back," the ashen-haired maid said. Anna was her name. "It's unbecoming of—"

"Who allowed you to speak?" Altair inquired, unveiling his presence.

Anna paled, turning as white as a ghost. She stumbled back, lowering her head, prepared to fall to her knees. " My Lord, I was only…"

"Inquiring how to meet your end?" he finished. "Do not interrupt. Now, what type of friends do you have, Noct?"

Noctis looked up with the brightest stars in his eyes; Altair nearly thought the mana inside his body was reacting with his elation. "In the Dak Woods, round back. There is a unicorn! It's so fluffy! And a Sirin! And a Selkie"

"Oh wow! You've seen a Sirin!" Altair shouted, playing along.

Noctis nodded feverishly. "Yup! They like to sing to me. Mommy said they were dangerous, but they were always so kind." he clenched his small fist, trying to contain himself, but couldn't help but expand on all the things he'd seen in the Dak Woods. From serpents the size of cities to winged dragon-like creatures to towering stone tortoises, Noctis went on and on and on.

By the time Tasha returned, she had brought not just her master's White Lotus but also a glass of Pickama Juice for the Second Young Master after asking around for what he liked.

Altair had only taken a sip before he turned to Tasha. "It's sweet… and sour. I like it."

"Can I try?" asked Noct.

"It's for big boys," Altair teased, peering down at the snow-white drink with a light dusting of cinnamon over the foam at the top. Two more, and he was sure he'd be in the dirt later.

Just then, the clanking rustle of steel boots came from the hall as three knights ordained with the lunar moon and sword over their surcoats. Silver half-cloaks hung on their shoulders, billowing down to their ankle as the tallest of the three stepped forward.

He fell to one knee and said, " Safford Armata greets the first Young Master, Lord Nox De Nier." Looks of surprise registered across the other two knights, for they followed in suite to one knee, offering their greetings.

"Are you here for Noct?" Altair asked, taking a sip of his cocktail. He lowered his glance, unable to resist the smile at the boy's annoyed expression.

"Yes. The Second Young Master has sword Practice. When we didn't see him on the mound, we grew worried. He's never missed a day," said Safford. He gave the second young master a deep look of disapproval and continued. "Might we take him off your hands?"

"Is that why Little Noct was so excited to give me a tour?" Altair rustled the kid's hair. Befriending Nox's brother had been a simple matter. A little attention and he practically lept into his hands. However, it wasn't Noctis; he had only to convince but everyone within the estate.

"Then shall we head to the Training Hall? We were just there, but Noct ducked out as quickly as possible. It's been a long time since I stretched my bones. And since my cultivation has fallen so much." he sighed, glancing at Safford's surprised expression, and said," Lead the way… or is there a problem I don't know about."

"Gods, no! I just assumed you were waiting for the Medarc to return. I heard the Dutchess call for him. I'd assume it was to give you a proper checkup."

'House Nier has a functioning Medarc?' Altair dreadfully thought. He'd always thought that Medarcs were known only to Genisis.

"It's only been a few hours since I've awoken," Altair admitted. "And I've yet to meet anyone." he gave a half smile. "It seems I am not welcomed in my own home. Well… shall we, Little Noct? Care for a light sparring?"

"Really? Hehe! I'll beat ya up! Let's go!"

Sprinting away with all the strength his beady legs could muster, Altair followed as his eyes coldly dragged past a peer of ancient ones from above, silently watching upon the banister. Without being told, he knew who it was but didn't bother to make introductions quite yet and chased after Noctis.