Shadow of the Abyss

Shadows flickered, dancing back and forth around the fire. Tasha was roasting a pheasant while the Medarc took Altair's pulse, nodding in satisfaction.

"All looks well, Your Grace," he said. There is minor movement from your Palatine Liniage. It shouldn't be long before you are fully healthy. I must say this is the fastest I've seen or heard of anyone recovering from Soul Exhaustion."

"It probably wasn't that bad," Altair figured, but the Medarc shook his head.

"You should have been in a coma, your grace. A permanent one, by my estimation. I have no idea how you managed to regain consciousness so quickly."

The Young King threw his head back, considering the matter. He had an idea but no conclusive proof due to how abstract the ability was. "Do you know what a Psionic Mind is?"

Kegan's jaw dropped in stark surprise. "You are in possession of a Psionic Mind?"

The Two Elders of House Rivia, who'd returned hours before stained in the blood of man and beast alike, stopped what they were doing and stared vehemently.

"You possess a Psionic Mind!" They gaped.

Altair couldn't have missed his Omniscience more. He felt blind, much like the dark, obscuring mortal eyes. He grimaced silently to himself, nodding nonetheless, curious what it meant.

"It's the Mind of the Supreme," The Medarc explained with notable excitement. "Those with a Psionic Mind can calculate the heavens without the restriction of Paths."

"Without Paths," Elena questioned, confused.

Medusa grinned. "Those with a Psionic Mind perceive all Paths of Dao as one." she lifted the kettle from the fire and poured Altair another cup of Elysium Root. She did the same for Atelia, who protested favoritism.

"Tea-Kun for Atelia!" the little girl said happily.

Continue your adventure at empire

"Those with a psionic mind tend to be slower learners, though not out of comprehension but due to how intensely they perceive the world around them," She continued, pinching the little girl's cheek. She was just too cute. "They are simply without equal in the same realm."

"It's as she said," The Medarc confirmed. "Only those who walk the path of the Astral Soul can hope of awakening such an ability."

If Altair was elated, he would not let it show, sipping his tea with the grace of a palatine. Atelia mirrored his movements. He pinched her cheek until she glared at him, claiming 'Bully' before returning to her tea.

'Reina was right to adopt such a cutie,' he thought, kissing her forehead. When he looked back up, his gaze crossed the two elders' perturbed expressions. He welcomed it with an easy smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

After his tea, he clapped his hands together, lifting Atelia with him, and said to Tasha, "Guard the Rift. I'll be back before dawn.'

"By your will, my Master," The Lilm said.

Altair nodded, opening his palm. A crack shattered the night, stifling air from the fire and turning it into embers.

"Time to finally see Father again,' he thought, stepping in as a wave of energy warped his body, returning him to his original appearance. He stepped into the Temple of Teleportation. The first thing he saw was Syris, silvery hair streaming behind her and her slender arms curling around his shoulders.

She kissed him with a passion that could ignite the stars across the heavens, throwing him into a state of arousal.

"Don't you know how to call!" she questioned angrily.

"Atelia… is… a sandwich!' The little girl cried, sandwiched between the two bodies. "Help!"

Syris flushed, backing up as she squatted down. "Atelia? What are you doing with Altair? Wait, did you climb the Tower? Alone?"

The little girl nodded. "Yup! Atelia did good, right? She's super awesome." Shadowboxing in Altair's arms, she smiled. "Mama said Atelia should be able to make it to the Tenth floor easily."

"I—"

Eye flashing, Altair suddenly slapped the spearhead aimed at his head, throwing it off the path with ease.

Down the flight of stairs, an ashen-haired man stood with a crooked smile and a pair of eyes that personified the seven sins. He was handsome, with an indescribable charm that reminded Altiar of Tasha in many ways. It was devilish.

"What the hell are you doing in my disciple's arms, boyo~" the Second Monarch of Hell, Arsene Snow, demanded.

"Disciple?" Altair looked at Syris. "Is he being serious?"

"It happened a month ago… It was nothing more than training, but after Zariel said he'd take on a second disciple, your father threw a fit, claiming he was better fit."

"I did not throw a fit… I merely stated the facts. Altair came from my balls, so—"

"No~No~No!" Altair raised a hand. "Let's fix that description."

Arsene looked at the boy with sorrow. "Did Tene not teach you about the birds and bees? I made you boy; all your mother did was bake you.'n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Do you even hear yourself?"

"Everyday! Why?" Arsene sauntered forward, the air turning arcid with death.

The Palace of Stygian trembled, alarm bells ringing as a might that could topple the heavens came crashing down. Stars turned to ash, and space distorted, tearing beneath the Second Monarch.

"I—"

A fist to the back of the head knocked him face-first into the tile hard. The Silver Devil glared, massaging his temple. 'What part of soul exhaustion don't you understand? And what the hell are you doing? Why not just signal to all of the Heavens and Hells that we escaped Pandora's Box!"

"Damn it, that hurt! You dick!" Arsene pulled his head from the earth and glared, "Don't think I won't kick your ass too."

"The only time you have won against me, you cheated by using your attunement to the Abyss."

"Excuses," Arsene said happily, throwing his arm around his little brother. "Spawn! This is my little bro, Zariel Snow. He's a bit of an ass that struggles with emotions and other shit, as Aurelia puts it. A Dumb-Dumb. And the only Snow without hoes."

Syris's ears perked as she turned a crooked smile similar to her Master back at Altair.

"What's this about hoes?"

"Don't you have a daughter? She doesn't have hoes." Zariel remarked.

"And thank the Heavens and Hells for that. But I was talking about us men."

"Jin doesn't either."

"Can' you not just agree with me? Damn. This is why no one likes you."

"That's Incorrect. People seem to like me for some strange reason. You, on the other hand, are just unlikeable," Zariel corrected, thinking it over for a bit.

"In my defense, the people who hate me are all men that got their bitches solen."

"You don't think it's because you are called women bitches, right?"

"I was talking about the woman I steal, not woman in general."

"Is there a difference?"

"This is how they are… all day," Syris whispered, rather exhausted. "The only one who saves me from it is Lady Aurelia. She's the only normal one. But she sleeps most of the day."

"What about Lilith? Did she ever…" Altair asked, but Syris shook her head. "It appears she refuses to stay in your palace."

"Give her time," Arsene said suddenly. "Lili is a little cross on what to do about your existence."

"I don't blame her,' Zariel said. "If had kept your cock in check, your wife would have been happy" he looked at Altair. "Just as you grow stronger, both in body and soul, so do your women. Most people don't factor in the growth of pride. Lilith is bat shit crazy, so she'll deal with it, but not everyone is lucky like Arsene."

Arsene had the grace to blush. "I wouldn't say I'm lucky. It's just the sweetness in me. Bitches love me. What can I say."

"I don't think I'm comfortable with you teaching my Syris…" Altair tacked on, pulling his Saintess into his arms. The woman blushed, smiling a little contently.

"You're squishing, Atelia! Super Uncle Papa Help!"

Arsene grinned, opened his hand, and pulled Atelia away from the duo into his arms. She smiled blissfully, throwing Altair a triumphant grin. "See, Papa! Atelia has Super Uncle Papa's help! Watch it!"

The young king rolled his eyes, about to suggest they get something to eat when his eyes caught sight of a familiar god in the distance. Athena, The God of Wisdom and War.

'She's been silent as a mouse, not daring to speak out of turn,' Syris said in a Soul Whisper. 'She is terrified of Master and his brother.'

"Oh!" Arsene jerked his head up. "I almost forgot. Hey…" He directed his attention to Athena. The Goddess shook, standing to her full height. "You brought that broken thing, didn't you?

"Broken thing?" Altair repeated, confused. "What are we talking about?"

"Bring her to the Bailey," Arsene commanded. "We were just about to have dinner when you popped up. Lucky you. Zariel is the best cook—way better than cooks from hell. And they live for elation.

The Silver Devil snapped his finger, and before they could comprehend what had happened, they were out front on the bailey before a grand table, affixed with so many dishes he didn't know where to even begin.

"You're next to me!" Arsene grabbed Altair by the shoulder and dragged him to the head of the table, pressing him down as he took a seat next to him. Two other women were already at the table. One Altair knew to be Aurelia, and the other he hadn't the faintest idea about except that she had a dreadful aura around her.

"This is one of your protectors," Arsene said, pointing at the dark-haired woman. "She is one of the main reasons you survived Yarwin. It was by her power that none of the shock waves from the war for Mythral reached the world's surface."

"I had a little help from one of the dukes of hell," the woman said, sounding notably proud. She rose to her feet, bowing exclusively at the young king. "Forgive the lack of decorum on my part. But I am Freya, Queen of the Shadowfell Army."

"And this…" Arsene pointed towards Athena, dragging a beautiful woman with honey-gold hair out on a leash. "That is going to be your new slave… sorry. You call them Shadows. Meet Sif, the Broken Goddess."

A/N: Sif was mentioned in Chapter 290