Shadow of the Abyss

"Yes… my Master," said Nia with a rosy blush. Try as she wanted. She could not hate him. Through her eyes, he had always shone brighter than any star, and now that he made her his, Altair was her light, her King, and her God.

She kissed his palm and dissipated into his shadow.

Out of all his shadows, Nia, with her Dual Pupil, was the strongest. There had been no competition. Not only could she perceive time slower, but she also had a type of innate foresight that allowed her to perceive the future in ways not even his actual foresight allowed. She was a monster that was finally allowed to blossom now that her human bloodline had died.

The next day, when everyone had arisen, Altair couldn't help but smile as he turned to Aurora, hounding Thanatos to teach her magic. Clinging to his shoulder, she glared up at him with two large puppy dog eyes.

'Think there is something there?' whispered Reina in Altair's ear.

'I've no idea,' Altair whispered back, a little taken back himself. But watching the cheeky smile on Aurora as Thanatos relented and began explaining the various mechanics of the School of Alteration, he smiled, curious himself.

"You'll be fifteen in another few months, right?" Said Reina, smiling. "We ought to do something."

"Pass," Altair remarked. He didn't need another reminder of his mother. His first memory had been of Tenebrae holding him with a pale look as she kissed him.

"My Baby! My Sweet Baby Boy." She'd said, teary-eyed, trembling with a look of disbelief. "Blood of my Blood. " she kissed him, holding him so tight and gentle that little Altair only cooed a bright laugh.

"But we could do something for your birthday. We've never celebrated Christmas. That could be fun." He continued, only to notice Ren's confusion; he snickered and was reminded she wasn't a part of Earth Culture before slowly explaining the Tradition of Chrismas.

The little Nephilim eyes shone an illustrious gold as she beamed. "Let's do that! Oh boy, Ren has the bestest present!"

They made a small promise; neither of them knew if they could keep it, but they didn't care much. All they had was time.

[Ding]

Name: Altair Blackwood

Mana Circle: [Third Circle 99%]

Class: [Prince of the Vale Lv 61 → 74]

Strength: 301

Dexterity: 297 → 310

Constitution: 304 → 330

Wisdom: 320 → 346

Charisma: 272 → 298

Mana: 150

Name: Reina of the Moon (Blackwood)

Mana Circle: [Third Circle 99%]

Class: [Blood Nephilim Lv 61 → 74]

Strength: 301 → 327

Dexterity: 297

Constitution: 304 →317

Wisdom: 320 → 346

Charisma: 272 → 298

Mana: 150

Double-checking his stats, Altair and his party once again returned to their journey. Most of their injuries had recovered overnight, and now all that was left was exploring. From narrow corridor to corridor, they traveled, studying the strange architecture of faces etched into the walls and strange murals so withered by time Altair didn't bother wasting his energy trying to figure it out.

For hours, they walked, slowly discovering they were in a sort of Kingdom buried by the tides of seasons. How it was possible for an entire kingdom to exist beneath the earth encase as though a dome had existed around it, protecting the city below, Altair could not say, but he was incredibly amazed.

"Astonishing." He said, stepping out from the corridor towards an unending sight of structures that seemed to predate anything he'd ever seen. But there he saw in a glow of light dozens of flowers and vines that seemed to ravage the city, a kingdom of such esteem he gasped. The entire city seemed as though it were a palace forged by hands that could not have come by that of mankind.

Each building seemed to take his breath away as they connected in intricate lifts and bridges that spanned endlessly.

"This architect seems familiar." Said Thanatos, marveling at its beauty. "It's old… older than even me."

"Altair… Doesn't this look like that structure within the Serpents Outreach? You know the one Master told us about? You know the one… Master said it was a ship that belonged to the—" Reina was saying.

"Ilvarins," Altair muttered wide-eyed, recalling the matter. " I remember now. Luna said one man killed them all… A Fallen Angel."

A/N: Chapter 30

"Mephisto," Thanatos murmured in a low tone. "Though he didn't kill them but sealed them in Pandora's Box. I remember now… From what I know, when they were finally released, their numbers had fallen to such dangerous levels that they were considered extinct. There are perhaps maybe a hundred within all the Myriad Heavens. Maybe less."

"Why'd he—"

Thanatos shook his head. "That all happened far before I was born, near the dawn of creation. It wouldn't be something I would know. Compared to most of the Old Gods, I'm actually pretty young."

"I wonder what they did to incur his wrath?"

"Rarely does Lord Mephisto get mad, " said Zagreus grimly. "That particular Fallen is renowned for his playfulness, but I sometimes think a lot of people forget how cruel he is at times. They must have really pissed him off."

"You two seem to know much of this Mephisto… who is he really?"

The two from her gods looked at Altair and shook their heads.

"Best you don't ask. Nothing good comes from dealing with Mephisto. Let this ruined Kingdom be a reminder to you of that."

Altair nodded but still felt a little unconvinced. "Nia," he said, shifting the conversation. "You said there were undead. But all I see is ruin."

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Emerging from his shadow, Nia and Kirr looked out at the structures, nearly spellbound, before Nia said, "We did see ghouls and skeleton knights. Kurt can confirm."

"She's right, master," said Kirr brightly, staring up at the large monolithic building within the Ilvarin Kingdom. He turned to Altair. "Can we go up there?"

To his inquiry, Altair summoned Alyssa, Jorm, and Talia and said, "Go do some reconnaissance."

"Aye!!!!" he saw them shout, running off into the Kingdom below.

Touring the city devoid of life, Altair couldn't help but feel disturbed by the empty cribs and set tables where families were preparing to dine were now buried beneath layers of dust and debris. Questions began to grow in his mind the longer he toured the city.

"This is weird… it's like everyone just vanished all at once. There is literally no sign of struggle." Altair muttered as Ren studied her surroundings, picking various herbs and plants she found lying around.

Slowly making their way toward the tallest building, Altair frowned, noticing Kirr and Jorm trying to figure out how to get in. He chuckled, seeing Kirr striking at the smoother metal frame of what seemed like an entrance based on the way the stairs converged.

He approached but was quickly stopped as something passed through his body before he could blink.

"ID Confirmed: Primordial Night: Tenebrae"

"Eh?"

Suddenly, the metal frame began to pull themselves apart, revealing the interior.

"Altair… " Ren began with a gulp. "If this Kingdom predates, I don't know, most of the Old Gods. How does something like this exist? Shouldn't the elements have destroyed it?"

"should we—" Ren was saying when Kirr and Jorm charged in. "I keep forgetting they're immortal. Guess they'll be our guinea pigs." interlocking her arms through her Prince's arm, she grinned, pulling him forward. "Shall we see what Mama Tene's connection to these people was?"

Altair smiled. "Mama Tene?"

"What, you don't like it?" said Ren mischievously. "a few months ago, you were quite happy when I called you daddy."

Altair had the grace to blush, having caught sight of Nia utterly red.

Ren grinned, flickering her tongue over her Prince's ear like a serpent. She laughed, noticing his stiffness, and pulled him inside.

From the moment Altair stepped through the threshold, a strange voice echoed, in its metallic voice, "Welcome back, Night Mother. Shall I prepare your room?"

'An A.I.' He thought and said, "Please do. And might I ask where everyone is?"

"Do forgive Lady Tenebrae, but I do not have the answer."

The Prince scrunched his brow. "Then how long ago did they vanish?"

"Do forgive, but there doesn't exist a number to put into context." said the A.I. coolly.

Ren and Altair exchanged looks but said nothing of it as they began touring the intricate building untouched by dirt and debris. The building itself seemed to embody the idea of being bigger on the inside as even after several hours, Altair felt himself gasp at the unending series of rooms and doors.

"It has a room dedicated to cauldrons, forging, spell making, rune work, and lecture halls. It even possesses a library that houses legacies so old it's written in a language I don't even speak, and I speak every language," said Ren, utterly spellbound. "Who the Hell are these Ilvarins?"

"The Ilvarins were the first Immortal Race, the One created after his Angels. They are renowned for their bodies that combine the core fabric of the elements and flesh," said the A.I. calmly.

Ren nodded, far more curious than Altair, as he led her up towards their room overlooking the ruined Kingdom. "And this building was?"

"The Palace of Stygian belonged to the Lady Tenebrae. Gifted to her by the Yvian the VII, the Seventh King of Ilvarian's and Lord of the Blackforge."

"... The Blackforge?" Said Altair, a little overwelcome by what he was all hearing. He had so many questions.

"To give life to the light, the Primordial of Darkness slit her ancient wrist, allowing her lifeblood of Abyssal And Myriad to flow into creation. From a droplet, it became a sun of darkness that gave birth to the light, forging into creation the Primordial of Light, Mythra.

That very sun that birthed the Primordial of Light was later stolen by Yvian the VII and turned into a forged to aid in the creation of lesser beings. And later, gifted to Tenebrae."

Altair gulped. "Then this building?"

"The Palace of Stygian houses the Blackforge, my Lady."