Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 149: Heralds of Astaroth I

Standing over the veranda that overlooked the bailey and all that was Forwin, Altair looked to the wall, to the ripples of attacks pounding against the barrier, and wondered how much more it could take. Eight months, that barrier stood. How much more mana crystal and material did Forwin have left to expend? How much debt is Forwin into to the Church of the Sepith?

Altair shook his head. "I'm a guest here." He reminded himself in a whisper. "Once the dungeon closes, it'll all be gone… all of it."

"It bothers you, doesn't it," Reina asked him, leaning on his arm.

"A little."

"Lair," She whispered, blinking out at the endless skies, to where a ring of stardust shone over the skies like stars. Illuminated by moonlight, it wrapped around the realm.

Altair looked down at her and smiled. "Did you just call me a liar?" He took her by the waist, holding her firmly.

Ren did squirm but looked at him triumphantly, puffing her cheeks with a cheeky grin. "Art is a big fat liar."

"And was I lying when I said what I would do to you tonight?"

Ren's triumphant smile turned crooked as heat pressed against her face. She bowed her head.

How cute, he thought, and said, "I can repeat it if you'll—"

She covered his mouth, pleading with her golden eyes. "Please, don't. Everyone's listening." Reina glanced over her shoulder to the Lords and ladies watching them, following their every step and gesture. Then there was Cedric glaring at them with venom in his eyes and a belly full of fire.

Altair had seem to be able to ignore it all, but Ren felt her heart about to explode.

"BIG BROTHER!!!" Came the innocent cry of Aria trotting through the hordes of nobles and merchants.

Reluctantly, Altair released Ren and lifted the little girl high into the sky.

"Kyaa!" Aria beamed, spreading her arms far and wide as he tossed her up into the air, catching her.

Lord Edwin gave the boy a tired look, watching him play with his daughter. "Altair… her image."

For a second, Altair seemed confused before he remembered Aria was the church chosen. "Oops," he gave her one more toss and settled her back down. "How've you been, Ari?"

"Awesome!" She turned, studying Ren with her two large sapphire-like eyes. " Hiya, Big Sis. You look pretty today! Super Ultra Pretty."

From a jealous stare to immediate infatuation, Ren stole little Ari and nibbled at her cheeks. " sooooo cute!"

"Kyaaaa~"

Edwin could only chuckle. "Kids."He whispered as if to remember a time when he was that young. "Come along, Aria, we've got to make a few rounds."

Returning to her father in a waddle, Aria waved the couple off before vanishing into the crowd.

They watched on, masking their aura with a bit of mana manipulation so that no one bothered them. The duo laughed and joked, poked, and prodded at one another as the party amidst the spire grew louder. Light, airy music resounded in a chorus through the winds, carrying far and wide.

"Well, if it isn't the supposed nobleman and his cunt." Lord Reese Thorvel addressed, strutting forward with a half smile.

Fixing his gaze onto the man, ensuring him with the Eye of Sacrilege, Altair's expression grew strange.

Name: Reese Thorvel

Class: Dark Warlock Lv 38

Strength: 64

Dexterity: 64

Constitution: 34

Wisdom: 104

Charisma: 50

Mana: 21

'He's weak… Pathetically weak,' Altair couldn't help but determine, unsure what gave this man such courage to speak to him. Was he blind? Retarded? For a second, Lord Blackwood had forgotten that not everyone possessed the eye of sacrilege.

Wisdom had been a key component when it came to casting spells, granting one the mental acuity to cast spells faster. And yet, as Altair stared at Reese's highest stat, he couldn't help but hold the man in contempt. Especially so when he realized that his max level wasn't the same as everyone else.

Most humans and humanoids' max level in the second class was fifty, while he and Reina appeared to surpass that level.

"I'm surprised they allowed a whore to walk on church grounds." Reese continued. Behind him, Laros seemed almost aghast. And rightfully so… he was even stronger than Reese. Day in and day out, he was butchered and made new by Altair, who used him as bait until he prayed for death.

"Are you speaking about me?" Reina said quaintly, drawing out from Altair's arm. She approached like a prowling lioness, so noble her natural presence. Reese nearly fell to his knees as he felt his bones turn to butter. Despite him being a head taller, it was as if Reina was bearing down from him from her throne.

He gulped, unsure when a cold sweat sunk through his clothes.

"Say it again," She commanded him.

Reese ignored the screaming of his emotions and straightened himself out with courage in his heart. Unwilling to lose his noble bearing. When Reina's palm whipped across his cheek with a popping sound, it turned the party silent.

"I said say it again." She commanded with a sliver of ice in her voice.

Blood pooled from Reese's busted lip as his eyes turned wide. "You–"

*POP!!!!

She slapped him again, harder. The blow alone was enough to thunder like a cry, causing the music to halt. Blood smeared over the veranda, painting the stone a greyish red.

"Say it again!" Reina commanded and arched her palm again.

Reese immediately tried to invoke his magical barrier, but like shattering glass, Reina's palm broke through it like nothing. Her palm landed, tearing a chunk of flesh off his cheek. She viciously spoke with her icy gold eyes, so cold it seemed like she was a seraph delivering punishment.

The blow alone had caused Reese's mind to blackout for a second. He staggered to the rails of the veranda. Though, that did little to help as the Nephilim continued.

"Say it Again"

POP!

"Say it."

POP!

"Say it."

POP!

"Say it."

"Enough!" Cedric managed to say, but the Archbishop was the first to step forward. "My lady, please… guests are watching."

Reina looked at him with nonplus eyes and then down to her soaked palm. "Might you have a handkerchief?"

The Archbishop smiled, pulled out one from his robe, and gifted it to her. Relieved, she gave him some face.

"I do forgive the interruption," Reina eloquently conveyed in an apology that wasn't an apology. She gently cleaned her finger dry, holding the audience's stare as they found themselves unable to pull their eyes away.

"Reina,' Altair conveyed, shaking his head. "That's not how you do it." He said and pushed Reese, too dazed to do anything off the edge, with a devilish grin. "Oops… my hands slipped."

(^///^)

Gasps of terror rose from the crowd, followed by screams.

Cedric shot forward, leaping over the rails; he plunged downwards, manipulating the mana around him to ignore wind resistance. He reached out, catching Reese. He twirled mid-air and landed on his feet with a thunderous eruption of force that shattered the ground around him into webs of small fault lines.

"Wow~" Altair raved. "You made it in time."

"BASTARD!!!!" Cedric roared.

"Lord Blackwood!" Archbishop Albert thundered, unable to mask his fierce expression. The Winds whirled, wrenching at Altair's tailcoat. "What do you think you're doing? Murder is strictly forbidden."

"What? I did say my hands slipped," Altair shamelessly said and shrugged. "And look, Reese is alive, is he not? And it's not like that fall would have killed him… maybe."

"Have you no shame!" The Archbishop snapped.

"Oathkeeper…" Altair managed to say, grinning. " Am I lying?"

The Archbishop nearly lost his head. Never before had he meant someone so…

"He is… not," The Oathkeeper said, disturbed. He had been watching and observing Altair's every action, and yet… he could see no lie. No falsehood.

"That's impossible!" The Archbishop shouted, "Sisters, seize that man."

"You will do no such thing!" The Oathkeeper shouted, gritting his teeth. He stepped towards Altair, lifted his hand, and infused all three circles into his eyes. "Was it an accident?"

Altair nearly laughed, sensing his web of schizophrenia seeping deep into the Oathkeeper's mind, blinding him to the truth he'd invoked the last time they spoke.

A/N: Hinted at in Chapter 148 near the end.

"Why, of course," He lied without batting an eye.

The oathkeeper's expression dropped. "I'll ask you once more… Did you push that young man off with the intention to kill him?"

"It was a complete accident," Altair assured him, raising his hand high. " I swear to Aidios and all the gods of Heaven. I, Altair Blackwood, did not lie." He shamelessly swore.

"... No falsehood," Whispered the Oathkeeper in disbelief.

"He has to be lying!" The Archbishop insisted. He had seen it with his own eyes. Altair had even expressed his intent to Reina before everyone. The bastard had even said, 'That's not how you do it.' before pushing him off the balcony.

Blasphemy!

"See?" Altair professed, though even an idiot could see he was lying. But even so… the crowd was starting to believe him. After all, who were the Oathkeepers, if not the arbiters of justice? "The church should really put up wardings to keep such things from happening. That way, accidents like these won't happen again. Right, Ren?"

Reina could not even look at him. So ashamed she felt at this very moment. She wanted to laugh at how ridiculous it all was, and yet… she couldn't bring herself to.

"ALTAIR!!!" Cedric roared, having raced back up to the spire. He stomped forward, but the Oathkeeper was there to block him with a dark expression. " Get out of my way. That bastard tried to—'

"It was… an accident." The voice that came out was so feeble Cedric nearly missed it.

Disbelief flashed, followed by fury, drowned Cedric's face, " The Hell it is! That bastard—"

"Is innocent." The Archbishop relented, gritting his teeth. He felt his stomach churn. It didn't matter if Altair was guilty or not; the Oathkeeper had already claimed him to be innocent. And if they didn't want the people to question their ability in the future, they had to side with Altair.

With an expression that said, 'Come at me bitch,' Altair nodded alongside the Archbishops' words.

"What the F—"

Waddling forward on her small legs, Aria tilted her head. "Ummm. If Big Brother is innocent… then can he dance with me!"

"I don't see a problem with it,' Fat Mike said, floating forward with a cheeky grin. "If the noble Oathkeepers said Altair is innocent, I'm sure he's innocent. Although even if it was an accident. A punishment should be in order. Someone did, after all, almost die."

"Yes!" Cedric shouted as his eyes met with the Archbishop. And despite all the unanswered questions, his heart bled with hope. "Lets—"

"Send him to the wall," Amilia suggested, stepping out with an elegant laugh. " Demons are still attacking. So let's have him kill. From what I hear, he kills nearly a hundred demons a day."

'Pfft,' stifling a laugh, Reina glanced at her Prince. She wondered if this was his plan from the start.

Fat Mike smirked. "Then we'll do that. And we'll have you leave the party early. Less more accidents occur."

"But Aria hasn't gotten to dance with Big Brother!" Aria sang, rushing into Altair's arms. She glared at Fat Mike.

"Let the boy have his fun." Lord Edwin said, signaling to Verrel.

"Yes. If it's the wish of the Chosen of Aidios, what is a little dance or two." The Lord Commander said. "After today is a special day."

Following the exchanged glances between The Oathkeeper and the Archbishop, Altair was allowed to remain.

"Hehe, Come! Dance with me," raved Aria, pulling him forward with stars in her two stary eyes.