Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 212: Baptism of Blood I

When, at last, everyone had left him, enveloping the medical bay in a dead silence, Altair took a seat on the bed, folding his legs over the other. His breathing followed the monotonous pattern of the Ninth Form, Aeron. In moments of shallow breaths, a hellscape of madness capable of driving mortal minds to insanity bore witness through eyes.

'What was madness?' he wondered, unsure if there was such a word that could capture the sensation currently swallowing him. Morals that once made the man dwindled before its withering might. Oaths taken before Heaven and Earth were now meaningless words echoing from distant pasts.

'The Rotten Vale' The words hung through his mind, vanishing into a mist before they could be understood.

When, at last, Altair opened his eyes, the emerald flames of Irkalla filled his sights alongside the ashen king upon his throne. Red eyes so old they reflected oceans of blood now stared back at him, measuring some sort of reaction.

There was none.

"Father," Altair greeted him, rising from out of the lotus position. Curious why every time he saw him, he was smiling.

"Have you created your aspect yet?"

The Prince nodded. "I have. But the system has yet to register it for some reason."

"I could imagine. You're quite the anomaly. Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing it. Especially that domain of yours. Zariels, 'Anthem' made fighting him just about outlandish. Yours… Yours, I wonder." he shook his head, calming himself.

"Well? What can I do for you? When I heard your prayer, I smiled."

Altair felt the air around his father change. There wasn't much familiarity he always carried. There was an air of regality around him now. A poise air only a monarch carried.

'He'll not hand me anything for free,' Altair knew. 'It's better that way.'

"Where is the other one? The King of this Layer of Hell?"

"No idea. Probably tormenting Leto. For a man who hates the act of killing, he is as proficient as any demon," Arsene revealed, a smug look cresting around the lips. "Were you smitten by her by chance?"

"She's the devil," Altair said.

"And I'm not? Ask your question, boy."

Altair frowned. "How much will it cost me to receive help from your hell?"

The Monarch of Irkilia chuckled. It was a lazy chuckle that didn't sit quite well with Altair. "Beelzebub, one of the first to fall from the Eternal Heaven, now guards that little festival. Do you really expect me or any other devil to gamble with you?"

"I do."

With an incredulous look, Arsene shook his head. "The level of ignorance you possess is astonishing. Beelzebub, without question, has the tools to break your little will. But ignoring Beelzebub for a second. How are you stopping people from assuming the connection between you and me?"

"I don't really care about that. Father, I am already on everyone's list. I might be weak, but there are so many questions racing through everyone's mind about me. Adding more enemies isn't something I can't control, nor is it something I should care about. The shadow proclamation holds back a few… but the lesson with Cedric taught me there are many ways to bypass such restrictions."

He closed his eyes, recalling the explosion that nearly took his life, landing him in Yarwin.

All it would take was an explosion but on a larger scale to kill him.

"Even as I stand in this Festival of Beelzebubs. I'm safer here than I am outside."

'Imagine that?' the Prince thought. 'So many people want my head. Want deals? Want something from me? That I'm safer in the hands of a Monarch of Hell than out there.'

The thought made him smile mirthlessly.

"You are my son… So, of course, I'll help you." Arsene began after a while of deliberation. "However… there are a few things to note. Right now, this entire world is surrounded by some real monsters. More eyes are on you than you can imagine. Both Old God and New God alike." He stopped letting the words echo through his son's mind.

"The price for all that you seek based on your situation will be a large one. Desperation, my son, sells. It sells well."

"I need something to protect me in times of need. I need a weapon."

"The weapon you con from Astorath not enough?"

"You know who I'm up against. Davos alone managed to solo my entire team of Shadows and allies. He wasn't even a first circle yet." The boy clenched his fist. "Six months… I need something that'll allow me to survive for six months."

Arsene nodded, about to speak, when a sudden flicker of static ran through his body. "Damn that Zariel… what is he doing? The seal is getting stronger!" he cursed as the flickers became distortions. "Tsk… Shit. What wretched timing. Damn him."

"Father?!"

"Fuck. Show me the shield you got from your sponsors." Arsene said. A tinge of impatience in his voice.

"How'd you—"

"Hurry it up. I've little time. I need to stabilize this shadow of mine." The Monarch said hurriedly. "I'll enchant it, giving it form. However, the price is those ten thousand souls of yours and a favor."

And again, Altair felt exposed before his father's eyes. 'How much of my power does he understand already?'

"What type of favor?"

"That's the game, boy. I won't tell you, but should you accept or refuse the assignment handed to you, I can assure you. The price you'll have to pay will be a horrid one."

There was something in his Father's voice that was cold, primal. He looked him in his scarlet eyes, sensing something more to that gaze than met the eye.

The gaze alone told him his life might be on the line should he ever turn his back on the vow.

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When a sternness filled the young man's eyes, he lifted his forearm and conjured a sort of translucent shield, seemingly forged out of golden stardust, that gathered into a dome.

'The Shield of Aegis." Altair said, unable to deny him the gift his patrons had gifted him back when he was on the run from demons. He'd never invoked the skill that called forth the shield that was to be his trump card in the face of death.

"Athena is quite desperate," Arsene said, crossing the throne room in a single step. He arrived before his son, the winds reeling away before his transcendent might. "Ten thousand souls and a favor. Do you accept?"

Altair bit his lips, tasted the blood, and nodded. 'He is my father, right? No way he'll ask me to do something deprave.'

"I accept," he decided then and there.

***

Altair opened his eyes within the realm of yarwin layered by perspiration. He touched his head, felt the icy wetness, and cursed, unable to deny the tinge of regret in his heart.

'An Open Favor now hangs over my head,' he thought, tasting the bile threatening to rise from the back of his throat. 'And I didn't even get to ask about the Brand of the Incubus. I wonder what happened to Father?'

Just then, the door to the medical bay was opened, stimulating his sense of danger. He rose, shooting his eyes at the masked individual.

"You're awake," Iliana said. "Good. Come with me for a second. I want to test something."

"Master… It's good to see you." The boy smiled, chasing after her, as Iliana stormed off. "How've you been? Has the wine cellar been to your liking?"

"How'd you know I was—"

"I'm getting a contact high from your presence," Altair said, not in the least bit exaggerating.

"Hmmm. Davos and I had a drinking competition. He is currently knocked out. So, if you want to kill him, now's your chance," Iliana mindlessly conveyed, startling the boy for a good while.

"Master… just how strong is Davos?"

"Right now?" she turned down the hall, hurrying towards the garrison. "Just about the weakest and strongest person here right now. His control of Astral Qi is, without question, at a dangerous level. He's definitely someone who emphasizes control over all else. His physical body is pathetic. But his soul is without question monstrous.

He's like Zariel. He reconstructed his soul to create well… I don't know. I didn't probe that deep. Either way, he's way beyond your current level."

"Even though I've gained a Spirit domain?"

"Your Spirit Domain only allows a dramatic rise of cognitive function. He'll kill you in a single sword stroke. Shall I show you how?"

They arrived within an empty garrison, the ground still wet with the mark of a fresh kill.

"The foolish knight of dawn… I don't remember his name, but he is gathering people under the direction of that devil woman," Iliana said, pulling a wooden sword from one of the racks. She turned to her disciple, creating small circles with her sword. "Alright, show me what you've learned. No movement arts, no body enhancements. Show me your sword mastery. I need to check something."