Shadow of the Abyss

Altair had been smiling triumphantly, feeling he'd won some invisible battle with Syris. She was as driven as he'd remembered, perhaps even more now that she was a woman.

At a table within the tavern, 'Blue Pheonix, ' the gathering of various dishes, most of which Altair did not recognize but ordered nonetheless, had begun to fill the table. However, he still began brooding whenever he began to eat, turning to Reina with pleading eyes as though he were a child.

Syris was attended by her aide, Lady Lyain Orsteen, whom Altair had tried talking to but was met with silence. He figured she was mute or just stupid; either way, he'd lost interest in her despite her giving the same feel to Vaiga.

"So I've got to ask, what did you do to piss off the Realm Lord?" Syris asked, but when she saw Altair's awkward smile, she felt like she might have made a mistake.

"Technically, it was my fault." Said Reina idly, nibbling on something called Pheox-Wing. It was spicy. "My other self did something, and Altair tried to fix it. And boom, here where we are."

"But never mind about our crimes. How'd you get here?" Altair interceeded, "Last I heard, you were in the Aros Estate."

Syris painfully groaned. "I was so bored out of my mind. You've no idea. Living on earth is like living on fragile glass. Everything breaks so easily. And my god, there is nothing to do."

Altair raised a brow. "Nothing? Did you go to an amusement park or go to one of the natural reserves."

"What the hell is an Amusement Park?"

"Your Language, my lady." Said Lyain sharply.

Despite the frown threatening to appear on his lips, Altair kept his smile. "So you can speak," he said, gauging the indifference with which she looked at him. Altair shifted his attention back to Syris. "Amusement parks are where people go to have fun. Malls too. Did you really just stay within the Aros Estate."

Syris gave a dead pan nod. "I had training."

Reina and Altair laughed, somehow able to relate.

Ding!

Name: Syris

Race: Highborn Celestial

Class: [First Awakening Complete], [Second Awakening Complete], [Elemental Lord Lv 1]

Strength: 230

Dexterity: 292

Constitution: 201

Wisdom: 283

Charisma: 283

Mana: 130

Altair was surprised. Syris was nearly as strong as he was. Wielding a skill that made Altair quite green.

Fusion [D]

Grade: God

Description: Allows the fusion of all things that the user has a fundamental understanding of.

"You got pretty strong." Said Altair, smiling, quite impressed. "Though I don't think you'll be able to defeat me."

Lyain sharp eyes narrowed, and her arms folded over her bosom. She'd wanted to retort when she heard Syris speak, "Your Dex and strength are higher than mine. Con too. Did you eat something good in this world? That ought to be the only reason why."

"I guess I did eat something good." He said, recalling the Bapett, he'd gorged himself on. It felt like that incident had been just yesterday and not almost two years ago. "What about you? I'm sure the Reverend Mother supplied you with the best Genesis Resources."

Their eyes clashed, and Reina could just about make out sparks. She grinned, staring at the masked girl, seeing only her pale silvery eyes.

She snickered. "I've heard quite a bit about you, Syris. Altair has told me a lot about you. He said that you were the only person he never got to defeat. It is good to see you live up to such esteem." And Reina's nose twitched. "But might I ask… are you a Celestial?

You smell like one. A little different but definitely a Celestial."

Syris seemed a little surprised, but Lyain was grim. "And what good would that knowledge do for you?" she snapped, curling the lips of Altair and Reina.

"I don't quite like your tone." Said Reina calmly, as a scarlet mist began to twirl around her iris, tainting the gold of her eyes. "Might we have a problem, stranger?"

"Lyain," Syris said sharply. " You are overstepping. " Her gaze shifted to Altair and Reina. "I do apologize for my mentor's rudeness. It would seem that just because she has a higher circle, she thinks that she has the right to treat anyone in any way she might feel."

Altair allowed Syris some face, but the darkness of his eyes was painted red with blood.

"Yes… I only mention this. Because My father was friends with a particular Celestrial… Sovim…no Sole—"

"Solemon?" Said Syris shakenly.

"Ah, yes. That's it." Said Reina, smiling. "And you smell just like him. He spent a few months in our cabin, looking after our mother before he left."

"Silver hair?" Syris feebly asked. "With silvery blue eyes."

"So you do know him? Father said that Celestrials have—" Reina was saying happily when she stopped at the sight of pearly diamonds slipping down from beneath Syris's mask and hitting the table.

"M'lady," said Lyain, wanting to take her in her arms, but Syris stood up. And despite being masked, she could tell she was upset.

"I wish to be alone. Excuse me." Syris whispered, taking her leave.

Something within Reina's eyes seemed to realize as she stood up and hurried after her, leaving Altair and Lyain at the table. Reina hurried outside to see Syris shaking in the cold.

"My Master once told me… when a pure-blood Celestial died, they don't necessarily experience the same kind of death others do. They self-reincarnate. However, from what I've heard, the old blood of Celestial has died out. Their souls are tossed through the fabric of time, forcing them to awaken in a new era with all their memories."

"You're from an Old House." Said Syris, her heart feeling like it was wrenching against her chest. "Just my luck… running into someone with knowledge of the Old World…" She looked at Reina in her pearly golden eyes that sparkled like two orbs of dawn. "Who are you?"

"Hehe, I am Reina of the Moon. Altair's future wife!" She gave Syris the peace sign, quite proud of herself. "So, did you know uncle Soloman?"

Syris forced a smile, "Of course… He's my Father."

***

Standing outside of the atmosphere of Yarwin twirling on its axis with a half smile beneath her mask, Iliana gripped her sword with a slight smile, staring at the flickers of stars dying one after the other. Fleeting iridescent lines seemed to streak across the darkness of the void in a mindless clash between gods and demons.

Led by the Duke of Hell, Barbatos, wielding his blood-stained glaive, an amalgamation of hundreds of spears melded together by the flames of hell, it stood within his palm, seething the pinnacle of hate and pain. Tall and handsome, his skin was the color of fire, occasionally sparking into flames, with eyes to match. Black obsidian scales lined his fingers, stretching up his forearm.

And a dangerous air of wildfire whirled around him, pressuring the stars of the Forgotten Realms. Space seemed to howl at his mere presence receding into subspace as he rode on his demonic stallion with death on its heel.

Death unfolded like an unending nightmare.

Those of Babels Tower who saw to conquer the Realm of Baelor were screaming, burning within the flames of hell as Barbortos and his demonic legion killed, banishing any and all foes into the hells to face eternal damnation.

Suddenly, towards the far west of Yarwin, those that bore the Oath of Silence rode in mounted on Pegasus, galloping through the confines of space as though it were solid ground. Ripples in space followed every step, propelling them forward.

Like shadows, the Sisters of Silence moved without sound, joining the fray against the Devils and Demons. Led by multiple squads of Angels baptizing the sisters of Sepith in their golden Radience.

"It's cute, isn't it?"

Iliana tilted her head to the young man with short dark green hair watching behind her. She had been unsure when he appeared, but the moment he appeared, a smile slipped onto her lips.

"Aren't you going to help your duke, Beelzebub?" Said Iliana.

The Monarch of Mythos grinned. "Does he need it? No. Barbatos will be fine. What about you? You're bloodlust is just about seeping into this region.

Miss…"

"Iliana," She said, sliding her gaze towards the battle. "It was foolish of Babels Tower to ever descend into the Forgotten Realms; this is the Old God's Domain."

"What a lovely name… Iliana. Well, my dear, the reason they're all so blind in attacking Baefor is because they've been conditioned to do so." He said, smiling. "Aiding in the destruction of the Old Gods was but a simple thing thanks to Tenebrae's Shadow Proclamation, stopping gods from outright killing the competition.

A few contracts here and there, and you have mortals becoming gods, believing they can do anything. So they'll keep attacking, some will grow desperate, and slowly make a wish upon a star, red as the burning stars of hell."

"Guess you guys got all you could out of the Old Gods, eh?" Said Iliana, smiling.

"With age comes wisdom. At least that's what people keep saying." He turned, his scarlet eyes deepening. "I, however, would like to change that."