Shadow of the Abyss

"Master!"

With a spring in her step, Alyssa leaped forward, wrapping her arms around Ren and Altair.

"Alyssa, save Ren! Art and Syris are bullying me, "said Ren, teary-eyed.

Alyssa looked at the masked woman, staring back at her, and felt her [Primal instincts] react with a sense of danger.

'She's on guard against me.' Alyssa sensed, finding a smile; she pressed her palm to her chest and said. "I am Alyssa, Pale Knight to his Majesty."

Syris narrowed her eyes, taking in the pale gray skin, silvery white hair, and burning yellow eyes.

"Syris," she said, about to continue when a chilling outburst of presence slashed out.

"I will not be ignored. " Vynn said, brandishing his five circles to the realm.

"Careful, boy, " said Lyain, though her gaze wasn't on Vynn but rather on the man who shadowed him like a guard.

The two exchanged glances, and in a second, Draxian stepped into the snow, advancing on Vynn.

"My lord," he said calmly, his eyes never leaving Lyain's emerald ones. "She is a Ninth Circle. Sheath your intent."

Vynn's expression turned sour. " Whose house do you belong to?"

Several eyes that were cold as the frigid winds pierced Vynn's chest like a knife. No one answered him, but even he could feel the baleful air about them.

Ren released her prince when she saw that profane gleam of scarlet clash with the blacks of his pupils. So sharp his eyes became they didn't remotely seem to belong to a child.

"Remember the objective," she reminded him. "We don't need this much attention."

"Master?" Said Alyssa, calmly awaiting her command.

"We're leaving. Best not leave Thaan waiting," he answered, his words thick with a presence that came cutting through Vynn's aura. It permeated the air like thick, hot blood.

Lyain and Draxian froze, their eyes filling with dread as they tried to count the number of lives one needed to slay in order for someone to carry such a profane aura.

Vynn, the target of his bloodlust, stood incredulously.

"Do not mistake my mercy for weakness, for it shall not occur again," he said, departing under the eye of Vynn, clenching his fist.

Ten minutes later, Altair, Reina, Syris, and his shadow arrived at the Red Raven. An elegant structure of stone carved out by some of the finest sculptors he'd seen since the ilvarian architecture. It was grand.

"This is nice! " said Ren, entering the lobby. Where a half-elf greeted them with a bow, inquiring if they needed anything. She said no, as did the others.

"we're staying here too," said Syris with something on her mind. She hesitated for a moment and asked, "Al… Art, how many people have you killed? "

Altair grinned. "Do demons count?"

"... Have you killed a lot of dem—"

"Syris," said Ren as a cloud of red mist filled the gold of her eyes.

"Your eyes! They're red! Are you alright?" said Syris worried.

By the time Ren could speak, Altair spoke up the best he could, trying to explain Ren's somewhat bipolar personality.

"The way you say it makes me sound crazy. Am I crazy?" Ren asked, grinning feverishly. She pressed her arms to her supple waist, batting her eyes at her prince dangerously.

"...more unpredictable than crazy." he tried to salvage, unsure how to phrase it.

Reina held a teasing grin, circling Syris with an appraising eye. "Syris, I wanted to ask why you are in Yarwin."

"Why?" Syris repeated, following Ren with her eye. For some inexplicable reason, she felt danger. And yet Ren gave no intent on attacking her, nor was her tone impolite.

"I was asked to look for Laros," she replied, resisting the urge to glance at Altair.

"Oh, he's dead. Olivia slit his neck. Quite the little lovers quarrel." said Ren, feigning remorse. "But it's odd. Just Laros?"

"That's enough, Ren." Altair cut in, jerking her to his side as she laughed.

Reina pulled herself to his ear and whispered. 'Careful, Mr. Blackwood. I wouldn't want some type of misunderstanding to occur." she kissed his cheek, giggling. "Now shall we eat?"

***

After dinner in the Red Raven, Altair quickly found Thaan, who directed him to his room, a room one door away from Syris's.

"Hmm," Ren hummed, staring at Thaan, who seemed as confused as ever by her icy stare.

Alyssa snickered, returning to her master's shadow.

"Lady Iliana is away in business right now. So worry not." Thaan began shooting Syris and then Lyain a long stare. He cleared his throat. "A few Imperials of Yarwin are everywhere, so do keep it down. Less we all get screwed. We can discuss Zag tomorrow." he said, turning in for the evening.

Lyain and Syris also bid farewell before turning in for the rest of the day.

"And so there were two," said Ren, pulling Altair inside their room and closing the door with a devious smile. "so… Syris."

Altair drifted over to his bed, ignoring the lavish interior. He flopped onto the bed, already missing his own within his palace.

"What about her?" he asked, yawning despite it being so early in the evening. He glanced at Ren.
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"Are you trying to screw her? "

Altair looked at her incredulously. "Huh? It never even crossed my mind. Come here." he padded his bed as she waddled over like a penguin, slithering up on his chest. "stop looking for something that's not there."

Ren puffed her cheeks. "You promise?"

"Girl, you have two personalities. I have enough problems handling you," he assured her, patting her bottom.

"Sooo, can Ren kill her?"

Altair was sweating. " but why?"

"Shits and giggles, I don't know. Hehe.

*Pop

"aaahh~"

Clutching her bottom, Altair rolled his eyes. "Where's your collar?"

With a flaming blush, Ren's heart quivered, feeling loins twitch. "My collar?"

"yeah, I wanna fuck you with it on," he said, running his hands through her hair.

Ren nibbled at her lips, debating something. She shook her head. "We can't…I still have to prepare your present."

Altair was so stunned he erupted into laughter. "Wow, Ren is denying sex! Gods. I've seen everything!"

"you make it sound like I'm some type of succubus," said Ren, feeling wronged.

"If you stand up right now… will I have a wet spot in my robes?"

Ren's eyes suddenly shimmered to a radiant gold. She covered her face, hurrying off Altair as he laughed, pointing at the wet spot. "See? You're all the woman I need," he assured her.

Ren was far too embarrassed to answer.

Altair didn't press her. Rather, he stood up, summoning his canvas of Ren upon the fortress bridge. The portrait was stunning, encompassing a sense of madness sure to unravel any sane man. There was something evil about the portrait, yet there was also something pure. Ren, as he'd drawn her, seemed untouched by the madness around her.

He glanced at her. Ren had removed her mask, revealing her angelic smile, as she stood over her cauldron. Altair wondered if he'd corrupted her. And yet, as she sat in the lotus position refining away, he couldn't help but smile.

"Wings… that's what is missing." he mused, enthralled as he weaved his brush across the canvas. His eyes never left Ren as he envisioned that sense of purity that everything madness wasn't. The wings, as he'd drawn them, shone like a fountain of light, brighter than any sun and purer than any sort of child-like innocence before he was done.

He signed it, 'Blackwood,' overwhelmed by the realism that portrayed the ninth form.

Altair folded his arms, admiring his work that seemed to move depending on the angle. He grinned. "It's all perfect… though the Aspect of it… All." Altair stopped, eyes widening as a realization overcame him. "Aspects… Shit. So it's all been so simple. Aspects are the perceived illusion of how one envisions their reality or a particular element." he muttered, dropping his brush onto the floor.

"Darkness devours, Light blinds, water rains. All these are aspects. Then…." He summoned Shadowclaw, staring at the blade's obsidian edge. "What is my Aspect? Does the Vale possess an aspect congruent with the sword?"

Altair fell into deep contemplation; opening his palm, he stared at the ember of Vale Qi rising out of it. For the first time, he began to wonder not of the Vales properties but its usage. Raven had informed him long ago that the Vale is the final resting place where all go to die. He'd no reason to reject that claim. Still, he wonder if that was merely it.

For nearly an hour, the Vale twirled around his palm, drawing his Mana and physical prowess until a thick shine of sweat slithered down his throat, seeping into his robes. He didn't let up.

'It's done," said Ren, peering into her cauldron with a bright, rich smile. She turned to look at her prince and couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth budding in her chest. She stood up, leaving her concoction to breathe; Reina silently left their room, returning with some dinner.

She placed it down before him when he could hold the Vale no more and began gasping for air, toppling to his back.

"Shit," He hissed, gasping heavily. "Fuck I'm tired."

"Good thing I'm such a good wife. Dinner?" She said, pushing two large steaks towards him.

Altair glanced at it and snorted. "Did you cook this?"

"Well, no," Said Ren, tilting her head. "What does that matter?"

"Then Art doesn't want it." Said Altair childishly, turning his head.

Ren was incredulous. She laughed. "You're so cute!"

Seamlessly mounting the prince, she tasted his lips. He tasted of pine and mint. "Guess what, Art? Ren finished your birthday gift."

Still somewhat brooding, Altair glanced at the cauldron, which was still carrying an air of steam to it. He shifted his gaze back to Ren. "Is it a pill to give me the skill of—"

"Silly," Ren said, laughing when her lips and eyes turned naughty. "Well, I guess you'll find out on my birthday. Hehe. I'm sure you'll love it."

"Look at you being all mysterious." Altair mused, peeling the robes off his fiancee until she was naked and bare. His lips reached up into a hungry smile. "Does this mean I can eat you now?"

"Two hours until sunrise. Think that'll be enough?"

"More than enough."

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