Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

p Shaken by Enillia covered in flames that raged with temperatures of stars, racing over the forest like waves stealing life at every turn. Ash littered the skies like a new awakening volcano, showering the skies a deep black.

Horrid tremors of gods clashing amongst each other continued to flicker back and forth, sending out shockwaves that formed blackholes that pulled at the land. Unsure how the event horizon didn't destroy the planet, I knew I had overstayed my welcome.

Turning around before another with Karr's perception found me, I stepped into the temple of Tenebrae. My heart fluttered as the tremors of war went silent and still. As if I had stepped into another realm, I glanced back through the open gate to the flickers of multicolored light shattering in endless fireworks, then towards the Darkness. A hint of familiarity seemed to slither over my heart. But as I gazed around at the stone carvings etched elegantly into the walls, unfamiliar seemed to whisper into my soul.

My blood called to me, and the Darkness, to Tenebrae.

I held onto my chest, where the phantom beating of my heat rattled on. Beating with a joyous song, I felt my journey had just begun. It was silent within this chamber, eerily so, just as the Darkness, still yet ever-changing.

Hearing only my footsteps echo, I closed my eyes and studied the Darkness of Tenebrae, losing myself through this endless hall that seemed to span further than my mind could take me; my senses slowly began to fade, as it did that day. That day, I was anointed by a Force I could not even perceive, much less grasp.

Clouds of Darkness slowly took hold of my eyes, filling my ears with silence, while my muscles slowly began to lose their warmth, and before I knew it, all that was left was a void of absolution, a vacuum of ethereal bliss, A realm of Darkness. And I was home, once more. Only a few months old at the time, but my journey had begun.

My body may have failed me, perfect as it might be. I could not fully use the power my brother had granted me, as I was now just a soul flame glowing with impurity. Tainted beyond even my recognition, I sent one last look towards the night I had come to know all my life and began chanting the Path of Abyssal Night.

The sounds of glass shattering danced over my ears as a serene voice sounded within my heart, and my eyes opened to the sight of a silver moon that hung over the starless skies and a hazy bridge of translucent mist beneath my feet.

"Arsene."

"Zariel."

locking eyes at the young man that I knew to be the closest thing to family, eyeing me from across the bridge, peace seemed to trickle its way inside. He smiled, and I smiled back.

"You here to congratulate me?"

He chuckled and shook his head, peering up towards the skies, "No, allow me to hold my child in my hands, and I may congratulate you." he softly said, a bit reminiscent under the glow of silver. "I am here to warn, my foolish elder brother."

"Warn? I think I have been pretty good if I don't say so myself." I said somewhat, believing my lies. The Silver Devil released a sigh and settled his cool gaze upon me.

"You are a fool. Everything comes with a price." He informed, a bit bitter. "I spoke with Izavith regarding that damnable kingdom. Even after endless cycles, that blasted place still sings its song within my mind."

Mixed confusion and understanding rippled over my mind as shattered bits of myself gazed out of my courtyard. Besmirch by weeds due to a lack of service. I rested silently over the terrace, lost with wonder.

"Memories still filling that head of yours?" Zariel softly said, pulling me back to the bridge beneath my feet. "You had best forget them. Nothing good ever come from our time there, which is why I had it dragged into the abyss, to forever wonder, in a cycle of torment."

"What does this have to do with—"

"If you cannot pay the price lingering over your body, I will be forced to make you an enemy of all the people within Iliah as penance. A fair trade and light punishment. Especially in light of what is to come."

Pursing my lips, I rolled my eyes and studied Zariels expression, only to frown at the straight line of his lips. "Y-Your enjoying this, aren't you?"

"What? Bullying, my Elder Brother? Nonsense. I take my role as Protector quite seriously. It's an honor you…." Turning his head to mask the smile growing increasingly large, his shoulders trembled with laughter. "Well, maybe just a bit. But I digress; you still need to be punished. Be a bit grateful. It's best I do it to you, then the Arbiters."

"Screw that! What about Lilith! I'm—"

"You are ready to throw your wife under the bus like so?"

"Damn right, let Truck-kun tear here up! If I get punished, she needs to be punished as well." I grievously argued, standing on firm ground in my belief, "In death, do we part!"

"That wasn't even in your vows."

"Stop nitpicking."

"Your sick,"

"Said the bastard to throw out his wife while pregnant."

"Hey! She was fucking loud, and I had a bad headache!"

"Do you here hear yourself!"

"Screw you!!"

Going back and forth for a while, Zariel suddenly waved his hands with a livelier glow. He smiled, at me, for a while, and his body began to fade. "Head to the Castle within Iliah. There you will find both power and something else. Something that even you will find interesting.

Leaving my sight in a flash of light, I felt oddly happy for some reason.

"Arsene," Said Aegis, holding a feeling I had not felt before in his soul, connecting to mine in a strange, indescribable way. He continued with a tremor in his throat."Could you not feel it?" He said, startling me for a bit. " That monster is—"

"I would rather not know." I calmly said, shaking my head, "If I didn't notice now, then that means Zariel didn't wish for me to know. Do not anger him. His power is beyond both your and my imagination. Keep your thoughts to yourself, for not even soul whispers are safe before the power of the Weave."