Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"Are there other reincarnated individuals here?"

Jinx crossed her arms, and beneath her mask, I could see the scrunching of her muscles, alongside the puzzlement within her eyes. She knew nothing.

"Ren," I said. My tone was firm, dimming the hopeful glint in his eyes. " Why don't we look around instead of guessing and get a field for this place. I'm sure you have answers, but none of these people are from Japan. Of that, I am sure. We are outside the reincarnation wheel. You should know better."

What are the chances of a soul from the lower realm in the Bed of Chaos or any other planes entering the Abyss? The chance is downright impossible. Right?

The young man's finger clenched into fists. He hung his head low and slowly stepped to the side while Rey Nala slowly made her way to him. Noting the familiarity between those two, I turned towards the village surrounded by vines that blossomed into flowers. Trees of magnificent statues bellowed with the winds, casting leaves and petals through the air, bringing a sense of awe.

But what truly made me uneasy was the absence of women, men, and children. No matter how I studied this village, I couldn't find a single trace of sentient life. Tempting to use my Dao to peer past whatever vail that might be blocking my senses, I held myself back.

Curiosity killed the cat, and I knew very little about these people's cultures. Letting my sense invade their private homes wasn't the wisest of moves.

"Recorded." Avar chimed in, blinking away.

"What exactly are you recording?" I said, unable to help my curiosity. This past year everything Avar has seen, ranging from plants to trees, she would record. Yet she held no device.

Avar tilted her head, touching her chin, batting her lashes in a confused manner, " What do you mean? Recorded means recorded. Don't you see what I'm recording?"

"I think he meant why are you recording so constantly," Zanris chimed in. Her gaze locked onto the horizon. Intrigued by what she was thinking or sensing, I was about to extend my senses to peer into her heart. But just as I was going to.

The echoes of footsteps reached my ears. Arching my head towards the sound, reaching my ears in the direction of where the village resided, that revealed nothing but empty space. A flicker of the Weave filled my eyes, and at that moment, everything became clear.

Standing with an armed battalion of ninjas behind her, I saw an older woman approaching, eyeing me with a surprise gleam.

"Another of the House of Lazarus." She remarked, and a cold chill shook my heart. Darkness swelled within my mind, and flickers flared like stars glistering in the night sky. Sparking memories I would rather not recall, the Path of abyssal Night came like a flood, wiping the light from my mind.

"Why not show yourself," I coldly barked, dismissing Zariels ability from my eyes before its backlash knocked me on conscious.

"Apologies," The elderly woman said, her lips contorting into a thin smile that didn't meet her eyes. In a single instant, she appeared before everyone standing before me with a battalion of ninjas.

My eyes traced over the army, draped in all black with the sigil of a moon, upon their robes. "You are related to Lunafreya?"

"Here she goes by Selene." She said, sending me a measuring stare when her eyes landed upon the woman upon my back. She trembled, and as if Lilith could feel her gaze, she slowly lifted her head.

"Sene," She weakly murmured when her head fell back onto my shoulder.

Startling me for a moment, Arkanos leaped off of me and suddenly ran up to the elderly woman, showing no fear; her large beady red eyes glimmered as she beckoned with her hands. "Aunty, come close Arkanos has to tell you something."

"It's Astra, little one. And what could you have to say to me, Little one?"

My mind buzzed, and I shot Freya a stern look to fetch my daughter before—

"I said come," Arkanos snapped, in a tone I had never heard. It was regal to the bone, etched in such depth. I saw many buckle by the knee as Astra bent down. Whether it was by choice or not. I could not say, but her wrinkled brow was dotted with a cold sweat.

"Recorded," Avar said once again, her voice now solemn. "Arsene, who is possessing Arkanos?"

My expression dipped, and I hesitated to answer. "Don't bring it up again. Not unless you wish to shoot yourself in the foot. Some things are—"

"I understand," Avar interjected, her gaze peering up with a sharp gleam.

"By your will, my lady," Astra said respectfully, and her gaze snapped towards me. " You there boy, relinquish the Queen to us so that we may supply her with the necessary medicine."

"I—" I started to say when I felt Lilith slowly slip off my back.

"I'll be back, and when I am. I will have some answers regarding our child and this Ouroboros." Lilith coldly uttered, her tone still fragile. "I just need time. Try not to piss anyone off. I will not interfere if they decide to kill you all."

Something stirred within me, and the unease that had been plaguing me kept growing. I had thought it was from these ninjas, but I was wrong. Something big is happening.

"Arkanos, come with mommy." She said, walking ahead when seven ninjas appeared in a flash, with a palanquin on their shoulders. A smile met her lips as she shot me a tired stare that made my stomach curl.

"Take care of her." I calmly said, but the brimming killing intent within my tone withered the trees of their life. Darkness rippled, and the glare of the twin sun's against my cloak seemed to dim, if only for a moment. "

Her smile rose till a dimple appeared upon her cheeks. Covering her mouth, Lilith giggled, entering the palanquin. "See you in a few hours, Sene."

Struggling to take my gaze away as Arkanos and Lilith left my sight in a steady manner not to cause any discomfort. I turned to Astra, my fist curling into a fist. "I need not warn you what will happen if she is harmed, right?"

"A realm lord threats mean nothing to us."

A dark chuckle left my lips, and a familiar thirst seared at my throat. Sucking in a deep breath to cool the urge, tugging so deeply like the plague, I exhaled as my soul touched upon the Laws of the Abyss.

"Arsene," Avar said, pressing her hand upon my shoulder. "Calm yourself. Not here. Not now."