Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 432 Identity II

On the third day after his arrival on Vastroph, a slighted air dwarfed in a thick, oppressive aura that made one feel as if they were moving through water shrouded the manor. There was nothing to say about their arrival outside the Nier Manner. Their Aura had simply been too great a power, peeling the oak from off the main body until it splintered and shattered. The Wardings be damned.

In his antechamber, Altair said nothing, though a notable half smile crossed his lips as he peered through the eyes of a forsaken at an unfamiliar and familiar face alongside Athena and the one he presumed was Poseidon emanating that dreadful Aura.

She was tall, at least tall for a woman, standing about six feet and two inches tall, with a long arcane bow attached to her back. Her eyes were a mixture of blue and green, which seemed to appear either way at times. They were indeed very beautiful, complimented by her long silvery hair, tied in one long, intricate braid down her shoulder onto her waist. Emblazoned with the Crescent Moon, knocked with an arrow over her robes.

Without the need for her to address herself, Altair knew her name, and it made butterflies rise in his belly. He owed Artemis a lot.

Poseidon himself wasn't like anything he had imagined for the man, but then again, he didn't know what a rapist looked like. Those weren't the sort he typically was around. He was a head taller than Artemis, ordained in a blue robe that showed nearly half his sinewy frame. His hair, tied in a neat ponytail, was a stunning shade of aqua blue that seemed to match his dragon-shaped eyes. Handsome, though that meant little to him.

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He had seen the two of them through the eyes of one of his forsaken before having Raven escort the three into his antechamber. A few times, he caught Poseidon studying Raven's ass but said nothing. Poseidon was not the first to do so, and neither would he be the last, though he was the first to be so blatant about it. Either he was so arrogant he believed no one was looking, or he didn't care to not touch wasn't his.

Unlike those he had risen from the dead, Altair wasn't sure if Raven could be revived. She had come directly from the Vale, possessing something of a fleshy body from day one. He had to protect her from men like Poseidon, even if her job was to protect him.

'If she knew I had such thoughts, she'd shame me, 'he thought, laughing to himself, as the door to his antechamber opened. Therion acted as herald, echoing their names as they entered. Only two had the respect to lower their heads into a bow, that being Athena and Artemis, while Poseidon blatantly had his head raised, no doubt to test him—At least he hoped. If it wasn't a test, then the man would have been either a fool or arrogant. Whatever the case was, Altair welcomed them with a smile, though he didn't rise, signaling for the two Goddesses to raise there heads.

"I hope you've been well?" he asked, staring at Artemis, but Poseidon was the one to answer.

"We could be better," he said, as if they had been wronged, as if

he

had wronged them. A somewhat surprising revelation, Altair did not allow to touch his face.

"Uncle," Athena cut in sharply. "I suggest you shut your mouth. His Majesty is—"

Altair raised a palm, silencing her. "I agreed to this meeting for two points. Two. One by the end of this week, the Abyssal Empress, Lilith Snow," —The ears and faces of everyone instantly sharpen to fine points—" Will be making an announcement about me. You'll hear from me first. But My Master is one of her Abyssal Generals. Her name is Iliana, the Goddess of Abyssal Destruction, Incarnation of Ruin, Sword of Ilcresh, and The Blade of Lilith."

Athena didn't show much reaction. She had already known it as such, but the other two were as white as snow, with Poseidon staggering back—dread written across his face like a brand.

"I can't say much about her, but her Sister, Vita, or Izavith, had been said to have defeated the one called Shiva, The Destroyer. Whether that is true or not, I can't say, but there seems to be an element of truth. That said, there might be another truth. One about my lineage. Athenas should already know." The Goddess of wisdom nodded. "Whether she proclaims it. I cannot say. So I'll not say it yet."

Artemis stepped forward, her voice a slight tremble. "Can I know?"

"Of course," Altair said without hesitation. "In fact, I'll leave it up to Athena's discretion who knows."

At the slight panic of the Goddess of Wisdom paling, he forced himself not to laugh. This was not just a test of her loyalty to him but also whether she had the mind to do what was in his best interests, just like Ashara.

Artemis looked at Athena with stars in her eyes. "You'll tell me, right, little sis?"

"You two are sisters?" Altair blinked.

"Of course," Artemis said, though reluctantly. "If there is one element of truth about our pantheon, it's that we are all related to one another. Insestous bastards."

Athena nodded slightly after she returned to a perfect calm. "I will inform the other Gods about the Abyssal Empress speech. And we'll also have to prepare various banquets for the arrival of incoming Gods, including the ones on the Omnis Ranking."

Altair had to suppress a grimace. That was going to be another blood bath if he didn't play his cards right. One wrong move, and he and Tera would implode. Disciple or not to one of the strongest. There were simply some people who were suicidal enough not to care about the Shadow Proclamation.

"Then I'll be counting on you."