Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 384 The Hunt III

On the hour before the last drop of rain fell from the skies, Altair Blackwood awoke, his eyes trembling as he struggled to open them. The pungent stench of medical herbs emanated from his flesh.

"What happened?" he strained, sensing an unfamiliar presence in his room.

"Young Master Nox," said Kegan softly.

His features were blurred, but Altair could vaguely remember his voice. 'He was the one from House Nier.' he told himself, staring unblinkingly at the stranger.

"Your eyes are dilated. How are you feeling? I—" Kegan frowned at the sudden sense of foreboding. He gulped, sensing the Regal Aura emanating from the Young Lord before him.

Even withered, Altair emanated a force that made Kegan want to be made to bow and whipped for his transgression. He trembled, lowering his head to his belly, and began explaining all that had occurred. "Right now, you cannot fight. And should avoid using any skills until you enter the realm of Transcendent or fully recover."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

In a hoarse whisper, Altair asked, "Where is Nia?"

"Preparing you a meal," The Medarc said. The Soul of Nox De Nier is currently unburdening the strain on your soul, but the tether we place is weak and can be easily broken. In the meantime, you'll need to constantly consume sustenance to gain energy. Right now, you're in a fragile state."

Altair did not look surprised that the Medarc learned of his identity. He was sure his shadows and his devil did what they needed to do to keep him alive. Your journey continues on empire

In a few breaths, Nia returned to her master's chamber with a bowl of hot creamy rice soup. She nearly yelped, spilling the soup. Altair nearly cried a silent prayer at the loss of his meal. He hadn't even noticed how starved he was until he caught a whiff of it.

'Damn this woman! Traitor! How could she spill the blasted—' His thoughts were interrupted by the spry shadow leaping into his arm, bellowing a thunderous cry that shook the walls. More and more people flooded the room, to Altair's dismay. Tasha, Alyssa, Elena, and even the horse, Cloud, sauntered in.

Tasha giggled, seeing her master's frustration. She returned with another bowl and placed it by his bedside.

Altair followed her movements, his gaze latching onto Gram on her back. He had never seen Tasha possess any blade on her person before. For a moment, he wanted to question her reasoning but decided against it. He was too tired to question her schemes.

His stomach rumbled, leaving the women smiling. Cloud neighed, licking his face, before propping his large frame onto the bed. Nia and Alyssa shouted loudly for the stallion to get down, but he ignored them, laying its head next to Altair, silently amused.

"It's fine," he said, brushing a palm through its mane. "where are we..." his voice trailed off as Gram's soul reached out to him, releasing an insatiable hunger. It was starving, demanding sustenance.

Before he could question Tasha, she spoke up first. "We need to leave. Are you able to ride, Master?"

Altair looked at her calmly, his thoughts as unfathomable as they were dark. He lifted his palm, and in a mere second, Kirr, Jorm, Aurora, Talia, Vaiga, Hilda, Cedric, and Medusa pierced the Tower of Babel to appear before their master.

"We will not run," Altair told her. The room burned with hoarfrost as his intent punctuated the air. "We shall lay waste to any and all who would dare challenge me. I—"

"Idiot!" Kegan snapped, bonking him on the head hard. "Didn't I say not to use any skills? You're very fragile! Can't you see—" he caught himself when he saw Tasha's infernal eyes lock onto him. Medusa tilted her head, her reptilian pupils writhing dangerously as she stared intently at the Medarc.

"Tasha..."

"I will obey her lead, your grace," she said coolly.

"Then begin the hunt. Take no prisoners," Altair decreed. He glanced at Cloud, running a palm through its shadowy mane. "Go with Nia."

The horse licked his cheek, rising with the shadows around him, bowing its head.

"May The Tear of the Black Moon Pierce The Vale!" they saluted, leaving the room with a murderous glow in their eyes.

With a cunning smile, Altair closed his eyes to sense Therion's position when he felt another soft blow pull him from his thoughts.

"I swear I'll knock you unconscious myself!" Kegan snapped, once more receiving a stare from Medusa. "I...I'm sorry, but if he keeps using his soul, he'll fall into a coma."

"Its fine, Medusa," Altair responded. "He's just worried and passionate, it would seem. Tell me, Medarc. What is it you seek in life?"

Medusa stared. She had never met a Medarc but had heard the rumors: Imperial scholars who focused on medicine of all kinds. It was said they were without emotion to better allow calculations without the slightest deviation that came with emotions. They were the best healers of the realm, performing miracles wherever they were deployed.

Still, she'd never heard of a rogue Medarc. They were conditioned from before they were born through genetic reconstruction.

"I haven't any plans other than to pay back what was owed to the dutches for taking me in. I haven't any aspirations other than that. I live a quiet life, your grace, studying medicine in peace. What more could I want?"

Altair stared, glancing at Medusa. She had a peculiar gleam in her eyes. Envy.

"Then would you mind teaching Medusa what you know? She's lived a hard life, and I'm sure she'd rather learn to heal than kill.

Medusa serpentine eyes met Altairs. "Your Grace?"

"I did say I'd never force you to fight. You like tending to the garden, and it seems you'd like to learn about medicine. Was I mistaken?"

Medusa hastily shook her head. "No!" she exclaimed happily. I-I-I'd love it, too! T-T-Thank you! "

"Will That be an issue, sir Kegan?"

"None, your Grace, though it might be difficult for her to grasp as she and I don't share the same physiology. I'm more than willing to impart my knowledge."

"I wouldn't worry about it. Medusa is a genius the likes you've never seen."