Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 317 Arsene Vs. Lilith II

Altair threw a fist, anger writhing across his eyes, seething with nearly tangible hate. He glared when a strong hand clamped down on his wrist. He flinched, snapping a hateful look at Damaris.

"Calm down and listen," Damaris said, releasing the boy.

Lilith smiled thinly, "How you look so much like my Sene. Even your rage is as delicious." she shook her head, signaling for Damaris and Eroma to leave. They did without a word, leaving the two to talk.

"Why?" Altair asked at last with an acrid taste on his tongue. "Why did you have to kill her?"

"It was your mother who decided to have you. I only set the parameters," Lilith explained, her voice calm and measured. She created a chair for both of them to sit in. She took her seat and gestured for Altair to join. She began when he finally allowed sanity to return. "It was your mother who went against her nature, creating you."

"Liar," he hissed. "You were jealous."

Lilith didn't disagree. "True. But Tenebrae's death has nothing to do with that. If anything, it was done out of necessity." She paused, thinking. "How much do you know about the One and the All?"

Altair brows beetled.

"The One and the All are the nexus of all things and their end. There is I, and then there is the All-father."

"Odin?"

Lilith broke into laughter. "Don't insult him. Odin, that rabid pest, obtained the name 'Allfather' when he lost his left eye trying to peer at the Alpha and Omega and paid the price for the knowledge he obtained. Of the infinite things, he gleamed at once. The only thing he could pronounce became one word. Allfather.

And so he took the moniker."

"The One is such a being that even at your peak, you'll never truly understand him," Lilith said. Let me ask you: Why do you think I created the Night?"

That stunned the young man. It seemed such a ridiculous question that he'd never considered it before. Why does the Night exist?

"I... I can't imagine." Altair said.

"I know. Unlike my brother, the One, I don't have perfect control of my power in a sense that can be understood by those like you who reside in what 'we' consider a lower realm. The Abyss is the Nexus of all Chaos." Lilith halted her words, glancing to the corner of the room where Arsene materialized. She frowned, banishing him away with a wave of her palm. She didn't want to see him right now.

"What does that have to do with Mother?" Altair said antsy.

"Not so much your mother but you," Lilith said, smiling again.

"Me?" he pointed to himself.

"The Vale. Ahhh, now that is quite a look. Yes, the Vale. The Night was woven into creation to shield the Vale. It was 'one' of the largest fragments of my true body's power, a detriment to the concept of creation."

Altair gaped. "The Vale is a Fragment?"

"When you look down at your shadow... is it not just a mere fragment of our bodies?" Lilith pointed at the Young Emperor. You, Altair Blackwood, are the Shadow of the Abyss. The reason I told Tenebrae not to conceive a child was that it gave the Vale a way to be reborn. Nullifying the meaning of existence. Now, here you are, with sentience at that."

"So...So Mother really died... creating me."

"Yes. All she had to do was abort. And she'd be alive."

The moment Altair opened his eyes within his Cultivation Cave, he was greeted by an odd sight. Nestled in Morrigan's lap, the young woman had a pair of rabbit ears on her head as she stared down with a flushed expression.

He stared, opening his mouth wide in shock. "Two gifts in one day. Are... are you trying to seduce me?" Altair asked, startled.

Morrigan turned even redder. She'd never felt more embarrassed in all her life. She chewed her lip. "Do...Do...Do you like it?" she asked demurely.

The young man resisted the urge to laugh. "Yes. But you know rabbit ears are supposed to come with a costume?"

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Morrigan made a strange face. "You..." She shook her head before beads of mana danced across her flesh. Before Altair eyes, he watched as Morrigan was wrapped in a rabbit costume.

He exploded into laughter. "I'm not fucking a rabbit. Oh my God. Hahaha! When I say rabbit outfit, that's not what I meant. I'm not a furry."

Morrigan tilted her rabbit head. "What's a F—"

"Let me show you." He took out pen and paper from his ring and began drawing a distinctive image of Morrigan with rabbit ears and the correct uniform.

She blushed when she saw the lewd image. "I-I-I can't wear something like that!" She exclaimed, losing the rabbit outfit. "That... That's too embarrassing."

"More embarrassing than being naked?"

"Yes! One hundred percent!" Morrigan expressed, clutching her face. "Gods, what's wrong with you? You mortals come up with such shameless things!"

Altair tilted his head. "Now I'm curious. Exactly how much experience do you have, Mor? You're more cute than I thought."

Morrigan's expression soured. "I don't want to talk about that."

"Ah," he said, catching on. "Then I'll drop the issue. But I must say you do look cute. Ten points for effort."

Perhaps it was his imagination, but Altair swore he saw a thin smile rise across her lips. He couldn't imagine anyone, a woman, not smiling when someone told them they were cute.

"I'm guessing the Goddess of Rot contacted you," Altair figured.

Morrigan tilted her head. "No. Is there a reason she should have?"

That surprised Altair even more. He never would have thought Morrigan would have taken the initiative to seduce him without Azura forcing her hand more than she already was.

"Yes. I just saw her. I'm sure she'll contact you soon. Just play along. Things have gotten a little more complicated."

Morrigan frowned. "What happened."

"I can't tell you. I need your genuine reaction before the Goddess of Rot and The First Murderer," Altair said, sitting up. In a bright mood, he gave his bones a stretch and kissed her cheek.

Morrigan looked nonplus. "What was that for? I thought I failed."

"You did. But it's progress. You'll find out later. Now, shall we train?" he asked, his fist tightening with a newfound determination and path.