Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 206: The Rotten Vale II

'Yalivor Sadu' Altair memorized the name, intrigued by the sense of purpose in which he spoke.

Shrouded by a cloak of tranquility that rolled down his shoulders, warming the hearts of mortal men. Yalivor Sadu, despite his age, had not been the most powerful Altair had ever faced. He was a mere fifth circle, yet by his side, two ninth circles attended him. Their bodies were poised for action. A testament of his prowess or perhaps importance.

Memories rolled like the rustle of the waters upon the shoars. He remembered the organized party some months ago, all clad in armor, on his way to enter Vesim.

'I don't remember seeing him within the army,' he thought. 'Perhaps he was using them as a decoy. It would seem it worked.'

Yalivor Sadu's grin seemed to deepen. "Does my presence bother you?"

"The opposite," Altair said. "Tacticians are hard to come by."

The mask of the two young masters seemed to clash, seeking to penetrate the other's intent. And yet, despite his effort, Yalivor Sadu witnessed only a vale mist of mystery too dense for him to comprehend.

Altair slid his gaze away, marking another individual with a reserved air meant to show warmth but distance. A woman with long golden hair, it seemed like strands of spun gold and eyes of azure. They glittered like sapphire, wrapped in a breastplate of silver that bore the sigil of the Silver Gates.

To say she was beautiful would perhaps be an insult, for her beauty shone brighter than any star, seemingly crafted by Goddesses of old.

"Ariane Newgate," she said, her gaze not shying away. She looked on without a hint of shame or remorse towards her lost men.

'So it was a test,' he thought amusingly, burdened by a sudden itch to gorge her eyes from out of their socket, to store them away within a collection of his jars of formaldehyde.

"It's a pleasure," The Prince replied with a charming smile.

Ariane resisted the sudden urge to scowl, feeling her skin reel in disgust. As if every part of her being wanted to lash out, she forced herself calm, forced herself to recall the old lesson of the Heavens.

Yet, to her surprise, the mere presence of the boy felt like the rotten pits of Hell.

'Have the Hells branded him?' she wondered, resisting the urge to grab her aching chest. She could feel it. Like tendrils were drilling into the flesh, twisting her mind, her perception.

Altair glided to Reina's side and stationed himself between Syris and Ren. He found a seat they'd kept for him.

"Can we get back to the matter at hand," snarled Vynn, attended by his aide, Draxian.

Altair made the gesture of a king to his servant. "Continue." He commanded.

As if he'd felt he had stepped into some invisible trap, Vynn turned red. He balled his fist, trying to maintain some regal demeanor before the various lords.

"It seems to me," Ser Glynn Vardoo began in a stoic demeanor. "Our best bet is to call to our Patron Gods or Sponsors for aid."

"A wonderful idea," Yalivor Sadu exclaimed with half a smile. "But our Lords each have their own price and enemies. For them to—"

[She Who Hunts: Stop addressing him so! He has a name!]

[Conquest: He's not wrong, though. There are quite a few devils, Necromancers, and gods who'd love to get their hands on many of these so-called talented people.]

[Divine Being, Piercing Owl, is impressed by your scheme.]

[Daddy: I need to have a beer with my son!]

"That would be utterly heartless," said Ariane sharply. "Have you any idea how important souls are?"

"I'm sure the Gods within the Church of the Sepith would be more than willing to accept the souls. Megatron and Michael, too," said Thanatos calmly.

Ariane, to say the least, was utterly petrified. She whirled to him, her mouth ajar, "Y-Y-You... Who are you to call them by name so blatantly."

'Seeing that we had dealt with them Quite a bit,' Thanatos thought, recalling how much the Myriad Heavens changed, requiring the allied forces of the plentiful underworlds to join forces to create an orderly system in tandem with the Shadow Proclamation.

It was Michael who approached Hades to propose the role of one of the Master within the Tribunals of Death.

He smiled. "Worry about yourself, girl."

Ariane nibbled at her lips, ever more wary than before.

"I'm hesitant about this idea," Yalivor Sadu conveyed through scrunched brows. The idea of slaughter was not a foreign one to him, but seeing how open some of the faces were to the idea did not sit well with him.

'If they are willing to take life so easily, how can I expect them to watch my back,' he thought.

"I agree," Ragnar added.

"Dido," said Zaros. "I don't like giving my food up."

"But it's not like we've got another option," Ryzar joined in. "If we are to survive. If we are to acquire a potential skill without true sacrifice, why not accept it?"

Syris glanced at Altair, feeling a chill race down her spine. For five days, they had been arguing about what to do. Arguing on the next course of action. Demanding wardings, cannon fodder, and more, yet in a few minutes... an idea was being heavily considered.

The Prince grinned, sensing it wasn't the right time to push. "How about we take a few days to consider? Five days have passed, right? So we've two days left. Why don't we consider our possibilities? I'm sure you guys have been at it for days.

"

Once again, that deafening silence enveloped the throne room before, finally, they rose all in agreement.

"Good"