Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 156: Betrayal III [End of Vol Two]

"Can you do it?" Viscountess Maylar asked, holding her stare over the masked Syris.

It had been nearly a year since Laros had left. And despite sending droves of men into the Realm of Yarwin, no word had been found. They'd all either died to demons or killed by various hooded figures. She had seen the videos, and her gut wrenched the longer she watched.

The military was in chaos, scrambling armies to combat the dungeon they were struggling to judge, calling it a dungeon within the rank of A or B, possibly an S rank. They couldn't tell with all the fluctuation happening within the Realm. The realm laws were fractured, they'd said, and that most of the people sucked in would be crippled. But Laros was alive; she knew that much.

Syris did not motion a gesture as she stood beside the Reverend Mother, calm as a still lake. Calm and bored.

"You want to send my disciple there?" The Reverend Mother hissed. Nearly outraged by the sheer idea. "Those are demons. Lesser Demons but real bloody demons. Do you have any idea of the powers they hold?"

"He's my son!" Shouted Maylar, losing her cool for a second. She couldn't afford to lose such a valuable asset. "And those demons are limited by the dungeon laws. Most of their abilities are sealed." she protested. "If Syris and a powerful squad of Aros Knights armed with real weapons that can turn even six-tier monsters to paste where they to descend, we stand a great chance.

Even as we speak, the military has managed to create an outpost around the dungeon after it calmed down. We—"

"Altair is there, right?" Syris said, recalling the raven-haired boy with a faint smile. It was boring without him there. Life in the estate had been as dull as it was on Genisis. There had been no one to challenge her, no one who could last more than three strokes from her dagger, none. Even the various dungeons she frequented to grind had been considered dull.

Maylar resisted the urge to spew curses and nodded. "Yes. He was sucked in. But—"

"Then I'll go," Syris said, rising.

The Reverend Mother frowned. "Not alone, you're not. I'll send a Ninth Circle to aid you."

"Is that—

"Necessary?" The Reverend Mother chimed in, folding her arms. "Yes. You know better than anyone the terrors of demons. And if there are so many demons present, what are the chances that there's a devil there?"

Hesitant, Syris couldn't help but ask," Who are you sending."

"Lady Lyain Orsteen."

"That bitch..." said Syris, getting glared at by the Reverend Mother. "Sorry, I mean... no. Not her."

"Then you'll help me?" Maylar asked hopefully.

The Reverend Mother turned to the viscountess, wondering what her lady had planned. It couldn't have been a whim she decided to visit a place swarmed by demons, right? Or is she interested in recruiting that young man now?

"Yes. Though whether we find Laros or not. It is up to Syris and the work of your people," said the Reverend Mother, following after Syris with a dark gleam beneath her white mask.

For a second, Maylar stood there before she began pacing back and forth, nibbling at her thumb. She was worried. Worried about her assets and worried about Altair.

"Sleep," Thanatos said, noticing his distress. "It'll take a month to reach the village. I assure you I'll not harm you nor your mate."

Lids struggling to remain open, Altair stared at the handsome man. "How can I trust you?"

"My word is my bond. And it has never been broken. Not now, nor through the endless tides of time."

Altair slept for an entire week before he opened his eyes to Reina's sleeping face, which opened the moment she felt him stir.

Their injuries had all but healed in this short time, but they were still sore and a little disoriented. Suddenly, Altair noticed a strange glint in Reina's golden eyes... a system message. It brought a smile to his lips.

"How dare you look at your system and not me when you wake," He pointed out, biting her cheek as she giggled.

"Stop silly!" she laughed, wiggling her way out of his embrace. She stood up suddenly, remembering Thanatos, who was locked in meditation. Pulling Mana from the air, he was motionless like a still tree when he opened his eyes as if sensing her stare.

"Yes?"

"Nothing," Reina said and glanced at Aria, who had not woken. Her body had taken a good thrashing. Despite not taking much physical damage, her insides were sure to have taken some significant damage, damage Altair had fixed before his consciousness drifted away. She smiled, lifting the girl into her arms, feeling her warmth.

"It's good to see you awake," Thanatos said. "I'm sure you've much to ask me. Much about your Mother, I surmise, and why I was chosen to be one of your Bannermen."

Altair crossed his legs and nodded. " Yes, I—" A sudden popping noise came as the carriage went over the bump, stalling the prince's words when it came.

[Ding]

[Aria Silvermane has died]

[Mission Accomplished]

Eyes widening, Altair whirled in a panic, meeting with the bloodstained eyes of Reina and the snapped neck of the girl dangling from her hands. Limp... and dead. Blood had begun to pool from the dead girl's nostrils in streams as she hung there.

Howls erupted like thunder from out of his mouth, but Reina heard none of it as she stared at the message in front of her, cold as a winter's breeze.

[Ding]

[Mission: Kill Aria Silvermane]

[Reward: Information on who Poisoned your Mother.]

[Divine Fallen, 'Ouroboros,' thanks you for your hard work and will deliver onto you all you desire.]