Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 73: Baptism of the Moon

When he woke so deep within the Darkness where the endless stars did not shine, and the voice of Gods and Demons did not reach. Altair felt himself aimlessly floating through the Vale, unable to move. He opened his mouth to speak, to call for help, to yell, yet nothing came. Nothing but the solitude of the night.

And for the first time, Altair felt fear towards the dark, for the Darkness was a pathless abyss of desolation that did not mourn for light nor life. Unimpeded by the absence of creation, The Darkness bore solitude as its only companion.

Altair stared aimlessly at it. He had been unsure how many days had come and went. He couldn't tell. But he felt warm. Warm under its embrace as if he had returned to the fold.

"Why won't you move?" A voice from within the dark questioned.

Inadvertently, Altair's heart began to shudder when he felt something land on his abdomen, its talons digging through the furs on his body. Suddenly, the creature moved towards the neck and then the face, revealing itself.

'A Raven,' The boy thought, studying its strange three eyes.

The Raven extended its wings, taking flight, circling Altair curiously. "Why won't you move? Why won't you move?" He repeated once more.

'Help me.' The boy tried to say.

The strange creature continued to circle Altair before landing on his chest. "Is this the first time within the Vale?" the creature asked, pecking at the furs on his chest. "Do you, by chance, have Corn?"

Frustrated, Altair teeth clenched, unable to understand why he could not feel the Mana within the Darkness.

"Will not the Mana, but the Darkness, and you shall touch the Vale," The Raven said, digging its talons into the boy's cheek. It stared deep into Altair's scarlet one. "The Children of Darkness are born to the Vale and return to its clutches upon their death."

Altair calmed his mind, repeating the words of the Raven he knew better than to trust. But he didn't have any other choice. 'Will not the Mana, but the Darkness. Over and Over, Altair repeated the Raven's words like a doctrine. ' Will not the Mana, but the Darkness."

And as if something clicked through his mind, a sensation of knowing swelled through his chest. He lifted his arms. An insignificant feat, yet it held such sway Altair's eyes grew wet. "I can move... I can move!" he whimpered.

"Crybaby! Crybaby!" The Raven mocked, hopping onto the boy's shoulder. "Well? What are you doing here? How'd you die?" It shrieked.

Still shaken, Altair shook his head. " I'm not dead. Eh? What do you mean?"

"Those born to the Vale return to the Vale." The Raven said, as a matter of fact, batting its wings.

Positioning himself upright, Altair wiped away the tears. " What is this Vale you keep mentioning?"

"The Vale is Darkness. The Vale is Death. Yet nothing at the same time." It said, stabbing its beak into Altair's cheek. "All children of Darkness know this?"

Annoyed by some unknown creature toying with him, Altair rubbed his cheek, brushing the irritation away. The Raven flapped its wings again, landing on the boy's other shoulder. "If you're alive, how are you in the Vale?"

He bowed his head, thinking of all that occurred as he recounted the tale. "A strange, mysterious force dragged me away from Big Sis Luna into the dark. Icy waters invaded my mouth, and before I could think—"

"— You died." The Raven said.

"I'm alive." The boy fired back, refusing to believe he died in such a pathetic manner. There had to be a logical answer.

Eternal Moon Physique → Fallen Moon Imperfection Physique

[Soul of Indomitable Flame (F)Acquired]

[Ninth Form, Aeron(F) Acquired]

[Vale Manipulation (F) Acquired]

Flooded by an endless stream of messages within his System, Altair groaned, finding himself weak and his throat dry. He mouthed the 'words' water to Reina's teary face. Unsure what happened. But what came was a strange salty liquid that turned his ashen grimace green.

"What is this?"

"Thank the Stars!" Ren shouted, tackling him onto the solid earth, refusing to let him go. "You were... You... You were out for... AHHhhhh~" Crying her eyes out in his embrace. Altair turned to Luna for help.

But all he received was a deep frown and a familiar icy stare of suspicion that peeled at his skin, revealing everything he hid leaving him exposed beneath her eyes.

"Big Sis?"

"Altair..." Luna began opening her palm as a barrier formed, blocking the eyes and ears of all the pesky gods watching. " Where were you? Where was your soul?"

"The Raven said I was in the Vale." He answered as if compelled to bear his soul.

Luna's eyes contracted for less than an instant so fast that Altair didn't even seem to notice anything strange as she spoke, trying with all her might to stop her voice from shaking. "And how did you escape?"

"A voice... I don't know." He said, unsure of himself. "But it was warm, for what lied around me, a barren wasteland of darkness that did not grow but fester with nothingness." He shuddered, recalling that hell. "If not for the Raven that said to bend not the Mana but the Darkness, I fear I'd have gone insane."

"... This Raven was conscious?"

Altair nodded, thinking. "Yes... And now that you mention it. He said the others were asleep. Yet only he stood awake." He felt Ren shift, peering at him as if she had been wronged. He patted her hair, alarmed by how small he'd become, at how his skin clung to his bones. "The voice... It was powerful, like yours, but gentle, forcing me to bow my head."

"I'm sure it did. What else."

"The voice said something about Hellmaster... That I needed to be as powerful as him to—"

"Ok," Luna said, squatting down to him and Ren. " Listen to me well. No matter the deal, no matter what is offered. Never bring up you went to the Vale. Don't even mention Hellmaster. Clear?"

"Who is—"

"Never even think of him until you become a god. Names hold power, Altair. And his is one of absolution. Each time you speak it, he hears it. It's how Gods once governed their people. And it's why you should never speak a true God's name."

Altair's shriveled palms rose onto his big sister's shoulders. "Don't worry. I'll make sure to hold my tongue towards unknown names." He said, then changed the subject, bearing a bright, giddy smile. "Now... can you do me a favor? I thought about what you said about my plan to escape House Aros. And I've made modifications.

Hear me out."