Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 67: Trial of the Moon I

When the Prince returned to the entrance of the cave drenched by the snow, he paused, finding Reina beside the fire. She looked bored, playing with the chard wood, muttering away at her new arch enemy.

"Big dummy! Baka! How dare he leave me behind. Ren is strong. Hmph. Just because he got tall, he think he can bully Ren?

Mega Ultra Stupid Dummy. Punch to the nuts! Big Head! Stupid face! Ren will kick his ass one day!"

A rare, genuine smile branded the boy's lips as he watched her shadowbox the air. He coughed into his palm, making his presence known. Renia practically leaped up like a startled cat, mechanically turning her head to him, and trembled.

"A-A-Altair?! W~w~when did you get back?" Ren stammered with a wry laugh and glanced around suspiciously, unsure if he saw her messing around. She patted to the seat near the fire a little eagerly. " Have a seat. You're all wet with snow. Come get warm."

The Prince accepted. By her side, he sat, allowing the fire to warm his bones. "I'm sorry. " He whispered, prodding at the fire with a branch. Embers danced through the air like fireflies. "I just didn't want you to see who... or what I was becoming." he glanced at her with a sour expression.

"I don't even recognize myself anymore."

"Altair..." she muttered.

"And I don't want you to see me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like the broken prince I am." He told her, his gaze spirling with a darkness that seemed to crown him. Loneliness coiled through his heart, deepening the sinking despair as he chuckled lightly. Unsure what to even say anymore.

"Do... Do you know what a Nephilim is?" Reina asked him. Her voice was soft as if to lessen the pain she sensed in his voice. The boy shook his head, turning to her. "It's a tainted celestial body. A stain on all that was pure, according to Master.

My Mother was an Angel, a seraph of some unknown order, while my Father was an Ancient." she explained, "That makes me a Nephilim since my Mother slept with someone outside her race. To the Angels... I am filth. And to the Ancients, I am... a traitor. I was born a traitorous filth. At least to them, I was."

The boy's eyes went wide, but before he could protest. Reina continued, sensing his fury. "So I get it. Altair, I get it." she smiled, cupping his cheeks, tears gathering in her pearly eyes. "You are not alone. You got me." she giggled, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"So don't let other people define you. You are not broken."

He trembled, tears gathering in his eyes. 'You are wrong. I am broken.' he wanted to say, but the words became caught in the back of his throat, unable to leave, as Reina's warmth pressed against his shoulder, tugging at his bleeding heart.

Altair finally found his words. " Thank you." He said, and for the first time, he felt shame. Shame of words he hadn't meant, for he knew what lay beside her was a monster dressed as a man.

***

When dawn broke the next day, the storm had faded, leaving behind wreckage in its wake. Altair woke, drowsy, having fallen asleep for the first time in a year. He glanced around, his muscles somewhat tight from the cold yet oddly relaxed.

Altair counted every one of them, finding them to be all manner of beings he'd killed before.

"What... what the hell?" he said, startled by the rancid filth before him.

"Is that a Chimera?" Reina shouted, frowning, her gaze landing just outside the temple entrance to the undead beast standing guard at the temple entrance like a dog.

Altair's Eye of Sacrilege glowed. "A chimera would make a fine mount," he said, unable to mask his excitement. "How awesome would that be? Play our cards right. We might be able to upgrade the snake portion into a True Dragon."

"Are you bloody insane? Can't you see it's dead?" Ren pointed out. "Wait a sec... How do I feel about this? No... no." She shook her head and glared at the Chimera in the distance: "What I don't understand is how this is related to the moon."

"It's not... it's related to my Father." The boy said with fire in his heart. He grinned, accepting the challenge. "Luna did say he helped create this trial."

[Divine Sin, Daddy nods proudly at his spawn.]

[Divine Sin, Archean is growing more and more curious about your identity.]

[Divine Being, 'PIercing Owl' frowns, unable to sense a demonic bloodline from you, nor anything from the Nine Hells.]

[Divine Being 'She Who Hunts' states you are neither a Demon nor Devil, but something else. Something new!]

[Divine Being 'Watcher' leans in with popcorn.]

[Divine Being, 'Devouring Wolf' whistles at the army of two hundred. And demands you watch out for his daughter.]

With a grin cold as the morning snow, Seven Moonlit Swords twisted the scarlet moonlight into a blade black as the deepest night of the Hells, cold as ice, bleeding deadly sword light. They rose into the air, awaiting to pass judgment.

[Divine Being 'She Who Hunts' cheers for your victory!]

[Divine Sin, 'Archean' awaits to see your progress!]

[Divine Being, 'PIercing Owl' prays for your survival.]

[Divine Sin, Daddy, is worried he is going to lose money betting on you.]

Altair stepped forward towards the army of two hundred, dark flame-like mana billowing around him, chilling the putrid air with death. When his presence, a force of unending might fell upon the dead. And as if the hand of god appeared, dozens dropped to their knees, buckling with untold fear.

"Arise"