32 Sephiroth

It had no eyes, merely two eye sockets with black goo dripping from it.

The DSB looked and felt like the stuff of nightmares yet Alex was supposed to dominate it.

He wondered how while staring at its eye sockets.

Suddenly, The DSB moved like it encountered something annoying.

It, which had always stayed seated, rose to its feet and tried to rush toward Alex.

Almost like it were a zombie, it reached out and tried to devour him.

Instinctively, Alex's heart palpitated at the sight.

"What is this?" He muttered in disbelief.

Cursing inwardly, Alex reached out toward the DSB and without hesitation, made contact with it.

The feeling of his existence being erased came again but this time, it wasn't completely hopeless.

He could pull back and try again but Alex wasn't the type to hit and run, considering just how dangerous the DSB seemed.

If anything, he didn't want to waste any time.

After all, if he lost here… that was the end.

Betting his all on this opportunity, he didn't hesitate to fight back.

As the DSB tried to dominate him, he pushed back fearlessly and for a moment, their tug of war entered a lull.

Alex found it difficult to hold on and just as he could barely stand his ground, a terrifying suppressive force rushed down and held the DSB in place for a brief moment.

That was all he needed.

He rushed forward and pinned the DSB down, ensuring it couldn't move away before he extended the connection and completed it.

At that moment, Alex was pulled into a space with darkness all around him, but it wasn't a bad feeling.

No, it was quite the opposite.

It felt like he was one with the darkness.

The darkness was him and he… was the darkness.

***

When he opened his eyes, he found himself back in a familiar space.

"You are back." Nyx sat in a corner, his grin as wide as ever.

He seemed to have been waiting for Alex to arrive.

"How did I get here?" Alex asked while massaging his temples.

Nyx chuckled. "Don't you remember?"

Alex paused as he pondered for a moment before he finally gained enlightenment.

"The Dark Spirit body…"

"A sliver of my vestige. I needed a means to ensure that we remain connected while avoiding the Will of the World."

Alex caught the last part of the statement but didn't react to it.

'So what Nyx was worried about is aether?... It seems what I understand about it is not as simple as it appears to be.'

"I've broken the boundary."

"Indeed you have."

"You can tell me more about your hearts now, right?"

"So hasty…" Nyx sighed.

"I don't plan on spending my whole life here."

Nyx couldn't help but ask. "Even with the wonders of this world?"

"They mean nothing to me," Alex replied. "I just want to go home."

If Nyx had eyes, they would have blinked.

Regardless, they stayed silent for a while longer before uttering a single word. "Sephiroth."

Alex felt a piercing pain attack his subconscious upon hearing the word causing his expression to distort.

Nyx shook their head. "...Even now, it still seems like a lot for you to handle."

Placing his palm over half of his face, Alex controlled his heavy breathing. "Is that it?"

"I say more and your pneuma would collapse," Nyx remarked. "Don't worry, that word is enough. There's a difference in learning from me and learning about it from the inhabitants of Eventide."

Alex gritted his teeth before he finally recovered well enough to relax.

Wiping the perspiration on his forehead, he asked. "Now what?"

"Now you can use my powers as you wish and even go ahead to call on me when you require help… of course, you have to consider your pneuma when doing that."

Alex sat upright before facing Nyx squarely.

"What about the Rule Of Triune?"

Nyx sighed. "Ah, yes, forgot about that. Of course, you'd have to follow the Rules like every other human but unlike them, you won't be as limited. Doesn't that make your job easier?"

"...and Adam?"

"As long as you don't let him know, the concealment would hide my presence."

Alex pursed his lips. "... I don't plan to use your darkness."

Nyx paused.

Silence reigned for a moment before he inquired. "Why?"

"It's too monotonous… what if there's a time when I can't access your Domain?"

Nyx remained silent again before finally asking. "So what do you suggest?"

"Evernight and your authority," Alex said without hesitation. "That is my Domain and your authority would help me control it better. You have no complaints, right?"

"Evernight… I see." Nyx sighed. "Then as you wish but remember… we have a deal."

Alex replied. "I won't forget."

"Then I will take my leave." With a wave of his hand, Nyx disappeared alongside the darkness.

What was left behind was a strange island made from pure blackness with a radiant moon hanging in the sky, illuminating the darkness below.

All around the island, a black sea that stretched for as far as the eyes could see.

"So this is Evernight," Alex remarked.

Sensing the authority Nyx left with him, Alex revealed a sly smile before rising to his feet.

Never be dependent on one source as it gives that source the privilege to hold control over your life.

That was one of the few rules Alex followed as a spy and he didn't plan to change it now.

He had a feeling receiving Nyx's domain would tie him to the strange entity, allowing the latter to make decisions for him and if he dared refuse, it would be child's play to retract their power.

Alex wasn't naive enough to think that Nyx would agree to his wishes while he shamelessly borrowed his powers.

So by choosing Evernight while retaining Nyx's authority, he would be free to do as he pleased.

Taking a deep breath, he pondered. "Now then, how do I get out of here?"

As he closed his eyes, he understood everything.

The Rule of Triune had three steps.

Connecting with aether.

Coming to a balance with it.

And finally, using it to bring imagination to life.

That was what Sensation, Meditation, and Materialization entailed.

Since his Spirituality was already active, Alex was past the first step, and due to Nyx's authority, he could easily dominate aether without having to reach a balance with it.

So all that was left was the third step.

Alex mused. "Would it be weird if I learned that in a day?"

Taking a moment to spread his senses, Alex could just about make out traces of Nyx that were still present on the island.

"It would be strange if he didn't leave some of himself behind to watch me."

With that, Alex willed himself to leave and a moment later, he was gone.

***

Nadia waited patiently with her eyes trained on Alex's motionless figure.

"How long has he been out?" She muttered before glancing at the grandfather clock placed in a corner of the basement.

10 minutes remained before the opening of the Lightbringer.

If Alex was unable to wake up before then, it would mean that something had happened.

Worried that she may have performed the ritual wrongly, she picked up her grimoire and read through it.

Just as she was done reading, she heard a gasp.

She shot up to find Alex awake, his eyes slightly brighter than usual with a golden tint at the edges.

"You did it." She remarked.

Taking a moment to regain his bearings, Alex made eye contact with her before replying with a smile. "...I guess I did."