7 Interlude

At the moment when Lyle and the group exit the Underworld. These scenes take place at the same time.

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In a lavish hallway that is decorated with pictures of constellations that are moving as if alive. A beautiful woman is elegantly walking through the hallway heading to the closed door at the end. The woman has black hair that is dark is night wearing a black tiered lace high low dress. The only sounds that can be heard are the sounds of her heels hitting the floor as she walks.

When the woman comes to the end of the hallway she reaches for the door for it to only open on its own. The door opens to reveal pitch black darkness that is unable to be seen through.

A clear and calm voice is heard when the door opens.

"Enter."

The woman faintly smiles then strides inside the room. Crossing the door threshold into the darkness reveals itself to be an open field of grass below the starry sky. In the middle of the open field is a man wearing plain grey robes with his back to the woman.

The woman continues walking forward to the man without breaking her stride. When she gets within ten feet the man turns around to face her.

When the man turned around it showcased his ears giving him away as an elf which were hidden by his hair. His hair was white as snow that fell to his shoulders. The elf looked to be in prime of his life with exception his eyes full of grey clouds revealing his blindness. Within the man's cloudy eyes one can catch the twinkle of a starry sky every now and then. The elf opens his mouth and speaks to the woman.

"I knew you would come Lillian, I just wish it was under better circumstances… You have meddled to much in the realms."

Lillian shrugs her shoulders, "Something had to change Dalglish. If nothing was done, then the mortal realm will perish. I refuse to watch my child perish when he can save the realm."

Dalglish shakes his head, "Do not try to justify yourself. We both know you simply wanted your child to awaken once more, so he can hopefully meet you. While he has the power to help save the realm. You gave him too much help. Interfering with Fate comes with consequences Lillian. Consequences that he will have to deal with in your place. There is a reason the gods are not allowed to meddle with Fate."

Lillian is quiet for a moment before replying with confidence, "He will be fine Dalglish. I believe he can overcome what ever stands in his way."

"Are you reassuring me or yourself, Lillian? Helping him awaken while being safe would not have caused to much of a ripple in Fate. But, you gave him companions, allies, and helped people find him. All for the purpose of helping him. He will suffer for those actions. When the memories come to him, they will be the worst ones. The insanity, the slaughter, and the torture will come first. Not to mention what would have been a normal journey to anywhere will now be full of danger. His enemies will luck out and find him. An ancient slumbering evil monstrosity will awaken and attack them if they pass by. The entire realm that should have been going straight will now go out of its way to attack them. Weather, monsters, and his enemies will go against them. The world will continue to attack him to balance out the help you have given him. You do not realize how much he and his group will suffer for your actions Lillian." Dalglish explains all this to Lillian.

Lillian's face goes pale and she bites her lip to point blood trickles out.

After waiting to make sure she understands the problems she caused. Dalglish sighs while looking at Lillian before speaking.

"Don't interfere anymore with him or it will just make things worse. What's done is done. You can only leave it up to him. Whether he will perish or succumb to insanity is unknown. Only time will tell if by the end result, he is himself or not. Watch him suffer and bleed, so you realize what he will deal with for your actions. The good thing though, is that since he will encounter many dangers that he will grow stronger at a rapid pace. The stronger he is the more of a chance the mortal realm has at surviving. So, watch his journey Lillian. …I'll see if I can help assist without interfering directly for old times' sake."

Lillian clenches her hands into fists before nodding then leaving without a word.

Dalglish looks in her direction until she leaves before gazing back at the stars, "Good luck Max. Your going to need all the luck you can get now that Fate is moving against you."

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At another location a massive battle is playing out where demons of all types are sieging a fortress. The fortress defenders are comprised of a single race. The defenders are holding the city with no signs of weakness.

Behind the demon army watching the battle from a hill stands several individuals. Each individual is a demon of a different type yet, each one gives off a dangerous aura. Standing in front of the demons is a woman wearing light armor with no weapons in sight. The woman stands under six feet tall with long black hair and eyes that give off a bright purple light. The woman is dwarfed compared to the demons who vary from thirty feet tall to nine feet tall. Yet, the woman shows no sign of being scared and has a cold look on her face while gazing at the battle.

"Bal keep sending waves of fodder demons to keep them busy. You will take your kind and storm the walls. Your goal is to attract attention not to take the entire wall. So, let your battle maniacs go crazy but, reign them in when higher ranked angels show up. While your men go crazy the shadow stalkers will be infiltrating and laying low till night time. The true attack will come at nightfall. Mary will keep her tempest demons with me along with Sebastian and his ice demons. The rest of you are to mix some of your troops among the fodder charging to help with the chaos." The woman orders coldly before looking at the city and glaring with hatred. 'I hope you can offer a better fight and entertain me more than the last fort.'

The demons all salute and go off to follow the orders with two demons staying behind. One a female demon standing at fourteen feet tall with six arms with red skin and wearing leather armor. The leather armor which seems to be a size too small for her showing off her seductive figure. With bottom two hands resting on two out of six scimitars that are equipped on her body. Her middle two arms crossed under you breasts and top two arms on her hips. With her black hair pulled back her face reveals her boredom of the situation while her eyes radiate with red glow.

The other demon a handsome middle-aged male humanoid standing at nine feet tall wearing a butler outfit. His motion our all fluid and graceful. His skin blue as glacier ice with white hair. With a fluid smile on his face he speaks to the woman, "Lady Mara how many times do I need to correct you in that we are not called ice demons but, Gelon demons. While us gelon demons loyally serve the queen of the succubus, you still have never gotten our races name correct. I wonder if Milady dislikes our service we have provided since you subjugated our race." Sebastian pulls out a handkerchief and dabs at his eyes seemingly wiping tears away.

Mara doesn't look over put responds to his question, "You gelon demons were living in the glacial mountains like animals until I brought you under my rule. Ice demons is easier to remember, and it fits on where I found you anyways. Now that-"

A demonic portal interrupts her as it opens behind the three with a small fire imp coming out of the portal. The fire imp flies over to Mara and gives a salute before retrieving a letter out of its bag. The imp hands it over with respect and enthusiasm on its face. "Letter from his Majesty King Apol for Queen Mara!" Oblivious to the disgust that crosses Mara and Sebastian's face when saying Apol.

"His Majesty King Apol would also like to verbally congratulate Queen Mara for her victory over Fort Malice. He also wishes for your quick victory over Fort Valor. When you conquer over Fort Valor the King demands your presence in the capital."

Mara shudders in anger while clenching the letter to point it crumbles up. Right when killing intention appeared in her eyes, deep within her soul a connection is made to it. A connection that has been dark for thousands of years finally lights up and reconnects.

Through the connection she feels different kinds of emotions. Relief, confusion, caution, and worry. Unknowingly a tear slides down her cheek and a dazzling smile comes across her face.

A sigh escapes Mary before turning to speak to the imp, "Have you not ever wondered why a small lesser demon like you were given the job to deliver this letter to Queen Mara? The pay was enormous yet, always seem to be available. Regardless of when someone accepts the job."

The Imp tilts his head in confusion for not being able to understand what she said. "But, there isn't anything wrong with delivering messages to Queen Mara. She is still beneath his majesty King Apol even if she is a Queen from a different faction. She should feel honored to get a letter from his Majesty and she may get lucky to attract his favor. She would end up as Queen of the entire demon realm instead of just the succubus race."

"….Lady Mara… are you okay?" Sebastian inquires with concern in his voice to Mara which draws the gazes of Mary and the Imp. Both of them freeze in shock while looking at Mara smiling.

The imp becomes entranced and stares blankly at Mara before lust radiates from his eyes. Gazing at Mara hungrily and licking his lips, he takes one step forward towards.

Soon as he takes that step a blue light flash from Sebastian before the imp is now donning an ice spear through his head. The imp falls over dead and Sebastian snorts, " To dare look at Lady Mara with those lust filled eyes, you deserve death. Mary if you do not want to be beaten by Lady Mara I would advise restraining yourself." A blue flame appears in Sebastian's hand before he throws it at the imp's corpse. The flame burns away the body.

Mary who was staring at Mara with the same lust filled eyes as the imp came back to herself before shaking her hand and smiling.

"I couldn't help myself there Sebastian. She hasn't smiled in thousands of years, not even when we have some fun time. Yet, she randomly smiles now just arouses me to eat her up or at least try. Even when I know she can beat me down if I try anything…. Hey, Mara. Why are you smiling?"

Mara comes back to herself and glances at the imps slowly burning body then throws the letter into the fire as well. She tries to repress the expressions from showing on her face but, fails to restrain a faint smile.

"Max has finally awakened. It's been 6,000 years 280 days 12 hours 43 minutes and 36 seconds since the connection was broken. Yet, now he is awakened so, I can watch him from the shadows now."

"Milady remember us higher demons cannot casually go into the mortal realm. Else we draw the attention of the celestials and gods who will strike us down. So, please exercise caution on impulsively going to the mortal realm."

Sebastian hastily advises Mara in a slight panic.

She rolls her eyes at Sebastian, "I'm not an idiot Sebastian. I will be scrying him from my castle as he makes his journey. Until the day he can remember or find his temple with his notes to summon me. Sebastian you are in charge while I am gone with Mary as your second. I will be taking my leave now." Mara tells Sebastian and Mary before opening a demonic portal. She quickly disappears leaving a shocked Mary and Sebastian behind.

Sebastian puts his hand to his forehead before sighing, "I didn't realize she cared that much about Lord Max. I've only heard very little about him from Lady Mara. She even went as far as using a demonic portal which is only used in emergencies just to get back faster."

"Ha-Ha of course you don't realize how much she cares about Lord Max. You weren't around when Lord Max was alive. The amount of death and destruction he can rain down was beautiful. Those two went through a lot together even when both mortal and demon realm went against them. Even when Max went insane she watched him the entire time. Watched him destroy kingdom after kingdom till he wiped out 60% of the population. Recalling that time brings shivers down my spine. The amount of devotion he showed was something even a tempest demon like me am envious of. The day he died is the day Mara threw herself into leading this war against the celestials in anger. There is a reason why they have been losing the entire time she has been in leading. She has been enacting vengeance upon the heavens ever since he died. Every time he dies before being able to awaken she senses it and disappears for couple years. During those couple years she hunts down the ones connected to his death and the gods counter attack while she is gone. They always gain a little bit of ground back since no one is good as Mara at war. Plus, King Apol has been chasing Mara even before Max summoned her. Even more persistent since the day Max died. Though, he fails to see that she has only eyes for Max regardless of whether he is reborn or not." Mary's expression switches between passionate, anger, and sorrow while she was speaking to Sebastian.

"If what you say is true then Apol will try to kill off Max now that he is alive again." Sebastian raises a point to Mary.

To which Mary laughs off and replies, "He will try to kill off Max but, the celestial world will defend him with a passion. The longer he lives the longer Mara will stay off the battlefield. Also, what Apol fails to realize is if Max decides to go against King Apol. Then he will push with the celestials to invade the demon kind, and Mara will fight alongside him against the demons. But, if the celestials try to get rid of Mara or her faction then, Max will turn against them as well. Ha-Ha he cares not who he fights against. Long as they turn against Mara and him then he will strike back. So, Sebastian keep your people from attacking Max or people he is close with. If you can do that then your people will live long and prosper under Mara."

"I take your advice to heart Lady Mary. Thank you." Sebastian gives an elegant bow.

"Now shall we get this battle situated with."

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In an underground chamber below the church in the Imperial City.

The room is separated in two platforms. On the first platform is lowered that goes to the middle of the room with light shining down directly. The light bright enough you are unable to see the platform above. On the platform above is seven decorated chairs each with a different color.

Currently each chair is occupied by a person who are all looking down to the middle of the room. Where a man wearing full plate armor attire of the Reapers. The man's helmet is off, and he is on one knee with hand on ground. His head bowed down facing the floor. The man is late middle-aged man with a grizzled veteran appearance.

"Captain Hardt report." A strict male voice comes from the gray chair.

Captain Hardt raises his head but, doesn't get up from his kneeled position.

"Sir, after being given the oracle we immediately left in pursuit. When we got to the designated site there was no one in sight. We spread out to search the entire area and nearby towns to no avail. After we searched the area we came across a section that of the forest that was devoid of life. Every wildlife was withered and decayed. When a couple of my men went to investigate the reason why, they vanished. I sent several more to exact place where my men vanished just for them to vanish as well. After coming to that point, I felt it was better to inform the church and await further instructions."

Listening to Captain Hardt give his report of what happened the seven platforms are silent afterwards.

The strict male voice from gray chair speaks once more, "What are your thoughts on the reason you're your men disappeared?"

Hardt responds quickly with confidence, "I believe that my men crossed some sort of weakening to a different realm."

"Explain."

"If it was an illusion my men would still be able to be heard or would come out of the illusion after some time. If it's a barrier then it wouldn't let us cross that easily in first place. We also didn't sense any magic involved with the withered area. It would be a gut feeling for me to say that it's more of a boundary."

After speaking to this point unknown to him that the seven chairs are each nodding their head to his words.

"You are dismissed Captain Hardt. While you have failed multiple times in exorcising the demons. Your exemplary accomplishments in the past will negate the failures you have built up to this point. But, know this Captain Hardt. One more failure will result in your immediate replacement and expungement." The gray chair speaks once more while dismissing Hardt.

"Yes, Archbishop Gray" Hardt stands up and gives a salute before leaving the room.

"Archbishop Black what have you found out from your departments investigation?" An elderly voice speaks up from the yellow chair towards the black chair.

"That the failure of the Reapers is not something that would have changed regardless of who went. Someone from the celestial realm is interfering in the hunt." A sinister and eerie voice comes from the black chair.

"Oh, how can you be so sure?" Gray chair speaks up at this time.

Archbishop Black shrugs, "It's impossible to evade for this long without getting caught what so ever without some help. Why the celestial realm? The celestial realm is only ones who are powerful enough to interfere. I also sent the Hounds to see what their investigation would show. They claimed the area had divine presence lingering nearby. After the torture and killing of the local who the divine presence led to reveal a celestial was their lover unknowingly. We believe the celestial is the person who has been helping the targets. Once we capture him we will get more information. I've also sent the Hounds to hunt down the targets as well. We should get positive results quickly."

"Anyone have anything else to add to all of this?" A gentle and friendly voice comes from the white chair.

Archbishop Blue speaks from his chair at this time, "I have reports from the other continents that the Tarde have begun to move."

All the chairs stay silent and look at the red chair in the center of the seven.

Person in red chair stands up and surveys the group before speaking in majestic voice.

"The Tarde can be delayed until the immortals have been found. The immortals rise to power is the downfall of the church. Do what ever means necessary to find them and kill them. This meeting is adjourned."

All six colors reply, "Yes, Pope." Before leaving.

After everyone leaves the Pope sits back down in the red chair and stairs into the darkness.

"The era of chaos has begun. The question is, who will be reigning when the dust is settled."