Lingering Demons

Resting over the mountain peak near the cliff's edge, a day's journey from the tattered village of abyssal fiends now under construction. I sat, legs crossed over one another, and peered at the rising twin suns piercing my skin sharper than any blade could. Holding onto the pain, that agonizing torment, lingering to my core at each cycle of the day, I drew in a sharp breath and lowered my hood, allowing the light to bathe me.

Taking in the pain that overtook the beauty of what lay before my gaze, endless pastures covered in mountain ranges teeming with an abundance of life, awakening under the dawn of two suns. Songs of birds chirping carried their way to my ears—cries of wolves marking their prey—stirring souls with regard.

The dawn had awoken this world from the darkness, leaving only shadows and me.

Trying to resist the disgust I once held towards the light, albeit failing as I had felt like years had passed under its glow when days had gone by. My jaw tightened up, and the sweet taste of nectar spilled from my gums down my throat.

My hate for the light had returned.

But I bore its wrath, allowing its rays to do what they will. I knew I could trust my body. It was what made me who I am today. I needed to adapt.

"Master," Freya gently called from behind, walking softly without sound in her step. She took a seat near me, carrying a cute blush. Playing with her fingers, she tilted her head to me, " um, Master, what are we to do now. It's been about two weeks since we arrived."

Her question had me pondering as well. Opening my pores to the abundance of divinity intertwining with nature, a slight sense of relief calmed my torment, if only for a moment before it returned stronger than ever.

"Avar hacked the Holocubes, a feat she assures me can only be accomplished by her. But she did warn us that she was separated from her fleet." I lightly reminded myself rather than Freya. "I need time to—"

"Why not test Avar." Freya quickly said, "We ask for a sigil or maybe a hidden code we place in each message we send. That way, we could—

Allowing Freya to ramble on, having gotten a general idea, I allowed Freya to do just so. It wasn't a bad idea, but I wanted to be alone right now. And I was sure that her passing glance sensed my will as minutes later, she had not returned from a task that should have only taken ten minutes, maybe less.

Absorbing the Heavenly Qi that clung to the air, reminding me of my mortal years, a faint smile stretched over my lips and vanished the more I devoured. I could feel that foreign essence return, seeping into me, disappearing deep into my bones and cells. But no matter how far I searched. Nothing but what I already knew appeared.

Lilith would know. I was sure of it.

Passing my hands over my hair, standing close to the border of Realm Lord. Joy was the last thing that seemed to, well, come. All my enemies were far stronger than I am. While becoming prince of Noctum did grant a few benefits, I required far more divinity than most. Ten times if not a thousand times more. My body demanded it.

I picked myself from off the cool stones; the winds billowed over my pale cheeks as I stared down to the fall of almost certain death, or maybe not. A small stream caught my eye, revealing a few gentle beasts, resembling deer and animals I would usually see in the wild, filled with wonderous colors and textures. Another sigh left me, and I opened my palms towards the shadow of the deer with a short brown mane, carrying beady eyes and somewhat terrifying onyx black horns crowning its head. My fingers ran through his luxurious fur. Startling the beast where he stood, his large brown eyes shifted to me, fear racing through its heart that pounded against its chest, hammering like drums.

"So you even fear the Night, despite the day," I remarked, stroking its fur. The Abyssal Deer dared not move—almost the size of an average horse. The deers' knees buckled as my eyes began to linger with bloodlust; it bent a knee towards me, and my fingers slowly sunk past its fur and into its flesh. Blood pooled like a river around my fingers, and the beast whimpered, falling lower to his knees, bringing a dark smile to my lips.

"A single glace and I can be anywhere the darkness resides, or at least that is how it should have been. Now. It seems like the very Dao I molded, crafted through torment, suffering, and hell seemed useless. Everything here is foreign. This Realm of Abyssal Night is nothing like I imagined. Was it not for the Path of Abyssal Night? What would I be now? My darkness would have withered beneath the light, as it is now, leaving me more defenseless than I already am."

He Deer trembled, no longer daring to meet my gaze. I pulled back, granting mercy, "Run, little one. Till we meet again." I lightly said, unsure what came over me. "I need a drink."

"You seemed to have just passed up on one, Sene." That voice I long for seemed to echo as a touch of warmth seemed to leap over my back, clinging to me as though I was a kola. Lilith wrapped her arms around me, tightly holding me, when suddenly I felt something draining me dry.

The rate wasn't strong, but I felt compelled to allow it.

"Seem our son—

"Daughter,"

"Seems like our son wants your Qi too," Lilith adamantly said, leaning her head against my shoulder, sharing her warmth with me. "We did it, Sene. We are really having a baby!" She remarked, unable to hide her excitement. I instantly felt the iciness of her tears falling from her cheeks over my cloak, sinking to my skin. My lips lifted into a smile, feeling the budding essence within Lilith feeding off both our auras.

Washing away this depression I was in, I found a smile for the first time today and patted Lilith's behind. Following my intent, she leaped down, allowing my eyes to land on her and then on our child having its fill of my divinity.

"Welcome Back, the both of you."