Heart of Darkness III

A Heartstone? What the hell is that?

"Sorry to interrupt, my lord. "Zax suddenly said. "But a Heartstone is something my lord never wrote about due to its simplicity. Upon breaking through the 33 Heaven, your body will produce a Heartstone. It's like a core or dantian reserved for monsters or people with Apex Bloodlines. They usually form upon reaching adulthood."

I see. My eye narrowed towards the statue of Tenebrae, and I frowned. "A Heartstone of Darkness?"

"Perhaps," said Tenebrae. "I am merely an Avatar, Arsene, and I know very well when to back off and proceed. If you push ahead, I can't tell you what will happen. I can only say death is entirely possible if not guaranteed."

Goosebumps prickled my skin, turning my Heart cold, but I was smiling. "Sounds interesting."

"I knew you would say that," Tenebrae said when a dark shard suddenly congealed into existence and landed in my palm. "Before the Heartstone appeared, there was a temple dedicated to me by the Darma. If you don't know, the Darma is a powerful race that usually keeps to themselves and are innate pacifist. They wander Iluthath, but they are few in number. Who created them not even I know."

"And they worship you?"

"They are like humans in that regard. They worship any who follow their path of Pacifism."

"... you're a pacifist?'

"My legacy has been skewered through time, but at its core, I am. I stand at the peak and rarely do people find trouble with me. The last person who did was your little brother."

I bitterly chuckled and stretched the back of my head. "He's brave."

"Or foolish." She said, "Keep to yourself. Till we meet again, Arsene Snow."

Sensing the Spirit of Tenebrae fade, I turned my attention towards the small group huddled together. Clad in the crest of the white rose, I frowned, noting the terror on their faces.

"Now then," I said, pointing to the pretty girl whose arms were covered in tribal tattoos. "You speak. Tell me who Rar'Caju's grandson is?"

"Who are you?"

"Woman, I will kill you. Do not test my patience. I ask the questions, and I will not repeat myself."

"T-T-That's me, sir," A soft voice uttered, raising his arms without the slightest bit of confidence. "I am Ja'ran."

"Good for you," I said, snapping my fingers as darkness thickened around him, teleporting him to Rar'Caju outside. "The rest of you can go on foot. The entrance is that way."

"We can't see! And there's a barrier!"

"Well, you'll have to wait. I'm not trying to get the Arbiters on my ass for saving some randoms."

"Please! There's something in the darkness. Please."

"Of course, there's something in the darkness. Just shut it. And pray to Tenebrae. Or perhaps me. Although I don't think I need a loser like you worshiping me." I said, moving away from the statue as the children behind me began to scream and curse. But as I moved away, their screams began to fade.

The shard Tenebrae had given me had shown me the intricate temple beneath the surface of Iluthath, dedicated to her.

"Zax who are the Darma?"

"No idea, my lord. There are just so many races. Lord Baels' work focused on natural law, technological advances, and theories. He cared little about the many races."

"Tsk. Well, that's alright, I guess. We'll just see."

Allowing this foreign darkness to dance around me, trying to block my sight, my eyes slowly landed upon someone about an hour in, standing in front of a massive temple gripping an obsidian glaive.

"Hold," the Guardsman shouted, pointing his glave at me. "Are you with the seven who attacked, thinking we a treasure behind these doors?"

Hidden behind a snow-white cloak, I frowned as even with my excellent senses, I could not see through the cloak to his true appearance.

"No, although the Sect of the White Rose did hire me to help them get out," Came my reply, drawing in closer till I was a few centimeters from his glaive. I rose my finger and pressed it against the glaive lowering its edge without issue. "I heard you guys are Pacifists. So stop fronting."

The Guardsman's intent dimmed, and he drew back," A test. Forgive my aggressive behavior. "

He wasn't very aggressive at all! The Hell? But this is weird; this might be the first guard that hasn't wanted to kill me.

"We are the Darma, protectors of Night."

"But there's a problem now, isn't there," I said, and he nodded.

"I can't stop you from entering our temple, but I must warn you of the terror within. Only a few of us still live, but such a number is dwindling." He paused, and his shoulders tensed. "The moment that Heart appeared, we saw nothing but death and despair. Etherial beings clung to the Heart howling as though they were in unimaginable pain, screaming for death, and yet they didn't run. They didn't flee from the Heart of Darkness but rather flew to it."

Frowning lightly, I stared at the entrance towards the temple that should lead down about a few kilometers.

None of this explains why I get this familiar sensation tracing over my flesh.

I don't know anyone with a Heartstone who isn't alive.

"I'll go inside."

"Then May the Night Mother seek mercy on your soul.'

'... thanks… I guess. Way to throw me some confidence." Sucking in a long breath, a cold sliver of ice wisped through my Heart as a veil of frost danced along my skin. I readied my mind and stepped past the guard into the abyss. And down a flight of stone stairs.

"Master," Zax said, materializing by my side with a cold expression. "You should leave."

Not bothering to pause my step, I merely glanced at the imp, "You sensed this aura before, right?"

"Yeah, but it's so different I can't place it either." He replied, then shook his head, "But that doesn't matter. My lord there—"

"Just protect me then," I replied, "You can do that much, right?" I uttered, knowing death could occur, but… This Heartstone. I felt it was calling me. To have such a rich core, such an unbelievable power that even Tenebrae had to warn me… I should go. I really should, but… I want it.

"What the hell is going on down here?"