The Dagger

Finding my seat around the round table that sat the three gods, my gaze fell upon Hades measuring me with his intense stare filled with caution and content.

"Arsene, before I continue training you. I would like to know what we are to you?" The Lord of the Underworld questioned.

"Don't you think it's a little late for that?"

"You are not a god as of yet, so I do not." Hades replied, "there many things that happen once you step into the realm of divinity. For starters, as I'm sure you know, you gain a minuscule amount of omniscient regarding that particular Dao. And with your mortal Dao being what it is, your entire world will change once you achieve godhood."

"Devils heart," I whispered.

"Yes, " he said, nodding with a grim expression, "The self dought that runs within all. That particular Dao is rather evil and genuinely broken, as most Mortal Dao's are. So I ask you again, Arsene Snow. What are we to you?"

"What do you think it is?"

"That's not the question, boy!" He replied, somewhat amused.

"Solem as ever I see, but I shall answer. Nyx, hades, I do not see you as parents nor my masters but rather siblings. I see you how I would see my brother within the celestial palace. While there is a place within my heart for you, I could easily snuff it out at a moment's notice. I am, after all, a demon and devil hybrid. While being a soul bender enhances my emotions, I feel this is the Zenith of how much I can actually feel for a person. You are loved, and I truly do appreciate you two, and I would do many things without question asked for you two, but my first priority will be Lilith and then myself."

Covering her mouth Nyx turned to hades, a hint of mist slowly growing within her eyes, "Hades... He... He"

"Aye, well, I did not expect that!" He stated in shock, "Wow, he truly is like us!"

"Huh!" I exclaimed, a little perplexed.

"That is what it means to be a child of Tenebrae. Not all of us are friends or family like us. Some are bitter enemies, some are lovers, while others are simply friends. A few minutes ago, you asked if I am afraid Tenibrea is manipulating me. To answer your question. I would say no because just like how you feel about us, we can feel about Tenebrae.

Hearing Nyx's words, I could not help but ponder on her theory regarding Tenebrae. I cannot lie and say I wasn't a little worried about being manipulated by her will. From the moment I called her mother, I knew something was wrong, but I accepted it without thought. Yet, the more powerful I grew, the more aware I became, especially regarding her will.

"Now forget about this emotional drivel; I accept your words, boy. At least for now." Hades stated with a smile upon his ruggedly handsome face. "Shall we talk about forming your Mortal Dao? There are three of them, correct?"

"Yes, but before that, I would like to speak about... Is this place safe?" I whispered, my expression slowly turning icy.

"If you are worried about Sitri, then fear not. The Shadow Realm is Tenebrea's Domain, and it's on the same level as the forgotten Astral Sea that has been lost since the Great Change at the beginning of time.

(A/N: Astral Plane is the same as the Astral Sea, and it will not appear in this novel, but it's in The Order of Chaos.)

"This is probably the only realm, especially this castle, that you can walk and talk freely. Remember, Tenebrae will protect her children." Nyx joyfully explained, helping the young Ty wipe the food from her face.

"You guys are so boring. Can I go? I need to lie down. I am tripping right now." Melinoë suddenly said, pressing her head against the round table with drool dripping from her lips.

"My god, you truly need help; I have never heard of someone getting high from killing so much," I uttered, waving my hand as her soul vanished, returning to the material plane. "Now, what I wanted from you two, or rather Hephaestus, is to alter this dagger."

Placing the dagger gifted to me by Bael to enter within the Abyss, I arched my lips, "I want him to turn this into a conductor of Natural Order. Its inscriptions cannot be changed, but it needs to change from what it was.

Waving his large palm, the abyssal dagger floated towards his palm. Narrowing his eyes, Hades turned to me with a severe expression, "Boy... do you understand what this is? How powerful it truly is?"

"Yes, and it's detrimental to my evolution. Alrich is watching me all the time, which should not truly be possible without spending all day and night using his own eyes. So the Shadow Realm is my only safe haven."

"Arsene, this dagger is not something that can just be changed. Hephaestus will need billions of years and some of the most powerful material our pantheon simply does not have.

Narrowing my gaze, I turned to Nyx, "That's why I need you to go to meet the former Celestial King. Tell him I am willing to make a trade."

"A trade? You are not a God; what can you offer a man that controls one of the greats power within the known universe?" Nyx mockingly jeered.

"It's simple, no one knows that Lilith is Yura, but even if they know, nothing will change. What I can give is a favor."

"And you think that will be enough? Arsene, I truly think you are underestimating this dagger. Even if I gave my life and everyone else's, we still would not cover ten percent of the cost. How the hell did you even come into contact with this?" Hades could not help but ask. Clenching a hold of the blade, starting to shine with hellish intent.

"It was a gift to fool me into committing suicide. But it's no matter, for now at least. Nyx, if it's not enough, play to his feeling. His granddaughter is within the hands of a Prince of Hell. All I ask is that you try Nyx. This dagger determines if I can live through this trial."

"Fine, but Arsene, you will need to come to the underworld to speak with Hephaestus yourself regarding this daggers alterations. If you wish to keep its inscriptions while changing its nature, Hephaestus will need to speak with you personally. "