Shadow of the Abyss

\'What god gave these Earthlings such a Perfect World?\' She wondered, resting her wine glass beside her. She stood up, wandering near the window. \'What God gave such insignificant little creatures a world with so much potential. And how could it produce a child like this Altair? One that even our God so craves… I wonder what makes him so—\'

Pulled from her thoughts, she turned towards the door to the three presences outside; Scythia arched her lips into a seductive grin. Curious about the two Soul Flames billowing with such immeasurable life, drawing her into the abyss of flames that was their souls. And for a moment, her knees buckled.

"Enter," She said before the knock came.

The door flew open as her eyes swayed to the young man, a head taller than her. One eye was scarlet, carrying a sinful temptation, the other a pool of darkness that carried an amethyst mist. Scythia marveled at his perfectly sculpted face, unable to understand how such a man could exist. He didn\'t seem real.

"Greetings," Altair said. "My name is—"

"Altair, Age Twelve. You\'re making Thirteen next year." She interceded and glanced to the woman at his side, to her soul flame inconsequential to who she stood beside. "Leave us." And beneath her gaze.

Amilia bowed, "Yes, saintess," she said, taking her leave without another word.

Scythia placed her gaze back onto Altair and then the pup on his head. She smiled. "You\'re a dog person?"

"Oh, Ren? Quite so." He said, lifting Ren into his arms. He grinned. "They are the most loyal of all creatures, wouldn\'t you agree."

"You\'ve no idea," Scythia gently mused, offering him a chair, which Altair accepted. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Scythia Talfor of Scorpio."

"A Saintess."

Scythia grinned, crossing her legs through narrowed eyes. "Yes, at least that\'s the title I was given for joining Scorpio. It\'s also a title you get when you become a Transcendent." Calmly measuring the poised child, she lifted her wine glass. "I\'d offer you some, but you\'re underage."

"Earth\'s drinking age is Ten," he told her, and she gasped. But didn\'t let it get to her despite how backward the concept was to her. She took a sip. "Well, do you want some?"

He shook his head. "No. But I think you are my first Transcendent."

"How much do you know about Transcendents?" Scythia asked, lowering the glass of wine to the counter. She folded her arms beneath her breast, pushing up for him to see, and inwardly giggled, noticing a subtle reaction.

"Not much, just that they are Demi-Gods."

"And did you know Demi-Gods all share an ability to see the souls of those around them?" she said, almost as if to scare him, as her gaze swayed the Ren. Unfortunately, Altair was like stone.

"That pup… no, she\'s about your age. Can you transform?" Scythia inquired.

Suddenly, a flash of scarlet light filled the room as Ren changed. In the very red dress, Altair teased her in.

"Reina of the Moon, greetings." The young Nephilim declared.

\'A two for one… Bloody Hells. My payday will be hella big! yass!\' Scythia inwardly rejoiced, clapping her hands together.

"Two Monster! Utterly fantastic." Scythia sounded, " So let us begin. I want you, Altair, and you, Reina, to join us after you leave the military." she said, narrowing her eyes. "Preferably, I\'d like to join us now, but then you\'ll lose out on being welcomed back by your home."

"That is correct." Altair nodded.

"And you?"

Reina giggled. " I\'m not a citizen of Earth, but I want to stay with Art."

"Ohoho." Scythia teased, eying her curves in all the right spots. "Looks like someone found a jackpot of a man."

Ren\'s face began to burn as she lowered it. And she bit her lips, recalling the tantalizing touch of his fingers against her breast.

"Oh my," Scythia mused with a knowing grin. She turned to Altair and opened her palm. Suddenly, two golden rings emerged out of thin air written in Futhark. "One for you, one for Reina. Each contains a few resources. Think of this as a gift before any promises are made." Scythia said.

"You two look like you are about to break through into the second Circle. I don\'t know the System Requirements for you two, but… within these Draupnir Rings, there should be no issue solidating your energies."

Altair didn\'t immediately reach for rings. He had heard much of the Draupnir Rings once said to replicate without end. Until one day, a crazed dwarf had an idea. He would reforge the Gold Ring a dimension within its depths. And he succeeded, and with his success, the dwarf had with him an infinite amount of rings that carried their own dimension.

It was said his wealth had grown so large the Gods of Wealth approached him to broker a deal. However, the deal fell through, and the dwarf vanished, and with him the original ring.

Draupnir Ring

Type: Spacial

Description:  Allows the user to store roughly 69 cubic meters of space with a weight of 500 lb.  Exceeding this limit will cause space to invert, and all items will forever be lost.

"Oh, and a heads up, if they get damaged and you are in range, you\'ll banished to the regiments of the Astral Sea. And at your level, it\'s a death sentence." Scythia explained, but Altair was still hesitant.

"Why no pitch or incentive? Why just support us?" Altair inquired. Throughout this entire meeting, not once did she ask him to join Scorpio. Nor did she incentivize any special resources or bloodlines.

Surely there had to be a reason?

"Well…" Scythia touched her lips, and a vibrant gleam shimmer through her eyes. "Will you remember this meeting?"

The boy nodded. The entire scenario didn\'t quite go in the direction he thought.

"Then I guess you\'ll eternally remember me when I return, next month, and then the following month, and then the next one."

And it was then Altair understood. He grinned. "I like you."

***

Glancing up on his bed to the golden ring, Altair fell into wonder. "What do you think."

Unapologetically, Ran glanced at him and snorted as she hopped into the showers with a stomp.

"Ren?" He called at her again, but she didn\'t answer, wondering what he did to anger her. Altair sat up, wrinkling his brow, noting her peculiar behavior, and approached the bathroom door.

"Are you angry?"

"Hmph!"

He grinned. "I wonder what made you angry." he sensed her behind the door instead of in the shower and forcefully commanded the door to slide open with the terminal. Ren fell right into his arms as he stared down at her. "What\'s got you all brooding?"

Ren bit her lips and turned, avoiding his eye, revealing her neck. Slowly, the blacks of Altair\'s pupils flashed red as he leaned down, kissing his mark.

Ren shuddered. "Wha… what are you doing?\' she stifled her moans.

"... I don\'t…know.\' he whispered, compelled by the throbbing of her vien. He brushed her lips over his mark, narrowing his gaze in a dangerous light, and pulled away just as the Soul of the Indomnial sprinkled icy waters through his mind.

[Soul of the Indominal (F) Proficiency has increased by 6%]

Proficiency: 87% → 98%

With an unreachable itch caught in the back of his throat, Altair began to understand more about the changes the Fallen Moon Imperfection Physque brought him and what it demanded.

Blood.

He gulped, trying to endure the sensation of sanguine hunger writhing in his mind with the mere thought of sinking his fangs through hot flesh.

Badum Badum Badum

His heart quickened, throbbing with need, and for a brief moment, a flash of scarlet painted his vision red.

BANG

The prince punched himself across his cheek. The blow was quick, filling his mouth with blood but not enough to push down the grueling sensation of hunger.

~(>_<.)＼

"ART!" Ren hollered, catching sight of his dual red pupils, one flashing to black as he returned to himself.

"I\'m fine." He muttered. "Just… hungry."

"You punched yourself in the face, and you call that hungry! Your bleeding!"

Altair wiped the blood from his lips and shook his head. "It\'s fine. I\'ll heal in a few seconds."

He muttered, gritting his teeth. "Come, let\'s go out. I want to look at the military\'s martial arts library." He hurriedly said, wanting nothing more than to leave. He turned, and without waiting for Ren, he left.

Ren padded along beside him, filled with concern. She knew something clicked in his head yesterday, but thought he had it under control seeing him wake up and act like nothing was wrong.

He had recalled every minute of it. She could tell that much. And yet… seeing him now filled her heart with panic.

Up eight flights of stairs, Altair raced up, wanting to burn away the ravenous hunger caught in the back of his throat, when he came upon two steel doors guarded by two officers, both in the realm of Sixth Circles.

Altair saluted, and they did the same, allowing him to enter with but a few words of warning.

"No violence or loud noises within the Martial Halls."