Shadow of the Abyss

"Mrmmm." Groaning, coming to at first light, Altair cupped his face with one hand, dazed, but not enough not to notice the wet blood dripping down his chin and palm. He tensed and snapped up, dread tracing down his spine as he glanced around his blood-stained bed, only to find it empty.

"Ren!" He shouted, panicked, pushing out his perception only to find her on the ground at the foot of his bed, barely clothed, clutching a golden orb in her palms. And the image of the Duke Leto during his last spiritual journey to the hells came rushing back. He had mentioned his visit to Ren before but could never understand what Leto had wanted to give to her.

Could this have been his doing?

Altair shook his head, pushing such useless thoughts to the back of his mind, and proceeded to check for injuries. He sighed in relief, finding there was none, and flopped down beside her. Clutching, his hair matted with blood.

He winced. "Bastard… Just when it was getting good."

Ren stirred and propped her head up, yawning. She glanced at Altair, flopping her head to his shoulder, and fell back asleep.

Unsure whether to laugh or poke fun, he relaxed over the foot of the bed, moving the mana around his body to help stimulate a faster regeneration. The explosion last night had caused a minor laceration across his hairline. Altair figured the orb, if it was from Leto, had been set to awaken before he took his daughter.

"Crafty bastard." The Prince mused, promising himself he'd never let anyone touch him without a certain level of discretion. Just as easy as the blast knocked him out, Altair knew it could have easily killed him. A feat he realized was easy.

Ordering breakfast to be delivered via Drone, Altair gently nudged Ren when it arrived. He signaled for the Drone to place the food on the counter and began waking the little thing drooling away. When at last Ren stirred, her groggy eyes filled with smiles, she yawned as her nose twitched.

"Food~" she muttered cutely.

Regaining bits of her lost energy, Ren stood up and froze as everything came crashing back. But before she could say a word, her eyes fell upon Altair's bloody face.

"Art, you're…"

"I'm fine," He assured her, lifting his hair to show the pink scar above his brow. "It's already healed. The scar should vanish in a few hours tops."

But Ren wasn't really convinced. Even so, Altair led her to the counter and began unpacking the small meal of bread, rice, egg, sausage, and Soup. She grinned as they slowly began to have their fill-in silence.

Neither of them mentioned last night, feeling their cheeks burn at the lewd moans and lustful acts they did together. It was especially true in Ren's case due to her walking the Path of the Eight Form, Arctus. The Path of Good and Evil that made her behavior, at times, erratic. And while her actions were her alone, she was sure her lustful side had taken hold of her that night.

Not that she minded. But it was still a little much to speak of it.

"Ren…" Altair called. "What are you doing today?"

"Training. Why?"

"I think you should cancel it." He said, thinking for a moment. "We shouldn't split up today."

'Because of Laros?" Ren said.

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"Heavens no. You could kill him with your presence alone. No. Today marks the start of sponsorship. Powerful sponsors and donors will be touring the base. It is a bit unsafe for you and me to wonder about.

If anything, I'll say polymorph back into a pup."

Ren puffed her cheeks. "Why do I feel you like me more as a wolf than a human?"

Lifting the morning coffee to his lips, Altair grinned mischievously. "I think last night proved otherwise."

Ren's innocent eyes went starry wide, and her cheeks a deep shade of pink. She turned, snorting cutely, unable to deny his words... or his touch.

He smiled, a little jittery at the mention of last night. "Oh, right. The Golden Orb. Do you recognize it?"

Leaning on the counter as she finished the last of her breakfast, Ren nodded. "Yeah… Its Fathers. When we played hide and seek, father used to create these orbs to give me hints on where he was hiding." She said with a faint smile of melancholy. "In this orb… lies a message," she said, shuddering as she sent it into her Draupnir ring.

"You're scared." Altair noticed, lowering his coffee mug.

"You said last time he seemed sad," Ren whispered, shaking. "And every time we talk through the system. He never mentions Mother. So…"

"Then shall we go shopping for resources?"

"Eh?!" she looked up at him, surprised.

Altair laughed. " You always feel better buying various materials for alchemy. Well? Let's do it. Let's buy some. But first, a shower!"

Ren's straight lips curled up as her stomach dipped, watching Altair head into the bathroom. "Art… I think I love you." She whispered, knowing there was no way he could hear her.

Hours later, within the commissary blistering life, Altair and Ren laughed, traveling from vendor to vendor, buying whatever caught the little Nephilim's curious eye. Unbothered by the reckless spending these past few days. He spent another hundred sols on herbs, alongside a poletera of monster parts for Ren.

[Current Balance: 241 Sols ]

'And now I'm a brokie.'

"Don't worry, Art! Ren will make us rich!" She said from the top of his head. Howling with excitement.

Soon, various off-duty soldiers began to howl, mimicking their favorite pup. That had gained quite the reputation on base.

"Awooooo~"

"You people are crazy," Altair muttered, finding himself underestimating people's love for dogs. It was an unbelievable sight watching grown men and women howling like children, but they were all happily chatting amongst one another. Happy to celebrate something.

"Ren has her own fan club," the little Nephilim said, giggling. When she suddenly felt Altair stop, catching sight of Aurora sitting by herself outside a Cafe alone.

"Aurora." Altair greeted.

"Mas— I mean Altair." Aurora grinned, tensing a little. "I was wondering why everyone started to howl. No wonder." She joked, glancing up at Ren. "How are you, my lady?"

"Awesome!"

The blonde-haired noblewoman covered her mouth with an elegant giggle. " I see. Then, are you aware of what happened last night?"

Altair shook his head, and slowly, as he took a seat beside her, Aurora explained the cruelty that befallen Olivia.

"It seems Talia watched it all happen after we dropped Nia off."

"Hells," Altair muttered. "I knew she hated her. I just didn't think it would be to such an extent. Emotions are such intriguing things. Well? Where is Talia now?"

"Consoling her…" smiled Aurora, lifting her coffee to her lips.

"I see. And what made Laros go mad like that? My presence isn't that powerful."

"But it is, or at least it is to people with weak minds, or should I say people who are poorly conditioned. It's not uncommon for high-intensive situations to unravel a person. It's a mental fallacy we humans must come to terms with In Laros' case… and his assault on Olivia. I believe someone might have used a sexual form of conditioning on him. That breakdown was a result of a quick job.

A year, maybe two tops. That's the only thing I can think of."

The Prince tapped his fingers over the table, frowning. "Do I need an alibi?"

"I've already taken care of that master," Aurora assured him with a cold smile. Her eyes filled with foresight. "The moment Talia informed me of this heinous crime. I documented all of your steps and movements, formulating all routes and time to ensure you were innocent. They'll be delivered in the event you are accused."

"We got another scary person." Ren mused. Observing the similarities between Master and servant.

"... and did Talia… by chance record… this alleged crime?"

Aurora didn't immediately answer him, but her silence was more than enough to give him the answer he wanted.

"Good. And how are you doing?" The Prince said, switching things up from such a sour topic.

Aurora hesitated. "I'm … oddly fine with it. It was a little hard at first, knowing I died and came back anew. But this new life of mine feels fulfilled." She looked into her Master's eyes, bowing her head with a tiny grin. "It's enjoyable being with a kind master like you. One who allows such freedom."

'Yeah! Masters, pretty awesome.' Kirr agreed from within his Master's Shadow.

"Oh, by the way, Ma… I mean Altair. Is there anything you require? Money, resources, my family is a—"

"Aurora," Altair smiled, his voice a little firm. "That's all yours. I would never steal from my subjects. That money you have is yours and yours alone. Although, I could use your help."

"I am yours—"

"Aurora!!!!"

Startled by the sudden wail that drew many eyes to where a disheveled man knelt. His head pressed tightly against the ground.

"Please! Take me back!" Vadi said. " I was wrong, ok! I was wrong. But we've been together for nearly eight years! You can't just—"

"Silence," Altair demanded, his words weighted with power.

Vadi did, tensing beneath his presence. That forced the words on his lips back down.

This was the thing that she once loved? Altair scuffed, unable to even fathom the level of depravity one needed to betray their own because of fear. Was life so good it became worth it to sell the only woman you ever loved to the wolves?

Altair couldn't understand it. Nor did he want to.

"As I was saying, I want you to help me build my wealth. But not on Earth but in Genesis. All the Prime Worlds use the same currency, so it makes it easy to journey through the Myriad. I already have an account within Genesis. Mother said it was a good bank, but I want you to handle my finances."

In his eyes, Aurora had longed since proved her worth. He has seen her entire life. New perfectly of her skills, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes.

She was perfect when it came to business.

"You have an account on Genesis?!" Aurora gasped, covering her mouth as she stared Altair down, visibly shaking. "What tier?"

"Third. Pretty good, right?"

Cupping his hands with stars in her eyes, Aurora stared deep into Altair's eyes, wondering if he'd truly understood what having a bank on Genesis meant.

Altair did, thanks to Aurora's knowledge, but he had little time to dive into such matters.

"I'll send you all my info. And you may speak to Ren with a surplus of refined pills all above a purity of…" He glanced at her. " 66%?" and Ren nodded. "Yeah. Far above average. I don't really know what you'll do, but I want you to cover it all."

"Leave it to me, Master '' saluted Aurora with excitement, covering her mouth at her mistake.

"M-m-master?" Vadi muttered.

Altair glanced at him and grinned. "Come by my quarters tonight. So we can discuss."

"No ... No! NOOOO!" Vadi screamed and slammed his forehead against the ground until his blood splattered over the floor in a fine mist. "Don't do this, Aurora. Please… I'll…"

"I'd love to," Aurora said in a flirtatious tone, understanding the assignment. She didn't even glance at Vadi. "But this might take all night."

Altair laughed, lifting the confused Ren onto his shoulder. "Good. Bring refreshments, then. Midnight snacks always tend to be the best." He said, moving past Aurora to Vadi, beating his head over the ground like a madman while everyone watched.

"You're in my way." He said with a vicious smirk.

Vadi shuddered, lifting his head to meet the Prince's gaze, but he couldn't bring himself past his boots. His face burned hotter than the scorching heat emanating from the gruesome laceration over his forehead. He'd never felt such humiliation, and yet... He lowered his head over the pool of blood and scooched to the side.

"Pathetic."