Shadow of the Abyss

It was the zenith of twilight; the flickers of shadows and flames stirred Kirr awake within his hut he'd fashioned out of leaves, mud, and stone. Holding enough room for barely two.

"Sir." A guardsman whispered with a trimmer in his voice, frightened by the monster in the dark. "Sir. You must wake. I've news. Sir."

"There'd better be someone dead.", barked Kirr, opening his foggy eyes, reminiscent of the dreams he once held.

"We found Brad and Rick. Their heads were severed in a single blow. It's a fucken mess out there. We need—"

"What," Kirr said hard. Any sort of drowsiness was gone. He rose like a coming storm. His scarred flesh, tattered and cracked, appearing as though hounds had once ravaged it, flashed through the guardsman's naked eyes.

"When was this?"

"Based on decomposition. Sixteen hours ago." Said the guardsman.

"Sixteen hours… they've been missing for sixteen hours, and you're only now realizing they're dead? What was Cal doing?!" Demanded Kirr coldly, seething a ball of flames in his chest. He was his second in command. He was one who was supposed to be looking after the camp when he was indisposed. "Explain. You'll explain it all."

In the following minutes, as Kirr dawned his furs listening intently, his scarred features contorted into that of a Demon.

"FOOLS!" He roared, barking like a deranged beast, snatching the guardsman by the throat in one fell swoop. Hot piss drenched the guardsman's trousers as his veins protruded against his temple." Is the only thing you bastards think about is wetting your fucking cocks? Blasted fools. Did it ever occur to you that I'd inform you of a delivery before it arrived?

Or the fact there was a grown-ass woman alongside children. They are probably purebloods or that blasted child that snuck in a few months ago. Fuck. Do you all ever think!"

By the time Kirr had released the young guardsman, slobber pooled around his callous palms. Kirr stormed out of his hut, uncaring of his fellow man. He barked out orders.

"Ready a search party! I want them brought back alive! If so much as a scratch appears on them, I'll hang you from your bloody cocks!"

…

…

…

Drenched with sweat, Altair and Riena soldier on through the exhaustion. Planting one foot in front of the other, they bore through the sizzling pain ringing through their minds as the only thoughts on their heads were to press on. There had been hours that Altair and Riena had questioned whether they had run far enough. Questioned whether their bodies could continue.

But as they looked at one another. Altair and Reina shared a single thought.

"If he(she) can keep going… So can I."

Mused by an intangible force, the two pushed themselves well past their physical limit, but neither of them dared to show weakness towards the other. They only smiled as they measured the other.

It wasn't until the day the following dawn that Luna appeared with a scolding frown: "Two dummies. Did you two run for nearly two days simply to outdo the other?" She flicked the two on the forehead before tossing them some jerky. "Eat and go to sleep. I'll stand guard."

Altair frowned at the hypocrisy as his chest hammered away, burning as he clenched it: "Gods aren't allowed to inter—"

"Eat and sleep," Luna said sternly. "Or do I have to beat you till you faint?"

"You wouldn't—"

"You defiant little shit. You're bearly able to stay awake. And unless Riena has more Balms for the two of you to consume. You are on your last leg. Let me ask you, Mr. Altair if you were to fight right now.

Would you be able to defeat a black mamba as you are right now? Boy, you can't even clench your fist. "

Altair clenched his mouth shut. She was right. The moment he stopped, Altair had felt every ligament down to the bone strained to the limit. It was as though a battering ram struck him the moment he stopped for rest. He was done.

"I know what you are concerned about. And I admire your suspicion. No, I commend it. Truly. But you need to also realize… You are in many ways at my mercy." She said, amused by the vigilant gleam in his eyes. "Next time, keep what you have to say in your heart.

Never let your opponent know what you're thinking. And I am your opponent, Altair. Everyone is. Secrets keep us alive. Remember that."

This wasn't the first time Luna had raised someone into godhood. She'd taught scores of them. And in all her lessons, there was but a singular skill shared amongst her students.

And that was to mask one's self.

As a god who carries the Divinity of Secrets, Lunafreya was privy to the Myriad Heaven's most secrets of secrets. To her, it didn't matter how small the secret was… Knowledge was power. It was an absolute force of reckoning that held no limit but the limitation of one's imagination.

"The art of manipulation is something I will instill in you, my dear little brother. And you will not like it. But life is all about manipulation. I've taught the best of the best. And you will be the best."

To claim Altair didn't understand what Luna was speaking of would be a lie. He understood well. But he didn't like it. From the deepest pit of his stomach, Altair felt a sensation of loath of being toyed with. And while he understood his Big Sis meant no harm. Nevertheless, Altair couldn't stop himself from somewhat hating her.

"I… Understand." He whispered.

"Smile," she replied, stuffing his mouth full of jerky. "A simple smile can hide a hundred emotions. Remember that."

Altair said nothing; rather, he nodded and gave a smile sharper than any sword.

"Good." she thought softly, masking the hollow sensation in her gut. 'Sorry, little Art. But this is for your own good. Your Father is an utter bastard. One who has too many enemies to count. So I'll make sure you suffer now so that when you go out into the world, you can genuinely smile.' She ran her hands through his hair and kissed his cheek.

"Have a good sleep. You deserve it. You did a good job protecting Riena, even if she didn't need it. You did well."

Altair glanced at Riena eating with a drowsy expression and gave a genuine smile befitting his age.

"Good."

…

…

…

"Have you found em'" asked Kirr grimly upon horseback, his wild hair fluttering wildly through the winds.

"No, Sir. Seemed they were alternating through the tree and by ground, tracking them will take longer then—"

"Enough. Just tell me a time." Interrupted Kirr, soothing his steed.

"Few days at the most," said Cal, peering over the horizon, frowning. "They're kids, so they shouldn't have been able to travel far."

"There was a report of a third person." Said Kirr, noticing the absence in Cal's report.

Cal could only shake his head. "Only two tracks, boss. So unless she can fly or if she was even real in the first place. I don't see shit. But we got bigger issues, Boss. The direction they fled to." he paused, peering towards the northwest.

"It's in the direction of the Factory. "