Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Sweat poured from my brow as my breath burned against my throat. Holding my blade, I marveled at the seductive demoness standing with a sweet smile, tainted with a beckoning sin.

narrowing her scarlet eyes, carrying an endless sea of flames, Nira chuckled. "That should be enough. You are getting better, you know. Your improvement is monstrous."

Stabbing my blade into the grass to support my body, I shook my head in complete defeat. It was like my battle with Yami had repeated itself. Her moves were not as swift or precise, but this sparring battle only proved how powerful Yami was. It was a total defeat.

I could not even harm Nira, no matter what I did. She was quick, graceful, and deviant. Her strange weapon that could change into an ax and sword was terrifying, giving me more trouble than I could ever think.

"When I gain this new power... Do you think I will be able to defeat you?" I hesitantly asked, knowing it was a bit wrong of me to inquire. After all, she gave me information for free; Information that could change everything about me.

Nira shot me a sweet smile like she had done so many times, but there was a bit of a challenging light to her this time, "You can try, but I will not give up." She confidently said.

Blinded by that enchanting smile, my heart quivered at the very sight of something I wished to hold but never gain. I didn't know why but I had felt Nira was far out of my league. And I had a fiancee. I could not betray her with another woman.

While having another wife was a common sight, that was not true with women who held a high status. They were not fools; they had pride that would not be lowered, something I respected.

But there was something about Nira I just wanted. Maybe it's the way she carried herself, the way she moved, the way the winds passed through her obsidian hair, or the childish smile she would give me when we ate together. I wanted her.

"We should arrive in about five more months, maybe less. It seems I did not consider shortcuts." Nira quickly said, having caught me staring long enough to make it a bit awkward.

Hastily lowering my gaze, I held onto my blade tighter, with a confused heart. I was not Arsene; I don't just go around having my way with women; I am about to be a married man.

"Yeah," I muttered, somewhat embarrassed. "Oh, have you heard anything from Master? I used his talisman, but he is not responding."

Nira's flush cheeks shook, and her lips grew pursed. "No. He is a busy man, you know." but last I heard, he was preparing for a ritual.

"Is he? Aside from training me a bit, Master Drar never talked about himself. He seems so elusive."

"Same, though out the years, he would come and go like the wind." Nira absentmindedly said, "Even when I was lost in despair, lost in a world a pain, he would only guide my path but never... You know what, never mind."

Noticing her chilling stare that etched off in the dense forest, a coldness I never knew existed came crashing down upon my shoulders. There was a hatred she held, a loathing, that seemed so dark it reminded me of Arsene.

Burning the sweat covering my brow and body with Qi, I spoke out, "Come on. Let's go; there is still a bit of a journey for us."

Sending a glance, the iciness around us faded like snow as she nodded with a vibrant smile, "Let's!"

Quickly following after Nira, it was not long before the forest we had been traveling in had begun to grow denser. Beast I had never seen before that shot terror deep in my heart was all but a common sight, but none attacked due to the talisman Nira held.

The coming months to follow had also been strange, as we had felt the powers of the many strange gods, walked through the territory of monsters on cosmic levels, yet none dared to attack due to master talisman.

I had asked Nira before about Master's cultivation, but even she said she did not know, but she did say I could find out during the trial.

Hiding my misgiving regarding the whole thing, I continued my training with Nira, whose technique was far greater than mine. We sparred every day together, gathered Qi alongside one another, and learned about the circles.

Maybe it was me, but I felt that Arsene was not very proficient in circles, which could give me a bit of an edge. The Celestrial King had once said that Yura was the greatest Circle master he had ever seen despite her cultivation.

Using a circle that would use Karma to force its target to relive all their past injures was a horrendous circle that would kill most people.

I wanted to increase my knowledge regarding circles. While I had never really seen circles used in battle a lot, I had a feeling like they were more destructive than Artes.

"We are here?' Nira suddenly shouted out as my gaze trailed up from the spellbook Nira had given me.

Seeing nothing more than forest and nothing else, I frowned, "What am I suppose to be seeing?"

Shooting me an alluring smile, she giggled, taking me by the hand. Pulling me along, I felt a strange force run across my body as we pushed forward. Watching my surroundings melt away, a large waterfall came into my view, shocking me where I stood.

Raining its misty waters over me, we stood at the base where the lake met with the waterfall. Listening to the falling rushing waters, a cooling warmth rushed from the depths of my blood down and into my soul.

"It's all about to change," I excitedly said, holding Nira's soft jade-like hands tighter. Enjoying her warmth, she nodded, not pulling away to my surprise.

Holding me in her scarlet eyes, her cheeks grew a bit red, "Come," She whispered in a faint squeak.

Pulling me forward, my heart raced faster than when I was at the edge of death. Not wishing for this feeling to end, I stared at the enchantress of my eyes.

Forgive me, Larisa