Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

A/N: Authors Note At End.

A long breath had left my lips as I had become one with the Darkness. A feat I did not consider to be much. Any fool was capable as such. My comprehension had reached a stage where I could be anywhere and anywhere with the Darkness if I had enough power, enough will. A lesson I had only just learned through, not just studying Aegis's Almighty Arte Shadow Step, but rather my soul. The core of all being housing a sense of self.

The Darkness had reeled to my command, and I had never felt more connected to the Darkness. The soul, my soul, was without a doubt a core mechanic I had missed. As a soul bender, I was without a soul, but somehow, I held access to my soul core. I was allowed to use Soulforce, but not Soul Qi. It was with Soul Qi I would be able to Seize the Laws and make them mine.

I twirled my fingers through the night of Enrilia, under the moon of Lunafreya. A mist of Darkness tainted with my Soul Qi, coiled with the hiss of a serpent around my fingers. It slithered down my palm, across my wrist, and up my arm, almost as if it were alive. The Darkness settled over my body, resting over a lone branch. There was an elegance, a gracefulness, in the way the Darkness crept over my body, and I knew it had gained sentience.

"Greetings, Arsene." The Voice of the Dark Mother uttered through the serpent of Darkness around my shoulders. " Congratulations should be in order. You have made it to Noctem. The Realm of Darkness. You have my thanks."

"Tenebrae," I whispered gently, fixing my eye over the serpent. Through the night of endless black weaving under a veil of mystery, amusement glowed.

"My throne awaits you if you choose that path. Upon my throne, you shall sever yourself from my will, and be free, to be one with the Abyss and bring forth a land of Abyssal Night." She said, neither joyful nor sad, "A new path will await you."

"The moon will be tarnished by my blood, stained to forever be a scarlet." I said, pivoting my gaze to the moon of Lunafreya, "This realm, Noctem, will be no more. It will be the start of a new era and bloodlines."

The amusement was washed away, leaving an indifference, "It will be yours, my child, but not yet. Not without the throne of Darkness held by Asmodeus." Tenebrae said, hissing in my ear; the serpent tightened its grip around my waist and shoulders, "You will be at most a Prince. But even so, your authority will be the highest. Enough that you will no longer be my child."

"Does that sadden you?" I saw to say, intrigued by our little discussion. It was not every day I got to speak with the Mother of Darkness, a supreme being.

"Zariel, your brother, I fear. Your little brother had fought to give you the best, Arsene. To gain my help, he severed the light and the dark, ensuing a war that ended in my swift defeat during his rise through the Thirty-Three Heavens. He was like a flame that would never falter. It was not till he broke past the barrier and took his seat as Protector did I bend a knee. Mephisto, Lucifer, Michael, and Gabriel did your brother face one after another as they struggled to halt his rise. Endless war followed him, but he had done it. He had finally made you something envied by creation."

I fell silent, without words, and Tenebrae lifted her gaze to the moon, "Aurelia did something unthinkable, with the help of the Father. You have been blessed, my child. So blessed I cannot find it in me to be sad about your departure."

"Blessed," I muttered, pondering over my years. I was currently resistant to everything and immune to Fire, Darkness, Light, and Lightning. I became invulnerable to light with the natural affinity to Darkness, and the Flames of Hellfire took care of the rest. I was, without a doubt, blessed.

"Something is coming, something so great, I fear even telling you. So I will warn you, seek my throne fast, become a Prince, then King. Time is your friend and enemy, so do not dally my child. Not anymore, not yet. Noctem is yours, Arsene Snow; use what I have built to be yours." She hummed, and the body of the Serpent of Darkness fell into a rain of mist, fluttering away with a gust of wind, into the vast expanse.

Holding my chest, a faint echo of sadness seemed to slip in as I knew I was about to lose something. Something precious. I swiftly rose to my feet, lept off the branch, and bowed, "Thank you, Tenebrae, the Night Mother. Thank you for everything."

The Darkness had rippled, and the Will of Darkness was no more.

Standing there for a while, somewhat lost in thought, the light of Lunafreya once more landed on me. Shimmering a silver beyond a brilliance, I bowed my head and turned my back; I opened my hand, and a supernatural force stretched far and wide, reaching over the very planet of Enrilia.

My mind trailed past the City of Corsem, north towards a lone temple that rippled with the image of the Temple of Eternal Night. I held the image in my mind and pulled myself in, opening my eyes. I had found myself there, standing a kilometers away, heavily drained.

I staggered to a nearby tree, my cheeks laid over its hash bark as I gazed wearily at the Temple that I would never forget. It was the same Temple I saw Balor reside in. Images seemed to stir, and my heart slowly began to calm. Yet my mind was far too fragile to continue my journey.

Sitting in the lotus position, the Path of Abyssal Night slowly began to take root in my mind. Soothing sore thoughts plagued with fatigue, hours seemed to slip away, like seconds, but once my eyes opened, I was whole once more.

"You ought to be careful when using Rule," Said Aegis gravely, "At least till you gather some soul pills and whatnot. Star-Lords are so weak. It's pathetic. "

'Never mind that,' I said, opening my heart to a new night, "We are here and ready."