The carriage rumbled continuously, and the sun was still up high in the sky. Amma was back again at the coachman's seat, whistling. However, Tenebrosia yet again pondered. A conspiracy must be happening within, but that is, alas, a possibility and not a fact. The dilemma of going back to Windstrew for her own worries would take too long.
Would I return to warn the others of the attack on Rindsow? But that would let the demon free, continuing its rampage at the foot of the Moirai Summits. I could summon a demonic fiend to accompany the others, yet I don't trust my "infernal partners" enough to look after a child. But if I continue forward, Windstrew may be in danger. I can't leave the child here alone under the care of the Mayuno, more dangerous beasts beyond its capabilities inhabit these colder regions, the further they go north; Tenebrosia pondered. She looked at the grimy, brown map on the carriage's wall and looked at the window. The Maiden noticed trees ahead – their leaves were brown, and some trees had pink blossoms, with critters around being either birds with thick feathers or small mammals with thick fur; insects were now rare, as they couldn't survive the cold wind of the northern regions – the breeze had also become cooler. The woman knew they were approaching closer to the snowy tundras, and the Moirai Summits were only days more ahead.
However, the carriage paused. Amma, who pulled the carriage with her great strength, paused and let out heavy huffs. "What's wrong, boy?" Sekai spoke through the small windowsill as the Mayuno stood its ground, still huffing and letting out small, trumpet-like noises with its trunk. Then, the shriek of a large beast made its presence known in the sky, causing Tenebrosia to immediately slam the door open and jump out, closing the door behind her. As the wind began picking up, Tenebrosia looked up to see a horrifying yet grandiose sight. A gargantuan angel, taking the form of a pale dragon with its wings alone covering dozens of acres, its features are covered in banglets of halos, jewels, and marbled statues of men and women stuck across its abdomen, flew across the skies with a trail of strong winds following its movement. This caused the carriage to rumble softly, and caused Sekai, who was inside, to yelp. The angel seems to be directing itself to the Moirai Summits.
What exactly is going on in those mountains? An angel that size is also impossible to summon for a Cardinal of Light alone, Tenebrosia thought. "What was that?!" yelped Sekai within the carriage. "An angel," the Maiden quickly replied, her hands on her hips, and was unexpectedly composed. "An angel?! That massive?!" Sekai gasped. "Yes, my dear. Whatever is going on in those mountains must be something catastrophic," despite the damning revelation, Tenebrosia continued to remain calm. "How can you be so calm about such a thing?" Sekai's voice made itself heard, his tone nervous, and Amma huffed. "Have I mentioned there is a giant demon in those mountains?" Tenebrosia spoke, and this caused Sekai to panic. "A demon?! You never told me–" he was interrupted by being hushed by his pedagogue. "You'd be safe with me– besides, heaven and hell usually come for each other's throats. Those two would rumble and tire themselves out if they ever encountered one another," Tenebrosia explained. Sekai's mouth came to a close. If he were to really train under the wing of a Maiden– especially a champion of the clan– and learn their arts, he thought he should probably stay with his pedagogue.
…
The two were off the road again, and the wind got colder. The trio was more careful as they approached the north; the three expected more dangerous creatures and harsher environments. The Maiden then looked once more at the map; there was a nearby ruin in just mere miles: the Paradigm Observatory. The carriage still moved, but Tenebrosia experienced another glimpse of a lost memory at the back of her head.
…
The moment to attend the gathering to appoint Ragena as Director of the Sombre Arts at the heart of Windstrew– the Conjuration Parliament– is today. All the Maidens were preparing for the journey ahead to the capital of Galamona: Windstrew. Noticeably of the grown women, Malika and Taralon, were already in the carriage personally sent by the kingdom. The other seven Maidens were already there, too. Ragena looked at the children; she was the last to join the others. The adopted orphans they've all taken under their wing were standing, observing, and listening from the front porch of the house. Tenebrosia, who still had the golden pendant of the rose hanging loosely on her belt, received a lovely pat from Ragena. "We'll be back in two weeks," she then looked at all the children– most in their adolescence already– "use all of your magic responsibly," Ragena demanded an answer based on her juxtaposed, gentle presence. All of them, including Tenebrosia, answered with a yes. "Good," Ragena spoke. She gave them one last smile before turning and descending the small set of stairs. "Ta-da, my dears. We've provided enough food for you, so don't go hunting and misuse your mana!" The kind Maiden laughed, and all the children waved goodbye, as well as Tenebrosia. The regal carriage, pulled by two Mayunos, set off.
–-
The Maidens had long gone, and the children were quite behaved; unsurprising due to how Ragena and the others taught them the idea of discipline being one of the many core principles they've taught their students. Silent chatterings barely cut through the quiet void, and others read books of historical or magical knowledge. The older ones were beginning to light up the magical lamps with basic spells, as it was beginning to darken, the other older ones were beginning to bake jam boules and cook skewered boar meat with foraged greens and mushrooms on a simple furnace. Tenebrosia, however, was reading the legend of the Seven Seers and the creation of the universe, according to Maiden myth.
'In the annals of forgotten time, where whispers of ancient lore echo through the ages, there existed the fabled Seven Seers, mighty descendants of the towering Nephilim, destined to preside over the primordial elements of creation. They were the illustrious descendants of the Seven, born from the very essence of existence. In the beginning, there thrived the Father of Light, resplendent and radiant, and the Mother of Darkness, enigmatic and profound; the founding Nephilim. United in an exquisite embrace of chaotic harmony, they set the celestial stage for the unfolding of destiny.
But alas, from this unity arose the harrowing clash of Armageddon, a titanic battle that rent the heavens asunder, casting the divine pair into opposing realms, and heralding the genesis of the five; the rest of the Nephilim– the esteemed progenitors of the fundamental elements, each a master of their own domain. The Father ascended to reign over the ethereal skies, while the Mother descended to rule the shadowy depths below. With the remnants of chaos as their canvas, the Five wove the intricate tapestry of the universe, birthing not just worlds, but reflections upon reflections, an infinite expanse of realities under the palm of their elements. Together, the monumental septet formed the world.
Yet, amidst the unfolding saga, the Seven Seers emerged—the first of the immortals destined to tread upon the sacred lands of existence. They've built the looming Paradigm Observatory—a hallowed landmark steeped in legends, where it is said that the Seven Seers beheld this chaotic world's intricate dance of magic. There, entwined with the pulsating heart of the Hydra, they forged a bond with the Nephilim, their combined essence forming the timeless power that symbolized the seven components of existence. From their cathedras, they watched, with bated breath, as history unfolded—a tapestry woven with threads of grandeur and mystery, echoing through the corridors of time.
Among them shone the Unlighted One, the Sombre Immortal, an awe-inspiring matriarch endowed with boundless power. She became the revered progenitor of the Sombre Arts, establishing the very foundations of the clan of the Maidens of Darkness. In an act of sublime sacrifice, she relinquished her immortality and corporeal form, ascending to the transcendent realm of Tiamagahera, forever entwined with her fellow Seers, as they embraced their collective fate…'
"This gave me a migraine…" A younger one, a Paragos, gripped her tail from the tale's grandeur, way of writing. "What happened after that, the Seven Seers?" asked another younger one who sat right next to a young Tenebrosia, who continued to hold the dusty book, its leather cover felt coarse on her fingers. "No one knows, it's a myth… so take it as nothing more than a legend," Tenebrosia replied. "The Paradigm Observatory– I've been there before, Elder Ragena brought me in! It was in ruins!" A young girl, a Padomas, sat right across the room, playing with her stuffed toy of a rabbit. "How was it?" Tenebrosia asked, and this piqued the interest of the younger ones. "Abandoned. The cold parts of the north weren't fun, so bandits there don't even want to linger around!" The girl said with glee, and this gave Tenebrosia pause to stare at her with confusion, but she never minded it.
Tenebrosia closed the book as she wanted to eat. The older children came with their plate of food to the children—
MY BELOVED, LITTLE WITCH…
…
The memory fogged. Tenebrosia at the present gripped one side of her head, but she remained composed. Her history was blurred, whether it be external forces or another truthful memory, perhaps. Tenebrosia didn't want to make the boy see her as dangerous if she lost her mind here; the disembodied voice in her mind continued to talk in an echoing voice–
YOU APPROACH CLOSER, CLOSER WITHIN THE PATH OF CATHEDRA. MY SWEET, PRIZED CHILD. SOON, YOU WILL LEARN. SOON YOU WILL SEE…
Tenebrosia shook the thought with a silent gasp. She looked to her side and saw Sekai at the coachman's seat. The bogie still rumbled, and the carriage moved further. Tenebrosia sighed and looked at the small window. Then, she saw a glimpse of the ruins from afar: the ruined, barely recognizable Paradigm Observatory at a crater located in an open space without trees. The only thing that made Tenebrosia remember it was what it was were the seven, also destroyed towers that surrounded the giant, abandoned dome– its once azure roof turned to worn, deep blue.
There was a rubble path that detoured from their road leading to the ruined Observatory. The Maiden remembered these parts are abandoned, and that common bandits wouldn't dare to venture to a place of ancient magic, for the landmark was of the unknown arcana and was feared by common mortals who aren't familiar with the arts, especially when it's a remnant of the past. Tenebrosia nudged Sekai with her gloved right hand. "Take that worn road, we'd camp there." "It's a bit eerie… should we?" Sekai replied, but the Maiden chuckled. "Scared, little one? I'd expect more bravery from my student." The boy huffed, his cheeks red in embarrassment, and did not want to hurt his adorable ego. Instead, the boy took a deep breath (which Tenebrosia noticed, earning an amused smirk from her) and spoke. "Alright, miss! I'm a brave Padomas! And a Padomas never backs down!" Sekai refuted in a confident tone. The Maiden laughed and, without a word, turned her back.
…
Short moments later, the carriage arrived at the abandoned Paradigm Observatory. The carriage's hardwood door burst open, and Sekai immediately ran off while holding the stick he used earlier this morning. Tenebrosia soon followed, her height forcing her to bend down the small doorway of the bogie. The carriage itself was idled, positioned at a heap of boulders that rested in the open field. The massive, grassy space contained many heaps of small rocks, to heaps of boulders similar in size like where the carriage idled by. Within the field, chunks of the ruined buildings around were also scattered. The sun began to descend, and the heavens turned to an orange hue, with the clouds the color of light purple.
Tenebrosia immediately noticed Sekai loosening the riveted, hardwood rods that connected to Amma's saddle, letting the creature wander from the burden of the carriage, from dragging it. The Mayuno rested on the soft grass patches while leaning one of its sides on the heap of boulders. The three set up camp: Tenebrosia quickly gathered firewood by bashing a tree and flawlessly cleaved it, comically leaving the vast leftovers nearby a river for any critters of the forests who would like to use it. Sekai set up the campfire, immediately thinking of food and meals, throwing sacks of vegetables and meat nearby as the boy waited for his pedagogue to light up the fire with her magic– and so she did it.
As Sekai cooked his own, Tenebrosia stood nearby, looking up at the seven ruined towers, and finally, the gargantuan dome that sat in the center. However, something is calling her to go within the dome… a vision struck her mind as if reality around her began to unravel, and she was in reverie. The Maiden's head felt like it was struck by a gigantic needle that pierced right through her.
The seven towers were now in their once proper glory. She saw five of the Seven Seers at the top of their respective towers, exerting their respective elements on the dome– the Paradigm Observatory itself. Within the vision, the ground had runes that glowed rigorously, and the world itself seemingly shook. The two towers– connected– that loomed over the other five, stood a woman in a black veil and a man radiating holiness, holding their hands together. In a flash of epic power, Elysium's gates opened from the left where the man was standing, and at the right, Hades' gates roared. Two contrasting powers… that veiled woman must be the Unlighted One. From Elsyium descends the seraphs, cherubs– angels blew their horns and holy might. From Hades crawled demons, roaring in horrific power. Angels and demons flocked to the skies and the grounds, screaming, roaring, singing in unison. The skies are torn asunder, and at the top of the dome sat a gigantic heart of pure, transcendental magic. The Hydra itself, releasing a pure beam of mana that bursts through the heavens.
FOR WE FULFILL OUR OBLIGATIONS WITH UNYIELDING FIDELITY,
AND IN THAT SACRED PLEDGE, WE HAVE TRIUMPHED.
FOR WE STAND AS SOVEREIGN GUARDIANS OF AN AGE YET TO UNFOLD,
AND IN THAT PURIFIED GUARDIANSHIP, WE HAVE TRIUMPHED.
FOR WE, THE SEVEN—ECHOES OF CREATION ITSELF, DESCENDANTS OF THE MIGHTY ONES—
HAVE BREATHED LIFE INTO EXISTENCE AS AN ETERNAL MANIFESTATION.
NOW, WE MUST ASCEND TO A HIGHER PLANE, A REALM OF TRANSCENDENT GLORY.
FOR WHAT WE LEFT BEHIND IS THE VERY BROOD OF LIFE,
AND IN THAT SACRIFICIAL GIFT, CREATION SHALL FOREVER PERSIST.
FOR WE ASCEND AS A DIVINE REWARD,
TOWARDS A GREATER REVELATION OF LIFE, A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING UNBOUND.
The extremely reality-bending ritual itself warped everything around– reality began to warp, and rifts of space leaked into the skies. Time became nonlinear as time became malleable, and the environment became unstable. Past, present, future… became more of a suggestion.
Then, the Hydra exploded… causing reality to unfurl, and an apocalyptic power struck this realm. And as fast as the destruction was, as quickly as creation came. The world immediately healed, but the Paradigm Observatory itself was in ruins. Was the vision Tenebrosia saw a fact? Or was the place a displacement in the flow of time?
–
The Maiden snapped from the vision, panting and groaning silently in pain. Tenebrosia grasped her face, but there was no blood from her nose. 'Such a vision would've killed me by now, how…' the woman was shaken, how was she still alive if such a vision is fatal, even to the powerful of the arcana itself. She immediately turned around, and fortunately, Sekai was too busy preparing his food. Tenebrosia suddenly felt a surge of fatigue, but she was confused. Her use of mana allows her to sustain herself without food or sleep. What's even more unusual is her rapid resurgence from the disturbing vision she saw. What was happening was the thought inside Tenebrosia's thoughts. Her history a blur; she herself was a blur. The Maiden didn't even know herself at this point. However, she must remain composed. What if she suddenly collapses and leaves Sekai and Amma to their own devices? Tenebrosia knew there was something she needed to uncover in the observatory.
The hanging cauldron that hung lazily above the campfire boiled porcinesimmer stew; a hearty, heavy brown pottage that floated boar meat and vegetables. Sekai took a bowl and spoon, both made of polished hardwood, which were slightly wet from the water of the nearby river, as the Padomas boy washed all the utensils and platters there. Sekai grabbed the wooden ladle and acquired a hearty amount of the porcinesimmer stew with it, directly putting it all into his own bowl. Tenebrosia came back to the camp and noticed Sekai rigorously eating his meal with his spoon, clearly hungry. Amma, on the other hand, was already fast asleep. Its snores and huffs are gentle and in sync with the wind.
"Are you hungry, miss? Want a bowl?" Sekai offered a bowl, but Tenebrosia simply replied with: "I'm alright. You finish it." "But I haven't seen you eat throughout our journey!" Sekai protested, yet the Maiden continued to decline with a gentle yet stern tone. "I don't need food, nor rest. Mana sustains me with my level of power… that is terrifying for a child to hear." The Maiden laughed as she leaned on a rock. "No, I think that's amazing! I mean, you wouldn't need to struggle with an empty stomach in a battle!" Sekai's lit of admiration, and the Maiden recorporate that with a silent chuckle.
Sekai eventually finished his meal and drank water from his flask, then poured it on his wooden bowl and spoon to clean them. "Now begins your second lesson, little one." Tenebrosia's back was facing Sekai, as the former looked up to the looming and gargantuan observatory. "But we did one earlier this noon!" The Padomas boy stood up, holding his staff. "Teaching you the core principles first, actions later, is where you'd learn the art of the Maidens. Besides, you'll face more dangerous foes than a simple beast," the Maiden replied and faced Sekai. "Are you coming?" The tone Tenebrosia gave was more of an order laced with sarcastic questioning, yet never failed to deliver in a gentle tone. Sekai just sighed and nodded. She is, indeed, his pedagogue. A teacher of incredible power who can teach him his potential power of epic proportions.
The Padomas held his wooden staff and nodded. Tenebrosia smirked and gave him one pat on the head. "Good. Prepare yourself, we'll be back in an hour or so." The Maiden said, before heading off first. Sekai looked back and paused, observing the resting Amma. He placed one hand on one of its tusks, and he soon headed off, catching up to the Maiden, who was already near the Paradigm Observatory.
As soon as the two stood at the ruined gates of the observatory, ancient magic was felt around them. Sekai was initially fearful of the ordeal; however, with Tenebrosia accompanying him, his worries lessened. The gates themselves were gargantuan, fivefold larger than the gates of a castle. The stone gates itself was already ruins, and pieces of it– remnants of what it once was– lay on the inside and exactly outside, making access easier. "At least I won't forcefully bash it with my fists," Tenebrosia jested, earning a laugh from the two. The duo entered the observatory, and the interior itself was only illuminated by the moonlight from the open spherical ceiling in the middle of the massive architecture. Below it was a slightly elevated, spherical platform, rests an open well with seven statues of the Seven Seers surrounding it; the entire spectacle was covered in vines and blooming flowers. Seven pillars rest upon the edges of the spherical platform, where seven respective, unlit, wall-mounted cressets rest upon each pillar.
The sight already made Sekai wary of the place; his ears were down, and his fluffy tail stopped wagging as he held his staff tightly in his right hand. "Lesson two, be unwavering as a mountain to a storm, even in the face of fear and even in defeat." Tenebrosia's voice echoed throughout the room as she had her hands on her hips. This caused Sekai to look up at the tall Maiden, with the latter continuing to speak: "Concentration is required as much as possible in battle, for you, your weapon, and magic are one. That, little one, is the way of the Sombre. Understand?" Sekai nodded, and Tenebrosia continued. "Whatever we may find in this place, be ready and don't be shaken, no matter how powerful it is."
The two then approached the center of the room: the well itself. Sekai was right behind the Maiden, still holding his staff. From the Maiden's perspective, she looked down at the body of water. It was faintly glowing… a residue of the ancient arcana, perhaps. The Maiden dipped her gloved hand in the shallow well and activated her magic to be felt. This caused all the unlit cressets to suddenly summon flames, their colors blue. The unexpected fire caused Sekai to comically jump and point his staff at the cressets, immediately putting it down when he deemed it harmless. "Maliflame," Tenebrosia muttered, unaware of Sekai's antics, stood up, waving her now wet, gloved hand. The Padomas boy, now calm, spoke. "Maliflame?" He asked, Tenebrosia looked at the seven surrounding cressets, as well as all the cressets of the observatory's massive halls, and caused the architecture to be lighted properly and entirely. "Magical flames used to signify that the veil between us, angels, and demons is extremely weak. Be on your guard." Tenebrosia moved forward to a lit hallway in the north. Sekai snapped from his thoughts, be on his guard? No matter, the boy followed his pedagogue while maintaining his defenses. "What do you mean, miss…?" The boy asks with worry, but less than he was initially the moment they entered the observatory earlier. "Demons and angels can invade here any moment; keep close." The Maiden continued to walk further with Sekai keeping close to her. The veil is extremely weak here; something is wrong. The lumen magic must've shrunken more. The air felt more demonic.
The voice within Tenebrosia's mind became clearer…
ONCE I WAS, WE'D SOON BE ONE. ONCE I WAS, YOU'D BE CHOSEN. I APPROACH CLOSER. YOU AND I ARE NOT SO DIFFERENT, CHILD. YOU'LL SOON SEE.
Moments later, the duo reached the end of the hallway, the voice leading her to the gargantuan statue of the Unlightened One. Something is wrong. Very wrong. Tenebrosia kept Sekai close to her. "Little one," Tenebrosia spoke. Sekai, who was inhaling and exhaling deeply, stayed close to her. The magical waves felt stronger; it was felt even to an untapped individual like the Padomas boy by the arcana means. "Yes, miss?" Sekai finally replied, his voice worried. "Prepare yourself," Tenebrosia spoke.
Suddenly, the hallway was blocked by a magical seal, and the entire room was lit in yellow. There were runes of the angels throughout; however, it was intersected with a Maiden's. From the ceiling descended an angel of grotesque proportions through a portal. An angelic mass of faces, tentacles, and serpents, all attached to a gigantic, marbled face adorned in gold, made itself known, as well as other angelic soldiers accompanying its summoning.
"MAIDEN OF DARKNESS, THE MASKED SIGNORA DEMANDS YOUR PRESENCE. SHE GROWS IMPATIENT, AND I MUST FULFILL MY PROMISE TO HER DEMANDS. YOU ARE DISTRACTED BY A CHILD'S MEDDLING. THAT BEAST OF A LAD SLOWS YOU. I, PROVIDENTIA, A SERAPHIM OF HEAVEN, SHALL GUIDE YOU TO A PATH FREE OF SUCH MEASLY THINGS. FOR NOW SHE REQUIRES YOUR PRESENCE THIS INSTANT!"
Sekai jumped and immediately hid behind the unwavered Tenebrosia, who simply looked at the nightmarish, contradicting angelic entity. "And why should I?" Her voice was snarky and witty, insulting to the face of a high-ranking Seraph. "I'm too concerned with other things on my own terms; perhaps you're forgetting what I'm capable of?"
Suddenly, another unexpected occurrence happened. From Tenebrosia and Sekai's rear, a giant pool of red, demonic sludge appeared on the floor. It ascended a demon of great proportions—a Hell Knight, along with other lesser demons. The Hell Knight was slightly smaller in size than the Seraph, but it towers over Tenebrosia nonetheless.
"WE WILL FORCE YOU. NO MATTER. THE BOY IS TO BE SLAUGHTERED, AND WE WILL TAKE WHAT SHE DEMANDS." The Hell Knight spoke, summoning its gargantuan, great sword adorned with bones and dripping blood. From the middle of its blade, intensely glowed a moving line containing velvet magic.
Sekai was visibly shaking; however, Tenebrosia picked the boy up by the back of his shirt. "Remember to dodge, make use of our first training for this second one." The Maiden spoke, and Sekai, with dangling feet, looked at her with confusion and fear. Tenebrosia smirked, "Trust me, you'd be safe." The woman said. In the blink of an eye, Tenebrosia manifested multiple lariats formed by magic to pull in every lesser angel and demon present in the massive chamber with her free hand, from both left and right. She hurled all of them into an open space, crashing into a pillar. The Maiden then locked eyes with Sekai's who was dangling on her other hand, and hurled the boy at the angels and demons. Unknowingly to the boy, Tenebrosia tucked a talisman into his belt.
Free of their support, Tenebrosia is left to deal with the respective angelic and demonic commanders who were present in the room: the Seraphim and the Hell Knight. "Pick someone your own size, dearies. It's unfair to pick on the little ones first. How about you pick on me instead?" Tenebrosia's voice was sultry, summoning her clocktower-dollhouse weapon, Chateau Scapegrace, and equipping it on her right hand. Her taunt was enough to anger both sides, causing the two to charge at her. The Seraphim charged at the woman with its serpent heads and tentacles, along with its giant, marbled face. The Hell Knight, too, began dragging its gargantuan sword with one of its hands, sprinting at the woman. Tenebrosia, by the last moment, jumped high and caused the two powerful commanders to halt and follow her movement. Finally, Tenebrosia summoned her demonic pact. "MACALGE!" The Maiden chants, and a portal appeared behind the Hell Knight. Out came a giant demoness with pale, purple skin that rivaled the height of the Hell Knight. The demoness was adorned in revealing armor with its design centering around dragonflies, and her nails were tinted black. She wore a headpiece that resembled the horns of a ram, along with the silhouette of a dragonfly's wings. The Hell Knight notices this and tries to swiftly swing its gargantuan sword at its newly introduced rival. However, the demoness laughed in an eerie tone, quickly kicking the Hell Knight in its face and causing it to tumble. Tenebrosia was against the Seraphim with a confident stance…
—
THE SCROLLS OF REVELATIONS
[Mistress Hecate, the Fist of Mayhem]
A woman from ancient times was cursed by the corruption of hell after the gates of heaven closed on her ascension, with her soul's defilement granting demonic power.
With Hades being an unforgiving, infinitesimal realm, where power reigns over the weak, Hecate became a rising power, where many of hell's titans in power both fear and respect the fallen soul of the woman.
Those who are brave enough to make a concordat with this powerful demoness for sacrificed souls shall be granted deadly cunning and prowess that's able to shake a realm itself.
—
Sekai landed on his feet, holding his staff. He was still shaking as the lesser angels and demons began to stand up, amplifying the boy's fear. One of the angels immediately tried to strike the boy with its holy spear, but when Sekai tried to spar back with his staff, the stick released a spectral being that began to maul the angel who tried to harm him. Sekai's fear was then overpowered by the reassurance that he could go against his adversaries. Two angels and two demons tried to attack him, but Sekai dodged them, using his training from this morning and against the Bogg'Garok earlier as a guide. The Padomas boy smacked one of the angels with his staff, only expecting a light tap, but this caused the angel to be thrown against the wall, tumbling and crashing. Sekai looked at his staff, and it was surrounded by a magical, dark aura. He finally noticed the talisman on his belt; this must be the reason why his pedagogue wanted the boy to trust her. This surge of empowerment gave Sekai the confidence to take down his foes.
Tenebrosia stood against the gargantuan angel, whose mass and appendages combined almost filled one wall of the chamber. "INSOLENT FOOL. DO NOT TRY TO RESIST, FOR THE PROMISED BIRTH OF A NEW AGE IS NIGH." The deep, rumbling voice of the Seraphim echoed, charging its many appendages at the Maiden. The serpent heads hissed, and the tentacles rushed themselves to the Maiden. Tenebrosia swiftly avoided it, having anticipated the incoming strike. Landing on one of the black tentacles, she ran on the long limb and rushed at the Seraphim. The serpentine heads and the other tentacles rushed and chased the Maiden's swiftness, while the appendage Tenebrosia was rushing on, began to violently shake as an attempt to force the woman to fall over. However, her feet remained balanced on the tentacle as she rushed at incredible speed to the Seraphim's marbled face. As the serpent heads and tentacles closed in, Tenebrosia avoided each with flair and with flawless acrobatics. The side of her eyes caught the head, preparing to fire a blast of holy light from its mouth; its eyes were illuminated by a yellow glow. Tenebrosia caught this by the side of her eye and smirked. Once the light blasted and burnt the direction it was directing at, its appendages were immune to it. Tenebrosia was missing after the long blast, causing the marbled head of the Seraphim to be filled with confusion. Its serpent heads became immensely cautious; however, it was too late to notice the Maiden.
"You see, that's no way to speak or act around a lady. You deserve a beating for that, don't you?" Tenebrosia suddenly descends right in front of the marbled face of the Seraphim, landing right on its nose. The Maiden, still equipped with her Chateau Scapegrace, pierced its sharpened roof on one of its eyes, piercing the marbled exterior and right to the angelic, bloody flesh of the divine commander. This caused the Seraphim to roar in enraged pain, its deep voice shook the entire chamber. Tenebrosia smirked, well aware that her violent assault angered the Seraphim. It was as she expected.
The Seraphim roared once more, and its marbled face became twisted and began shattering on itself. Tenebrosia quickly removed the now-bloody Chateau Scapegrace from its damaged eye and jumped back down. As she descended, the Seraphim continued to roar, and its now marbled face is gone, revealing an even more abominable face. Twisting eyes, flesh, and mouths shrieked and bellowed deeply. The divine Seraphim rumbled in anger. "YOU IMPUDENT WENCH! YOU HAVE INCURRED MY WRATH, AND SO IT SHALL BE MADE MANIFEST AS A CONSEQUENCE OF YOUR IMBECLIC CHOICES!" The entire chamber shook as the writhing mass of flesh began to glow intensely yellow, preparing to blast the entire chamber. Wanting to keep the Maiden alive, the Seraphim summoned a shield around the Maiden. However, Tenebrosia remained composed and looked back. Through the yellow hues of the barrier, Hecate was finishing off the Hell Knight by brutally ripping the now-weakened demon limb by limb. The giant demoness acquired its gargantuan sword and smiled ferociously at her Maiden. The demoness shattered the barrier with just its massive fist. This caused Tenebrosia to take action, as she immediately leaped to the Seraphim who was about to fire the blast itself. Hecate threw the Hell Knight's demonic, colossal sword in Tenebrosia's direction, and the Maiden grabbed its gigantic grip, charging the weapon directly at the mass of flesh of the Seraphim. With an eerie, composed expression, Tenebrosia simply smirked as the sharp, gargantuan sword thrusted forward.
The sword directly hit the center of the exposed flesh of the Seraphim, causing the divine commander to roar in pain and halt its incoming blast. Tenebrosia landed on the ground and winked. Hecate soon followed, leaping forward with her immense size, pulling the gargantuan sword from the Seraphim's flesh slightly, before piercing it with ruthlessness again and again. In a final attack, the demoness pulled the sword at its farthest and pierced deeply. Hecate leaped backward, standing right behind the smaller Tenebrosia. Her heels caused a heavy thump. Hecate, satisfied with the entertainment of the battle, unmanifested, leaving floating, glowing purple petals. The Seraphim, however, simply laughed.
"SHE FORETOLD US YOUR IMMENSE POWER, AND HER WORD IS TRUTH. AN AMUSING BATTLE IT WAS, FOOLISH WOMAN. MY DEATH IS NOTHING MORE THAN A SIMPLE SACRIFICE IN THE NAME OF A NEW AGE. SHE PROMISES A NEW AGE, AND MY ABSENCE WILL BE OF A GREATER CAUSE. TENEBROSIA WRITOS, MAY YOUR PURPOSE BE FULFILLED!"
The Seraphim laughed maniacally with its rumbling voice, as a demonic portal opened from behind. Hellish hands and claws grabbed the divine mass as the Seraphim continued to laugh from the struggle. The portal closed, and Tenebrosia heard Sekai's laughs from the side of the gigantic chamber. The seal that barricaded the halls dissipated, and the runes of the room were all gone. Tenebrosia noticed the Padomas boy finishing the last opponent, a lesser demon who was given a harsh smack on its head, causing the demon to go through the earth, and with a shriek, died. Sekai was huffing, out of breath, but the boy was unscathed. "Had fun?" Tenebrosia's voice was a surprise to the boy, who jumped in surprise and pointed the stick at the Maiden, who was leaning on a pillar. "Oh! Sorry, miss!" The Padomas boy's ears and tail went down as the sudden fear immediately dissipated, and he lowered his staff.
"Was that your demoness, miss?" Sekai's voice was excited and intrigued by the Maiden's epic scale of power. "It is." She replied with a calm and gentle demeanor. "That was incredible!" Sekai glee in such dangerous but awe-inspiring things. "Did you hear what all those monsters said?" Tenebrosia asked, as the two walked away. Sekai shook his head. "No, no, miss. You told me to concentrate a lot, so I did!" "Ah." Tenebrosia expressed as the two walked through the chamber. "Did you find what you're looking for?" Sekai asked. Tenebrosia looked back at the now further damaged statue of the Unlightened One while the two walked off to the hall. "Partially." The Maiden cryptically replied. Sekai raised an eyebrow, but dared not question it. The excitement of a real battle using his training and lessons grew to fruition and was too overwhelming.
"Is the talisman your power, miss?" Sekai asked, the talisman itself continued to sway from his belt. "Yes, it is. It's part of my power, little one. Now, you can defend yourself as long as you keep it." Tenebrosia continued to walk with Sekai following behind, stunned by the revelations he had received. "It's mine?!" The excitement in his voice barely contained itself, and Tenebrosia looked back with a smile. "As long as you responsibly use it, otherwise, I might take it away." The Maiden replied with a stern tone laced with sarcasm. Sekai furiously nodded, "I will, miss! Promise!" The shy Padomas boy caught up with the Maiden, still holding his staff.
The two now ventured for the exit, and the lanes of cressets containing Maliflames lit up their way through the long hallways.