Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Relaxing as we dined and made small talk amongst each other for a few hours. The hum of music sang through my ears as the ambiance of the party calmed my nerves.

The Pale Lord had maintained her grace, but a look of hate still flashed over her eyes as she stared me down at times. She truly hated me. But her hate had no killing intent, which was odd to me.

Can one hate without wishing to kill? Or am I too weak to sense her intent? She dares to broadcast her hate to me. So why not her intent?

I have mastered Dao of Devils Heart for such a long time, and even now, there are people whose emotions and intent I still can't fully grasp.

"Shall we begin then?" The Pale Lord asked, glancing at those dancing with joyous expressions filled with chatter and smiles.

"Such the rush do we disgust you so much?" Tenebrae was the first to say.

"No." said the Pale Lord. "I merely hate what you represent, Tenebrae. The pinnacle of the Myriad Heavens. But I loathe with all my heart what runs through his blood: The Forsaken Lineage."

"And yet you do not attack on sight," Tene added.

"I'm not an animal. Despite my disgust, my loath for Arsene and even you, Tenebrae. You two are innocent in my eyes. You have done us no wrong." The Pale Lord said, lifting a glass of wine to her lips. She sighed. "Forgive me… my emotions are out of order this day."

She is very restrained. That's some mentality. But one I can't sustain. It's one I could never live up to. To hate your enemy is to ensure they die. There is no room for restraint.

"How noble, but why agree to this meeting?" Tene asked. "I'm sure sending Melinoe would have been enough. A test of patience?"

"I am not from this timeline. None of our kind are, but we…." The Pale Lord grimly sighed and cursed. "But we need each other."

Another Time Traveler. What the hell happened? Wait, she said her kind. Does that mean all of the Eternals are Time Travelers? But the Lords aren't people like Cthulhu. They can't be. It's commonly known that he was created in the Myriad heavens or, I guess, the Abyss.

"I… Wait… My daughter, son, and Nephew."

"Fell with us all. A lot happened. So much it still stings." She replied, finishing her glass in a single gulp. "I'll not share the details. I'm sure you know what to do when the time comes. You're partially to blame."

"I usually am." I gloated. "I think it might be a superpower or a curse."

The Pale Lord smiled for the first time. " Yeah. Iza said the same thing."

'!'

"Iza?"

"Hmmm. Yes. Iza. Problem?"

"That's rather informal. What by chance is your relationship with—"

"Knight of Ash is what they call me. And I am a knight to the family of the Black Suns. As loathsome as it is to admit. Your Son and Daughter gave me something nothing in this world can measure."

My jaw dropped as I turned to Tenebrae, who was staring at me with an open jaw.

"Hmph, don't read too much into it. My loyalty is to my people: To Arcadia. But it's because of what your kids did that I help you now."

"You're the only knight?"

"I paid the biggest price so my brothers and sisters wouldn't have to. They merely have to give one favor." The Pale Lord replied.

Holy shit… what the hell did my kids do?

"Are we allowed to ask—"

"I cannot tell you. To still exist in this time, the Myriad God and Abyss gave us rules to follow. And while this right here," She pointed down at the table, "is a gray area, I'd rather not push my boundaries."

"I…I really don't know what to ask."

My god!

"Why are you smiling like that?" Asked the Pale Lord, knitting her brow.

"I…"

"Disgusting."

"I… I have never felt so proud in my life." I admitted, shuttering to hold back the tears. "What the hell… my boy and baby girl tamed an eternal."

"I'm not a fucking dog. You know. I'm a person. And I'll tell you what I told them. I will betray them if they betray my loyalty and sword."

"I have nothing to say." I stammered to say. "This must be what it feels like when your kids graduate."

The Pale Lords' eyes flared but calmed as she shook her head. "You got good kids. And even though I dislike Crowe, he's an honest brat. But that doesn't change anything with us."

The air chilled, almost crushing the party around us as she spoke. "What I do now is for my people: For my home. And no one is stopping me from that. No one."

The warmth, however, in my heart didn't fade as I nodded. "Well? What is it you have to offer?"

"What you fucking snows crave the most. Revenge. I've watched you and your brother for a long time. Longer than even Mephisto. Want to know about your mother? And why you and Zariel will never have your revenge?"

The world went eerily still as both the darkness of Noctem and the Myriad Heavens flared with the killing intent of Zariel and me.

The Pale Lord rose. "That's what I have to offer. And what I will offer. When the Path to Arcadia is open, I'll not have a war on both sides."

"Thought you said we'd not be allies."

"You're a fucking tool to me. And I'm sure you will see me the same. I don't like games, Arsene. I'm tired. I've spent a long time here and a very long time creating contingencies. Not that you care. Tenebrae might but not you. You don't care about much. But to protect your home, you'll do anything."

Calming myself as my soul turned to ice. My expression became neutral. "What your suggesting requires assistance from Mephisto."

"And your, his disciple. You might be the one he'll listen to. No. You are the only one he will listen to. He made you his disciple for a reason. You make peace, and I'll give so much information regarding your mother, her family, and her enemies you'll not think twice about anything else."

"And my daughter and son?" I coldly asked, watching as the Pale Lords' expression softened.

"Those two are… who you raise them to be. I can't decide what they'll do. But You got time. Ask them when they grow up. But for now. They aren't relevant." f

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