Abyssal Awakening

Sunlight bled through the stained crystal ceiling, streaks of iridescent radiance cast down from above. Rays of violet, gold, rose and azure yet none of it reflected what Solaris was feeling.

The shadows of impatience and annoyance cast a shadow over his face as his eyes glowed a molten gold. The bubbling lava in his veins matching his rising fury.

Then, at last, a sliver of moonlight manifest in the corner of the room. Soft and gentle compared to the seething wrath incarnate that is Solaris right now.

"How long did you intend to keep me waiting? Or are you simply unaware of everything that has transpired?" Solaris glared towards the portal.

Lazily taking a step out from her portal and drifting over to her seat, Lumiria twirled her hair around her finger and smiled.

"Oh I'm aware." She chuckled. "But I was simply taking care of my own place before coming here as a proper God should. Surely you understand the importance of maintaining one's domain?

"Or does the look of impatience suit us better? If so, I shall get my sculptors to make some modifications on your statues and don't worry, it's free of charge." Lumiria tilted her head back even so slightly, revealing a mocking smirk.

"We can trade words back and forth just like how I can mention your little boy toy not being interested in you."

Lumiria's eye twitched ever so slightly.

"Do you think I'm blind to the fact that you're trying to play house and yet he's not interested? But there is a bigger issue at hand." Solaris rolled his eyes.

"You felt it as well. The Abyss stirs. A new Queen was crowned, Velouria's successor. Every single Lord felt it without exception. This is not something we can hide Lumiria. And you two mocked me when I brought it up in the past." Solaris stated as Lumiria fell silent.

She knew it as well. That kind of phenomenon wasn't one that could be ignored. While the ignorant masses may not be knowledgeable in what's happening, the Lords are already beginning to question.

What caused this reaction? What was going on?

"Then there's also the missing Apostle. I don't know what killed her but Enris suffered quite a bit in the East." Lumiria brought up as Solaris nodded his head.

Usually, if this happened in the past, he would be tempted to immediately make a move.

But with a significant jump in Eldritch activities, a new Queen and other factions in the dark, it has made it rather difficult.

Then there's the Zenia family in Extalia. The movements they've been making. . .It's suspicious.

For a God to move. . . There were certain restrictions they need to work around, restrictions that none of them could fulfil right now, at least not in their true forms.

But through proxy, there was still a possibility.

"So what's our first plan? Take everything Enris has got? Though from the look of your face, she still has some uses."

"As insane as she is, she'll do her job if needed. She's not someone we can get rid of just yet. The Outer Gods are more of an issue, especially the Great Ones. Velouria's barrier is now weakening from both the inside and the outside." Solaris let out a sigh, massaging his eyes.

"However~" Lumiria interrupted, knowing what Solaris was talking about.

"Tch. Yes, we need to deal with the young queen." He clicked his tongue. "Even though the Outer Gods are an issue, having the queen appear now is worse. We don't know if it's through the Will's orchestration or if it's someone new. If it's someone new, there's a high chance that Kaden and Allura are deeply involved."

"And if they are, it's only naturally they'll aim for our necks considering what we did in the past." Lumiria laughed, sitting up.

"Yes. This is a problem that can be solved quickly and I'd rather not let it fester. We've already allowed it to reach this stage since you two ignored my words. And with them being in the east, let us enforce some security around the ports and have our followers find her." Solaris suggested.

"Alright, I can lend you my dear children for that. As for whether or not I'll lend my Apostles in this matter, they're not making a single move until we figure out who the hell managed to kill dear Kazira." Lumiria gave her body a stretch.

The death of an Apostle is a big matter no matter who it is. Because it meant that either another Apostle made a move or that an anomaly has appeared.

Someone with enough power outside of the Divine Thrones to affect those within. And that kind of anomaly need to be dealt with immediately.

No exceptions.

Nodding his head, Solaris watched as Lumiria left the space before departing as well.

He needed some time to properly figure out what's going on with the mortals. He has been too relaxed when it came to his followers, it was time to make use of them.

Meanwhile, Enris kicked her legs back and forth on the roof of the building. Neither Solaris nor Lumiria noticed her but she was there.

Bobbing her head side to side, a smile appeared on her face.

'Seems like they don't know Alice is the one that killed Kazira and that she's also the successor. Then again, it's not like the birth of a Queen and the death of an Apostle must happen at the same time or the same place.' She mused to herself.

Naturally, this gives Alice's group a bit more leeway when it comes to how aggressively the two pursue her since even now, Solaris and Lumiria are keeping each other in check.

Lumiria's final line was probing to see whether or not it was Solaris who lent a hand in killing an Apostle while Solaris was worried that Lumiria was making big moves.

If it was Solaris, Lumiria sending help would simply be delivering her dear children to a butcher.

As long as the two continue to test each other, they'll never be able to catch Alice.

They're too preoccupied with their own chess game, to figure out who has the most power in this situation and what they could get away with.

What they don't realise is that the rest of the players are playing a different game, especially the Outer Gods.

If it was her in the past, Enris would be inclined to help the current Gods. Even if she likes chaos, what use is a jester when they don't have an audience?

However, this audience has long lost their flavour for Enris. Instead, her attention was focused elsewhere.

People deserving of the chaos she brings, people who can take her place.

Therefore, she will work to ensure that the knife coming for her neck is properly sharpened.

She doesn't fear death, she doesn't fear the coming tribulations. She welcomes it with open arms and when Ria or anyone else finally arrive at her doorstep, she hopes they can meet her expectations.

Her collaboration with Nyer, with the Outer Gods, was all for this.

No matter what, there will come a time when the jester must step off the stage. So she'll orchestrate her final act. A grand performance that will scorch the very land they walk on.

She'll plan the most magnificent curtain call, and step away from the main stage. And as the final lights turn off, a thunderous applause for the God of the Eclipse.

Thinking about this, her smile faltered as she gritted her teeth.

Conflicting emotions shot through Enris' mind as she felt the urge to destroy everything around her.

"Don't make that kind of face Enri~ If you do that I'll feel sad."

A gap appeared in her shadow, a smile of sorts.

"Don't use her voice. You're not her, you'll never be her. You're just a f*cked up hallucination my brain conjured up because Velouria isn't here anymore." Enris cut her off before anything else could be said.

Her shadow laughed ever so slightly before creeping up Enris's body.

"Since you were in such a mood, I couldn't help it you know?" The shadow chuckled.

"Now I must ask, where were you? Shedding your divine body for a while made me rather upset. I couldn't find you anywhere I went." The shadow sighed.

"My business not yours. I'm simply looking for someone who can fulfil the role that Velouria left behind. Someone to kill me and end this endless charade." Enris stood up.

This time, her eyes weren't filled with the bright light of the shimmering stars. It wasn't full of joy or maddening chaotic love. Instead, it was filled with a deep loneliness. An exhaustion that couldn't be concealed no matter how hard she tried, the emptiness that she couldn't recover from.

A dulled edge of the blade. Like walking through life with a blurred view, not focusing on anything and simply going through the motions.

But things were beginning to change.

Enris wanted to get her hopes up but if. . . if the two didn't match up to what she desired?

What kind of darkness awaited her? Would this void in her chest become even greater than before? Will she be forced to end things without achieving the curtain call she envisioned?

No!

This is what all of her preparation was for.

No matter what, no matter the circumstances, her final show will succeed! The last and glorious curtain call!

Jumping off the roof, Enris' body dissipated into an array of crimson and gold.