Lest the Darkness Breach [Talon]

[Talon]

D A E M O N

“It feels…” Aoren searched for the right words in response to Hilana. “Like it would pull me into the darkness too, if I let it.”

Aoren’s expression went a little distant.

“It wants to spread. To consume me and everything in this world. To drown the whole of it in a darkness so deep that nothing can escape.” The rune writhed over Aoren’s skin. The umbral mark seemed to grow. Reflexively, Aoren reached out and laced his fingers with Talon. As soon as he did, the mark settled and Aoren shook off that distant look. He blinked, focusing on Hilana.

“Were it not for Talon--Daemon--I would be a much darker man.” Aoren gave a grim smile. Daemon simply rubbed a thumb over the back of his husband’s hand.

Upon returning from their quick change of clothes so as not to appear so militant, the two of them bowed their heads as they received compliments from Hilana. They followed her out of her apartment and into the bright light of the Luxium. It was a bit off for Daemon. Staring up into the skies he could immediately tell that the radiance illuminating the realm was not natural sunlight. Whether that was a byproduct of his attunement to the powers of Semblance or because of his dominion over the Light, he was not quite sure but it was evident to him nevertheless. He watched as the people of the Luxium went about their business. He did not miss the slight unease in Hilana’s stance as she remained vigilant.

“Rest easy, Hilana. Even if the authorities of the realm seek and find us, our business is peaceful and in support of their continued survival.” Bitter as Thalya and Zalkyriax might be, he did not imagine they would be foolish enough to attack him unprovoked. That being said, if either of them made that mistake, he would not hesitate to defend himself and those in his company.

“I have no doubt that the city is as glamorous during the night as it is in the day. Perhaps one day I will get to see it.” He smiled and continued to follow Hilana until they reached the gates to the Umbrium.

“We will have to seek out the Silver Sentinels, Hilana. They are likely the ones who will best be able to relay our request.” As they continued on their way, Daemon began keeping a lookout for the black garb of the Sentinels.

[Pharaoh]

► Show Spoiler

The nearest accessible entrance to the Umbrium was The Via Pulveris (or 'The Path of Dust' in Common) a plebeian-class entry point Southeast of the Luxian Forum. The Via Pulveris gatehouse loomed like a temple, or perhaps a minor keep- the architectural distinction between the martial and the mystical could be nebulous in Solunarium. Before the gatehouse, the glister of golden armour under the light of the Sceptre was difficult to miss. This part of town was not haunted as thoroughly by the Golden Guard as the neighbourhoods closer to the mount, and thus the stately Palatium Furiarum, and the armour was infused with a preternatural essence of authority that was enough to intimidate most of those who dwelt this part of the city.

There were several queues of Solunarians being assessed for admission by the attending sentries. Each queue seemed to be prioritised according to caste, though on first glance it would certainly appear to be racial segregation with elvenkind being accorded faster and easier entry than humankind which seemed to have the edge over the peregrini and slaves who were held under far greater scrutiny than proper Solunarian citizens.

Drawing closer, the dark shadows that wove between the glow of the Golden Guard would come into view. At first they might have seemed like simple, civilian attendants assisting the Golden Guard, but that was an arcane feint. As the armour of the sun soldiers emitted authority, the simpler, darker garb of these individuals was infused with an aura of dissuasion that urged those subject to its effects to pay little heed to them. Talon's Semblance would read a far more byzantine tapestry of enchantments infused into both the golden armour and the black robes, but nothing that seemed pertinent outside the context of a hostile encounter.

The guards did not seem to take particular note of Hilana, Talon or Aoren, though a few of the citizens queueing up for entry did seem taken aback at the sight of the imposing foreigners. One Vastian child, wide-eyed, pulled at his mother's sleeve pointing at Talon and whispering: "Mater, ecce! Dæmon ex arena!"

Before the party could approach the forward guard who seemed to be directing the few people who didn't know their place in the hierarchy, Talon would sense a surge in the Slipspace. A portal materialised beside the forward guard, who jolted away from it, reaching for his weapon in alarm.

"Pax, locumtenens." The weight of his heavy glaive preceded his first step from Umbrian to Luxian terra firma, as the Sentinel regarded the approaching peregrini and his gaze lingered on she who led them. He lifted a black-gloved hand to remove the veil that hitherto concealed his moon pale countenance.

"Cur non miror?" Phocion mused, through half a smirk and half a sigh. He turned his pale gaze next to Talon. "Dæmon. You're back." His smirk fell away like an act curtain.

"Why?"

[Hilana Chenzira]

Aoren’s words were concerning, and the girl bit her lower lip in thought as she considered this and what it had to feel like each and every day. She might have liked to have touched it, and him, but this was only their second meeting. She didn’t want to be upsetting by being too familiar, physically, at least. They did give her a great deal of leeway before, and she didn’t want to shake the beginnings of a friendship by making them uncomfortable. “You are more than equal to it. You are strong, not just physically, but here and here,” she touched her forehead, and then her heart, smiling up at him. 

The two of them were good for each other - balance, always balance. Give and take. Complementing, enhancing. Their love was very clear, and while Hilana didn’t think that love conquered all... it did help. Especially when you had someone you could trust implicitly, no matter what, in your corner. They needed each other, and while both were strong individually... they boosted their partner. Would that others be so lucky to have that kind of love. Even a shred of it.

She was happy to show them around as they went, and when he encouraged her to rest easy, she smiled up at them. “I know that, but you never know what sort of games someone might decide to play.” While she had little doubt that the others were equal to them, Hilana was definitely the weakest link. “One day,” she was certain of it. “There has to be a way. It will be found.” It might take a bit, but it would be found. They might just have to put their heads together. “There are Gods among us, and heroes within us.” The Vastiana hadn’t been raised to ask for her Gods to do for her, but to ask what she could do for Them. While she already had undertaken an holy quest for Them, there was also the fact that these creatures were lurking. Her friends had been grievously injured by them, and her people and her home stood to be. The use of magic was religious in and of itself here, one of the important tenets of Varvaerynism, and to have it ripped away…

Well, she could multitask.

“We’ll find more below. And if we don’t see one on the streets, then we can just head for the Praetorium,” the girl was thoughtful. When they got to the queue, Hilana headed for her standard line - Populous Equestris, since with luck and the Mask’s protections, it would speed them through. They were her guests, after all, and it was one of the times her familial rank came in handy. She exhaled when the portal opened, and when she saw the glaive, there was palpable relief in her stance. That she recognized, even before she heard the voice and the veil was removed. Hilana bowed to the Prince. “Vigil,” she greeted him at his remark that was aimed at her.

Why was he not surprised, indeed? She supposed she was starting to develop a reputation for being in the thick of things, perhaps to their surprise and consternation. “I asked them to come,” she told him. “It’s about the Sceptre. Would we be able to petition Her Serene Highness Princess Cithaera for a bit of her time?” Hilana didn’t want to spill too much around other ears. She was trying to emulate Phocion’s own ‘say as little as possible’ manner, but this was important.

[Talon]

D A E M O N

He eyed the guards as they approached them, squinting at the myriad of enchantments that were mantled upon the vestments that they wore. The amount of time it would take to uncover the details of them all would have been an exhausting feat for even someone of his caliber. Still, it was good to know something about what awaited them. When the child noticed them, he offered only a tipping of his head before turning his attention to the exact spot where the ripple in the Slipspace manifested. When Phocion walked out of the portal, he could only imagine the string of emotions that ran through the Sentinel. He let Hilana take the lead in giving the explanation, stepping in only once she had finished speaking. He spoke to Phocion in Synskrit, not to conceal anything from the Sentinel but rather to make it less clear what they were discussing while in public.

“Hilana consulted me for my arcane expertise. I am, perhaps, uniquely suited to address things born of shadow.” He had no doubt that most everyone in a position of power in Solunarium knew who he was in both his mortal coil and who he was among the pantheon of the divines, as well as that which he presided over. It was certainly an open secret in other parts of the world at this point and he did not take the Silver Sentinels for a group that was lacking in information.

“Given Her Divine Radiance’s stance and decorum per my last visit, I thought perhaps it was best to seek the wisdom of Her Serene Highness instead.” He realized that his explanations addressed largely why Hilana had sought him and Aoren out. It did not truly answer Phocion’s question of why he chose to come.

“As for why I chose to come?” His wings shifted then settled upon his back. “I made a promise to Her.”

He had told Avaerys and Varvara that he would lend his power to them. While neither of them had directly called for his assistance, offering his aid to help protect the realm they loved was something he saw in support of that promise.

[Pharaoh]

Phocion nodded in answer to Hilana's address, and considered her explanation and request as Dæmon replied to his direct query. It took him a moment to process the Synskrit, as it was a language in which he only briefly dabbled in preparation for his Kalzasern exertion the prior year. He hadn't had cause to use it since, and so it took him a moment to process the sentiments espoused.

"I see." The Sentinel replied, shutting his eyes and seeking the mind of his mother through the power of their Re'hyæan consanguinity:

High Sentinel, Arcas is-...

I am observing, Sentinel. Cithæra's sending interrupted his own projection, Permission granted. I am en route to the Prætorium.

Acknowledged.

Phocion's light eyes snapped open and he turned to glance over his shoulder through the still active portal via which he'd arrived to regard the veiled Vigil Viator (or 'Sentinel Traverser' in Common), who maintained the arcane pathway.

"Follow." He said to Hilana and her foreign guests without looking at them as he pivoted to step back through the portal and onto the marble tile of his office in the Vigilia Argenti Prætorium. The clink of his glaive echoed through the high-ceilinged chamber with its great floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the Umbrium without.

"Come." He gestured, as he headed from his inner sanctum to its antechamber and then the corridor without. A conference room would be more suitable a venue than his office, and he could let his mother know wherever they landed once he'd secured one.

"Now, to be clear, do you wish to speak with Her Serene Highness Cithæra Princeps, or High Sentinel Cithæra?" He rounded a corner, and led them into a chamber with an obsidian table with silver etchings inlaid upon its surface in an intricate design. The silver etchings glowed, as did a similar pattern on the shiny, black ceiling overhead- serving as the light source for the otherwise pitchy room.

"Either way..." Came a female voice from the doorway, "She is here. Gratias, Vigil. Licet relinquere." Phocion bowed to his superior, and left the room without a backward glance to the guests.

"You have, perhaps unwittingly, stepped into a complex, political mire with this matter you seek to address. Please..." She gestured, stepping toward the table. "Be seated."

[Hilana Chenzira]

Hilana did not understand the words spoken by Daemon, though she recognized her name. As a result, the girl stayed silent, watching the Sentinel instead. She knew she wasn’t going to be able to get anything off of him, as unreadable as he was able to make himself, and she wasn’t silly enough to even attempt her fledgling Semblance skills against someone who was almost certainly a Master, even if he wasn’t wearing the Sentinel blacks. Still, Phocion had always been polite to her, and that went a long way.

The Vastiana kept her mouth shut, and when they were told to follow, she inclined her head and stepped on through the portal, making sure that Daemon and Aoren came through as well. She recognized his office, where she had been before with the Sages, and she had to remind herself not to look around too much as they left there and continued on. She considered this far more safe now that there was little chance of interruption by those who controlled the Luxium above, and with a minimum of fuss, too. That was smoother than she could have hoped it would be, but Hilana also knew that this was the easy part.

The next step would be far harder.

She did consider Sentinel Phocion’s question. “I think most likely Her Serene Highness Cithaera Princeps,” she admitted. While the High Sentinel’s office, not to mention that of Master Sembler, wielded so much clout, what they needed permission for was likely going to be from the Princess’s capacity. But that was going to be for her to judge. At least, how best to approach it. She bowed to the Princess, sweeping out her skirts before straightening. “Gratias,” she added to Phocion as he was leaving.

When they were gestured towards the table, Hilana would sit once the foreign Royal guests did. She nodded at Cithaera’s words. There was no such thing as smooth politics, she had a feeling. Every last bit of it was quicksand mixed with lava. “Gratias for seeing us, Your Serene Highness. When word went out with regards to Mages being summoned to support the efforts with regards to the Sceptre, I reached out to Daemon about it. He has some theories, but said he would need to examine the Sceptre itself. I thought you would be the best to approach about it.”

[Talon]

D A E M O N

He felt himself release a breath of relief as Phocion acquiesced to the request. Aoren’s mental caress helped to alleviate more of the tension that had built between his shoulder blades. He was not interested in a fight. Following the Sentinel, he observed their surroundings with as keen an eye he was able until they reached the conference room. He certainly had to appreciate the lengths the Solunarian’s went to in order to cater to the chosen aesthetics of both the Umbrium and the Luxium. It created a stark divide between the two echelons of the kingdom, perhaps more so than even the citizens realized. He would not have been surprised that given the current political climate of the kingdom, the design was intentional to some degree. Phocion’s question was answered by Hilana and Daemon saw no reason to say otherwise. When Cithaera bade them to be seated, he pulled out a seat for Hilana and then sat beside her with Aoren seating himself directly beside him.

“I am aware of Solunarium’s political state.” Cithaera was the High Sentinel, arguably one of the most, if not the most well-informed official of the entire kingdom. She was also the kingdoms Sembler from what he understood. There was also the fact that it was she who had been a key orchestrator of the current state of affairs for the kingdom. That spoke of her intelligence, foresight and cunning. All of which spoke volumes louder to him than Thalya’s short-sighted paranoia. It also did not hurt that she was the benefactress of two people he had a personal interest in.

He let that statement speak for itself as those things drifted through his mind.

“I will try to be plain in my theorizing.” He folded his hands together onto the surface of the table. “Hilana, in her research, has discovered a property of the voidspawn plaguing the world. Something I had suspected but through her work is now confirmed.”

He gave Hilana a nod.

“When the Eclipse arrived, it brought with it a disruption to the natural flow of aether in the world. I was uncertain as to specifically how due to the colossal scale of that disruption but it would appear that the darkness of the voidspawn is draining away the world’s aether. I suspect the voidspawn are acting the part of both hunter and gatherer in this endeavor. To what end and for who? That remains to be seen. Whoever it is, they dwell deep in the shadows, well beyond what my sight can pierce.” He had spent time meditating, following the corridors of aether using both his Semblance and his Light-Scrying. Following the voidspawn proved to be challenging even for him without being directly present to follow them and he was not yet in position to mount such an undertaking.

“I had originally thought that perhaps this was a natural phenomenon born of the consequence of the arrival of a new Rune.” He gestured to Aoren who held up his hand to display the abyssal Rune of Nyx. “The more I have thought about it however, the less likely that seems to be the case. Perhaps it began that way but…something is sustaining this Eclipse. Something that is sending the voidspawn to gorge themselves on the aether of the greatest sources they can find.”

He was almost certain that the voidspawn creatures had their sights set on the Sceptre of Avaerys. Whether or not their attempts at infiltrating the realm were causing the sun crystal to expire, he did not know but he surmised they would find out soon enough.

“All that is Light is my Domain and that Light is capable of defeating the creatures of the void. I can, if allowed, assist in bolstering the protections your mages have erected across your kingdom.”

[Pharaoh]

"Naturally you are aware of Solunarium's general political state..." Cithæra conceded, "But, with all due respect to Your Highness, I do not believe you have the context to comprehend the political situation pertaining to this particular issue." She said this with no apparent malice or judgment in her tone. If anything frustration showed through it was about the situation itself, rather than Talon's entirely understandable unwittingness to the same. And, if any frustration showed through, this was intentional.

That the same people who created the Sceptre of Aværys and mounted it in the sky were posing requests to the general population to aid in maintaining it might have raised more suspicion in a populace that was not as well conditioned as Solunarium's. But here they were, and the summons had been released- By the Elven Court, not the Draconic. This was an easy distinction to overlook, given the fact that the artificial sun hung over the Luxian sky, rather than the Umbrian which was perpetually lit artificially and had been for millennia. There was far more to it, but Arcas-Dæmon-Talon seemed more focused on the mechanics of potential solutions than the cause for any delays from those who might mend the matter from within. She did not begrudge the demigod this focus. In fact, she welcomed it.

"The Eclipse was a fascinating phenomenon, at first, albeit an inconvenience. A side effect of conflicts that had naught to do with us, which we brooked blithely for as long as we could. That time has passed."

"In the aftermath of Sub-Sentinel Finn's misadventures abroad of Atraxia," Cithæra began with a glance to Hilana, "His Exalted Highness has seen fit to devote vasty resources toward the matter of the Eclipse. The Court of Gens Sol'Zalkyrion is disinclined to devote copious resources to the battle of sustaining the Sceptre of Aværys, for we are now focused upon the war of ending the Eclipse altogether." She turned her eyes from Hilana to Arcas.

"If you would aid the Luxium in upholding their unnatural half-measure, we will not begrudge you the endeavour. But if you would, instead, work toward bolstering the expeditions we are sending abroad to consummately undo this calamity, then The Umbrium would be downright grateful."

[Hilana Chenzira]

“Gratias,” she thanked the silver-haired Avialae when he pulled a chair out for her, smiling up at him and settling, smoothing the blue and gold skirts that she wore. She did retrieve her notebook from her rucksack, putting it on the table in the event that Princess Cithaera wanted to look at it. She doubted it; what with her access to everything else and much more learned minds than her own, but if she wanted to see it, the details of Hilana’s experiments and the results that came with them, it was there.

The Vastiana was quiet but attentive as she listened to Daemon’s explanations. Some of it she had to keep in her head so that she could add more to her notebook later, nodding along at his words. She occasionally looked to Cithaera, her hands folded in her lap. She knew she wasn’t going to be able to get much off of her expression either, the woman was a master at controlling everything about herself and while Hilana liked to think she was decently skilled at observing things, but the royals, and those of Phaedryn’s house in particular, were another breed entirely.

When Cithaera spoke, and mentioned the misadventures abroad, Hilana’s eyes went to the well-polished table as she flushed scarlet beneath her dusky skin. It had been nearly a season, and while she could mostly hold her head up now after talking it out with some of those closest to her, this was not one of those times. If the floor could have swallowed her and deposited her into the lava of the Volcano, that would have been wonderful. Still, there was nothing she could do about it now except move forward and try to let it go while remembering the lessons. The shame you cannot lift away, you had better let lie. She did lift her head again when the Princess spoke of focusing on the Eclipse rather than trying to maintain the Sceptre, and she bit the inside of her lips to keep her mouth shut. Of course it was a battle to do both.

But that left a problem. Inasmuch as it may have been the Luxium’s desire to focus on the Sceptre rather than what was going on beyond their borders, both were important. If the Sceptre failed, it was largely her people beyond the walls. The Vastii, be they in towns or villages or traveling the sands as they had done for millennia. Personal magic would be useless. World magic less reliable. Dragonshards not recharging. Shadows would swarm. Everything would be cold. The harvests would fail. Food stores would eventually run out and starvation would be rampant. It wasn’t like they could import from other realms; they had been without for nearly two seasons now. All the magic in the world wasn’t going to matter if the shadow creatures ate all aether.

But with the split in the Kingdoms, Hilana supposed that meant that they were going to have to approach those who presided over the Luxium instead. The Court of Sol’Avaerys. “In order to get permission for Daemon to inspect the Sceptre, we would need to petition the Court of the Solar Sovereign, then?” Hilana asked quietly for confirmation. She was all for helping deal with the greater problem beyond their borders, but if the Sceptre failed... It was her people that suffered all the more for it.

[Talon]

D A E M O N

He noted the frustration that was apparent on Cithaera’s face. The political conflicts between the Luxium and the Umbrium ran deeper than he initially thought, it seemed. He was aware of the philosophical division between the Immaculatists and the Sanguinistas but there were clearly deeper divisions at play than he had the context to truly understand. He did not know the dynamics of Solunarium’s courtly politics, especially now that they were essentially two kingdoms operating under one roof. Kalzasi’s political dynamics were a headache enough to navigate and they at least ascribed to have a single ruling authority…when that authority was chosen. The time was closing in fast when his homeland would choose its king and he had been primarily focused on the actual state of the realm as opposed to pushing himself politically, likely to his own detriment but that remained to be seen.

At the mention of an incident with Finn, he quirked an eyebrow. He turned his gaze to Hilana just as Cithaera did. There was a story there. Likely a long one, especially if it had spurred Arvaelyn into pushing for a decisive end to the Eclipse beyond the borders of Solunarium.

“My people's strongest defense is in the gift of my Emblem. My knights and trustworthy soldiers of the Sky Guard of Kalzasi along with worthy mages of our Circle of Spells have been bestowed my gift. Dawnfire is apt at both destroying the voidspawn and dispelling the darkness, pushing it back, where I cannot be physically present myself.” The total number of people who bore his mark numbered likely less than a hundred. He had still been as selective as possible in bestowing his gift but in light of the circumstances had trusted the advice of both the Dawnmartyr leaders and Sky Guard officers he had worked with his entire life.

“The solution to ending the Eclipse likely rests somewhere in the Void itself. A place…I cannot go. Not without dire consequences.” The void was a place diametrically opposed to his very essence. It was not that he was barred from setting foot there, it was a matter of the reaction of his presence while within it. It was one thing to stand within the shadow of the Void while conversing with his brother, it was quite another matter to go there on his own. With Shaeoth deciding to sit back and allow mortals to solve the advent of the Eclipse themselves, and he being tied up with the pantheon in addressing the problem of the Veil, he was inclined to agree with his brother. He would support but it was impossible for him to face the myriad of problems at play by himself.

“You can’t. I can.” Aoren spoke. The dark fires of his true draconic nature burned in his eyes as he leaned forward. Daemon looked to his husband. A hundred thoughts passed between them. An argument. One that, from the tone threading their auras, they had been having for some time. Fear. Worry. Frustration. Uncertainty. Faith. Love. Longing. Resolution. To one such as Cithaera who could so keenly observe through the powers of Semblance, the Bond between Daemon and Aoren was alight with this information and more. To the observer, it was as though their souls were one and merely occupying two different vessels. Daemon’s jaw tightened, and he sighed through his nostrils before closing his eyes with a nod, clearly conceding their silent argument. He responded to Hilana’s question.

“It would seem that way, Hilana.” Daemon leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers upon the surface of the table.

“I agree with the Court of Gens Sol’Zalkyrion that the war of ending the Eclipse is the greater issue at hand. However, that war cannot be won if you are left with an undefended homefront. Should the Sceptre of Avaerys fail, Atraxia will find itself swarmed. Much like the rest of the world is right now. Solunarium is uniquely positioned in a way that the rest of the nations of the world are not. An advantage that has allowed the kingdom to explore and research this dilemma in ways everywhere else might not be.” He did not know the state of Thalya’s court but most everything he had seen in Solunarium had the involvement of the Silver Sentinels and forces in the Umbrium with regard to what he had been involved in. He could be very wrong in his estimate but he was willing to bet that there was a kernel of truth in his guess.

“Regardless, I am not here to persuade, merely offer help. If you say my help to the Umbrium is best suited in bolstering your expeditions, I would offer the blessing of my Emblem to those most suited to wield it. That they might invoke dawnfire and push back the Void. Barring that, I could bestow a blessing upon an artifact adequately fashioned to withstand divine power. Though…a person is always better where the power of an Emblem is concerned.” As a runesmith, he knew that while magic could be made to function quite magnificently in an artifact, runeforged artifacts still required the nuance and direction of a person to manage them. Replicating that kind of insight in an artifact was difficult without involving exhaustive levels of Artificing, which was a magic he possessed little knowledge of.

“If the Luxium must be approached separately concerning the Sceptre, I shall extend my hand to the Imperatrix.” It was worth a try. If only because he did not want to see the place where Hilana, Finn and Arvaelyn called home fall to ruin.