Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Tapping my fingers over the window frame as I sat over the ledge overlooking the vast city of Lurrian, alongside the shadow of Iliya looming with its sinister glow, a faded smile found its way onto my lips as I could feel Lilith’s intent.

Lurrian was a beautiful city graced by the Angels and the various Lords of the Exalted Wheel. It was a republic, like how Noctem was before my involvement. I even suspect that once everyone returns, it will be this new Order that will rule Iluthath.

None of these Lords are foolish. Their ideals may be questionable, but they were not fools, and despite it all, as I had walked into the villa that rested the Black family, I couldn’t help to have been startled by the ancient wardings, so old I found some records of them in Bael library. Zax had even confirmed that some of these runes predate even Zariels time.

They were so dangerous even I dared not step out of bounds. According to Bael and even some text from Soloman, the primordial runes I saw that were all clustered together, turning them into intricate wardings, were known as a particular spell that reversed death.

The wardings could only be written by Blood Lords to ensure that no matter who attacked, anyone related to the Black family would never die in their land. It was a very ancient Blood Warding that had made Blood Lords so feared by people.

“Come in,” I softly said as I felt a presence by the door.

“Mr. Blackwater,” The butler, named Lorance, carrying a noble bearing, bowed as he opened the door, ‘ The young master will not be attending his lecture today.”

“Reason?” I questioned, a little taken by the image of Iliya.

“The Second Consort’s two sons are taking him—”

“Break the boy’s legs and drag him to the training field,” I indifferently said, sliding my eyes towards Lorance, who stood bewildered. ” Lady Black is a businesswoman, and she wishes for me to train the boy and win matches. If that means I torment the boy a little so that he learns, then so be it.”

Lorance gulped a little and took a step back, bowing his head, ” Mr. Blackwater, there are rules created by the Sovereign when addressing his children.”

“My employer is who again?” I remarked, leaping off the ledge onto the first floor, right in front of Lorance, whose head lowered even more. “You’ll do well to remember that my loyalty resides with her. Kick the two random brats out if they are distractions.”

In the week I’ve been here, I’ve been mindlessly manipulating this woman who had only bore the king one child. Something that had made her more distant towards the Sovereign of Aether, Orthis Black.

Sensing Zanta’s presence leaving the villa, I shadow stepped, appearing right in front of him, to his surprise, alongside the others.

“You can leave after your lesson,” I informed, sending an icy look towards the other boy with similar features to Zanta, alongside the elder-looking one, who seemed to carry golden eyes with an intricate design within their depts.

A sigil.

“Master Blackwater!” Zanta shouted, squirming a little uncomfortably as he bowed his head. “The Second Consort has summoned me.”

“Don’t care,” I said, pointing off the training ground, ” Now march, you know the drill. And if I see you bow your head before another, even me, you get a whip to your back. Clear?!”

“The audacity!” The younger boy whose name could vaguely be seen with my soul sight snapped, ” Who are you to—”

I glanced at the captain’s guard, staring with a hardened look, “Who do you work for?”

“Excuse me?”

“Who?” I inquired as my tone carried the siren’s song.

“My Lady, Valice Black, of course.” He finally replied, bowing his head, ashamed that he allowed his young master to be so undisciplined.

“Good. Then get these people out of here. There will be no summons when he is in the middle of drills. Second consort or not, they will have to wait till I am done training the boy.”

The look on the two children of the Second Whore could not have been uglier as the elder-looking one stepped toward me.

“Lord Osirus, don’t,” The captain warned.

A domineering aura that felt like a breath of fresh air erupted like an exploding volcano. I had almost burst into laughter as I struggled to hold back the sneer at the kitty barking at the lion.

Osiris’s golden eyes narrowed, and I could feel his intent moving around his body; I could feel the heat of his eyes shimmer as the sigil within his pupil glowed a multicolored light.

“Mother has summoned Zanta,” Osirus said.

Lifting my lips, I chuckled as my aura began to leak into the world. The skies above the villa had started to turn black as a ghastly aura, foul as the very Hells, leaked out from my pores. A Hellish aura deep as the Abyss erupted in a whirlwind of death and war, as a killing intent that those outside the hells couldn’t measure. Only a Devil, a Royal Devil, could appreciate the killing intent I released upon the three boys.

“Attack, boy, and I’ll have your head.” 𝘣𝘦𝑑𝘯𝘰𝘷𝑒𝘭．𝑛𝘦𝘵

A dead silence of fear and apprehension whispered as I slid my gaze to the terrified Zanta, ” Go.”

Bolting away as if to escape me, I snapped my gaze to Osirus and sneered, ” You are a disgrace to your father. Scared of a little Killing Intent? Pathetic. Go home, and take the child with you. Only men are allowed to spectate. Maybe after your transition to a man. I may reconsider not killing you where you stand.”

Not bothering to say another word, I shadow stepped onto the rainbow-colored training ground that was a field of flowers, where Zanta stood at attention.

“Scared?” I inquired, noticing the look on his face.

Zanta had not even bothered to hide his feelings as he nodded.

“Well, since you didn’t piss yourself like that younger boy around the same age as you, I will say you’ve got a good future. You might even slay a few devils and demons if you can master your emotions.”

A sparkle awoken within Zanta’s large black eyes as he smiled, ” Really!”

“Why not? Killing devils and demons is simple. What will kill you will probably be schemes. So this lesson will be about schemes and improving your skill with a blade,” I informed rather curtly.” From what I’ve heard, the Black Family are all born with a sigil. We will be integrating a few techniques to help complement your swordsmanship. By a year’s end, you will have a Lord’s Battle Prowess.”