Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

A hazy yawn left my lips, resting within the ball chair, with my feet hung over its arcs, pressing into the comforter. I wiggled within Chancellor Kar's office, growing a bit more comfortable.

"Could you keep it down?" The Chancellor snapped, deep in paperwork.

"I'm so bored! Master forced me to let Mr. Bear stay in Midgard!"

"I know," Karr said, clenching his teeth, " you keep reminding me."

"But I'm bored!" I cried, slipping off the couch and onto the floor. I rolled towards the side of Chancellerss desk, pouting, " Give me something to do."

"By the Night-Mother," He muttered, closing out of the holocube and peering down at me with blatant irritation. "Is it not enough His Majesty doesn't trust me? Must he send you to watch my every move?"

"Master, of course, trust you," I said, opening my hands for help. Karr grumbled for a few moments, released a few strings of curses, and helped me up. Batting my loose-fitted robes made for pure comfort, I smiled, " he just thinks your soft."

p "Soft?"

"Yep, at least compared to a devil-like myself. Master sent me here so that you may smash any forms of occupations that may stem from the other dukes. From what I hear, Duke Darkmane wishes to start a rebellion. I am here to make sure that happens while also making sure our armies are preparing themselves."I said and glanced at the misty darkness covering the city of Umbra.

It had been almost a week since I arrived here, and each day I could feel my Master's presence growing more powerful. The grandness of the Abyssal Night was evolving. It will not be long till the Dao Cycle arrives. Lady Snow has already said the Chancellor would not participate in the abyssal festival, and the Knights of Luna have resisted the call of my Master, staying true to their pacifistic nature. An undesirable trait but one Master seems to somehow understand despite all I know of him.

I would have simply killed them. If the Order of Lunafreya cannot fight, what good are they? War is on the horizon.

Karr stood near me, overlooking the veil of twilight, coiling around umbra, trying to pierce through the darkness of Abyssal Night. But under the glow, the Light of Luna seemed to falter, losing its once pure luster, now carrying a tarnishing glow as if touched by something new, something that resembles the power I feel every day—the power of the Abyss.

"We are not demons, nor devils," Karr said after a long pause. His tone was solemn, with a regal manner I felt in many of those particular dukes who challenged Master. "I will not make my people like you, nor the hells. Tales have been told of your kind. From what I know, it was your kin that was responsible for the great change."

"Which is why I am here." I carelessly said, rolling my eyes. "Zan is here to make sure you go just far enough, especially when we head to the imperial city of Nocturne. So hurry up, and let's get this over with. Make a clone or whatever; Master is capable of cutting his shadow off. Surely, you can do the same."

"And what would your first order of business be, Chancellor Zanris?" He said as if to mock, but Zan rather liked the sound of that.

"You are leading. I am only here to monitor and enforce more rigorous enforcement. Come on, Karr, stop the brooding. It's not so bad. Think of it; we could be the next team of badasses in the universe. At least till master summons me."

"The Night Mother must be testing my patience." He muttered. "Fine, I will inform dutchess Lalya of our arrival. We will take my Cruzer. It's a ten-year journey, so we will have to travel through subspace. To reach there in a few days."

"Subspace?" I questioned.

"What do you call it? In the Mortal Realm, when you approach the speed of light, you will enter subspace, but that limit is harder to achieve in higher dimensions. "He explained, reopening his holocube that displayed images that reflected over his hands when the door to Karr's office slid open, drawing my attention.

Storming through, Kervya growled at me, "Whore,"

Blinking my eyes, I pivoted to Karr, "Are you selling that ass?"

"Enough of these games Whore, you will resign yourself! I will not have my job taken away by some no-name woman," The Tenkku growled. He pointed at me with talons for hands and shouted, "I hereby challenge you!"

"No, no, no," I said, shaking my head, "I'm going to pass, but I do have a message for you from my master. Tell the Black Hand that he has requested a meeting. Please send someone of relevance."

Kervya's expression fell. Contouring into the hideous beast he was, he backed away. But it was then the Chancellor once more closed the holocube.

"I have just informed the Duchess. We will be expected in two-days time, on Nocturne. Kervya, you will prepare my vessel. Let this be your last task." He calmly declared. "Or I simply kill you now and relay your identity to everyone in the prime world and risk the Black Hand's involvement in our empire. What says you?"

Gritting his teeth, Kervya staggered backward, his head low, and after a brief moment of deliberation, he nodded, "Yes, Sir. It will be fuel and ready within the hour."

'In half an hour," I changed, seeing no point in wasting an entire hour. It was already crazy boring here.

"Y-Yes, Ma'am." He said, removing himself from sight.

True to his word, we soon boarded a relatively large vessel in half an hour. We entered a silver cruiser of cascading goosy silver metal reflecting light. On each side of the ship stood metal wings that hooked upwards at each end. While on the back stood twelve turbines glowing a yellow heat.

"This small vessel will have to do," Karr said, boarding the ship as I followed behind. "My other one is being maintained. This is your first time, isn't it? That is entering subspace in a linear path."

I nodded, taking a seat over the rather luxurious leather seats, cool to the touch, "It is. Why?"

"Then you may learn a few things regarding the Laws of Space. We are cutting deep into the laws with technology."