Chương 19: Lunafreya
"And when have I ever been your's to offer as if I were some piece of meat? My Dear Mother?" A soothing voice called as the moon's glimmer showered the Aros Estate in a transcendent array of moonlight.
Altair's eyes went wide as every fiber of his being stilled, frozen in the presence that seemed to capture the radiance of the moon. He stared at the woman, attracting moonlight. Hair a vibrant silver, and eyes of gold, carrying to the crest of the crescent moon in each of her pupils. Wrapped in snow-white robes, she stepped out of the forest, her movements graceful as though she were a dancer. Yet it held a regal touch that Altiar could not pull his gaze from.
'Pretty,' he thought.
"Luna," Tenebrae said, a beautiful grin on her face. "Come let me show you, my baby!"
A curious glimmer swelled through Luna's golden eyes as she slid her gaze to the small eyes. She grew closer to exquisite features shaming the very stars with her beauty. She bent down, raising her finger.
"Poke. Poke.Poke."
Altair blinked as Luna pressed her fingers against the buns of his cheek. Her eyes glowed even brighter as she smiled. "It's like pudding. So squishy."
"See! See! Told you he was a cutie! He's so fluffy! He's like a fluffy panda!"
Luna nodded absentmindedly. "Hello, little brother. I'm your elder sister, the second eldest, to be exact. Lunafreya of the Moon. It's a pleasure." She said. She offered a hand, her expression warm, carrying the familiar warmth of the moon itself. It wasn't fierce like light nor empty like the dark. It was soothing, like a warm whisper.
"Hello, big sis. I'm Altair." the Prince said, a faint rosy hue trailing over his cheeks. But a warm smile over his lips.
Luna's gaze grew brighter as she turned to Tenebrae, a protective hue now in her eyes: "He's too good for you. I'm stealing him. I, Luna, shall protect him for eternity."
Tenebrae merely nodded triumphantly. "The cuteness is strong in this one. He's going to steal so many hearts. Do you think you'll be able to handle him?"
"I do feel a little guilty about training him. But I can do it. I'll make sure he doesn't break when Iliana shows up. God knows why you are letting that monster train your child. She'll destroy him."
"We'll see," Tenebrae said, tilting her head to Altair. "Take off your shirt and sit in the lotus position. You know, the one, right? The crisscross apple sauce one. I'll set up the Infinity Circle for you."
The boy nodded, dropping to the ground at a moment's notice.
"Infinity Circle… You're really going all out, huh? Guess with the Arcadians trying to invade. You got no choice." Luna mentioned, her words not going unnoticed by Altair.
'Arcadians? Invasion?' He pondered, unsure if he should ask. But before he would inquire.
Tenebrae shot Luna a cold stare, silencing her as she turned back to Altair, the coldness dissipating. She took a long breath in front of Altair. And snapped her finger. Suddenly a dagger appeared from out of thin air, startling the young boy so much that Tene giggled as she took his wrist.
"Don't worry. Mommy is only taking a little blood."
Altair couldn't even speak before a warm sting whipped out at him, following the pool of blood spilling from the center of his palm. His eyes went wide for a mere second, but the panic and fear he had waited for never arrived.
"Mom?"
Luna frowned. 'Is he not scared? Even if she's his mom. That reaction seems off.' She thought, 'Hmmm, I'll have to test the limits of this boy's mental acuity. I'll send him to a dungeon tomorrow. Perhaps he may… impress me.'
"You said you wanted to learn runes, right?" Tenebrae said softly, lifting a single finger. A quiver ran through Altair, leaking blood. And as if called by a strange mythical force, beads of blood began to lift themselves into the air, twisting into themselves, forming strange runes. She began: "Three Runes are present, but as far as you can tell. You will only see two. Infernal, the Language of the Fallen Angels, and Enochian, the Langage of the Angels."
Altair gaze fell upon the strange gathering of runic symbols: His sea of consciousness seemingly knew the difference between the two runes without Tenebrae's explanation of differentiation.
The Infernal Runes appeared harsh, as though each stroke were forged of a blade meant to kill. They were aggressive, filled with anger. And yet carried a peculiar temptation, a poised weight meant to oppress. In contrast, Enochian appeared peaceful, as if each runic symbol connected and flowed with one another as though it were water, granting a sense of serenity. Or perhaps a cruel sense of aloofness.
"Neither rune is stronger than the other. But each holds advantages. The other doesn't." Luna interceeded.
"Like Attacking and Defending?"
"No. Each is proficient at killing. "Luna said. "But each form of killing will be different. Infernal is meant to break your opponent, to sink in fear so deep that death seems a mercy, while Enochian will grant you a seemingly merciful end, all the wild casting you into the fiery pits of the Nine Hells."
"Nine Hells?" Altair muttered questioningly. He stared at Luna, who turned away at the slip of the mouth, her cheeks a faint rosy complexion.
"The Nine Hells… is a place you will discover upon your tenth birthday," Tenebrae interjected, sighing at her foolish daughter's slight blunder. "But Language is a powerful tool. Never forget that. And the reason I use your blood is to amply its effects. For now, just ensure you always use your blood when creating runes."
Altair glanced towards his wrist, unsure when the wound had closed, and back up towards his mother, whose identity seemed cloudier than ever before.
A sister he'd never heard of. A language he'd never seen. And an understanding of Mana that seemed… complete. Altair's mind throbbed as he stared at her, his heart flustered by her knowledge and power.
"Mom… are you a Ninth Circle entity?' The Prince innocently asked, tilting his head with a curious gleam. "You seem so mysterious."
"Me? God's no." Tenebrae said, smiling. She pointed towards his chest, just over the heart. "Now, take a deep breath."
He did.
"Good, now this might sting a bit."
"Wait, I still have—" Altair hadn't even finished as the stinging burn of fire whipped through his chest, sinking deep within his heart.
A pulsing ache rippled through his being as thick, elongated veins gathered over his small frame, expanding over every crucible of his being, from legs to arms to neck and eyes.
"What a strange reaction. Are Altiars Meridians Closed?" Luna inquired. "No… they're all open. Strange… what's the issue? Why is there such a large reaction?"
"Are you alright? Altair darling, does it hurt? And can you feel the Mana?" Tenebrae asked.
Altair frowned, aside from the dull ache and the strange reaction of his veins that throbbed as though worms hid beneath his flesh. He felt no pain but rather found his attention on the system messages.
[Heart Of Darkness has Activated: Altering Infinity Circle]
[Tarnishing Engaged]
[Infinity Circle Lv 1 → Circle of Gluttony Lv 1]
[System has resisted Tarnishing]
A chill rippled through Altair's heart, as deep within the core of his being, within the center of his heart where his charcoal back Heartstone belonged, a small spiraling black circle with a hollow center began to gather. Swirling as blades of dark violet mana spun in a clockwise motion. The web of elongated veins scattered throughout his flesh sunk back into his body. Bones began to crackle, and flesh began to shed, bringing about a warm sense of being to the young prince.
By the time his eyes had opened to the coming dawn, his obsidian eyes seemed stained by a violet color, while his pupils seemed to slanted to mirror those of a serpent.
[Strength: Increased by One]
[Dexterity: Increased by One]
[Constitution: Increased by One]
[Mana: Increased by One]
Name: Altair
Age: 9
Circle: N/A
Cultivation Method: Circle of Gluttony [F]
Class: Young Prince Lv 1 [First Awakening]
Strength: 1 →2
Dexterity:1 →2
Constitution:1 →2
Wisdom: 5
Charisma: 5
Mana: 0 → 1
Skills: Dark Moon Blade [F], Circle of Gluttony [F]
Passive: Heart of Darkness[???]
Circle of Gluttony [F]
Proficiency: 0%
???: 0/3
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