" A puppet? " " Yes, I ain't a real living being but just a sentient puppet, isn't that amazing? " He discarded his slithery voice and spoke like a normal person. " Then, what about being the parent of sis? " " Oh! that one, I was made in his likeness, which means, I was made from his astral body while preserving his memories. You are not the only one who can affect astral bodies, you know? "
Aria never felt that she was the only one who has the ability to affect astral bodies but, she didn't expect someone wise and powerful enough to make a soul inhabit an astral body of someone else. When a person dies, his astral body is separated from the physical body, carrying the soul along with it. Just like a marionette without strings, the physical body collapses without the puppeteer called soul controlling it from within. This is one of the unbreakable laws of the multiverse.
" Is it Satanael who did it? " " Yes, it I...….s m..... EXCUSE ME, CAN YOU HEAR ME, SPIRIT OF THE SUN? I GUESS YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO SUBDUE MY PUPPET DAHAKA. WELL DONE. I AM SATANAEL, THE ONE WHO RULES OVER THE FALLEN. COME TO ME, BABY SPIRIT. I WANT TO SEE YOU. DON'T YOU SHARE THE SAME CURIOUSITY? " the man's voice suddenly changed into a deep, androgynous tone. The marionette master spoke from his puppet's body.
" You can hear me, cant you? " " I CAN, CUTE CHILD. " " Thanks for the compliment. Now, down to business. Why do you want to destroy this kingdom? " " I NEVER WANTED TO DESTROY THE KINGDOM. I JUST WANTED TO OBTAIN IT. THE BEAST ARMIES WOULD HAVE JUST SMOKED OUT CELESTINA AND THE KING RANDOLPH AND DAHAKA AND OTHERS WOULD HAVE JUST FINISHED THEM OFF. THE ARMIES WOULDN'T HAVE TOUCHED A SINGLE, UNARMED CIVILIAN. I AM NOT AN UNREASONABLE DESPOT YOU KNOW? I HAVE MY OWN SET OF MORALS. "
" Hmph, as if we can believe your words, " Celestina interjected. " Satanael, Where do you live? " " THERE IS NO FUN IN IT IF JUST REVEAL, ISN'T IT? HOW ABOUT WE PLAY A GAME WITH SOME REAL STAKES INVOLVED? YOUR KING RANDOLPH HAS ALREADY BEEN INJECTED WITH A TOXIN THAT WILL KILL HIM IF HE DOESN'T GET A TREATMENT IN A CHRONOS. HE HAS ALREADY BEEN SENT TO YOUR LOCATION. DAHAKA WILL BE RETRIEVED BY ME, THANK YOU. "
Task completion: 70%
Dahaka disappeared right in front of Aria. Then, the king, who looked frail and dying, appeared right in the place Dahaka disappeared. " Randolph!!!!!!! " Celestina rushed over to him and tried to heal him only to be stopped by Aria. " Aria, what are you..... " " He will die if you heal him with Magicia. " She spoke with golden pupils that shone like torches, no, miniature suns. They were an inferior version to 'Smoky eyes' of Uncle Sun (Sun Wukong) which she replicated after observing them for years on end and asking him about their functions. She could see the toxin and its peculiarity.
" What should we do now, teacher? " " We have no choice but to trace the whereabouts of Satanael and get the poison cured. " " Sis, Sir Gustov, I have a plan, but, it is a risky business. "
Meanwhile in his castle, Satanael was looking at Dahaka who knelt in front of him. He was in a joyous mood. His archenemy Celestina and a spirit of the sun who appeared out of nowhere were in a pinch. RANDOLPH WON'T SURVIVE BEYOND A CHRONOS (1 CHRONOS = 1 EARTH DAY) AND THEY CAN NEVER FIND MY CASTLE IN A CHRONOS AS LONG AS I AM THE REALM KING AND THE AUTHORITY IS MY HANDS. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....
Dahaka was surprised at his lord smiling at him. " My lord.... " " Don't ruin my joyous mood Dahaka. My archenemy is coming. All thanks to you. I am glad. I'll bestow a nice gift to you after this scuffle is over. But, have patience you know. Later it is, sweeter it is, my pal/friend. "
Aria was working alone, flying to somewhere. She had gained the innate ability of flight after awakening. DID YOU SEE THAT SIS? HE JUST TRANSFERRED TWO PERSONS FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER IN BARELY A LUNAR UNIT. WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED? (ARIA) I DON'T GET IT AS WELL. SUCH AN EXQUISITE, PRECISE AND FAST TRANSPORT ACROSS LARGE DISTANCES IS TOUGH. (CHEEKY) YOU SAY IT AS IF YOU CAN DO THAT TOO. (COLD) I CAN'T BUT SARCONY CAN. WELL, NOT AT THE MOMENT BUT I COULD CLEARLY SEE THE EXPRESSION OF UNDERSTANDING AND EXCITEMENT RATHER THAN SURPRISE ON HER FACE WHEN SHE TOOK OVER. SHE IS BUSY NOW. DON'T DISTURB HER ALRIGHT. LETS WAIT AND WATCH. (CHEEKY) FINE...(ARIA AND COLD).
Aria, who was now Sarcony, continued flight until she found an abandoned cave and dashed into it. She gently held Mo'er in her arms and sat on the dusty cave floor after evaporating a few stalagmites. " Mo'er, we have work to do. " <
<
<
They were discussing while walking in the temple. Soon, they reached the outer sanctum. There, guarding the inner sanctum like guardians, stood four solar deities: Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, Tlaloc and Nanauatzin. Sarcony made a broad, sadistic grin upon seeing Quetzalcoatl. " Hey half bird half snake idiot, how're you doing? " <
He was just an ordinary magical beast that chanced upon a dying person and fulfilled his last wish of dying in a serene place and have his body incinerated in phoenix flames. That was easy as one of his friends was a baby phoenix. He gave him the legacy of Quetzalcoatl before dying, as a gift/payment.
(There are a few pantheons like Aztec, Mayan, Celtic etc., whose legacies can be taken by not only cultivators but also magical/spiritual beasts as well.)
" Hmph, take me to the Inner Sanctum. I wish to meet Lord Surya and talk. " <
His appearance was that of an iridiscent serpent that had two golden wings resembling eagle wings. Heh gave off a heavy, golden radiance while flying over to the inner sanctum with Sarcony in tow. He stopped in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum, the real shrine of The Lord who was known as the Divine/Godly Witness to all of the actions of all living beings, the physical manifestation of the Almighty lord himself, the one who rules the skies, the one responsible for manifestation, proliferation and destruction of all life on the planet, Lord Surya, The deity of the Sun.
The Guardian Deities enshrined in front of the Sanctum protecting it glared at Quetzalcoatl. WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE, QUETZALCOATL. YOU HAVE ALREADY CAUSED ENOUGH TROUBLE FOR THE LORD. YOU SHALL ENTER ONLY IF YOU HAVE A VALID REASON, one of them spoke directly into their minds. <
The guardian glanced at Sarcony while she observed him. He looked like a typical guardian deity in Indian temples, a shirtless, muscular deity with all sorts of ornaments adorned on their bodies. Their four hands held a mace, a conch shell, a discus/chakram and a lotus. Their faces held amiable smiles, welcoming the believers who come to the shrine to pay respects and lay their eyes upon the divine visage of their lord, Lord Surya and pray in devotion. It was their sacred duty to protect the altar.
SO YOU WERE THE ONE CHOSEN TO BE THE SPIRIT OF THE SUN, WELCOME. QUETZALCOATL, STAY HERE. One of the guardians escorted her in. Inside, on the altar, was a huge chariot made of gold. Seven horses, representing the seven colours of a rainbow, were tied to the harness, ready to gallop in a heartbeat. The charioteer was a person who had no body below his thighs.
Lord Surya was a majestic man, shirtless, wearing a golden cheongsam, adorned with various ornaments and jewels, equipping a lotus, a conch shell, a discus in three of his four arms, the other one blessing the believers entering the shrine. A huge Sun disk acted as a nimbus, floating behind him. Two people were kneeling on either side of his chariot, paying respects to him while two others, standing on either side of him, were fanning him with huge peacock feathered priest whisks.
" What an exquisite workmanship. " Sarcony commented upon witnessing the grandeur of the statue of Lord surya enshrined in the temple. " How am I supposed to talk to Lord Surya? " YOUNG LADY, LORD SURYA, THE ALL SEER, RESPONDS TO ALL THE QUESTIONS ASKED BY THOSE WHO SEEK ANSWERS AS LONG AS THEY ARE SINCERE AND RIGHTEOUS. JUST THINK OF THE QUESTION IN YOUR MIND, YOU SHALL FIND THE ANSWER. The guard informed Aria before leaving.
WHERE CAN I FIND THE REALM SPIRIT OF THIS PLACE? LORD SURYA, I HUMBLY REQUEST YOU TO ANSWER ME. (SARCONY) SARCONY, THE REALM SPIRIT CAN BE FOUND IN A CAVE THAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE KINGDOM OF RANDOLPH, JUST AS DISTANT AS THIS TEMPLE IS FROM IT. YOU HAVE TO GO JUST AS DEEP TO FIND THE LAIR OF THE REALM SPIRIT. (LORD SURYA)
THANK YOU LORD SURYA. (SARCONY). MAY YOU ACHIEVE WHAT YOU DESIRE. (LORD SURYA). The moment Lord Surya's blessings reached Sarcony and Mo'er, something different happened to them. Their bodies stated to shine in gold and bluish white colours respectively.
Name: Aria Sarcony
Age: not applicable
Gender: female
Species/Race: Spirit of the All-seer
Dantain nature: [Providence: Solar]
Species-specific characteristics: Immortality, Astral body
Titles: Spirit blessed by lord of the skies, Owner of the *Trial of the shadows*
Profession: The blessing of Lord Surya
Quirks:
1. Hands of Aten [level not applicable] [Side skill: Khepri's Sacrarium [level not applicable]]
2. Personality switch [complete mastery level] [4 personalities]
3. Restraints of destiny [advanced level]
4. Perfect Soma [level 3]
5. Transmogrification [level not applicable] [Side skill: Contrive [level not applicable]]
Physical skills: Divine Archery [level 4], Staff techniques [level 4]
Criminal record: none
Task completion: 70%
Tamed beasts: Mo'er (Ancient Leviathan)
Title bonuses: The challenger [level unknown], Sekhmet [level unknown]
Accessories: The 'Eye of Ra' [Mythical grade mage craft amplification artefact], The 'Dwarven earrings' [Extraordinary grade Concealment item] [invisible]
Aria recognised the importance of the skills she had just obtained almost instantly. Falling to her knees to kowtow to Lord Surya for giving her his blessing despite not asking for it, she left the inner sanctum and then flew away from the cave. The next instant, the cave vanished as if never existing in the first place. Aria could barely contain her excitement and surprise at the disappearance.
Meanwhile in the realm king's castle,
A woman with black bat wings, four pairs of them, on her back stood behind Satanael as she contemplated her life. She was an ordinary girl who grew like a princess under her pampering but disciplined parents and a loving family. Being doted upon as the only child never made her arrogant.
She enjoyed her life until the day he came in. He was the scion of a powerful family that ruled over a lower realm. Infatuated with her, he asked for her hand in marriage only to be rejected due to his playboy tendencies and lack of character. Furious, he tried to attack the girl only to be soundly pummelled. he died of humiliation later. His father, seeing this as an oppurtunity to eliminate her family famed as the warriors who could shake the battlefield and a threat to his throne, acted agrieved over the son he never cared about in his life and sent the strongest assassins.
Her family fought valiantly but valiance could only take them so far. All of them perished. Cold, ragged, wounded, alone and insane, the girl was somehow overlooked in the massacre leaving her alive. She sought this oppurtunity to escape her mansion that now became the stronghold of the assassins. The king, now unchallenged, could become the realm king candidate with ease.
Seeking coldblooded revenge, she searched for power that could eliminate her enemies. After years of futile search, she finally found her ray of hope in summoning. A creature from hell, an angel or a devil could be summoned to perform one fixed task based on the nature of it by offering a suitable wage in the form of a sacrifice. She immediately devised a plan to perform it.
Perhaps it was her destiny or the ill fate of the realm, she succeeded in summoning the worst of the devils, the progenitor. Mere presence of him ascended the lower realm into an intermediate one creating chaos and destruction. An unprecendented number of living beings perished in a jiffy. Yet, the carnage didn't even bring a ripple in his watery crystal clear eyes. He was an emotionless fiend.
" Oh devil, accept my very life as your payment to torture all those who rained despair onto my family and plunge them into the bottomless pit of sorrow. " She clearly remembered the angry and probably sadistic proclamation made on that day. The devil silently glanced at her for a while before replying, " Has potential, request accepted. Thou shalt transform into a fallen and join my ranks as my payment. The slaughter fest shall commence under thee with my supervision. "
Instead of finishing her job straightforward and taking her life as payment, he degraded her race to a fallen and let her get her own revenge, accepting her as a payment which was abnormal. Blinded by anger, she immediately agreed, not like her agreement had any influence. The moment her weird summoning succeeded, she had sealed her fate and lead the now royal family to its doom.
The moment he touched her, her hair turned long and fiery red, four pairs of bat wings sprouted from her back, pitch black in colour, her dress changed into a velvety black skin tight suit, her pupils turned murky red. Deep in her heart, she felt as if something was lost, forever to the darkness.
She thoroughly turned into the devil's apprentice. Selling herself, she turned a fallen. Watching the process with indifference was the lord of the fallen, Satanael.
Additional Information from the author:
Her abilities after degradation of her race were;
Name: Maria
Race/Species: The Fallen
Species specific characteristics: Astral body, Immortality, Enticement of Fallen
Gender: Female
Age: Not Applicable
Archives:
Abilities: Flames of Surtr, Demon of rage, Wrathful form, Bewitchment, Transformation