### The Abyss
Abyss—a realm shrouded in darkness, an endless void where no being has ever set foot throughout history. Yet, here was Ashura, defying the confines of his world by daring to hunt the monsters that lurked within. But how did he gain entry into this foreboding place? The answer lay in a moment five years past.
#### Five Years Ago in Hearthwood Haven Manor
Nestled outside the capital of the Rozastar Empire, Hearthwood Haven Manor, a grand estate belonging to one of the Kanon family's territories, provided a breathtaking but solitary existence for young Ashura.
The garden was an enchanting sight, alive with the ethereal beauty of blue roses known as nigella. Their delicate petals glowed softly against the backdrop of wispy foliage, creating an almost otherworldly atmosphere. It was here, amidst the blue blooms, that Ashura wandered with his caretaker, Ember.
"Ember," Ashura's voice broke the serene silence, tinged with sadness. "Why must I stay at this manor while my siblings reside in the capital? It's not fair." His small frame slumped, the weight of the world pressing heavily on his young shoulders.
Ember, with her warm, kind eyes, knelt down to Ashura's level. "My lord," she replied gently, "there must be a reason why the family head wants you to grow up in this manor instead of the capital. As for the specifics, I'm afraid they're beyond my capabilities to explain." Her tone was soothing, yet a flicker of guilt danced across her features.
Ashura's brow furrowed, and frustration bubbled within him. "Then I should be entitled to know the reason!" he exclaimed, his voice rising in anger. "The family head and my siblings have never told me anything! They just expect me to obey and stay here. It's so unfair!"
With a frustrated huff, he turned and dashed deeper into the sprawling garden, leaving Ember momentarily taken aback.
"Young lord, please wait!" Ember called out, her heart racing as she hurried after him, her footsteps hurried but not quite swift enough to catch his retreating figure.
As Ashura vanished among the blooms, the sense of longing settled in the air, echoing the depth of his unspoken questions and desires.
### Hearthwood Haven Manor - Deeper Garden
Ashura walked blindly, his emotions a tumultuous storm inside him. Suddenly, he sank to his knees, tears brimming in his eyes. "Wha-what did I even do wrong?" he murmured, his voice quivering. "I always practice my hardest. I never picky about food. I even sleep early! Why doesn't my family see my efforts? I just want to eat with them at the dining table in the morning. I want to tell stories before bed like other kids do." His words cracked, and the sadness flooded his cheeks.
As he sat there, the garden around him shimmered with a deep blue hue, and an unexpected path began to emerge, leading to an unknown destination. Ashura, taken aback, halted his sobs momentarily, staring in bewilderment at the unfolding scene. Curiosity took hold of him, and he rose, stepping onto the open path.
With each step, his eyes widened as the surroundings transformed before him. "This place! How beautiful!" Ashura exclaimed, his tear-streaked face brightening with wonder. As he took in the view, a hauntingly beautiful melody floated through the air, so enchanting that it seemed almost divine.
Without realizing it, Ashura began to dance, drawn into the embrace of the melody. His movements were powerful yet refined, each gesture exuding a mix of strength and grace. He held his posture upright and noble, shoulders squared, with every step deliberate as if he were treading on sacred ground.
He started with slow, sweeping strides, his arms rising to trace elegant arcs that felt both ancient and timeless. His hands moved with a restrained flourish, fingers weaving subtle patterns that painted stories in the air around him.
As the melody deepened, he added slight turns and spins, transforming his dance into a fusion of ritual and grace. Each step flowed seamlessly into the next, like water in a stream, imbued with unbroken elegance. Occasionally, he lowered himself into a deep bow, one arm extended as if paying homage to the invisible force guiding the music.
In that moment, his silhouette appeared both grounded and transcendent, embodying the dignity of a warrior and the grace of a gentleman. The dance became a celebration of his spirit, merging ancient reverence with a touch of Victorian refinement, echoing the beauty that was awakening within him.
"Oh my! What a marvelous dance! How beautiful!" The figure cloaked in darkness exclaimed, its voice weaving a melody that drifted through the air, resonating with an otherworldly charm. Ashura, caught off guard, blinked in disbelief, struggling to comprehend what had just transpired.
He finally found his voice, stuttering as he asked, "What just happened? I—I…" Confusion clouded his thoughts, and he felt as if he'd been swept away into a dream.
"Hush, little children, 'tis well. One needeth no reason," the entity replied soothingly as Ashura gazed at it in bewilderment. The figure continued, "Thou need'st not reason to dance; thou must merely feel it, embrace it, and revel in it."
Slowly calming himself, Ashura gathered his thoughts and questioned, "What are you, and what is this place?" His tone remained cautious, yet curiosity sparked within him, urging him to seek answers.
"O, fie! Thou comest hither without knowledge of what this place be, young child," the entity said, surprise evident in its voice. Ashura shook his head, realizing he truly had no understanding of his surroundings.
"This be a place that thou mortals dost call Astraelen, young child," the entity spoke, its voice enchanting and calm, resonating like a soft lullaby.
Feeling emboldened by this revelation, Ashura mustered his courage and asked, "Then what is your name?" His gaze remained steady, clear as an untouched river reflecting the sky.
As the entity stepped forward, emerging from the shadows, it declared, "I am the one who doth watch from the shadow of night, the one who seeth all dreamers, the one who giveth voice to the realm of eternal peace—DIVINE NYX."
As Ashura laid eyes upon Nyx's form, he was struck by a wave of awe that forced him to his knees. The sight before him was nothing short of divine—a hand slender and beautifully crafted, a body exuding elegance and charm, and legs that appeared untouched by the earth. They seemed like treasures never meant for the burden of walking. Yet, despite the allure, Nyx's face was shrouded in a veil thick with shadow.
Amid his submission, a spark of excitement ignited within him. His eyes, usually calm and rational, now blazed with wonder—an overwhelming sensation as if he were witnessing a miracle unfold. In that moment, Ashura felt a deep yearning within his soul, an insatiable desire to drink in every detail of this breathtaking presence.
"Divine Nyx," he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper, yet filled with reverence. "You are a divine being from an ancient era, where the great Celestial War emerged. But it is said that you fell from grace and disappeared without a trace…"
"Verily, as thou dost proclaim, young child," Nyx responded, her voice warm and soothing. "From the celestial war, I did fall from my throne; yet I ne'er despair. I merely take a moment's rest, akin to other deities who have also fallen." She continued, her gaze piercing through the veil. "The path of Astraelen is open only to those whose souls are pure, though they bear great sorrow. So, prithee, child, what dost thou find to be thy sorrow? For I shall lend thee mine aid."
The weight of Nyx's words enveloped Ashura, compelling him to open up. He felt a surge of emotions bubbling forth, like a dam breaking; everything he had concealed within now poured out. Hours slipped away as Ashura shared his burdens, and Divine Nyx listened, her expression radiating warmth and understanding.
"I'm sorry," Ashura finally said, exhaustion lacing his voice. "It seems many things have been bothering me. I just feel so tired, constantly needing to watch what I say, to be careful with my actions, and so much more." He let his body rest against the soft grass beneath him, momentarily surprised by its unexpected comfort.
"Then why dost thou not simply do it, young child?" Nyx asked, her demeanor gentle yet firm. "What grants others the right to confine thy life? For thee, who possess a pure soul, this world is far too vast to concern thyself with such trivial matters."
Ashura's gaze hardened, his frustration surfacing. "It's not easy! Only the strong can make decisions. I am too weak for that. Even if I try now, I'm sure others will prevent it in the future."
"Then thou needest but to be strong, is't not, young child?" Nyx replied, her tone shifting slightly, hopeful and encouraging. "Then have I a proposal; why not enter into a contract with me?"
Her words hung in the air, a tempting promise of strength and support, leaving Ashura to ponder the depths of what such a contract might entail.
In the stillness of the night, under the silvery gaze of the moon, a conversation unfolded between Asura, a young child with a sparkle of mischief in his eyes, and the enigmatic Divine Nyx, who loomed majestically before him.
"This is the first time I've heard of a divine being offering a contract to a human," Ashura marveled, wonder dancing across his features. "Is it truly possible?"
Nyx regarded him thoughtfully, her voice smooth and calm, "I know not of other divine beings, but young child, thou art the first mortal I do offer this to. 'Twere a lie to say I possess no motive; fret not, for this contract is not bound by soul, but by bonds." Her words, though weighty with truth, flowed easily, wrapping around him like a gentle breeze.
A wild grin spread across Ashura's face as he gazed at the beautiful moon, its radiance igniting a tempest of ambition within him. "Hahaha! If I accept this power, my ugliest desire, I want to hide the most might that can be accomplished!" He chuckled, the sound echoing into the vastness, stirring shadows and wisps of starlight.
"What dost thou desire, young child, for thee who possesseth a pure soul? Speak, that it may be deemed the ugliest," Nyx replied, curiosity evident in her melodic voice.
Ashura, his gaze snapping back to meet the shimmering presence of Divine Nyx, felt adrenaline surge through him. With a voice rich with excitement and a manic glint in his eyes, he exclaimed, "FALL OF EDEN!!! AHHAHAHAHAH!"
His laughter rang out, a mix of delight and madness, filling the night air with the weight of his ambition. In that moment, under the watchful moon, an unholy dream took flight, binding them in an unforeseen destiny.