Six thousand years after the Soleil Order was formed, a mysterious domain came into existence out of a clash between the mundane realm and the Shadowfell realm. It was an incomprehensible domain, dark and mysterious until Kairos, a powerful arcane sorcerer with the power to bend time and space tamed it, making it his own. He named it Eternity mostly because, time flowed insanely slower inside it. If a person spent a year in that realm, only an hour will suffice in the mundane realm and a week in the Shadowfell realm. It would have been a useful weapon for the Order but Kairos forbade them from even entering Eternity, knowing the greed of man. Since that time, Kairos had kept himself in Eternity until....
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"So this is the home of the Order's strongest sorcerer, Eternity." Dante said, as he stood with Kairos on the other side of the portal.
In the calm and mysterious domain of Eternity, time wove its threads like whispers of an ancient melody. The domain was a realm of shadowed twilight, where Gothic archways stretched like skeletal fingers towards a glowing luminescence. Soft glows emanated from within the archways, casting an ethereal light upon the sorcerer of time's abode.
In Eternity, the air was thick with the scent of old parchment and the faint hum of chronology. Glowing symbols on ancient pillars whispered secrets of the timestream, and the domain's calm mystery was palpable, like the quiet before a dawn that never breaks.
Eternity was a place where time is both fluid and frozen, a domain of paradoxes where Kairos navigated the labyrinth of moments with wisdom and power. In Eternity , the boundaries of time were both limits and gateways, and Kairos' will shaped the flow of eternity itself.
"We have a lot of time here so ready your body. Rest for a week and then we'll start. You will be staying in that palace." Kairos said and pointed to a massive palace right in the center of the realm.
Dante nodded in understanding and walked towards it, no questions asked.
Kairos blended with Eternity, leaving Dante alone.
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" You should have seen their faces when I stopped my own de-runing." Brane said and burst into laughter.
"I know right. It's nice to be a vampire who can go invisible. I wouldn't have missed that for the world." Charles started to laugh too.
The man and downworlder were sitt in a Cafe, laughing at crass jokes over tasteless coffee.
"So how does it feel? Being normal for once." Charles asked after they both stopped laughing.
"As long as there are runes drawn by the heat of a mirale, I'm not normal" Brane answered, sipping his coffee.
"So, what do you plan on doing now? With the whole wanted man business."
"Nothing. I leave everything to you and the Arcane Sorcerers."Brane sighed.
" Why? And what are you leaving with us?"Charles asked, his curiosity increasing.
"Traitors. There are a lot moving freely in the Order"
"What makes you think that?"
"There's no way a demon would be able to create a portal to the Shadowfell. Asmodeus himself came into our archives and stole it. He had help from the inside. Someone wants to destroy the Order from within .They're succeeding."
"Well then. I'll make sure I find the culprit." Charles assured him.
"You better. They might even be associated with the Illuminati."
"Perfect! I'll start investigating."
Brane stood up and left the Café. As he was leaving he snuck a paper into the breast pocket of Charles' coat.
When the vampire opened it, it read:
Look at the next three tables to your right.
The man seated there is a spy.
Charles did so and sure enough, a shady looking man sat, giving him occasional side glances. The vampire smiled in satisfaction. He knew what dinner was going to be.
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An army of demons cheered loudly from below the palace balcony as Asmodeus addressed them from his palace balcony.
"Tomorrow, wit the power of the Dark Hold, we will destroy the Soleil Order and slaughter every last soldier of the Arcana Guard!" he declared, his voice as loud as the roaring of angry waves.
The demons shouted in excitement and started a chant. It continued till Asmodeus returned to his palace, smiling in satisfaction. The demon soldiers then retired to their quarters, ready to prepare for the next day.
Asmodeus was about to leave his palace in a prepared portal when a he noticed another presence with him in the room.
He turned to see a female demon leaning against a pillar, staring at him. Half of her face was a mess with the flesh almost gone, leaving it's contents for all to see. The other half was a beautiful side, with a crimson colored pupil and half of a pink luscious lip.
"What do you seek Mazikeen?" Asmoddus asked.
"A message from Lucifer." Mazikeen replied simply.
"Out with it"
"She wants to know if you really plan to attack the Soleil Order or it's just one of your foolishly delusions."
"Let her know that I intend to attack the Order at dusk tomorrow."
"And how do you intend to enter the Shadowfell?" Mazikeen scoffed.
"That will be my little surprise." Asmoddus grinned.
"Let's imagine that you do enter the Shadowfell, how do you plan on dealing with the five Paladins, even if the Shadow is currently unconscious?"
"That's a surprise. Now deliver the message to our Lord like the slave you are."Asmodeus taunted.
" What did you say to me? "Mazikeen stepped forward, her aura rising.
" You heard me. "
" You are lucky, Lucifer warned me not to lay a finger on you. You will regret it the next time you do so. "Mazikeen threatened and flew out through the balcony.
Asmodeus shook his head in mock disappointment. Mazikeen was one weird specimen. He could at least give her that.
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Charles gazed at the never ending night sky in absolute solitude from his chambers, his mind at rest. He sensed a presence that had been spying on him for a while but he ignored it. However, it began to irk him and he said in a loud voice;
"Whoever you may be, leave now while you have a chance or die. I ate one of you spies the other day and I won't hesitate to do it again."
A figure then emerged from the shadows. It wasn't a spy but a familiar being.
"Chrome, are you done with the assignment?" Charles asked, not looking back.
"Yes, I did."Chrome replied.
" Sneaking you through that metal box was one of the best decisions I've made in a while. How was the underworld? "
" War. It's coming and it's coming fast" Chrome sighed loudly.
"I hate to admit it but Brane was right. We have traitors and now the demons are about to breach the Shadowfell" Charles said calmly.
"We have to act fast"
"I know Chrome. Summon the Paladins. We have rubbish to sweep."