Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 13: Truth

Dawn, the next day, the rustle of the winds cascaded over the immature features of the young Prince leading his Mother forward. A poised sse of assurance, of Authority, trailed the Young Prince as he strolled, with a certain sse of purpose in his step.

"Good," Tebrae said. "But where is your smile, my Prince?"

"Smile?" He looked up at his Mother.

She nodded, a dotting hue in her serine stare. "A smile is a dangerous tool, whether it's your emy, ally, or me: Whether you're happy, sad, weak, or defseless, you must carry a warm yet unfamiliar smile." She said, reminisct of the year the little slave girl brutally died.

"Ev to the people I hate?" He asked, unsure whether he could face—

"That is correct, but do not mistake the smile as anything but a mask." She assured him.

Altair fell into deep thought. He'd wanted to bow his head but refrained from doing so: 'A king must never bow, if ev towards the heavs.' He recalled, peering dead ahead without expression.

"Mom..." Altair asked, turning to his Mother. "Wh will... Wh will I become fully awaked? You said last night."

"Oh! That's my bad." She muttered, scratching the back of her head. "I did say that. In the d, I started teaching you about proper etiquette. I should have taught you this at birth, but... "She turned to him, smiling with starry eyes. "You were just so cute!

Mama couldn't help but give you kisses all day long!"

He smiled, a giddy ssation gathering in his chest. "Mama is the best. She's ev walking me to school."

"School? Oh yeah... Naw! We are skipping that!" she carelessly said, shooting the young Prince a most glorious thumbs up. She nodded.

"Eh?"

"Yup. Mama did promise to awak you. So let's do it. But you did make a promise to meet up with Syris." Tebrae mtioned. "Part of being a King... No! Better yet, part of being a man is keeping your word, ev if you didn't mean for them to have meaning.

As both a King and a man, your words carry weight."

He stared at his Mother with uncertainty.

"For example, If someone hurt your most precious mother, what will you do."

"Kill them!" He coldly said, scrunching his brow.

I'll defeat you!" He pointed, glaring daggers at Syris with a bright grin." I'm going to awak today and defeat you with a single finger."

Tebrae couldn't help but giggle. " See you, Reverd Mother, you too, Syris."

The Reverd Mother watched them leave, and her gaze slid down to Syris. "Shall we—"

"She knows Karis." Syris coldly said, her once cyan eyes a blood stain scarlet, whirling with the flames of the Hells. " That woman... knows. She knows what I am... " her fingers clched.

And she thought, "How! My mask has never once brok! Ev with that little monster! How could she...?! "

'My que... 'The Reverd Mother started, falling to one knee, spreading her awaress to sure there was no one prest. She continued in a whisper, barely audible within the forest. "That's not possible. No one aside from me knows of your resurrection. And if they did, no one would believe in reincarnation, at least not like what you did. There's simply no proof.'

The winds rustled to and fro, leaving only a coldness pinching at the Que's heart. She gritted her teeth. 'Young... Woman. That's what she called me. Th there was the commt of 'Price'. There'd be no reason to tell a child that.' Syris told herself.

'Could she be a Transcdt? No. Earth is barely a tier-one planet. There is no reason for a Transcdt to be here like in Gesis. And there'd be no way for a Transcdt to know about me. I'm missing something.'

The icy winds whirled a Syris, colling her mind, if only for a momt, as she felt her chest tight against her heart.

"Karis... we'll maintain the ruse. That mysterious woman, Tebrae, doesn't seem interested in me. That'll buy me some time while I investigate." She said, somewhat doubtful.

"Is that wise, my lady? While I, too, am curious of Tebrae we—"

"We have to assume she knows who I am." Syris grimaced at the very words. " And I am too weak to do anything, as I am now. My Astral Qi is in hibernation. Earth is our best bet for me to grow. These towers and dungeons will do as well. Especially after I awak.

I'll keep you updated on the Duke. But I don't have much hope in him."

"On the contrary, my lady. It's greedy m like him that will surprise ev the gods," Karis mtioned a thin veil grin upon her lips. "I'll handle the rest. You just keep training. You've yet to get accustomed to moving your body."

"True... Although, I'm no fan of the name. Syris... I sound like a man."

Karis giggled. "My lady, you picked the name."

"We'll. I like my original one better." Syris moaned, puffing her cheeks. She sighed."You head out first... I'm going to go catch up with the boy."

"Of course, your grace. And may Soloman's Wisdom guide your path. "