THE ARCHAIC SKY

THE EPILOGUE: THE MYRKVADOTTIR

Far away, deep in the abyss, down the spiralling spire of night and through the corridors of nacht. There, the furthest point away from the stars and sky, lay a kingdom of waste. It's walls keeping away monsters, grotesque daemons and residue of vengeful gods. watch towers of sacred divine light killing those that wander too closely.

It's people barely any different from the miasmas that lie outside. Veins of purple corruption surging through them, spreading ever so slowly through them, placed by the unruly, arrogant and deceiving heavenly envoys and their master. Buildings, towers, palaces of stone, carved to perfection now on the verge of collapse and ruin.

The ruler. The herrscher. The queen. Watches over her lands of soot, with a plan in mind. Her heralds, mages, skirmishers, legionnaires, vanguards and lectors ready to make her words the truth. "soldiers" she said aloud, as she stood at the highest cliff near the small city. Watching the carriage carry away her most valuable asset. "how has it been?"

"your... majesty... your plan has finally begun, the preparations have proven effective" one of her heralds had spoken, bowing, on their knee as their hand fell over their chest. they kneeled, so low the tall blades of grass surely brushed their ancient masks.

She stretched her neck, pushing back her hair as her hand fell on her purple dress. "hah... finally... exposing the other Araceli's existence to that council... planting two of our descendants in the town... giving that Kinzokurai a deities' residue... making those seikatsu soldiers desert the guild ... leaving the Yamiyo with the summoning ritual... it's finally all worth it..."

"once the pieces fall into place... once the stairs are built, we will be able to revel at the glory of your fatherland and grace truth upon this mortal world" a lector had added. The myrkvadottir smiled her hands corrupted by the purple darkness, waving them away.

"this world... it's lies shall finally collapse... and it's truth shall finally be revealed... and justice will finally prevail" the queen muttered as she opened her arms, her dress finally showing it's true glory. "Dainn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr..." she called them forth. "is Durathrorr still unenlightened?"

"and he will remain so, your majesty... he will not interfere nor impede your plans... regrettably... the issue is..." Dvalinn had spoken, one of her four blades.

The queen laughed. "hm... do not worry... I have already taken that into account... I assure you, they will not be reunited... hah, and to think that divine actually fell for my trap... makes me wonder if they're even smart enough to keep this world's secret" the queen shook her head, a smile on her wicked lips. "Dvalinn... shouldn't you be watching over the other arcane? You as well Duneyrr"

"we shall leave immediately, your excellency" Duneyrr bowed lower before lifting her head, her other hand waving portal of night into existence. "your humble servants shall do as you command"

"Dainn" she called instead. "do you remember... that lovely... no, interesting thought?" her eyes watched the prosperous town. To think that it was inching so closely to collapse and ruin not too long ago. Just a few days after she kept a closer eye on the harbinger. Who in her eyes was no different from the self-proclaimed seraph. "the one of the scion of the traitorous Araceli?"

All the tedious work she had to do to pull the strings on her pretty little puppet. On the descendant of those filthy traitors. It feels like it was yesterday that they turned their backs on their own fatherland. On their own queen.

"yes, my queen" she could already tell he was frowning. Even from the beginning, it was never his intention to make his treasured disciple, their sacrifice. But he knew she was the only one who had the highest chance of success.

She smiled, crouching down, one knee supporting her against the grass while the other hovered slightly over the ground. "well... since she's removed that dross of a divine off her body... and since...they have awakened... it's about to be far more interesting..." her smile widened, her razor sharp teeth complementing the four pointed stars that scarred her eyes that she knew the Araceli dons as well. "don't you think?"

"yes... your majesty...but I don't think Durathrorr wouldn't see it the same way"

The queen laughed, flicking her fist open to allow stars and the cosmos to appear at the palm of her hand. "is that really how he sees it?" she smirked, her eyes narrowing. "or is that how you see it? Dainn?"

THE END