Aether : Calraem

Epilogue: A Gathering, Summoning and Test of Loyalty

"Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil." – Aristotle

~~~

"What is the meaning of this, woman?"

Lucifer had a sour expression on his face, which only worsened at lantern's illumination. "There are for more efficient ways to try and take my life."

"Your Majesty—" Silica sighed as she lead them down the endless stairs, "—if I wanted to take your life, then I would be far more creative about it."

I would not just ask you to follow me to the dungeons in the middle of the night.

Lucifer yawned, "Is that so?"

"Very so, My Lord."

"Then care to explain to me why you disturbed my slumber, Silica Doldarix."

Silica rolled her eyes. She was already aware of the fact that Lucifer was not most calculating person when he lacked sleep, but he was so rigid about his routine that he made no other options available.

"Just be a little more patient. We're almost there."

"… I'll consent then," Lucifer said.

He remained silent afterwards and eventually the only sound that echoed throughout the room was their footsteps – moving at a fixed pace.

It was times like this that Silica realised how much space Lucifer's monologues took. When he was with his siblings, he was the stoic leader always ready to face any challenge.

But, with her, he was a master of monologues and twisting perceptions of universal concepts.

There were many, many times that she found it to be irritable, but there were also just as many times that she enjoyed his insights.

Although, him being so quiet was also pleasant.

Silica noted to herself to make it more of a habit to wake him in the middle of the night for no reason.

Soon they reached a door large enough to be its own wall.

"We're here," she said.

It was time to get started.

—

Upon entering the room with the large door, the first thing that caught Lucifer's attention was the large circle on the ground. It was carved in one the Ancient Tongues – a Daemon Language.

Lucifer's behaviour changed in an instant, then he looked back at Silica with a stern expression.

"How do you know of this?" He asked. "These are things you don't just casually come across."

He would know. As a Doldarix, he and his siblings were some of the only Daemons still present on Aether. All in all, there could be no more than a hundred left and that was being optimistic.

Naturally, most of the information relating to Daemons had also faded out. That includes the language and most of its writings. Lucifer, Satan and Leviathan were of the lucky few that could still talk and write it because of their shared mother.

"I don't know much about this," Silica said, scratching the back of her head. "I had a lot of help from a bibliophile."

"Hey!" A voice cried. "Why are you saying it likes it a bad thi — w-woah!"

Lucifer moved before anyone could see or even react by reflex. His large hand was around the culprits throat and his eyes began to glow a blood shade of red.

"Reveal your name," he ordered. "Lie and your suffering will be maximized."

"C-Clementine Zaelivaar," the figure answered. "D-Don't you recognise me, Y-Your Majesty? M-My voice?"