Inferno Of Desire

Chapter 50: The Black Archives and Its Guardian

The moment their alliance with the Abyss was solidified, Azrael, Seraphine, Kael, and Lirael departed Aethor’s fortress, making their way through the ancient and treacherous pathways of the Abyss.

The darkened skies churned above them, echoing the turmoil and unrest within the realm itself.

Though they had secured the alliance, the journey ahead was fraught with danger and unresolved mysteries.

As they traveled, Seraphine kept pace beside Azrael, her mind swirling with thoughts of the coming battle.

The Abyss' mysteries ran deeper than even Aethor had revealed. She could feel the pulse of the realm around her, a living, breathing entity that seemed to hold secrets long forgotten.

“We’ve gained their support,” Lirael began, breaking the silence, “but there’s something more here, something hidden beneath the surface.”

Kael nodded in agreement, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. “The Abyss is more than just a battlefield. It’s a prison of sorts — a place where ancient powers have been sealed away.”

Azrael’s gaze darkened as they walked, his mind turning over Kael’s words. The Abyss had always felt like more than a wasteland of shadows and flame.

It was a crucible, a place where broken souls were forged and tormented, where the boundaries between life, death, and something else entirely blurred.

“What do you mean, Kael?” Seraphine asked, sensing the tension between her companions.

Kael glanced at Azrael, hesitating before he spoke. “There are rumors… whispers of something buried deep within the Abyss. A power older than time itself. It’s said that it can either destroy the world or save it.”

"Uriel mentioned that. As much as it's reasonable, it still makes no sense at all." Seraphine said.

“Is that what Aethor’s after?” Lirael asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

Kael shook his head. “No. Aethor cares only for the war, for dominance. But there are others — ancient beings who might seek to use this power for their own ends.”

Seraphine frowned, her wings flexing slightly in unease. “If such a power exists, why hasn’t it been used before? Why has the Abyss remained in its current state for so long?”

“There are forces that keep it at bay,” Kael explained, his voice lowering. “Seals, ancient wards that hold it in check. But with the war escalating, those seals are weakening.”

Azrael’s eyes flickered with molten fire. “If the seals break, we’ll have more to contend with than just armies. This power — if it falls into the wrong hands — could end everything.”

Seraphine’s mind raced, the weight of their situation settling heavily upon her.

The war was already on the horizon, but this new revelation brought a different kind of danger.

They were not just fighting for the realms — they were fighting against forces that could rewrite the very fabric of existence.

“We need to find out where these seals are located,” Azrael said firmly, his voice echoing with command. “If we can secure them or prevent their destruction, we can stop this power from being unleashed.”

Kael nodded. “There are ancient texts, hidden deep within the Abyss, that might tell us more. They’re kept in the Black Archives, a place few have ventured to, and even fewer returned from.”

Seraphine looked at Azrael, her gaze steady. “We need to go there.”

Azrael’s jaw tightened, but he gave a curt nod. “Then we’ll find the Black Archives. Whatever secrets the Abyss holds, we need to uncover them before our enemies do.”