Tales of Undeath: The Von Virtus Chronicles

Dominus looks at the coin, unimpressed.

Dominus: You have done well in discovering that Eclipse were after von Virtus' son, Lunalus... But I fail to see how that coin is of any further use to us than that. It merely confirms Eclipse's involvement in the matter... Meanwhile, his whereabouts remain a mystery.

Lunalus whispers something inaudible in Barr's ear, as he takes one of his hands and places the coin inside it. Like a puppet brought to life, Barr moves of his own accord at last, seemingly inspecting the coin using the otherworldly appendages that were now part of him.

Lunalus: For me and you perhaps, Dominus... But not for him. Barr no longer sees this world as we do, does not sense it as we sense it. I believe he can find the coin's owner for us.

Dominus, disgusted, scoffs at the idea.

Dominus: "He"...! As if there is anything human left inside that thing. At least let the memory of its previous host rest in peace... It is the least you can do, after you have transfigured them as horribly as you did.

Lunalus seemed utterly entranced, enraptured by Barr's alien grace as several black tentacles and other tar-coated protrusions extended forth from his limbs and thoroughly scraped the silvery artifact.

Lunalus: You are most correct... Even if Barr is still there, he is himself no more. He has been made one with the ichor, becoming one with the will of Nox, the will to destroy. A demigod walks among us, Dominus... Heralding the age of everlasting silence, of perpetual peace. A new moon, a new light to deliver us to pitch-black nothingness... To bring us back home. The new moon of Nox -- Our Novilunium.

Dominus gazed skeptically at Lunalus, trying his hardest to determine whether he truly believed his own words, or if he was merely drunk with the laurels of his own creation.

Dominus: There is but one will of Nox, Lunalus... It is the will of Dominus Noctis. It is my will.

Shaken by the worlds of his leader, Lunalus promptly changes his stance and takes a deep bow.

Lunalus: Your will is absolute, Dominus... I apologise if my words seemed like I was placing that truth into question.

With an apathetic look in his face, Dominus raises his hand toward his Spymaster's creation. Dark sigils are conjured from his palms, glowing with an ominous aura that seemed to cause a sudden reaction in Barr's or, rather, Novilunium's mutated arms and skull.

Dominus: A truth you are about to be reminded of, one your puppet is about to learn first-hand.

Dominus clenches his outstretched hand, as he slowly retracts his arm. A guttural, agonizing screech is projected from Novilunium's throat, as its arms, eyes and tongue begin to rip away from his human body bit by bit.

Dominus: "Demigod"... One whose godly appendages can be removed by a "lesser" being such as I. What does that say for your demigod, Lunalus?!

Lunalus watched in horror, as his lab-engineered son was steadily ripped apart by Dominus' hand.

Lunalus: I beg of you to stop, Dominus! His hurt... His pain... It is too much to bear, he does not deserve it...!

Tears stream down his face, as he tightly clutches his chest. Caught off-guard by Lunalus' emotional reaction, Dominus stops moving his arm.

Dominus: ... This thing means all of that to you?

Lunalus takes yet another bow, as droplets fall from his wet face into the ground beneath.

Lunalus: As hideous as he may look to you, he senses more deeply than any human ever could. He experiences pain more intensely than them... He understands suffering in ways our limited bodies and minds fail to. The harshest of human-inflicted tortures pale in comparison to the excruciating agony you are placing him under right this second...!

Dominus' expression remained an enigma, yet Lunalus' words seemed to have made an impact. He ceased his spell, allowing Novilunium to command his body once more. Overwhelmed by the intense pain it felt, it collapsed motionless onto the cold, hard floor. The silver coin it held fell to the ground, rolling away a short distance before falling on one of its sides. The ever-quickening cling of its spinning rim making contact with the stone floor was the only sound that filled the cathedral, until Dominus' voice cut through the silence.

Dominus: And here I believed there was no being more attuned to another's torment than you... I suppose it only makes sense that the one who trumps that feat is a creation of your own hand.

Dominus walks toward the fallen coin, picking it back up.

Dominus: Our agents' pain receptors are numbed, so that the burden of living can be lessened as they aid our cause... I imagined your creation had undergone a similar procedure.

He hands the coin to a devastated Lunalus, who was now crouched besides his fallen son.

Lunalus: How can you prevent another's pain if you cannot feel your own...? Our foot soldiers are one thing, but he is not a foot soldier. With how much power he wields, he must feel pain. He should feel pain, just as we do...

After returning to his throne, Dominus rests his elbow on one of the armrests, pensively holding his chin with his hand.

Dominus: Do you believe he is powerful enough to take the boy back from Eclipse's clutches...?

Lunalus: I believe that the both of us are more than capable of that.

Dominus shakes his head, seemingly disagreeing with such a plan.

Dominus: I am willing to give this... Novilunium creation of yours the benefit of the doubt. But I cannot waste more time. If you wish to put it to the test, then it is to go alone. I have other plans for you, Lunalus... You are our Spymaster after all, and as such you should dedicate your efforts to tracking down any Eclipse activity you can find. The sooner we get our hands on one of their members, the sooner we can start getting some answers. If your creature can find him earlier, then all the better... If not, at least we didn't put all our eggs in one basket.

Clutching Novilunium's unconscious body tightly, a concerned Lunalus nods.

Lunalus: If that is your wish, then it will be done. But we will be placing a lot of faith in him... Unlike those under my command, I cannot see through his eyes. The only way we will know of his success is if he single-handedly walks through those doors with Virno in tow.

Dominus grins, defiantly.

Dominus: Sounds like easy work for a demigod. Wouldn't you agree...?

Lunalus hangs his head, defeated.

Lunalus: ... I shall give him the necessary instructions to the best of my abilities, as soon as he wakes. In the meantime, I will begin researching for anything that could lead us to Eclipse.

Dominus nods, satisfied, as Lunalus rises holding his motionless creation in his arms.

Lunalus: Would that be all, Dominus...?

Dominus: That would be all, indeed. Blend with the eternal black, Lunalus.

Lunalus: Blend with the eternal black, Dominus...

He takes a short bow, before turning around and heading toward the cathedral's exit. Clenching his teeth in fury, Lunalus couldn't help but feel deeply wronged by his own leader...