The Dark Before The Light

They walked until they reached the riverbanks. Siran quickly paid a boatman, and soon they stepped into a small vessel, gliding across the water. Other boats drifted by, heading towards various parts of the city.

"Why don't you use cars?" Acacia asked, watching the gentle flow of traffic on the water.

"It's a matter of culture for us," Siran explained, his voice calm. "Cars would be efficient, yes, but this way of life fits our mountains and rivers. We'd have constant floods if we built roads over everything. Boats are better; the water flows freely, and so do the people."

"Interesting," Bella mused, looking around once more.

Soon they reached the palace and disembarked, climbing the grand stairs and walking back inside the building. The throne was empty, with only a few servants tidying the area.

"You can leave now, Siran. Thanks for your assistance," Acacia said. He bowed and quietly walked away. The two women continued down the echoing halls, their sandals tapping softly on the tiled floor.

"Today was eventful," Bella commented, breaking the silence.

"It certainly was. And now I have to leave tomorrow," Acacia replied, a slight edge to her voice.

"...Aren't you scared after seeing the Pit?" Bella asked hesitantly, her voice softer.

"Scared? No," Acacia murmured, placing a hand over her beating heart. "I don't know what I'm feeling, to be honest. Yes, the Pit is terrifying, but I still want to go there. I came all this way; I won't just walk away after making my decision."

"Fine," Bella said, her voice firm with resolve. "Just know I'll keep track of the months, and the minute you spend too long, I'm coming to get you."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure I don't take too long," Acacia promised. "But how will I even keep track of time there? It seemed pretty dark, and I doubt a flashlight would be much help."

"Well, you could take a calendar and a wristwatch to check off the dates and know the time," Bella mused, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "The sun definitely doesn't seem to reach. A light orb would be useful, but you'd need the caster beside you for it to last, and I doubt they'd willingly give you a person to aid your journey."

"If only the old hag wasn't hoarding Ramiel's diary," Acacia muttered, running her fingers through her hair. "I might actually understand how to navigate the place."

"You could learn Silent Commands," Bella offered, though a sigh escaped her. "But it takes time, and you're leaving tomorrow."

"Isn't Silent Commands for people with disabilities?" Acacia asked, tilting her head.

"Yes, but it's not limited to them," Bella explained. "Since they can't use commands to channel their magic, they write them instead. Since you can use magic, you could learn it to cast your own light orb. But, like I said, it's not exactly convenient to learn right now."

Acacia was silent as they walked. They soon reached the door to her chambers and stepped inside. A packed bag sat on the bed, with a letter on top. Bella walked over, picked up the letter, and read its contents before handing it to Acacia. "It's for you. Edwin prepared it for your journey."

Acacia read it, then placed the letter on a nearby table. She opened the bag to find a neatly folded blanket, a pair of gleaming twin daggers, a rope and a box of matchsticks. She closed the bag, a faint smile touching her lips.

'How thoughtful. I should thank him later.'

"Looks like you don't have to worry much," Bella said, "except for the darkness."

"If Ramiel could survive, I'll be fine," Acacia declared, more to herself than to Bella.

"I hope so." Bella sighed and patted Acacia's shoulder as she walked towards the door. "Get some rest." Bella smiled at Acacia and left her room, closing the door behind her.

Acacia waited for a few moments, glancing at the bag while crossing her arms.

"Why did she say that I must still have my sanity?" Acacia pondered aloud, her gaze distant. "Because of how dark it is? I understand why it would affect someone stuck there for months, but only Ramiel came back. Did she see something in his diary that gave her pause?"

Her thoughts drifted back to the old woman's pointed staff, the unsettling certainty in her voice. It wasn't just the physical darkness of the Pit that concerned them, but something deeper, something that threatened the mind itself.

'If Ramiel was the sole survivor, and his experience led to such a dire warning, then what exactly had he faced down there that wasn't merely physical?'

The idea of a threat to her very sanity was a chilling prospect, far more insidious than any monster. It only intensified her desire to get her hands on that journal.

'I guess I'll find out tomorrow,' Acacia thought, uncrossing her arms and closing the bag before setting it by a corner. As she walked past the vanity mirror, a flicker of movement caught her eye. She stopped, backtracking, but saw only her reflection. 'Am I seeing things again?'

Acacia tilted her head, glancing around the room before settling her gaze back on the mirror. She shook her head with a sigh. 'I'm probably letting all this get to my head… By the way, you've been awfully quiet.'

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

'What do you want me to say? That you're foolish?' Daemonis's voice echoed in her mind.

'Foolish?' Acacia furrowed her brows.

'You could have easily killed the old lady and dominated them all, yet you chose the simpler route. Sometimes I wonder why your emotions cloud your judgment. Letting mere ants disrespect you is unbefitting of my power and a direct insult to me.'

'Must bloodshed be your answer to almost everything?' Acacia thought, rolling her eyes. 'You are also the god of rebirth, not only destruction.'

'What is rebirth without death and chaos? Destruction is the pathway to rebirth and new life,' Daemonis countered, his voice a low growl.

'Whatever you say. I'm not going to randomly kill people just because I was disrespected. I only kill those who try to hurt me. No wonder you have such a bad reputation,' Acacia thought, crossing her arms.

'Reputation is a human construct. It holds no meaning to most gods,' Daemonis drawled, his voice laced with disdain. 'I don't need human favours to excel; they would simply fear and pray to what they do not understand. Though, some gods embrace the attention from the human race, blessing meaningless temples and priests.'

'I doubt you have a temple,' Acacia thought, walking towards her bed and sinking onto it. 'Who would pray to you? The likes of Fate, Sun, Moon, and Life are the most common deities praised and worshipped.'

'I had a temple once,' Daemonis casually replied. 'But I destroyed it. Too bothersome. They built statues with eyes I never had, whispered prayers in tongues I never taught. Mortals have a habit of creating gods in their own image, I wanted no part in their mirror'

Acacia rubbed her temples, the weight of Daemonis's words sinking in like cold stone. "Were you always like this?"

'I believe so. I don't have any memories of my old self. It's been aeons; I don't even remember my mother's face. But I remember my anger and the screams... the sweet, agonising terror,' Daemonis replied.

"You're horrible." Acacia's voice was barely a whisper.

'No less than you, my little butterfly. You'll soon learn to pull away from those emotions holding you down, from the shackles your kind has put on you,' Daemonis scoffed.

'I don't have any shackles. You've destroyed most of them.'

'Still blaming me for your actions, I see,' Daemonis chuckled, the sound resonating mockingly in Acacia's mind. 'Your shackles are your mortal mindset. Don't worry, it won't last for long. You might even lose the love you have for your new family.'

Acacia stiffened, sitting bolt upright on the bed, Daemonis's laughter echoing in her head like a cruel mockery of her deepest fears.

'You are a headache,' Acacia thought, her face growing cold. She swiftly removed her jewellery, placing it on the nearby table, then relaxed back onto the bed, tugging a pillow beneath her head. Behemoth, sensing her shift, wriggled up her arm to rest on her shoulder.

'I am simply being your guide.'

'A terrible one,' Acacia scoffed, getting comfortable. 'Now be quiet. I won't be needing you until tomorrow. I need my rest.'

'Insolent little butterfly,' Daemonis chuckled. 'You can have your rest. See you tomorrow.'

Instantly, her world went black, every thought stopping as Behemoth wriggled towards her neck, wrapping himself around it. The curtains fluttered with the breeze, and a cold, serene silence filled the room.

"Are you that bastard child?"

"I heard your father is someone else. Maybe that's why you don't have any abilities."

"Your brother is so amazing; it's a shame you're dragging your family through the mud."

"Don't worry, in your next life, I'm sure you'll be important."

Acacia's eyes snapped open. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead, and her heart hammered against her ribs like a furious drum. Her nails dug into the sheets, slowly tearing through the fabric as she stared, unblinking, at the ceiling. She closed her eyes, took a deep, shuddering breath, then opened them again, her grip on the sheets loosening as she finally sat up, taking slow, deliberate breaths until her heart quieted its frantic beat.

A soft knock sounded at her door. Servants entered, carrying a fresh set of clothes. They led her to the bathroom for a thorough bath, then dressed her in a practical black tunic with short sleeves, carefully folding her wings to fit the specialized slits at the back. Black leggings and ankle-high boots completed the outfit. Her long hair was woven into a simple braid down her back. Once they were finished, the servants departed, and Acacia grabbed the bag Edwin had prepared. She walked out of the room to find Bella pacing restlessly in the hall.

"Morning to you too," Acacia offered, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

Bella stopped in her tracks, a calendar, a wristwatch, and a small compass clutched in her hands. She rushed to Acacia's side.

"Take these, to keep track of the time," Bella urged, pressing them into Acacia's hands.

Acacia sighed and opened her bag. Bella swiftly arranged the items inside, tucking them securely, then zipped it shut. "Where did you even get them?" Acacia asked, genuinely surprised.

"I asked around," Bella replied, a small, proud smile on her face. "And some people helped."

"Thanks," Acacia said, a warmth spreading through her.

"Now, let's go eat breakfast," Bella grinned, linking arms with Acacia. Acacia returned the smile, and together they walked towards the dining room.

The dining room was vast, far too large for just the three of them. Sunlight streamed through tall, arched windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air and glinting off polished silverware that lay untouched on the long, ornate table. Despite the grandeur, the atmosphere was subdued, heavy with the unspoken weight of what the day would bring.

Edwin sat at the head of the table, looking considerably more rested than last night, yet a faint line of worry still creased his brow. He gestured to the array of dishes laid out: platters of roasted meats, fresh bread, bowls of vibrant fruits, and steaming mugs of a rich, dark brew.

"Eat," he urged, his voice soft. "You'll need your strength, Acacia."

Acacia picked at a piece of fruit, her appetite diminished by the creeping dread of the Pit. "It's a strange irony," she murmured, more to herself than to them. "To be so well-fed, so comfortable, right before stepping into... that."

Bella, ever practical, piled a plate high for Acacia. "Exactly why you should eat. No sense going in on an empty stomach. What if the Pit demands a good sprint?" She offered a small, forced smile.

Edwin took a slow sip of his drink. "Lani-ka's grandmother mentioned Ramiel's diary. I truly wish I could get it for you. It might hold answers about what to expect, or how to... cope." His gaze was troubled.

Acacia pushed a piece of bread around her plate. "She won't give it up. Not willingly. And even if she did, I doubt it's a pleasant read. Probably filled with poetic ramblings about the terror within that probably scares or intrigues her." She paused, then added, "Still, it bothers me. The idea of information that could help but not within my grasp."

"It's not just information she fears, Acacia," Bella said, her voice dropping slightly. "It's your kind of god. The one that demands destruction for rebirth. They only see the former, not the latter."

"They will, eventually," Acacia stated, a steely glint entering her eyes. "Or they will be consumed by their own fear." She looked from Bella to Edwin, a silent promise passing between them. "Do not worry, I will come back."

The unspoken weight in the room seemed to lift slightly, replaced by a quiet determination. They continued their meal, the clinking of silverware the only sound in the grand dining room, each bite a small act of defiance against the unknown.