The Prince of Demons

Luna

Nil was lying on the ground with his head in my lap, completely dead to the world. He's trying so hard for all of us. Nil worked himself to the point where his body simply couldn't keep going despite having False Immortal's Serum keeping him technically intact. I'm amazed Nil was willing to try to keep going with how exhausted he seemed. Seeing someone clearly well beyond their limit pushing forward like a zombie was unsettling and a bit terrifying. I had an odd mix of emotions as I saw Nil keep standing back up as his body greatly protested the training that he was enduring to be able to help everyone tomorrow. I like his tenacity, but I feel guilty about not being able to do more for him. Nil always was willing to go as far as he needed to for what he cared about; that part of the emotions I was feeling was a pleasant warmth Nil tried that hard for everyone. I know he'd try this hard or more for me as well. It, just, made me feel like I was still falling behind him. I stroked his hair a bit more as he kept recovering.

He always felt like a monolith, I just wish I could be more by his side. Lux was closer than I was to Nil, and she felt far off of him as well. Nothing I do seems to catch up to him. I hoped when I had all my <Bases> like him I could close the gap somewhat, but even now he just seemed to make the difference in our abilities larger even faster. Not even the Eternal Emperor could chain or duplicate <Spells> like that. I looked at Krahinn who was still seething on his throne, clearly annoyed such a method was not brought up before. It's something I always thought was too tedious for the benefit gained and just assumed at <Divine Tier> it was not overly worth the effort. Regardless, the catalyst for the monstrous growth was undeniably Krahinn; his insight and knowledge truly put Nil's past <Totem>, Ori, to shame. I do not think comparing the two can even properly be done the difference in their abilities is so vast.

I ran my hand along Nil's horns a little, trying to focus a bit. I am going to be on Phestia as he fights for his life, so I do not become a burden or weakness for him. It stung. That fact hurt. I have Nautilus teaching me this time around, but why does it feel like it's not enough? Nez helped me learn <Magic>, Krahinn would occasionally give me a bit of his insight, and Empress Senna would discreetly help me with knowledge of the Imperial Family, yet I still felt like I was so far behind. I know I will never catch Nil in terms of sheer ability and power. I know I was better at dealing with other people than he was, but was it that greedy to want to be able to stand by his side and help him fight when the time came too? I've been practicing what Utol showed me, I just wish I could help more in the now. I was already on the path to me much stronger this time around, it simply felt so lacking still. For now, all I could do was assure Nil it was going to work out and I was here for him. How much longer did we need to rest here? I know Krahinn wanted to make the most out of every possible second that we had.

"How much time is left?" I asked him. Krahinn's numerous eyes shot to me, emitting waves of wrath.

"About a minute." Krahinn snapped. I definitely made sure my mind was shielded from him as I thought of how cranky he was likely going to be for the next several days. Giant baby.

"Should I stir Nil?" I probed, looking at my dorky prince.

"Probably not a bad idea." Krahinn agreed as he made his throne vanish.

I gently shook Nil who barely moved in response. His eyes groggily opened, looking around to see Krahinn standing. Nil adjusted slowly, his entire body quivering as he moved. I am concerned about how far beyond his limit Nil has pushed himself. It was in his eyes just how fatigued Nil was because he refused to stop moving forward. How is he going to rest and just be fine tomorrow? Is one night enough to recover from this? Krahinn tossed him another ration bar which I was beginning to suspect were a bit more than met the eye. Probably some form of recovery item, like a potion for your body of some kind. Nil was able to eat it without assistance this time. That's good at least. I helped him walk forward as Krahinn unfolded the <Null Space> around us, welcoming the pungent stench of the Wastes to my nose. In retrospect, I was glad I would be spending my time on Ygdazi and not in the Wastes at least because the smell was unbearable. Krahinn opened a portal, stepping through with a purpose as we emerged back in Umbra. Emperor Father Nil saw his grandson staggering forward with that forlorn stare he had going and gave Krahinn a stern glare. Emperor Azzeck and Empress Senna also noticed Nil's less than ideal state, giving Krahinn additional glares. Krahinn paid them no mind as his eyes bore holes through Nez's soul.

"First order of business, where are the siblings? They need to be kept with Luna so nothing happens to them. They will be joining her on Phestia before the army arrives." Krahinn announced, his voice still incensed. At no point did his gaze stray from Nez.

"We appreciate you having such a secure idea for them. What is wrong with Nil? Why are you staring so intensely at Nez?" Prince Nox checked to break the odd silence that followed, clearly not a fan of his husband getting stared down by Krahinn.

"Tired." Nil answered, his voice while sounding better was still a bit weak. I am shocked he held it together throughout all of that. I dreaded what the price entailed once the False Immortal's Serum wore off. I know what I saw him endure and how much strain he put on his body; there is no way it just hand waves all of that away.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Someone, in all of our <Magic> conversations, somehow, never seemed to have brought up the fact that apparently on Tenebrae, there is a method for purifying one's <Affinity>." Krahinn taunted in his actual voice. He's legitimately angry about this.

"There is, I assumed you already knew a better version of it as the one that exists is horribly inefficient. Most <Magic> you either knew or had a variant you knew of that was about the same or slightly better. Is that unique in some way?" Nez answered, grasping the sheer enmity coming from Krahinn.

"Let me be clear, there is no other Realm such a method exists. If there is a Realm other than here that does, I do not know of it. You all have, to my knowledge, what sounds like a method of increasing the <Tier> of ones <Affinity>, and all somehow do not grasp just how major that is." Krahinn explained. Nez looked at Krahinn a bit baffled.

"What do you mean, increase the <Tier>? The method removes traces of other <Elements> and you build your <Mana Reserve> with <Mana> aligned to your natural <Affinity> to increase the potency and efficacy of your <Mana>. While useful, I do not see how it could increase the <Tier> like you think." Nez informed Krahinn.

Krahinn closed his eyes and took a deep, deep breath as his <Mana> slipped for a moment. I nearly fainted from the sheer amount of <Mana> Krahinn possessed. That's the pinnacle of just how much <Mana> someone can possess, is that really possible for us to reach in time? The walls and bricks cracked and crumbled from the pressure he exuded as Krahinn calmed himself down. After what had to be the longest second, Krahinn got his <Mana> back under control; he took another massive breath, letting out a massive, exaggerated exhale. I am guessing some part of that is not as simple as it seems. Krahinn put his hands up as he clearly thought of how to articulate his thoughts politely. I am glad Nez managed to befriend him because I do not think he would show this level of self-control to pretty much anyone else other than Ipnerslei.

"So, <Tier> is a measure of how close to the concept of the initial <Magic> you are. Impurities decrease the <Tier> of a <Magic>, correct?" Krahinn asked Nez.

"Yes, it dilutes the <Mana> to less pure forms, hence why removing them and replacing them with better, more aligned to your <Affinity> <Mana> makes one stronger, but it never increased someone's <Tier>." Nez answered, not grasping Krahinn's point.

"And you measured that fact? When on Tenebrae is that checked?" Krahinn inquired. Nez clearly put some pieces together.

"When someone is young, but could you go from <Divine Tier> to Nil's <Celestial Tier>?" Nez checked as he was clearly realizing something important.

"If you replaced it with sufficiently pure <Mana>, it's theoretically possible. Now I really, and I mean really, want to see this method. It is unfortunately not useful to me in the short term as I'd have to overhaul all of my <Mana>, but we have the perfect test subject in our presence to see if that is possible as she not only has a method of accessing the purest version of her <Mana>, she doesn't have enough for it to be that much of a challenge to try it." Krahinn retorted. All gazes shot to me. Wait, ME?! I pointed at myself, a bit confused. For once, I could feel the interest all of them had in the answer. How is it not? <Celestial Tier> has shown to have given Nil <Magic> like no one else.

"How could I?" I blurted out as it dawned on me that Krahinn meant me.

"Someone has <Soul Wisp> and can enter Utol's domain temporarily, and that <Mana> should be the purest variant of hers you can find. You are the perfect test for the ability to see if anyone can increase their <Tier> to <Celestial>; you simply need to cleanse your <Mana> and reinforce it with Utol's. You've been building it with <Soul Wisp> already, you should just need to do whatever the purifying method and replace it with the better <Mana>. There might be a few other unknown criteria or issues with attempting to increase one's <Tier> such as one's <Bases> not being fully <Acclimated>." Krahinn explained with a wicked smile that let me know this was not a request.

"But Krahinn, what about that is special? Or are you stating the removing of impurities and other <Elements> is unique to Tenebrae?" Nez inquired in a tone like he didn't believe it.

"That is exactly the point I am making. The concept of building and cultivating <Mana> with pure, aligned to your <Affinity> is a concept older than me, but getting rid of part of your <Mana> to get rid of dilution is something beings have struggled to find for eternities. Yet somehow, none of you realize that it is special." Krahinn confirmed. Is it possible? I was willing to try; I had to try.

"I'll try it. I know how to purify my <Mana> already as well." I informed them.

"Show me, right now." Krahinn demanded. Wait, did he not think I knew the method?

"Why not ask me in the <Null Space>?" I checked. Krahinn bobbed his head as I did not immediately comply with his request.

"I was not sure what all the conditions for it were, and I was thinking about other things. But as we have a moment to spare, I want to see it." Krahinn answered with a slight pleasantness to his tone.

I helped Nil sit in a chair and cleared a small place on the ground to sit. I immediately began circulating my <Mana>, pruning off the pieces in my extremities while circulating the remaining back into my <Mana Reserve>. As I did this, I could feel Krahinn's eyes analyze absolutely every aspect of my being, capturing every detail possible. The <Mana> tried to rejoin the rest of mine, but I pruned it again, stopping it from rejoining the rest. I circled the slightly purer <Mana> through my <Bases>, pruning and preventing the little bit I severed from rejoining for several rotations, waiting to finally feel it fade into the ambient <Mana> around us. It took me a solid five minutes to complete enough cycling of my <Mana> to get rid of the tiny bit of impurity out of it. Krahinn nodded his head, smiling viciously.

"I see why you called it inefficient, but it does actually work. That might just be possible." Krahinn chimed, sounding happy for once.

"I'll keep at it and see if it can be done." I told him. I was going to increase my <Tier>, or prove it couldn't be done. No, I need to think better, it will happen, I will throw as much effort at it as it takes.