Chapter 21 - Divine Judgment

The Inner Sanctum was silent, save for the continuous low rumbling of the structure shuddering. After a moment that felt like an age, Serapis's voice echoed through the chamber once more.

"Kumarbi… If what you say is true, Nanda, then that nightmare already cannot be allowed to continue living. Tell me, what else have you learned about the threat he poses?"

Veil turned to look at the newcomers and smiled faintly as she saw Chanda among them. The Hand gave her a faint smile of her own before bowing before Serapis.

"My Goddess, Kumarbi's underlings have been taking lower caste Serapeans from us throughout the night. House Ardeo alone lost a large number of Unseen and slaves to them."

"No…" Serapis growled, causing the Inner Sanctum to shudder. "For that nightmare to go so far as to take my subjects from me… Even if they were little more than slaves… Did he think such an affront would be beneath my notice!?"

"It wasn't just slaves, my Goddess. They even took some Servants too," Kamal said, prostrating himself before Serapis as the Sanctum's shaking came to a halt. "Like Dom, one of my best…"

At the sound of his friend's name, Arc looked down. "Wait, even Dom was…"

Veil rested a hand on Arc's shoulder, then looked over at Chanda. "So, if they've been taking people… do you think they wanted to collect them as 'prizes' for Kumarbi?"

"I believe so, and what's worse, I know how they managed to do it so easily." Chanda rose from her bow and pulled a small pouch out from inside her robes. "It seems each of the attackers had one of these pouches on their person. Inside is something that I know a number of us here are familiar with…"

Carefully, Chanda opened the pouch and held it up for everyone to see. A small, crimson gelatinous blob reflected the light of the torches in the Sanctum, and Veil gasped.

"T-that's…"

"The nightmare's blood," Mistress Adelin said, glaring at the substance. "I know he's powerful, but even his blood can carry his influence?"

Priya rubbed her forehead. "You're damn right it can, Addie. That shit's been giving me a headache this whole time, and if there were any more of it around, I wouldn't even be able to think…"

"Our captive referred to it as a boon, and considered Kumarbi to be his god. Kumarbi has been using his followers to spread his psychic influence, affecting those of us without powers. On that note, Servant Nuha. Have you felt any different since we came in?"

"N-no, I haven't, Miss Chanda. But that's because I, well…" Nuha let out a slow breath and activated her power. "A few days after we got back from the contract, Serapis gifted me with a power…"

"I did," Serapis spoke once again, "and now the time has come for that power to prove useful to me. If Kumarbi's influence can be transmitted here, perhaps the opposite is also true. Servant Nuha, I would have you use your power to see into Kumarbi's mind. Perhaps we can discover more of his plans, or even his current whereabouts."

"Y-yes, my Goddess."

Nuha nodded and bowed to Serapis, then walked over to Chanda. Focusing on the blob of Kumarbi's blood, her halo began glowing even brighter.

"I… I think I'm… Comfort. Respect. Understanding. A place in a greater Plan. Comfort. Respect. Understanding. A place in a greater Plan. Comf-"

Before she could repeat the mantra even further, Nuha canceled her power out and started gasping. Veil rushed over and wrapped her in her arms.

"Nuha! Are you okay?"

"Haah, haah, Veil… I tried looking, but… his mind is…"

Serapis shook her head. "Perhaps I asked too much of you… A nightmare's mind is a dangerous thing indeed… Regardless, I must thank you for trying, Servant Nuha."

Kamal looked over at his former Servant before turning his gaze towards Serapis. "My Goddess. Even if Nuha couldn't see much of Kumarbi's thoughts, what she was saying made some sense considering what I saw tonight…"

"Oh? Then tell me, Walker. What did you see, and how does it relate to what Servant Nuha said?"

"Those things she was saying… I've got a feeling that Kumarbi's been brainwashing his captives. One of my old slaves that he stole, Wing-"

Veil's frills perked up. "Wing? You saw her?"

Kamal gave Veil a quick glare and scoffed. "Of course you'd still care about that little bitch… Yeah, I saw her. I saw her betray House Tenebri right in front of me!"

"B-but, that means…"

"It means she's serving Kumarbi now."

"Wing… She couldn't be…"

"And like I was saying before you interrupted me, I'm betting Kumarbi brainwashed her into doing it. Wing was always a dumb little shit, but even she wasn't stupid enough to work for a nightmare. But besides that, I…" Kamal looked up at Serapis. "I wasn't strong enough to handle the power you gave her, my Goddess…"

Zahra looked over at Kamal. "Wait, she had a power, too?"

"Yeah, seems like all of Kumarbi's subjects did," Nanda spoke up. "Hell of a time to start testing us, my Goddess…"

"If it truly was a test, I believe we were all unprepared to face it…" Chanda said, looking down.

As the group spoke, a dull rumbling shook the Inner Sanctum once again. As it grew in intensity, everyone turned their attention back to Serapis.

"Perhaps you were unprepared for this trial," the Goddess spoke, "but I will require your strength for what is to come. But first, there is much to be done. My High Son, step forward…"

"Yes, my Goddess?" The Praetorian holding the Unseen said, approaching Serapis before giving Her a bow as best as he could while still holding onto his captive.

"Take that Unseen to your fellow High Sons to be interrogated. Whatever he can tell us of Kumarbi's location and plans, we will learn of it, one way or another."

"By your command, Serapis." The Praetorian rose and carried the Unseen out of the Inner Sanctum.

"Those of you who were present for the attacks, I have ordered some of my High Daughters to come here. When they arrive, you will go with them, you will tell them everything you know of Kumarbi and his plans, and you will be accordingly rewarded for your service to me."

"Yes, my Goddess," Chanda, Priya, Nanda, and Kamal said in unison.

"And as for the rest of you…" Serapis looked down at the group. "I will still have a private audience with each of you. However, I no longer desire for you to prove your loyalty, but rather your resolve. You saw the threat Kumarbi posed, and acted on it before anyone else. Now, I must know if each of you is ready for what will come next."

"What would that be, my Goddess?" Veil asked, already knowing the answer in her heart.

Serapis looked down at Veil, and the Inner Sanctum shook with Her voice.

"Given everything I have heard, it is clear that Kumarbi and all of his followers must perish for their sins. If he truly seeks a war with me, then I intend to give him a war."

—

As Serapis made her declaration, the dreamkeepers before her knelt and offered her a few devoted words. The loyal gesture was appreciated, but it did little to soothe the turmoil in her heart.

Somewhere out there, a nightmare with the audacity to call himself a god was making moves against her. Stealing her subjects away in the night. Turning them against her. And she had spent the greater portion of the night learning about the threat all too late to do anything about it.

Until now. I may have been blind to his threat, but soon enough, Kumarbi will face my wrath.

To that end, Serapis had already begun preparing for the coming battle, even as she had been engaged in the conversation in her Inner Sanctum. Throughout the temple, she had sent signals to her High Ones, movements of particular stones that each of them had been taught to heed should the need ever arise for them to serve her.

As soon as those preparations were complete, she ordered everyone in the Sanctum to leave, save for Tenebri Adelin. As a member of the highest caste among the group that had been dedicated to stopping Kumarbi's threat, she had the honor of being addressed first among them.

Once she and Adelin were alone in the Sanctum, Serapis sealed the chamber and began speaking gently to her.

"Adelin, my Daughter. You told me that your husband was one of Kumarbi's victims. To lose someone so close to you, your rage must burn intensely against that nightmare."

Adelin nodded. "Yes, my Goddess. Sef's death must be avenged, and I am prepared to bring the full wrath of House Tenebri upon Kumarbi, if you would grant me the chance."

Serapis smiled behind her mask. "Indeed. There is no need for me to question your resolve further. By my decree, you shall have your revenge against Kumarbi. You, and those in your House who would join you, shall be among those who will see the final moments of that nightmare, as well as any who would take up arms in his name."

"Yes, my Goddess. Your will be done."

"Indeed. And, Adelin, regarding your husband…"

Adelin stared up at Serapis. "Yes, my Goddess?"

"Tenebri Sef lived a righteous life and died a righteous death doing my work in this world. While his passing may trouble you now, I assure you, when the time comes for his reincarnation, his soul shall join the ranks of the High Ones as a reward for his service to me."

Serapis looked down at Adelin and saw her beginning to quiver in place. Tears slowly trickled down her face, passing by a faint smile as they fell.

"Th… Thank you, my Goddess. I… I still miss him, but even just knowing that…"

Serapis walked up to Adelin and wiped some of her tears away with her hand. "Adelin, my Daughter… Save your tears until Kumarbi has fallen. Until then, you must remain strong. As the head of your House. As a champion of my will. As one of my beloved Daughters."

"Y-yes, my Goddess…"

Adelin gave Serapis a faint smile, then backed up and bowed deeply.

"I swear upon your name, Serapis. Kumarbi will fall, and Sef will truly be avenged."

—

Zahra was the next one Serapis chose to have an audience with. As the Eye knelt before her, the Goddess watched her tremble slightly.

"Zahra, my child. As one of my Eyes, you are among the few who carries out my will even more closely than those around you. And tonight, you bore witness to one of my few failings."

"Your… failings, my Goddess?"

"Yes. Before the events of tonight came to light, I had thought you were a traitor to my will. But now, I can see you intended to serve me in earnest."

"You… you were wrong? But I thought you were-"

"Perfect, my child? Regrettably, by taking a form in the imperfect mortal world, even I occasionally fall victim to errors in judgment. It is something I try to hide from my subjects. Your fellow Eye Nanda could likely recall many of my failures, though he has vowed never to speak of them. Such a vow, I must now ask you to take."

Zahra tilted her head. "You want me to hide your error in judgment, my Goddess?"

Serapis nodded. "Indeed. It is one of your responsibilities as an Eye, after all. When you took your oath, you swore to see where I physically cannot, and act in the interest of maintaining the order of my divinity. Serapeum must believe in my perfection, even as the imperfection inherent in taking a physical form causes me to act in error."

Serapis felt her Eye staring at her for what felt like forever. She always hated having to admit weakness, and with each passing second she silently feared that she would have to kill Zahra if she ended up refusing the vow.

Eventually, Zahra spoke up. "My Goddess… what you're asking me to do… it's kind of like what my power already does. And as one of Your Eyes… I accept. I swear, I won't tell anyone about this."

If she still had the need to do so, Serapis would have let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, my child. Now, with that out of the way, do you have the resolve needed to carry out my will? Can I count on you to help end Kumarbi's threat, however you can?"

"Of course, my Goddess. I was ready to agree to that before you even brought me before you."

"Good. Then you have passed all of my tests. You are truly among my most loyal subjects, Eye Zahra."

Zahra bowed, a faint smile forming on her face. "Thank you, my Goddess."

—

Serapis had Nuha brought into the Inner Sanctum next. The Servant girl was the one member of the group she had least wanted to deal with. Someone with doubts that would take more than simple words to remove.

"Servant Nuha. Your mind is a sharp one, which has led you to have questions many of my other subjects would sooner forget. It is both a blessing and a curse, and I know you still desire to know the full truth before you can commit yourself to my will."

"I…" Nuha began, still bowing before Serapis. "You're… not mad at me, my Goddess?"

"Of course not, my child. True, you spoke out of turn and said things that stirred my wrath for a moment, but there is a reason you are still alive, bowing before me as we speak."

"Then, if it's not too much to ask you, my Goddess, what did that nightmare mean, calling you a traitor?"

"That, my child, is a flaw in the nightmare's perception of reality. It stems from what happened the last time Void manifested in the Dreamworld. You are of course aware of Void, and the weight that nightmare's name carries."

"Yes, my Goddess. That's why the prophecy is so important, right?"

"Exactly so. The last time Void existed in the mortal plane, I admit that I underestimated how powerful he had become. Back then, the nightmares truly had the potential to destroy reality as we know it. Because of that, I had little choice but to offer the nightmares an… accord."

"An accord?"

Serapis nodded. "A regrettable offer that haunts me to this day. I agreed to stand with Void and bring destruction to the Dreamworld. Of course, I never intended to completely follow through with such an offer, but Void is one of the few beings that can equal me in terms of divine might."

"So, it was easier to plot against him while he thought you were one of his allies?"

"Indeed. With my… help, the Dreamworld was forced to its very existential limits, but as the nightmares believed they had their victory in hand, I sprung my trap on them. In one fell stroke, I was able to banish Void, slaughter his Archons, and send the rest of the nightmares cowering back to Bralgu. The ones who survived saw it as a betrayal, but I knew it was the only way to preserve this world."

"I… I think I get it…" Nuha muttered after a moment of silence. "They thought you turned against them, but you were really fighting to save us the whole time?"

"Yes, my child. Those demons… every day since I have loathed the monster I had to become to ultimately end their threat, and my reaction to your comment earlier was a result of that loathing. But that, like my supposed 'betrayal,' is in the past. I ask only that you tell no one of what you have heard here. Doubt is a powerful thing, and without a sharp mind to understand my reasons for what I did…"

Serapis looked down at Nuha. She didn't truly believe that her story had completely convinced the Servant, but if it could sway her to focus on the threat posed by Kumarbi…

After a moment, Nuha spoke up. "I understand, my Goddess. I think… I think I can keep the truth to myself…"

"Excellent. Now, I must know of your resolve in this current situation."

"That's part of why you gave me a power, right, my Goddess? I think I could use it to help out…"

"Good. I know your power will prove useful in time. Kumarbi is likely to remain a threat with his psychic abilities, so if you can use your power to intercept them…"

"But, my Goddess… I already failed you once… What if I can't-"

"Nuha. My child. Raise your head. You have a powerful mind. I know that you can succeed in this task. All I ask is that you have faith in my judgment."

Nuha slowly rose from her bow and nodded. "Serapis, my Goddess… I'm still not too sure about it, but if you really think that I can, I'll do my best."

—

After sending Nuha out of the Inner Sanctum, Serapis was surprised to see Arc come in next. She had little to say to the former Andurunan slave, but he had a serious expression on his face as he approached her and bowed.

"Slave Arc," she said, the Sanctum shaking slightly as she spoke, "I was expecting to speak with Servant Tenebri Veil next. Explain to me why exactly I am not doing so."

"Well, actually, my Goddess," Arc said, looking up at her, "Veil asked me to see you first. She's been talking with the others about all of this, and, well…"

"Well?"

"She's had a lot to think about tonight, and she wanted to get her thoughts in order before speaking with you. I'm sure you already know, but she really loves you. I think she wanted to show you her best, instead of wasting your time with a bunch of questions you already answered."

"Hmm… I suppose I can accept that. And you agreed to give her the time to organize her thoughts because of your place as her slave?"

"Actually, I agreed because she's my friend. Veil's never been very comfortable with ordering me around, since she was a slave to begin with…"

"I see. We have little to discuss besides that, then. Other than your role as an Eastern Wind, I suppose."

"Of course, my Goddess. To be honest though, I don't even know what I need to do for that. I've just been trying to help Veil out however I can…"

"That is good, Slave Arc. For all of the ways the prophecy could go, your role could very well become clear if you continue to help her."

"About that, my Goddess, I know Veil's going to want to help stop Kumarbi. And I'm going to help her do that, too."

Serapis looked at Arc for a moment. "It may be possible that Tenebri Veil is not an Obscured Star. Would you still help her even despite such a possibility?"

"Of course I would, my Goddess."

"Because she's your friend?"

Arc nodded. "Yeah. And because she's the kind of person who's worth following."

"I see. Your resolve is true, Slave Arc. It will surely see you through the coming challenges. And your devotion to your friend is quite admirable. It is making me all the more interested to have my audience with her."

"Thank you, my Goddess. I'm sure Veil's just as excited to speak with you."

—

Some time later, Veil made her way back into the Inner Sanctum, and Serapis watched her bow reverently.

"Servant Tenebri Veil," Serapis said, "I have been looking forward to speaking with you in particular for some time now."

Veil was visibly excited to be addressed by her Goddess, and Serapis smiled as the Servant girl tried to contain herself. "T-thank you, Serapis, my Goddess! I've, well, I never thought that I of all people could…"

"Raise your head, my child. Your love for me is plain to see, and I love you just as much. Now, you already know what I plan to ask of you."

"To help take Kumarbi down, right, my Goddess? I accept. There are so many reasons why, but the only one that matters is that you want it done."

"Well said, my child. I can see there is no question of your resolve. Yes, the false god Kumarbi, as well as his misguided followers, must all die. And as a reward for having a hand in this, I am prepared to offer you a promotion to the Walker caste upon your return, in accordance with your potential role in the Obscured Star Prophecy, and so that you may continue to do my work with even greater personal agency."

Veil nodded, and looked directly at Serapis. "Thank you, my Goddess. I swear by your name, I won't disappoint…"

As the Servant girl spoke, Serapis looked into her eyes and saw… No… It can't be…

Whatever Veil was saying had much less impact on the Goddess than the determined, reverent look in her eyes. In those red eyes, Serapis saw the same burning resolve she once saw in a pair of blue eyes, only a little over twelve hundred years prior.

Before the war with Anduruna.

Before the owner of those blue eyes had led her faithful into battle.

Before he returned to her, battered and broken in all but faith.

Before that unshakeable, yet brittle faith threatened to be shattered by his insistence on carrying out what he only believed to be her will.

Before she had to kill him.

"Avitus…"

The name escaped Serapis's mouth as a faint whisper before she could even realize it.

"My Goddess? Is something wrong?" Veil's question brought Serapis back to reality.

"It… It's nothing, my child. You have more than proven your resolve. Go now, rest and prepare for your coming destiny."

"Y-yes, my Goddess. Your will be done."

The Servant girl thankfully seemed to be unaware of the struggle going on in her Goddess's mind as she bowed and left the Inner Sanctum. Once Veil had left, Serapis took a few breaths to calm herself.

The look that Veil gave her… It was surely just a coincidence that Serapis was reminded of her most loyal High Son. And even if it wasn't, even on the off chance that history repeated itself, whose faith could she even sway? She was little more than a Servant, one that had been a slave only a few months ago! And yet…

Serapis could not, would not give history a chance to repeat itself. A person with unshakeable faith, no matter where they stood in the caste system, could be even more dangerous than one filled with doubts. If a pillar of faith like that were to shatter, those around it would likely soon follow in a cascade of doubts. And Tenebri Veil in particular stood surrounded by people whose loss of faith could prove catastrophic.

Arc, an Eastern Wind… If he loses faith, he might abandon his role in the prophecy… A lesser concern, but with the return of Void approaching, even that may spell disaster for me…

Nuha, the other Servant girl, already so full of doubts… With a power like hers, who knows how many other believers she could drag down on her own…

Zahra, my Eye, and a known Obscured Star… One of the few who I have admitted my failings to… If she were to become completely disillusioned with me, she could very well become a traitor all over again…

Adelin, the head of her House… If she could fall into faithlessness, the others in House Tenebri could surely follow… And from there…

Serapis forced herself to breathe. The Inner Sanctum shuddered with each breath she took. I can't let it happen again… There is too much at stake… But there is still time…

All those centuries ago, I made the mistake of sending Avitus to fight a war he could not win… I will not make that same mistake with Tenebri Veil…

—

Veil left the Inner Sanctum with a mix of emotions in her head. She had just done something that few other Serapeans ever had the chance to do - for as brief as their meeting was, she actually had a private talk with Serapis Herself!

She was just as wonderful as I imagined… But, She seemed to be in a hurry to get me out of the Sanctum…

I guess She must be busy, after all… Even now, She's probably planning Kumarbi's downfall…

While she was absorbed in her own thoughts, Veil hardly noticed as she bumped into someone heading down the corridor. The much taller gryphon High Daughter hardly seemed to be affected as Veil found herself tumbling to the floor.

Veil was quick to stand up and bow to the woman. "I'm sorry, ma'am! I wasn't paying attention!"

"Oh, my. I appreciate your apology, but I must admit the fault is mine, my child. I was paying little attention as well, since I was busy looking for…" The woman trailed off as she looked down at Veil. "Tenebri Veil?"

"I…" Veil blinked as she rose from her bow. "You know who I am?"

"Well, of course I would know you. My dear child Zahra has told me quite a bit about you."

"Zahra? Then, that means you're…"

"Mistress Mitra!" Zahra's voice echoed down the hall. "Did you… Huh. Guess you already found her."

Mitra smiled as Zahra approached her. "These things do tend to work out sometimes, my child. Though I admit, I probably should have paid better attention to where I was going."

"Oh, hey, there you all are!" Arc's voice called from the same hall Zahra came from. "I thought we were gonna wait with everyone else."

"Well, we were, but my Mistress wanted to go looking herself…"

"To be fair, my child, not too long ago, you were the one who told me to give your friends a chance to help with the prophecy. And since I already knew that Veil would be nearby…"

Veil looked up at Mitra. "You already knew? I've heard about your power, Miss Mitra, did you use it to find me?"

Mitra let out a soft chuckle. "No, my child. I haven't been quite as capable of accessing my gift from Serapis since about a day ago. But that is the price to pay for engaging in Fatewielding sometimes."

"Right, sorry about that, Mistress… It was the only way I could think of to convince you…"

"It's quite alright, my child. I had a number of prophecies prepared ahead of time knowing that something like this might happen. And on that note…" Mitra pulled a piece of parchment out from her robe and handed it to Veil. "I believe this one in particular will prove relevant to you in the coming days."

"Oh, th-thank you, Miss Mitra!"

Veil gave Mitra a short bow before looking at the parchment. Using her power to create a plasma ball to brighten the hallway, she started to read the High Daughter's prophecy.

Across a maw of jagged rock

And past a barren sea of red

The Star will find with Obscured flock

A northern city of the dead

"That lesser prophecy," Mitra said, "is one that I wrote some time ago. Until tonight, I had little clue of what it meant, besides the obvious reference to the Obscured Star Prophecy."

"Do you think it says something about wherever Kumarbi's hiding?" Veil asked, her eyes still fixed on the parchment.

"I believe so. I haven't confirmed it with the interrogators yet, but I imagine the 'city of the dead' may very well be Kumarbi's stronghold."

"A city of the dead in the north…" Arc paused, then looked up at Mitra. "Do you think that's a reference to a Huwasi necropolis?"

Mitra looked down at Arc. "Hmm… Now that you mention it, it very well could be… You're quite well-learned, my child. I hadn't expected that sort of thing to be known to the average person, even a former Andurunan."

"Well, I did a lot of reading back in Anduruna, and that was the first thing that came to mind…"

"Hey, if it helps us out, I can't complain!" Zahra said with a smile. "But, what even is a Huwasi… what was that thing you called it?"

"A necropolis. Literally a 'city of the dead.' But it's not like a series of crypts or anything. The ancient Huwasi people, well, they had this interesting way of remembering their dead…"

As Arc started telling Zahra about something called "baetylstones," Mitra turned to face Veil.

"I already told Zahra about this, but there is another thing that has been troubling me about that verse, my child."

Veil looked up. "Oh?"

"The second and third lines are easy enough to understand. The 'sea of red' is obviously the desert, and the 'Obscured flock' likely refers to the members of House Tenebri, if not the group close to you and Zahra in particular. But the first line… to my knowledge, there is nothing relating to a 'maw of jagged rock' between here and any of the mountains that a Huwasi necropolis would be near…"

"Do you… do you think it could mean some kind of danger?"

"Perhaps. My prophecies are often difficult to fully discern, but whatever the case, I would advise you to take caution. Whatever force could cause you to face such danger is one that should not be taken lightly."

"Right. If it's something Kumarbi has planned for us, we'll be careful. And, thank you again for the prophecy, Miss Mitra."

"Of course, my child. But it has been a long night. Perhaps now, the best thing you could do is get some rest, and reflect on the prophecy after that."

Veil nodded and gave Mitra a bow. As she joined in with her friends' conversation, she could faintly make out the words the High Daughter muttered as she made her way down the corridor.

"…No matter the threat… hope must endure…"

—

Several days later, Veil joined a group of her fellow House Tenebri members and prepared to make a journey to the north. True to the words of Mitra's prophecy, the Unseen had eventually admitted under compulsion that Kumarbi's Faithful had been living in a stronghold hidden away in the mountains far to the north of Serapeum, just south of the Glass Lands.

Serapis had wasted little time gathering forces to assault the stronghold. Groups of able-bodied Serapeans eagerly answered Her call and set out in a number of smaller raiding parties to reach the nightmare's remote lair faster than they would with a caravan.

Now, just outside of Serapeum's northern walls, House Tenebri's group made their final preparations before heading out. To Mistress Adelin's slight irritation, they had been selected as one of the last groups to leave for the attack. But the fact that Serapis Herself had appeared to see the House's small party off went a long way to help soothe her soured mood.

"I suppose we will have to hope there are still some of Kumarbi's subjects waiting for us," she muttered. "Or perhaps, that our assistance will be necessary to take Kumarbi himself down…"

Kamal nodded. "For once, I agree with you, Mistress. I'm hoping we get to bring that bastard down ourselves! House Tenebri deserves that much at least!"

"Whatever the case will be," Mahir said with a nod, "our failures and losses, as well as Master Sef's death, will soon be avenged." Around him, a number of the House's guards nodded in response.

Asma adjusted the shields on her left arm and leg. "I just hope we'll be able to save those other slaves and Servants, too. I'm glad I was able to use my power to save a few of them, but…"

"But a few isn't all, I get it, Asma." Evan said. "We'll bring 'em back, and crack a few of those nightmare-worshiping assholes' skulls while we're at it!"

As he looked over the members of House Tenebri, Nanda let out a chuckle. "I'm liking the spirit this group has already. Glad you talked me into coming along, Zahra."

"I'm glad you agreed to it, Nanda! Feels like we haven't had any time together in a while!"

"Heh, that's true. And hey, helping you out with this beats sticking around here and waiting for the news, right?"

Zahra gave her mentor a smile and nodded.

While everyone else made their preparations, Arc turned to Veil. "So, are you ready for this, Veil?"

"Yeah. We'll take Kumarbi and whoever works with him down for sure!"

Veil smiled, and looked back towards the walls of Serapeum. Atop one of them, Serapis stood, unmoving and perfect among a number of statues of Herself that only looked like pale, flawed imitations in comparison.

As soon as the group's preparations appeared to be completed, Serapis's voice began to echo from the desert sands themselves.

"My children," the Goddess spoke through Her land, "you stand here, ready to face a threat to your homes and families! Not too long ago, the nightmare known as Kumarbi struck a grave blow against Serapeum! In a bid to weaken us in a greater war of his design, his subjects took a number of mine to be brainwashed into serving him! This act of evil cannot go unpunished!

"Your task, as is the task of all those who left before you, is to travel to the stronghold of this pretender who calls himself a god, and bring the wrath of the One True Goddess down upon him and his subjects! Slay Kumarbi and his allies, free the Serapeans he took from their homes, and bring them back into my waiting arms!

"Now, go forth, my children! Your destiny awaits you!"

As the entire group cheered, Veil heard a whispering voice in the sand surrounding her.

"Tenebri Veil. My beloved child. You have shown the kind of devotion to me that I have only seen from a select few throughout history. Henceforth, you shall be counted among them. One of my truly Faithful Ones. A Fist of Serapis. A Victor in the face of adversity. Now go, and with your allies, bring my judgment to Kumarbi, and all of those foolish enough to follow him."

Veil turned her eyes up towards Serapis once more and smiled. The Goddess's eyes were upon her. She would not fail Her. She could not fail Her. With a religious fervor burning in her heart, she turned and began to march towards her destiny with her friends and fellow House members.

—

Serapis watched from the wall as the group departed beyond her city's limits. As they continued moving further and further out of her sight, she felt them walking on the path their allies had taken over the previous days.

Soon…

As the group passed along the path, Serapis reflected on the nature of the ground beneath them. To them, it was as certain and unshakeable as her love for them. To her, she knew that all they walked on was an imperfect mess of fault lines and uncaring rock and sand.

With little more than a thought, she willed the ground beneath them to collapse, sending the group into a jagged, stony fissure that only she knew existed. She recalled how easy it had been for her to bury an army twelve thousand bodies strong only a fraction of that many years ago.

The force she was burying now numbered little more than thirty, and would take even less effort to crush to death. She could probably just as easily leave the fissure open, just another scar in the desert that no one would think twice about.

Those thirty or so dead bodies at the bottom would not be missed. The thousands of her subjects who went before them were already on their way to bring death to the heathens and their nightmare "god" as she continued to think. The only true loss would be of the few faithful ones that had the misfortune of going into battle with Tenebri Veil.

And as for Veil herself, and the other potential pieces of the Obscured Star Prophecy? Weighed against the threat of Serapis's subjects turning against her, there was only one course of action she could take. The loss of those three, versus the potential for her to lose everything? Three pawns could be much more easily replaced, and there would surely be others who could fulfill the prophecy in the years to come, anyway.

Serapis shed no tears, and felt no need to do so. With a faint smile behind her mask, she began to close the earth shut around the small group, reflecting on how easy it had become for her to maintain her singular, uncontested power.