"Okay, demon queen… it's going to be hard to get used to, but, uh…" Rhenvar glanced around awkwardly.
She's probably gonna freak out.
Sinephilim's eyes widened. "W- where are we?"
They floated in pure whiteness. No sky, no floor, no wind. Just endless, echoing silence.
"So… yeah." Rhenvar chuckled. "Welcome to the void. It's what happens when your world gets destroyed."
"WHAT?!" Sinephilim screamed.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic," Viir chimed, fluttering upside down. Wings fanned like a smug bat. "Think of it as… aggressive decluttering."
Sinephilim's anger flared. "How can either of you find this amusing?!"
She tried to lunge, but the white void clung like tar. She couldn't move. Rhenvar and Viir hovered just out of reach.
Then a shadow stretched across the void. All three fell in its darkness.
****
The Shadow Goddess' Tea Table.
A shadowed stone table appeared, dark and polished. At its head sat a figure cloaked in shadow, darker than any abyss. White glowing eyes and mouth were the only light that came from the entity. Shadows bent around her will.
The Goddess of Shadow.
Rhenvar exhaled. "Teatime. Sweet. Though I still prefer alcohol or blood."
Holy shit, she's alive! Well, better enjoy it before the lecture starts.
Sinephilim blinked. "What is happening?"
The figure turned to her. The dimension shivered.
"I am the Goddess of Shadow," she said softly.
"…I call her 'Darkness,'" Rhenvar sipped some tea. "She's never told me her real name. But she's alright. Bit of a bitch-"
Darkness's glowing white eyes shifted to him.
"And you, Rehpotsirhc, would do well to remember who you're speaking to." She sighed. "You and your little succubus failed."
"Failed? Woah, hold on. How many Worldeaters have I stopped before?" Rhenvar said annoyed.
"A few and yet my world is gone now." Her teacup clicked.
"Pfft, technically not my fault," Rhenvar muttered. "You sent me there a thousand years ago, and I did my job. You knew Aucteros was a Worldeater, and you never contacted me. So, maybe take a little responsibility for it?"
Darkness stirred her tea. "Poor husband. You know better than biting the hand that feeds you. Your immortality isn't a gift; it's a curse. Just like my ring. Make no mistake. I prepared you for this, and yet you left my temple and had fun with those little elves, while a Worldeater successfully destroyed my domain."
Sinephilim's mouth dropped. "…Husband?"
Rhenvar wheezed as the shadows receded.
That's what she caught? Really?
"She wishes," Viir scoffed.
"It's symbolic, like a bond," Rhenvar gasped. "I accepted her ring. Got her power. It isn't even a marriage. Plus, she's not my type."
"My ears aren't long enough," Darkness agreed, sipping calmly. "And it's a leash, not a bond."
Rhenvar sat upright. "You could've warned me the damn thing lets anyone control me."
"I did not need your consent. You are a dangerous variable. Do remind me, what happened the last world you were in?"
Rhenvar said nothing. He remembered.
"What happened to your last world?" Sinephilim asked.
"Just killed some people, nothing crazy. It was just temporary insanity." Rhenvar's gaze dropped to the rippling void beneath them.
"Sure it was, which is why you wear my ring," Darkness replied. "The soul magic you use is unpredictable. You've stayed in control so far but it won't last. And when you snap, someone needs the power to stop you."
If they even can. Doubt she'd stop me either. Gods only care when it suits them.
"Ok, let me get this straight," Sinephilim demanded. "This monster here, murderer people and you trust him as a protector. Why?"
"He's immortal and hard to kill," She sipped her tea. "That's valuable."
"Why not use one of the demonkin or elves? We are immortal. Why not use our own as protectors?"
"Because most Gods are forbidden to interfere in their own domains," Darkness said. "Our set laws are like most other Gods. We stay out of our world and watch. A law your mother broke."
Sinephilim stiffened. "My mother?"
"You are very special because of her. A sister I once held dear, living among mortals. Your power bends fate. That's why I had hope you'd be saved. Your presence will convince other Gods to help us. You are a fallen God."
"Are you saying I'm a Goddess or something?" Sinephilim said, rising to her feet.
Wow, we got a smart one here.
"Yes, in some form." Darkness smiled, a slow, cold curve.
Rhenvar scoffed.
"Let's make a deal." She leaned forward. "Help Rhenvar. Save a few worlds. I'll tell you everything about your mother."
"And why should I care about my mother?" Sinephilim crossed her arms.
"Aren't you little bit curious?"
"No."
Silence stole the air.
"Then perhaps-"
Sinephilim cut in. "I want my world back."
Oh, finally I can see someone else get thrown in shadows. She's pissed!
"Very well," Darkness said. "It was part of the deal I was going to offer."
"Seriously?" Rhenvar slouched. "Who cares about that-"
"There are people I saved," Sinephilim snapped. "During the war, against YOU! I don't want it to be for nothing."
"Wait!" Rhenvar sat up. "What about our deal-"
"The deal was the protection of my world Rehpotsirhc." Darkness's shadow tensed. "And where is my world now?"
"Dead."
"I'm surprised you're so casual about it," shadows poured toward him. "Almost like you don't care, or… can't."
"I care," He shifted. "I do it's just, we had a deal first. It's bullshit to go back on-"
Shadows surged. Tendrils of blackness erupted from the ground, crawling into his mouth, ears, under his skin.
Everything went black.
****
He floated in shadows. Darkness's bright eyes glaring at him with rage.
"What is it this time?" Rhenvar asked.
"You are trying my patience Rehpotsirhc," Darkness floated in front of him. "My world is gone thanks to you and your incompetence."
"Again, you never contacted me!"
"You were never supposed to leave my temple, or did you forget?"
"Huh? Since when was that…"
Then he remembered.
"Oh, yeah…" Rhenvar admitted. "Damn."
"You left it to play with those little elves."
"I- still did my job-"
"You did…" Darkness glare softened. "Even removed Nightmare from my world-"
"Look, I'm sorry there's only so much I can actually remember."
"The human mind…" Darkness sighed. "Our deal still stands but my world takes priority now. You know what that means."
"I don't."
"The divine energy that was saved up will be used to sustain our mission going forward. Without a world I'm limited to what I can do."
"Fine… what's a few thousand years anyways."
Darkness's eyes lingered. Almost sincere.
She touched his cheek. The warmth he felt was… motherly.
Then he flinched back from it.
"We still don't know if it's possible." She said.
"We knew that, it's always been a gamble."
"Rehpotsirhc…"
"What?"
"If it's not, if we can restore a world. Just realize the dream you chase is-" Darkness stopped herself.
"Empty." Rhenvar said.
"I'm-"
"Save it Darkness, I know what games you Gods play. I expected nothing from the beginning. Your all-"
Rhenvar shifted his body.
"I trust you…" Rhenvar said. "Time isn't the issue. It never was."
"Yes," Darkness looked away. "I agree."
"Isn't this for the best?" He asked. "World ending sucks sure, but I've battled a lot of Worldeaters. Surely some Gods had taken noticed?"
"They have."
"I never understood why am I the only one fighting them."
"Rhenvar, stop." Darkness looked at him. "You know it's not that simple."
Silence hit them.
"You Gods are nothing but watchers who fill their own emptiness, so you can feel- "
"Enough!"
****
Rhenvar was seated at the table again.
"Done staring off into space?" Sinephilim asked.
"Yeah, it's fun you should try it."
Right, time isn't linear here.
Sinephilim ignored him. "Darkness-"
"Sister." She replied.
"Huh?"
"Call me sister."
"Ok? Sister, I need information, this is new to me."
Rhenvar leaned in. "There are infinite worlds. Each with their own Gods and rules. Worldeaters like Aucteros feed on them for power."
Darkness nodded. "He stole your power. With it, he unlocked our Worldheart, the one your mother sealed. And it was devoured."
"And the other Gods of my world?" She asked.
"Gone," Darkness said. "Consumed when the Worldheart fell. Luckily, I alone remain and tethered to him."
She gestured at Rhenvar.
"You're welcome," Rhenvar muttered.
Viir grinned. "You should be grateful."
Darkness ignored her and stood. "I need to prepare your entry into another world. Its Gods are cautious. They will need convincing."
"Can you bring some booze back?" Rhenvar asked.
Darkness glared back then vanished in the shadows.
Silence.
"Well shit," Rhenvar slouched back, "that went better than expected. Didn't even get chewed out."
"Can we really save my world?" Sinephilim asked.
Rhenvar shrugged. "It's a gamble, like I said…"
More silence fell between them.
Sinephilim looked at him. "Thank you… for letting me speak to Karn."
Rhenvar's smile faltered. "Pfft, yeah. You're welcome."
Better not tell her Viir should have ate him. Come and think of it, Viir hasn't ate anyone I've consumed from that world.
She exhaled. "If we're going to work together, you need to know. I don't forgive you."
She met his gaze. "I know Aucteros controlled you. I know it wasn't your will. But you still killed my brothers."
"I know," Rhenvar said quietly. "And I won't ask you to forget it."
"Good," she replied. "Because I won't."
Rhenvar shrugged. "Ok."
Silence stretched between them.
"You know, it's ok to cry."
Before Sinephilim said anything, Darkness returned, calm as ever.
"The Gods of this world agreed to let you in. Because an intruder is already there."
Aucteros.
She pointed at Sinephilim. "They've granted you a blessing."
"A what?" Sinephilim tilted her head.
"A power, born from their realm. It's their condition for allowing Rhenvar to accompany you."
"Wait! I don't get one?" Rhenvar asked.
"No. They don't trust you."
"Ouch."
"They also refused to tell me where the Worldheart is. Because you are a Worldeater."
"So, we're going in blind? At least tell us what kind of world it is." Rhenvar crossed his arms.
"It's some kind of romance novel."
"You're kidding…"
"I chose it personally. Because you're terrible at relationships." Darkness' laugh was hollow.
"Rude!" Viir chirped.
"It was a jest. Anyways. I'll send you to the ones they favor. Don't mess it up."
Sinephilim frowned. "If this is a different world… what about language?"
"Oh, that's the one nice thing," Rhenvar said. "When you enter a world you just… understand everything."
"Oddly convenient," Darkness admitted. "Are you ready?"
"Hell yeah," Rhenvar said, standing.
"I am," Sinephilim answered.
Darkness snapped her fingers.
The world came alive.
Rhenvar sighed. "Please don't let it be a harem."
Viir cackled in the distance.