The Dark Figure

"What business is it of yours?" Percy asked with a raised eyebrow.

"What is your purpose here?" the voice asked again only this time there was a plume of golden light that drew closer to Percy and his companions.

"It's one thing to ask for money to enter a Kingdom," Percy shook his head a bit irritably as he raised his hand and swept the golden light away with ease, "It's a completely different matter to ask someone their intentions for coming. Me, I don't really like people pasting their faces in my affairs—believing they can somehow control my actions. I don't trust people who would stay hidden, veiled in shrouding magic in order to intimidate people into telling them their business. If your intentions are noble then show us your mug or else shut up and get out of our way."

The ice gate opened and the person behind the voice walked out of the spell that had been crafted and revealed herself to be a very beautiful and mature looking elven woman wearing form fitted magical armour sitting atop an armoured horse. Behind her were two other elves wearing similar armour riding atop armoured horses of their own.

"My name is Ilia Di'ira. Now, I offer my apologies for our discourtesy earlier. We were ordered to show caution. Now travellers," the woman said touching the hilt of her sword which hummed excitedly with magical energy. "What are your intentions for all of you to venture into the Silver Wood Kingdom?"

"Mm, we are looking for Fenrir," Calypso said with a smile before Percy could sneer at the woman some more. Her husband was a born troublemaker with bitter words for people always on his tongue whenever he was irritated by something and he was famously unafraid to lash out at whomever had irritated him.

"Why are you looking for the dread wolf?" Ilia Di'ira asked curiously though she gripped the hilt of her sword tighter than before.

"Do you not know what he and his father Loki have done?" Calypso asked as she looked at Percy to keep his gob shut.

"We don't interact with the world beyond our borders very often," Ilia said shaking her head like it was something that she did not quite agree with but still respected as it came from her elders in their counsel. "The elders think that the world beyond would bring to our people bloodshed."

"Oh, perhaps it's one of those it's not our fight debacles," Percy said looking at the elf woman with an amused look in his eyes that surprisingly held notes of disappointment. "And when the enemy doesn't care and shows up to slaughter everyone it will already be too late. Caly, did I leave anything out?"

"The begging," Calypso added, "'Spare us o great lord,' they shrieked and squeaked."

"The enemy will then say that if they do what they want they will let them go and you know that will never happen," Percy laughed for a moment before his eyes hardened. "When it is the time for bloodshed, there will be bloodshed. You can't hide away and pray to the gods in a little corner. No matter who your leaders are, they should always be questioned if their choices don't seem right or you might find yourselves in Helheim before you even have the presence of mind to form the question: 'Where did it all go wrong?'"

Percy did not mock the elders of the Silver Wood kingdom out of spite or malicious intent rather it was vexation and suspicion. He had simply been alive long enough to know that the elder were up to something and that something was usually above that which they could handle. How could he who had seen and caused rivers of blood to sweep through and drown entire galaxies not see more clearly the patterns of concealment?

He knew full well that some of the elder were not to be trusted. He could clearly feel that Fenrir had already passed. Time was not on their side. They would need to make haste and reach some of the fringe towns and villages as quickly as possible. That's where Fenrir and his company might find it most viable to strike first. He felt his eyebrows droop slightly and tiredly at the thought. Chaos truly needed to shape up and stop letting her little infant run amok and bothering him and his family. Had it not been for Melissa being missing he would have already taken his family out of Chaos' cosmos and instead ventured to the material realm.

"You mock our elders," Ilia said questioningly as she gripped her sword as though she was pondering whether or not to attack or arrest. "Why?"

"We do not mock your elders, child," Calypso said solemnly tilting her head causing her to look even more stunning. "Your elders are elders but they seem as though they seem as though they are either suspicious or stupid and cowardly."

"That's mockery," Ilia said looking at Calypso with complex eyes that ranged from thinly veiled envy to consternation.

"Be it as you see it," Calypso said. "But the truth is different than how we often see it. Your elders want to hide away from the world. I doubt that their true reason for doing so is noble. I cannot deny that there are a lot of conflicts in the outside world, but at the very least you would know what may be coming."

"I don't understand," Ilia said. "What does this have to do with Fenrir?"

"Baldr is dead," Zoë said from behind Percy and Calypso. "Thor fights Jormungandr as we speak."

The poor elf woman paled.

"Ragnarok has begun," Zoë said. "We are here to destroy him. Now, thee know our reason for coming here."

"You bring ill news upon the land," Ilia said as she stepped aside. "You may pass. You have told me much more than I had asked while you only wished to see the person you parley with. I thank you dearly for bringing this news to our land."

"Don't thank us—not for this," Percy slowly shook his head. "Our words bring no tidings of hope."

"Indeed, our words are bitter and deserve no thank you," Calypso said as they passed.

"Be that as it may, but your words reveal some of the dark happenings beyond our sight. The terror has grown as we have rested in our homes unaware of its dark encroachment. You travellers have shown us the ambers of that dark truth. Thus we now know what to expect and for that I must thank you. I Fare thee well dear travellers and may the gods watch over you," Ilia bowed and sent them off on their way before leading her horse and some of her colleagues off into the distance to relay what she had been told.

The way ahead was truly nothing like the way past. What lay before them was much darker than what they had passed and yet still it was even more enchanting. Some distance before them were twelve heaven seeking spires stretching out to the heavens creating a gateway meant to transport them inside the Silver Wood Kingdom.

Percy looked at the gate with a cursory nod of approval at their use of magic. He was pleased to see the elves here embracing magic as the humans of earth have rejected. So much potential left untapped though he understood why they chose the path of science rather than magic.

Percy didn't think that science was any lesser than magic. Science was in his mind much safer than magic overall and somewhat easier to pursue without dying. Magic however never really got any easier. And science gave mortals a sense of accomplishment and purpose that has no involvement of the higher supernatural powers. They wanted the mild comfortable feeling that their lives were in their own hands and such that they could choose their own course of direction of their lives. It was such a small measure of comfort in Percy's eyes. Though the cold uncomfortable truth he knew in full was that if you had needs that must be satisfied in order to simply live then your life is not truly in your own hands.

While it was true that Percy personally preferred magic over science, but he still thought that the true path for mortals at least lay in the application of both. The two paths could balance each other perfectly while countering their own flaws or the flaws of the users to an extent. The truth was as Percy knew it was that all mortal races will one day reach a point where they develop no further walking their current path as all physical paths have finite potential but in the end they might adapt with the advancement of their knowledge and seek a path beyond their current one. With magic however they could raise their projected potential even further though it would still in the end be finite.

When Percy compared mortals to his own people, he found that mortals were much more ingenious in his opinion than his people. Perhaps this was driven by their mortality. It gave them as sense of urgency that his people lacked. He didn't know whether this was a good thing or bad thing. Of course what he thought about applying magic and science had already been done. The spires before him were proof of that. He could feel the circuitry within the spires even as they thrummed gently with magic. These elves were obviously well advanced in magic and science for mortals.

To people at Percy's level of magic, many things have become redundant. If he wanted something to do something he needs only to will it so. And while that may seem easy, to get to that point would require eons of practice and true understanding of the laws of existence and nihility. He had to concede that mortal were correct to think science and magic as being similar in that they both study nature though differently and at different levels though still science could never pierce the metaphysical while magic could.

As a result magic was dangerously unstable because of it. The dangers of this being that one incorrect action could kill that person immediately and that's if they had great fortune. Magic was not a toy to be played with. There were no incorrect equations that could simply be erased. A person's understanding of the differing strands of magic was directly branded on their soul. In order to use magic, it required one to open themselves to the will of existence and nihility.

A weak soul would simply crumble like a sandcastle being washed away by the tide. Magic was by its very nature very intimate and it originated directly from the soul and used the body as a conduit to enter the physical world. At a second thought he reasoned that for mortals, science was better since the worst you could do was creating a black hole because of unstable Dyson sphere or possible destroying a galaxy or two but that would require far too many resources. With magic however, it could already be considered a cause for celebration if millions of galaxies crumbling to nothing and only having people's bodies being destroyed with their souls still intact was all that went wrong.

Percy returned his attention to what was in front of him.

In front of him in between the spires, the air shimmered like crushed diamonds sparkling in the sun as they neared. As they rode their horses they could however already make out a deep purveying darkness that lay beyond the bright shimmering portal light.

"These elves are either hiding something or they are hiding from something," Alessa said suddenly riding up next to Calypso.

"Hmm, why do you say that?" Percy asked as he glanced back at his granddaughter.

"I don't get it, with such artifacts at their disposal, how could they possibly fear anyone among the myriad mortal races?" Alessa looked at the spires seriously. "Were they on earth, they would undoubtedly be the most dominant race."

"When you say it like that," Calypso paused thoughtfully for a moment then nodded as she looked towards Alessa. "Yes, it does indeed seem rather suspicious, doesn't it?"

A golden light erupted from the spires congregating directly in the centre forming a pathway of silver and gold light. Percy lifted his head looking beyond the pathway with a small smile that had appeared as they began to pass through it. When they entered between the spires, the lights knit themselves around them leading them in the correct direction.

It only took a few minutes before they had passed through the entire length of the pathway. The lights retracted from them bounding back to whence they came. The light shimmered while gradually returning back into the spires that they had originated from. What followed was a few moments of darkness before a brazier lit up all by itself with a cool white light and the world before them was revealed and yet there was only one thing in the entire darkness.

Ahead of them was a distant archway carved out of a single slab of white stone resting alone in the darkness. Percy and his companions said nothing and directed their horses forward. More braziers lit themselves as they passed. It was evident that the arch that looked close at first glance was much further away. They continued to ride in silence while more and more braziers lit themselves until they were in front of the very arch. Up close, the arch was massive and yet reserved in its design.

They passed through the arch and what lay was an elegant semicircular alter made of stone and metals arranged together into a portal formation. In front of them was a delicately handsome and fair haired elven man wearing bronze armour and holding a rather long bladed staff watching them from what looked like the control centre of the portal formation.

The elven man stepped away from his position at the control centre and strode towards Percy and his family, "Greetings travellers, I am Teron Nehl, guardian of the Western Portal Gate," He said. "And I welcome you to the Silver Wood Kingdom."

"It's a pleasure," Percy said with a nod followed by his companions doing the same thing.

"The way forward is open to you," Teron Nehl said as he bowed slightly before returning to his original position.

"You're not going to frisk for our intentions for coming here to your Kingdom?" Percy asked as he gentle motioned his horse forward.

"There is no need," Teron Nehl said. "I'm just responsible for protecting the Portal Gate. Anything else has nothing to do with me."

"Such a carefree look on things," Percy laughed shaking his head as he and his family rode out of the portal formation. Teron Nerhl's comments truly made Percy amused. The man was a true soldier, doing only that which he had been assigned. This was the type of person Percy liked the most—dutiful, calm and honest.

Percy looked forward beyond the Portal Formation and noticed that the world before him was different than the one inside the formation. What lay before them was the mouth of a cave. Around them there was sparse light coming from the four braziers that barely contained enough light for them to see where they were properly.

It didn't take them long for them to reach the exit. Before them was a path leading down towards an incredibly wide valley stretching perhaps thousands of miles that looked like it had recently been anointed with the fall snow, it painted a beautiful sight to behold. In the distance beyond the valley were a series of mountains that were also veiled in the whiteness of snow.

Within the valley, they could somewhat make out a few villages and large towns that were on the fringes closer to a forest and cities closer to the centre. In the very centre there was a massive city. The city was at least a dozen times larger city than any of the other cities with three Massive bronze towers pulsing with blue light that pierced the sky. There were a few lakes and streams dotted about the valley with a wide river that flowed into the lakes and streams that only added to the beauty of the valley.

They were able to take in the scent of the cool air. They sniffed the air and sighed contentedly. They chose to go down the path without tarrying to smell the roses for too long. Time was of the essence. So they had to hurry and find the leylines along with Fenrir.

"It's a pity that we have not come here for relaxation," Percy said to Calypso as they rode down the path towards the valley. "It would be perfect for a simple vacation."

"Another thing to do once we find Mel," Calypso said with a warm smile.

"We will find our little girl and then you can sort her out right for not coming to us when she was being chased by Eros and his posse," Percy said.

"I know we will," Calypso agreed. "But Percy, you never told me what origin blood is."

"Hmm, origin blood is complicated to explain but I will try," Percy looked at his wife as they rode down the path to the valley with furrowed eyebrows. "Origin blood at its most simple nature is the coagulation of a fragment our soul and blood into a single perfect point of our origin that can induce a total rebirth from a grievous, untreatable injury."

"You said that we only had two drops," Calypso said.

"Only those mated of our race have two drops of origin blood," Percy said. "The drops of origin blood induced rebirth in Chiron and Annabeth because we are mated. My origin blood had some of your origin blood as did yours causing a perfect fusion when we both dripped them into Chiron and Annabeth which in turn burnt away their previous blood and soul essence leaving behind their origin soul core which fused with our origin blood causing their rebirth only this time as our son and daughter. We won't be able to produce origin blood that can induce rebirth ever again."

"So from now on if we want anymore children we have to get it on then?" Calypso said with smile. It was hardly a terrible prospect getting it on with Percy though they largely don't really feel the need to bother with such things, they have time. Maybe when everything had reached it's conclusion they would take a tumble for a million years for the hell of it.

"Yes, we would have to take a tumble or two," Percy laughed while his wife smiled and shook her head.

"So, dad, what do you suppose we will find when we reach the valley?" Hermes asked.

"We may find darkness veiled upon the land denying the warmth of the light and sun," Percy said seriously. "Or perhaps as is more likely, we will find nothing but a valley in the throes of winter."

"Come on daddy, can't you take a guess about what we will find?" Pythia asked.

"Conjectures often times get people in trouble," Calypso said. "Don't predict the mind of the enemy. Divine only that they may be able or unable to do and never what they will do. They may not do it and if you have planned for that and they act in another manner where will you run to then?"

"Obviously, I would run to you and daddy if I met any trouble," Pythia said seriously.

"If you run to your mother and I, who then do we run to?" Percy retorted with a smile.

"Don't care, you are my parents," Pythia said. "Where you run to for help has nothing to do with me. Who told you to be stronger than grandma and grandpa?"

"Haha…no one indeed," Percy laughed at his daughter's utter shamelessness.

Percy looked at his Calypso who glared at Pythia with an amused and good natured smile. It would seem that every single one of his children was very thick faced and didn't know what shame was. Of course he knew that he himself could be utterly shameless when he wanted. It was just that he was afraid of his wife that he bit his tongue and did not express his shamelessness too often.

"You're really your father's child," Calypso sighed softly before turning her gaze forward towards the valley not too far from where they were.

The company continued to head down the path to the valley in comfortable silence. Percy couldn't help but smile every time he felt the sharp cold wind brushing against his skin. He enjoyed the true feeling of the cold air after so many years of being a god. It was one of the things that he hated about being a god. They were not as sensitive to the changes of the weather.

It took them a little under an hour for them to reach the valley. The path they took did not first lead to a forest like the others, but rather there was a village that looked rather large from a far. The path to the village was roughly cobbled but even still, it gave the path a certain rustic charm.

Percy's gaze turned cold and solemn, he felt a bit troubled the closer to the village they got. Usually there would be the sounds of children playing in the snow at this time of year. The carpet of snow had not been laid too thickly for there to be no children out and about causing his eyes to narrow quite a bit. For a moment his eyes looked up at the skies and it was clear that it had barely passed noon day.

He waved his hand and light speckles of dust shot out and sunk into the ground and his lips tightened in contemplation when the speckles of dust returned back into his body. He was unable to perceive anything from the dust particles that he had just sent out. It was odd since his powers were not bound to any of the laws that form the weaving of the cosmic plane. Someone had interfered and blocked his powers from picking up anything.

He closed his eyes and began to use the sacred water and celestial light to help him divine what had blocked his sight. Rushing forward because his powers were blocked was foolish. It was also because that he powers were blocked that he chose not act hastily or else he might find more than he bargained for.

"I see," Percy said softly but loud enough for Calypso to hear him after a few seconds.

"See what Percy?" Calypso asked.

"What was blocking my power," Percy explained carefully. "The powers of the other two races can suppress our powers to a certain extent just as our race can suppress their powers."

"So there is someone from the one of the other two races here on Alfheim?" Calypso asked startled by Percy's remark.

"No, not here physically but rather there is a wisp of that person's breath bearing the imprint of Will," Percy shook his head, "To blow away the dust. This person's breath has covered the entire Silver Wood Kingdom."

"A wisp of this person's breath is enough to suppress your powers?" Calypso looked at Percy incredulously as they neared the border of the village.

"For now, yes," Percy nodded. "I haven't even re-condensed my powers into my will of virtue yet."

"What's the will of virtue?" Calypso asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"It's the amalgamation of your inborn virtues and flaws combined with virtues and flaws that you were not born with melded together with your will in order to achieve serenity," Percy answered, "After you infuse your power into your Will of virtue in order to create harmony within yourself. You could ignore this if you wanted to, but I don't recommend it. It was one of the only reasons I didn't fall to madness."

"How do I create my will of virtue?" Calypso asked as they neared the village.

"You know all of your virtues and flaws," Percy said. "Use the laws to find out the virtues and flaws that can balance your flaws enough to create serenity. Then infuse your will power into them while you meld them into a single whole. Once you find out your powers condense your power into the Will of virtues to harmonise your state of being."

"That will only take a day if I'm lazy or even a few seconds," Calypso said incredulously.

"Some of the most important things are the easiest to complete," Percy laughed. "The great thing about this is you can always start over no problem if you make a mistake."

"At least it's easy," Calypso said looking ahead towards the village with pursed lips.

"Mm, so have you found out what your power or powers are yet?" Percy asked.

"My powers are still, nature related with the power of healing and also the four elements," Calypso nodded. "I thought they would be something different."

"They could very easily have been something different alright," Percy said with twitching eyebrows. "You're truly fortunate that you received three powers at once and you still have two other ascensions. Mm…you're so overpowered. But that's to be expected of my wife. Only you can match my awesomeness. But seriously, I only got one power the first time I ascended and though through this power I can manifest seven different elements, it's still in the end one power. I wonder what other powers you will get when you become Cherubim and Seraphim. I also wonder in accordance to which nature your angel fire will form and how brightly it will burn once you become an Archangel."

"What other powers did you get?" Calypso asked though deep down she wanted to ask about angel fire but thought that it was too far away so changed her question.

"Besides the seven elements, I got the Imperium or in our tongue Saran," Percy said.

"What's the Saran?" Calypso asked.

"It can be called a form of telekinesis," Percy grinned while wiggling his eyebrows. "Amazing isn't it?"

"Why is it called Saran if it's just telekinesis?" Calypso rolled her eyes.

"The word Saran is a title for one who moves and controls the world around them," Percy said. "It's not a particularly fancy title or anything."

The couple carried on with their conversations as they drew closer to the village.

Percy looked at the entrance of the village with slightly narrowed eyes. He dismounted his horse and willed it away. The rest of the company looked at him for a moment up on their horses before reflecting his actions and dismounted their horses and willed them away. Yet Percy didn't notice as his eyes were firmly into the horizon like he was looking for something that had been eluding him for a very long time.

He shook his head and walked past the village entrance with Calypso walking just besides him with a similar pondering look in her eyes. As he walked forward, Percy slowly scanned the confines of the village and saw that it was rather lively just that it was a tad bit quiet. There were old women and men sitting on rocking chair knitting or smoking their pipes in peace as he could see.

Further along the main road, there were vigorous young men chasing after young vivacious women in their quest to court them. There were also beautiful chubby cheeked young elven children wearing well sown jackets playing with gleeful merriment in the snow while their mothers scolded them gently from the corners of their houses while their fathers playfully chastised their wives before scurrying away back to complete their daily tasks.

Percy noted that there was an ever present and gentle hum of magic in the air, but the ambiance and people were real and their feelings were as authentic as can be. The breath of one of the other elder races had blinded him, but it would seem that this little village was unaffected by Fenrir which was pleasant though he knew it was only the calm before the violent encroachment of the storm.

The villagers looked at them and their eyes widened in awe, making Percy feel just slightly self conscious at being stared at with such amazement. But he understood it very well, beauty will always attract attention. He ignored their gazes and walked towards what he could make out as the village inn at a rather relaxed pace. Rushing would make no difference even if they couldn't be everywhere at once. They would only make mistakes if they rushed.

He pushed the door of the inn gently and once again people stared though this time for only a moment, it would seem that they were aware that it was rude to stare at people. He walked towards to the counter where a handsome young elf stood waiting, "Hello," The young elf said in greeting. "How can I help you?"

"Hello," Percy said. "We were just passing by and were wondering if you had seen a company of travellers come through here and looked as though they from outside the kingdom?"

"Ah, yes we had one such noblewoman with her company pass by through here a day or so ago," The young elf said with a nod.

"Do you know in which direction she went after she left?" Calypso asked.

"She and her company went east," The young elf said.

"Thank you for your help," Percy nodded his thanks and began walking away but he suddenly stopped and went back to the counter. "Do you sell a pack of matches and candles perhaps?"

"Yes, here they are," The young elf nodded and dug under the counter for a few second before he happily rose with two packs of matches and candles which he held up to Percy. "That will be five coppers sir."

"Thank you," Percy nodded, paid the man and then walked out of the inn.

"Percy, why did you buy matches?" Calypso cocked her head as she stared at him with an inquisitively as her eyes gradually fell on the match box in his hand.

"Watch," Percy said as he took out a single candle from the pack and handed the pack for Calypso to hold while he lit a match and brought it to the candle.

The wick of the candle flared alight when it made contact with the flames. Percy snapped his finger and golden coiling flames appeared around his arms racing towards his hand. As the flames neared his hand they jumped towards the already lit candle and engulfed the entire candle with a golden light and a sweet aroma while the candle wax quickly melted but did not drip down instead rose up into the air turning the same gold as the flames.

"My flames are called the life giving flames," Percy said. "They are the spark of life. They are the fuel of life and are in turn fuelled by life. Breath supports life and carries the flames of life."

Calypso and the others of his family, who were next to him, wore similar expressions of shock as they came to an understanding of what he meant. Percy smiled slightly in satisfaction when he saw their widened eyes. He was as always all the happy to surprise them.

"Don't get a big head Percy," Calypso pinched his arm once she was out of her expression of shock.

"Watch," Percy chucked as he pointed up at the golden candle wax that had risen.

On his words, Calypso looked up and saw that the wax had burst into dark golden flames that smeared the skies. She looked at the wax intently and nodded her head slightly with a fair bit of understanding, "You want to use the flames of life to draw in the breath of the one from one of the other two races," she said.

"You are half correct," Percy looked at his wife with a smile while the golden smears of the wax were starting to dissolve in the air. "The wax and the flames from the matches also act as an insulators preventing the breath from blowing away my life giving flames."

"Why does it feel like we're playing chess?" Charybdis asked with grimace with her eyes never leaving the golden flaming candle wax was dissolving gently above their heads.

"What if I told you that the game has not even begun yet?" Percy said without lifting his eyes from the skies. "What would you think then?"

"What could I do besides plan the best I can manage," Charybdis replied.

"True enough Charybdis," Percy nodded.

"Who has the upper hand right now?" Charybdis asked.

"Right now, the other side has the advantage," Percy answered. "Currently, my powers are still months away from being able to even match Chaos never mind the person who is behind Eros. I don't have the power to face her just yet or else her breath would never be enough to obscure my sight as it does now."

"Why doesn't he attack you directly if he is more powerful than you?" Apollo asked.

"We Angels are very hard to kill and she has yet to recover from any of her injuries at all," Percy said. "Attacking me directly would only lead in both of us being grievously injured again or possibly dead."

"I don't understand," Apollo shook his head. "You just said that the other side has the advantage, but now you are also saying that if you both fought you would both likely die."

"What's there not to understand?" Pythia looked at her husband with annoyance. "Having an advantage doesn't mean that you would be invincible."

"I know that babe," Apollo said. "But it still doesn't explain why the enemy would be afraid to attack someone clearly weaker than themselves."

"She's still injured Apollo," Pythia said drawing her sight away from the dissolving flaming golden wax.

"Yeah, I know that too," Apollo nodded.

"Then, what do you want?" Pythia asked.

"Clarification," Apollo said.

"Are you planning to fight her so daddy doesn't have too?" Pythia asked blandly. "You want to wear the big boy pants now?"

"Eh, no," Apollo gulped.

"Then, I don't see what use this clarification will do you," Pythia said. "Just let it go Apollo."

"Fine, I'll let it go," Apollo nodded.

"Percy, you said that the person behind Eros is a she," Calypso said. "Melissa clearly indicated that the person behind Eros is a he."

"Not all women are feminine cara," Percy laughed. "Just like not all men are masculine. Look at me, if I wasn't tall with an imposing muscular body but instead tall and willowy, who would believe that I was a man with my face. The only things that saved me from looking like a woman are my strong jaw line and brows and even then just barely. Besides that, the Fae are shape shifters so gender meant nothing."

Calypso looked at Percy as if to analyse him over his words.

Up above them, the flaming candle wax was just about to completely dissolve when Percy waved his hand and six other elements originating from his being bound towards that the wax and merged with it just as it dissolved completely releasing a honey blossom scent that spread and permeated the air which attracted the residents of the village to the company's location.

Percy waved at the little kiddies with a playful smile as they and their mothers and the rest of the village looked over at him and his companions with a little surprise. From the mildness of their surprise, he took for that they were well used to dealing with magic users or they were magic users themselves. He retracted his gaze from them and closed his eyes for a moment.

"Caly, you and I need to fly ten thousand miles to the far North," Percy said with his eyes closed. "The rest of you are to go to the priest and consecrate the land as we have done all along. Afterwards set up camp and wait for our return."

"What's going on now Percy?" Calypso asked. "Is that where the bloodstone is at?"

"No, North is the location where two leylines bisect," Percy said. "We need to study them carefully to find out what they have done to them as to better understand what their plans are."

"Alright," Calypso nodded as she looked at her other companions. "Go and please be safe."

Percy's platinum and silver blazing wings became visible and spread out and a moment later, Calypso did the same and unfurled her beautiful caramel coloured wings and they had already begun to shine with an ethereal golden light that bespoke clearly of the power she held within her as it crawled on her skin like a garment of honour that caused Percy to smile.

Percy nodded at his companions while Calypso hugged them goodbye for now. He looked at his wife and together they shot upwards creating a sonic boom that echoed violently across the area. They flew higher and higher just until they were nearly at the Thermosphere before they dropped off into the stratosphere and shot towards the North where two of the leylines bisected.

Percy with Calypso flying by his side felt at peace from within as his wings pierced the air. The flames of his wings blazed even more causing his body to generate even more power. He swallowed his saliva and forced this new power into his wings. He smiled slowly and genuinely as his wings flared from the new power entering them.

By his side Calypso's wings showed signs that they were about to be ignited thus changing her into a Throne, but after a moment the light dimmed and her wings returned back to their normal colour. Even though her wings had returned back to their normal colour, there was a terrible tide of power that flowed from her body causing the space around her to twist and bend. After a moment however, the space around Calypso stopped bending and her power no longer churned.

Percy smiled lightly at this.

Percy could after a few minutes already sense the presence of the bisecting Northern Leylines. He and his wife dropped off from the stratosphere and entered the troposphere. With that, the sensation coming from the bisected Northern Leylines became even more pronounced than before when they were in the stratosphere.

Percy noticed that Calypso's eyes had narrowed quite a bit as they neared the Leylines. He smiled surreptitiously when he saw the flare of her nose. She was always so in tune with the nature of the world. And leylines were an integral part of nature that often times protected world from the corrosion of magical forces.

Although Percy had the ability to study leylines, his powers were not quite the same as those of someone who truly held the power over nature. His flames for instance were not exactly the ordinary kind that one can casually use to roast marshmallows even though they could, but they were more spiritual creation flames that can create and nurture the soul and life. Calypso's fire was ordinary fire without any specialisation to it and because of this, they were closer to nature. Beside she was also more sensible and level headed than he was.

The location of the Leylines was actually in the middle of a rather shockingly massive city made almost entirely of silver trees. The most amazing thing that Percy saw that brightened Calypso's eyes was that all the trees were still very much alive. In fact the vitality they exhibited was so great that it almost made Calypso giggle uncontrollably with joy.

Down below on the paved ground was a pool of golden water that looked like it was only fit for the gods. The gentle breath from the pool was so pure that the elves that passed by felt their bodies tremble every time without fail. Percy narrowed his eyes for a moment before setting them on his wife as they began to descend from the sky.

The moment Calypso's feet touched the ground her eyes glittered as she felt the pull of the Leylines below the pool. But she quickly ignored those feeling and chose not to rush forwards towards the pool. Percy told her while they were still on their flight towards the city that it would best if they landed a few miles away from the city. This was to avoid drawing too much attention towards them just yet and she obviously agreed to this.

When Percy landed on the ground, he quickly changed his appearance into that of a handsome black haired and silver eyed elf lord wearing a traveller's cloak with a pale silver sword at his side supported by a pale baldric made of a silvery blue material. While the appearance was that of a mature but youthful looking traveller, the aura around his body was most definitely that of the lord he was and his eyes showed his immense age.

Percy glanced at his wife and noticed that she had changed her appearance into that of a youthful and fair skinned elven lady with gleaming golden hair and very mature eyes that gleamed like honey in the sun. "Caly, you still look too beautiful," Percy teased but there was a hint of true grievance at the thought of the eyes she would attract. "You will make me fight off a lot bees at this rate."

"You're one to talk," Calypso rolled her eyes as she took his hand.

"Well honey, I can brag quietly in my heart that my wife is so beautiful that even the stars would lose their luminescence were they before you," Percy's eyes lit up and lips quipped upwards as they made their way towards the city.

Calypso's lips twitched and gently smacked his shoulder.

The path, Percy and Calypso chose was actually the most bustling path, but since they came from the forest no one really cared when they appeared. Besides, their clothes looked well worn from travel, so most assumed that they had set up camp deeper into the forest since they could not make it to the city gates before nightfall. While most travellers tended to set their camp closer to the road, some thought it was too conspicuous.

Very soon Percy and Calypso were in from of the city gates, "This must be the great picket fence of the Silver Wood Kingdom, wonderful for that apple pie life," Percy said to his wife as they neared the entrance of the city.

But there were no guards demanding an entry fee or even an ordinary gate. But Percy could feel and see the giant dome around the city. With it, there was no need for guards though they were not foolish enough not to at least build a city wall. Percy didn't react further than gently smiling as he and Calypso passed through the barrier. Percy looked at Calypso as she pulled his arm towards the pool at the centre of the city.

Within minutes, the couple was before the pool with the Leylinse below. Calypso crouched before the pool and dipped her finger into the water. A feint green light rippled from her hand and entered the water before going deeper towards the Leylines below the pool. The water suddenly began to bubble the moment the green light reached the Leylines.

The people who had been leisurely walking noticed the water bubble and very quickly their eyes turned towards Calypso who had green light flowing out from her body. Percy however only had his eyes firmly on his wife and paid no attention to the elves looking at them until a young male elf walked over in their direction.

Percy traced the young man's movements but remained silent. The young glanced at Percy with surprise when he saw his handsome face but quickly ignored him, "If you have something to say then just say it, there is no need to interrupt her," Percy said.

The young man stopped in his track before looking at Percy, "What is she doing?" she asked.

"This is where two Leylines bisect and she is studying them," Percy didn't bother to hide anything.

"Well, we know that two Leylines bisect here, but why is she studying them?" The young elf asked though the light in his eyes clearly had a different intention that he would not admit.

"I dare say that you would be happier if you did not know," Percy said and smiled at the young elf. "But I can tell you if you truly wish to know the reason she is studying the bisected Leylines."

"Tell us, why she is studying these Leylines," A citizen demanded not far from them having heard their conversation.

"Someone beyond your power to stop is corrupting Leylines and we wish to find out for what purpose they are corrupting them," Percy said slowly with grimness in his tone. "And recently the long departed are rising again."

The citizens were surprised that Percy was so forthcoming.

"Why tell us this?" The young man asked.

"Because it makes no difference whatsoever whether you know or not, the Draugen have already been roused from their sleep and now escape their entombment," Percy shook his head. "You are going to have to fight in this war at some point whether it is you like it or not. So why not know that war is coming and have time to prepare for its eventuality than be caught unaware."

Just as the young elf was about to reply, the weather changed from light grey almost white cloud to a violent black with terrible hissing lightning that struck at the barrier. The barrier shimmered brightly like crushed diamonds upon the sun though this time the brilliant sparkle was rather more unnerving than beautiful. The young elven man looked towards the entrance of the city and ran there along with most of the elves that had been watching Calypso. With this, Percy looked down at his wife still with her eyes closed and showed no more reaction to the barrier being struck.

It was not long after that Calypso opened her eyes and rose to her feet, "These Leylines like the vast majority are clean and without any trace of corruption," she said as she held Percy in her sight. "But, I could sense the deep rooted corruption within other Leylines in many places far from here. They are not only corrupting Leylines with Blood Stones, they are also using these corrupted Leyline as gateways to ferry these Blood Stones to a location I was unable to see."

"I thought as much," Percy nodded. "It was smart of them to carry out their plans in such a manner. They created no calamity that was too large and intricate to be suspicious. Now, I can say with absolute certainty that the corrupted Leylines are also being used in conjunction with Arch drawing stones to gather and funnel corrupted energy to create something. Tainted energy cannot pass through uncorrupted Leylines, the world would simply collapse and they would be unable to harvest these evil energies and resentment. Further more, they would dare not corrupt all of the Leylines or again the world would collapse."

"Also the myriad kingdoms here on Alfheim are not like the human countries on earth," Calypso added. "Every single kingdom has artifacts so powerful that they could swallow up stars and black holes and use them as power sources. These artifacts make nuclear weapons look like pop rocks. But the competition on this world between the myriad kingdoms is so extreme that no one kingdom would dare leave their lands with their artefacts to conquer other worlds. They don't even dare to use them in any of their many conflicts with each other and can only rely on more mortal methods like that treacherous mountain and proxy cities like Endo and many other cities outside their proper kingdoms to wage war on each other."

Percy nodded.

But before he could say anything, another lightning bolt stuck at the barrier and this one caused even the ground to tremble violently for a few second before the energy was spent. Calypso looked at the barrier then and her husband with amusement, "The people of the Silver Wood Kingdom sure are more advanced than those outside even if everything has medieval styling," she said with a chuckle.

Percy looked at Calypso then smiled, "They are not like the bumpkins outside who live between the kingdoms," he said through eyes that shone brilliantly with amusement.

"Let's go see who it is that's making this racket," Calypso said taking Percy's arm then pulling him towards the city entrance ignoring the citizens who had remained by the pool instead of going towards the city entrance.

"I sense a whole lot of fun just waiting for us to see," Percy grinned.

When they were before the entrance, they saw a cloaked dark figure on a white horse with a mane as white as snow that rippled like lightning bolts and hooves that rattled upon the ground like rolling thunder that had struck the earth. In the dark figure's hand there was a dull and gloomy yet majestic silver lance that hummed with black magic enchantments within it that caused its dull gloomy appearance.

A squadron of archers bound out from the barracks in an orderly fashion and stood before the entrance and levelled their bows at the dark figure on the white horse. The dark figure turned his head at the archers with pulsing poisonous glowing green eyes visible even with the hood that hid his face from view and a crazed cackle echoed from within the hood. The citizens of the city shivered nearly uncontrollably from the madness filled cackle. The archers however only moved quietly as a single unit and drew arrows from their quivers, notched them upon their bows and fired them making the air whistle.

As the arrows neared the dark figure the horse beneath him, neighed and clopped its hooves upon the ground and world rumbled like rolling thunder and the mane of the white horse crackled. The dark figure raised a hand and the arrows were caught frozen in the air. The arrows were quickly consumed by dark flames that rose from nowhere and turned them into ashes that drifted along the air with a scent that beheld the corruption of black magic.

"Atalera, you cannot keep me out forever," The dark figure declared with a loud grinding voice that cast a grim light of madness upon world causing the rise of a mournful gust of air. "I will attain all that which I desire from this land—regardless of whether you dare to try and impede me of my path or not."

"You believe that I have impeded your path? Still you wallow in the throngs of madness and entitlement. You can't even conceptualise that you have betrayed our people, Fallen Prince Atalo," A white robed, tall and beautiful elven woman walked out from the crowd and spoke with bitter sneer on her face. "You have turned your back to all that our people stand for and believe in—all for power."

"Haha…you speak as though I regret my choice. I made my choice sister—by the power of my own will," Atalo, the dark figure said. "Milord has given unto me all that he promised. So what if I turned my back on the Lord and Lady Balance?"

"Was it truly by your own will Atalo? Can you not see it brother that now as you sit erect on that horse of yours, you've become a corruption upon the land. You neither bear the breath of life and yet also you reject the embrace of death," Atalera sneered and shook her head in sadness that dimmed the light in her eyes for a moment before her spirit rose again even greater than before. "What sort of existence is this Atalo?"

"Haha…let it be as you say, but there is nary a thing you may say that may change anything and also my power grows ever greater and that is all that I care for," Atalo, the dark figure hissed causing a baleful aura to spill out from his body that caused all that was living within a mile radius to desiccate and blacken before finally crumbling like the ashes of a cremated body before being swept away by the cold winter air. "What of it if I devour the souls of the living as my daily bread, drink their blood as my wine and sow irreconcilable seeds bearing resentment and enmity to consume as elixirs for my power?"

"Further and further still you have fallen into the pit of your own insanity, avarice and apathy, Atalo. How can this possibly be you my brother? How could you have fallen so far?" Atalera said as tear spilled from her eyes. "I fear however in my heart and the hearts of others of our line that you are beyond redemption now, my fallen brother. Even if pains me, I as your sister shall cleanse this world of the corruption you have become even if it takes me to my death as a memory to honour as you once were in youth. I would have no regrets so long as I can preserve this memory of you and make sure that the evil spirit that has taken hold over you is dispersed from the lands and then I can enter the heavenly realm of the Great Lord and Lady with my heart at peace."

"You may try, Atalera," Atalo the dark figure said with a laughed that ground the ear as though a sword strike upon granite. "You will fail I assure you, then you will die and upon your death I shall be ennobled by My Lord and I shall reign unfettered and uncontested upon the land. Your Lord and Lady are nothing more than archaic relics of a bygone age."

"Haha…a rotten blighted creature such as you will never be ennobled, Fallen Prince Atalo," Atalera laughed loudly with bitterness. "You are but a dog following the bidding of your master. When your task is done rotten creature, mark my words, you shall be struck down by your master and destroyed. Archers fire! Burn this filthy stain to the ground."

The archers once again drew upon their bows and fired their arrows at Atalo the dark figure. And like a rain of light, the arrows burst into streaks of light and struck upon the dark figure before exploding and sending a plume of dust to spread in every direction. From the centre of the dust plume, the white horse neighed with fury and electricity violently crackled.

When the dust had settled, Atalo, the dark figure snorted then, he and the white horse he rode began to enlarge growing to a height of ten metres. And with a loud sneer, he thrust the lance in his hand at the barrier. Upon impact, the barrier rippled, sparks fell and the ground trembled violently. The white horse neighed loudly as a monstrously powerful lightning bolt struck the lance causing its power to rise exponentially as Atalo, the dark figure thrust his lance again at the barrier. The barrier rippled again upon impact.

Atalera raised her hand causing a cold blue light to bathe her figure. A great silvery blue beam of light shot out from her hand and screamed towards Atalo and the white horse. The dark figure stopped the advancement of his lance with a sneer as a magical black flame formed in his hand and threw it at the silvery blue beam of light. He assumed that the black flame would be enough to stop the beam of light. However that was not what happened. The beam of light passed through the black flame and struck Atalo and the white horse nearly causing it to drop him as it stumbled back.

When Atalo managed to rein back his horse, he stared at Atalera, "This will not end here. You will not win sister. You only delay the inevitable for the moment. I will return and you shall tremble before me," Atalo the dark figure sneered as he shook his head before he turned into a beam of light and left with a derisive snort that lingered in the air.

Percy glanced at Calypso with curiosity alight in his eye, "Why did you give that little girl your help?" he asked.

"You know that I hate devils just as much as you do," Calypso shrugged her shoulders while Percy nodded and gazed at Atalera. "Why wouldn't I help that child just a little? Besides, she is faithful to the laws set by us, The Lord and Lady Balance."

Percy chuckled though he did not say anything more but glanced at the young elf woman whom the dark figure had called Atalera. She seemed to be lost in thought as she had set her eyes in the direction Atalo, the dark figure left in. Heavy breathed with beads of sweat trickling down her forehead, Atalera turned her eyes as she noticed both Percy and Calypso's gazes were on her.

She bowed her head slightly then turned to leave. However, before she could leave, the barrier cracked and magic fragments fell off creating a hole. From the hole, spider web like cracks began to spread. She was about to act but then she noticed a figure moving to take action before her.

Percy raised his hand causing a tear in space to which runes flowed out and wove themselves into a Law of creation spell. When creation spell that came forth from runes was woven, the magical fragments of the barrier stopped midair and began to return back into the chipped barrier and wove themselves back where they came reforming the complete barrier.

Next to him, Calypso also waved her hand and a green leaf emerged from her hand and floated upward merging with and strengthening the barrier. Atalera saw this and stepped back slightly in surprise. The momentary surprise was all that Atalera did. The powers that Percy and Calypso summoned were not all that much. They were in fact weaker than the powers she could summon.

"Who are you?" Atalera asked as she beheld Percy and Calypso.

"My name is Arel Aren-Torval and this is my wife," Percy said using a pseudonym while looking at Calypso but he chose not tell her name for her and let her do it herself.

"I am Belen Faen-Torval," Calypso introduced herself, "And yourself?"

"I am Atalera Faen-Veos, Grand Duchess of Lynos," Atalera introduced herself. "I thank you for your aid and welcome you to Silver Rowan City."

Calypso looked at Atalera then nodded.

"But I must ask. Why did you help us?" Atalera asked. "You are strangers to our lands and bear no special sentiments for kin here."

"You are the living," Calypso said. "The bodies of the dead belong in their graves and their souls in the underworld. To depart the land by the hand of these filthy defilers of nature would bode ill for the land and what terrible consequences that shall be brought upon the land shall be fell beyond imagining."

"Your words are true, the consequences would be terribly fell indeed," Atalera nodded. "Friends, let us continue our parley elsewhere with less prying eyes and ears."

Percy and Calypso nodded and allowed her to guide them towards her Palace. It took them no time until they where before a large and exceptionally beautiful silver palace grown from a majestic tree was speckled with flakes of snow that would twinkle upon the embrace of the sun's light. Atalera allowed them in.

Awaiting them was the residence's major-domo followed by two guards. The Major-domo and the two guards bowed low towards Atalera and led them towards the drawing room. The drawing room that they had been led towards was spacious with simple and elegant furnishings.

"Please sit," Atalera asked Percy and Calypso to sit.

"The devil before was your brother?" Calypso asked as she sat down on a chair next to Percy.

"Unfortunately yes," Atalera nodded.

"How did he become a devil?" Calypso asked as she looked around the room. "I hardly see anything worthy of such resentment needed to form a devil's seed of the seven cardinal sins—the Devil stone."

"I guess that my brother had always desired power and felt cheated that I inherited the title and lands of a Grand Duchess as the second born of our family," Atalera said. "And he inherited the title of Duke, which was already a grand title in itself, however he wanted more, more than our parents could possibly give."

"Oh, so that's how it is," Percy nodded gently but grimly. "What happened afterwards?"

"Hmm, for many years all was well or so we thought," Atalera's eyes dimmed slightly. "In the shadows however—beyond our sight, he conspired against our eldest brother the crown prince of the Silver Wood Kingdom to sever his favour among the council of Lords and Elders. Some chose his side, some remained neutral and some chose our eldest brother's side."

"Ah, the killer intrigues of the royal court," Percy said with a grim smile. "It's to die for."

"Please continue," Calypso said as she pinched Percy.

"He is not wrong," Atalera said in Percy's defence with a soft chuckle. "It's a head rolling business."

"Ah, headaches and stiff necks just fall away," Calypso said causing Percy and Atalera to chuckle a bit. "Please continue."

"Right," Atalera nodded. "As I said before that we had thought that all was well and had no idea of my brother's treachery. But upon the guidance of the Lord and Lady Balance it is known that always will there be a time when the darkness will shroud the treacherous light and all that seek to hide within its bright ambers shall be frozen and consumed by darkness and thus hence truth shall be born."

This saying to a normal person would sound very ominous and terrifying. However there are far more evil beings in existence that hide proudly in the light and there are many beings with noble hearts that hide in the darkness. In truth the light has always hidden many more great evils than the darkness ever could. The reason is that the darkness is obscure and mysterious making it untrustworthy to most people. Most crimes happen during the day since at night even the perpetrator could very easily become the victim of the dark stillness of night. Sadly, death tends to come quickly in the night.

"That's right, nothing can forever be hidden," Percy nodded in approval.

"Yes, it was exactly in the Temple of the Lord and Lady that my brother's treachery was first discovered," Atalera said. "At first he accused the Lord and Lady of falsehoods though they had no part in any of it. Some within the court had nearly believed him. But our parents saw reason and cast his words aside. Our father asked my brother: "Who do you think you are to compel the Lord and Lady to plot against you?" Upon these words my brother had no answer and instead took aim at the life of our father the King of the Silver Wood Kingdom. He failed however, but managed still to flee with the help of some Lords and Elders."

"Those who helped him must have already had rebellion deeply in their hearts," Calypso said with a slight sneer of disgust. She had been blessed with a husband like Percy whose innate fatal flaw and greatest virtue was loyalty, over the eons this deep etched sense of loyalty had also become her fatal flaw as well just as her innate fatal flaw became his and because of this, treachery was what she hated the most—even more than the undead.

"Those who helped him flee, what happened to them afterwards?" Percy asked with a calm disdainful tone.

"Unfortunately nothing happened to them as they had already grown far too powerful by then," Atalera said. "As such we have closed off the borders for the most part under false the pretence of not wanting to involve ourselves with the rest of the world."

"So that's the reason we were stopped when we first came," Calypso said looking at Percy who nodded. It would seem that their granddaughter Alessa was right in that they were hiding something.

"Why are you so forthright about all of this?" Percy asked. "How do you know that we won't expose everything you said?"

"Things have already progressed this far," Atalera shook her head sadly. "Pretending that the truth will never be exposed would be foolish and also we would not be in the wrong in the eyes of the public."

"Alright," Percy and Calypso nodded. "Don't worry we have similar goals in the end. But do continue with what you were saying before."

"You must understand that this decree was made two thousand years ago," Atalera said.

"That's quite a while," Percy said.

"Yes, it has been quite a while," Atalera nodded. "In that time however my brother has managed to slaughter the entirety of his duchy's population drowning the land in blood and giving rise to seeds of resentments that he has consumed to turn himself into a Devil. The most resentful and irreconcilable of the deceased were groomed like live stock in unsealed crypts to allow their rise."

"You tried to stop him and failed, I presume," Calypso said.

"Yes, he too like the Elders and Lords who aided him had already become far too powerful to be stopped by us, especially within the confines of his own territory," Atalera nodded with a sharp glint in her eyes. "That year we waged such a terrible war against him and his horde that the residual energies had left the skies above and the earth beneath our feet blistered and scotched for a hundred years afterwards, but in the end for all our power we were still overwhelmed by the Draugen and those of us who fell in that time became Draugr themselves. All we could do in the end was retreat and cast death sealing and life banishing wards around my brother's Duchy to prevent him and his horde from leaving or grow more powerful."

Percy and Calypso simply nodded and waited for Atalera to continue.

"Now, my brother has broken free of the wards we cast two thousand years ago along with his horde," Atalera said. "And has now set his eyes on us."

"Since he has not attacked you with his horde of Draugr means that he has an agenda greater than simple conquest," Percy said. "I bet this objective has something to do with the treacherous Elders and Lords of your kingdom's council as well as the Leylines we were examining."

"But that's only a conjuncture at this point," Calypso said grimly. "But regardless of that I'm interested in finding out what this objective is."

"My husband and I are going to the Capital on the morrow, you may come along with us," Atalera said.

"Well then, Your Grace," Percy said with a playful chuckle. "We thank you."

Atalera noticed that Percy's tone was very relaxed and in no way deferential to her Title of Grand Duchess. He was looked wholly amused with saying your grace to her. In a sense she felt a deep boundless sense of pride from him that was not Hubris but rather it was much more inward and lofty beyond anything she had ever felt from a person before.

"You are welcome to one of our guest quarters," Atalera said getting up from her seat. "I will call the major-domo to lead you to your room."

"Very well," Calypso said.

Atalera left the room.

Moments later the major-domo came into the room and bowed slightly, "Please follow me Sir and Madam," he said softly with a polite voice.

Percy and Calypso nodded slowly then followed the major-domo towards their assigned guest room. When the couple looked around the palace walls they were impressed to find that full of many portraits of Atalera's children or supposed children since they could not be sure, but they clearly had her distinct features. Before they knew it they were before their room for the night.

The major-domo opened the door to the room before moving aside to allow Percy and Calypso space to enter, "The room isn't much but I hope it is to your liking," said the major-domo. He had chosen this room since he felt that Percy and Calypso would appreciate a simple room without much pomp than most guests who stayed at the palace.

"It is to our taste," Calypso said as she looked around the room with a shallow nod.

"I will come later when it is time for supper," the major-domo said before bowing then walking away after closing the door leaving only Percy and Calypso.

"What do you think we'll find?" Percy asked.

"I haven't the foggiest," Calypso said with a very relaxed smile as she sat on one the chairs in the room. "But anyhow we should contact Hermes and telling him what we are doing so that he can tell the others."

Percy nodded and sat on a chair adjacent to Calypso and closed his eyes so that he could begin to condense his power into his will of virtue. Originally, Percy had wanted to wait a few more months before taking this step, but he found that there were far too many unknowns lurking beyond his sight and so he chose not to take such chances.

And thus Percy ignited the power within his core channelled to his wings and very soon there was an outline of his wings that cast a majestic shadow on the wall. After Percy started to ignite the power in his wings, his body began to materialise his will of virtue causing the room to hum for moment before he merged his will virtue with the ignited power. Air around him fizzed gently for moment before returning to normal.

While Percy was condensing his power into his will of virtue, Calypso was talking to Hermes and Charybdis informing them about what they had decided. Calypso told them that they must still endeavour to consecrate the land and cut off the paths that the Draugen may wish to take.

"Mum, what about Fenrir?" Hermes asked.

"Nothing has changed in that regard," Calypso said decisively. "Find him and destroy his physical body then scatter his consciousness. This way he can never return."

"Mum, if that Atalo fellow where to show up what should we do?" Charybdis asked.

"He won't easily risk showing up in front of you," Calypso said.

"What would he be afraid of?" Charybdis asked surprised.

"Hermes, Pythia and Zoë are a High Gods," Percy said opening his eyes and glanced at the image of the two. "While Devils like Demons are deities and have power and abilities that gods possess, High Gods however are different. The powers, will and vitality of High Gods are far more primal and profound so much so that the presence of High Gods is poisonous to Devils as they are in the end still closer to being deceased than living and full of death energy and High Gods have vast and seemingly indefinite life spans causing their presence to be full of boundless life energy that can completely overwhelm the death energy in Devils turning it into life energy which will ironically open them to true death."

"Huh?" Hermes asked not understanding it one bit.

"Idiot," Charybdis said rolling her eyes indicating that she understood what Percy said.

"Why are the women in my family so mean?" Hermes asked.

"Hermes…" Calypso said. "Am I mean to you?"

Hermes shook his head vigorously.

"By the balance," Calypso said. "From Life comes death and from death life is born anew."

"Oh," Hermes nodded

"Also you must remember this, my son," Percy said as he seriously looked at Calypso who wore a rather solemn face as she sat on one of the chairs. Golden outlines of her wings shadowed the room and her eyes pulsed with golden fiery light revealing expectation as they gazed at Hermes. "Your trials will begin soon, but you must endure even if the heavens should fall to your shoulders to bear, even if all the mountains should rest on your back or even if your hands and feet are to be bound by the endless seas. Endure my son, your mother and I believe in you."

"I promise that I will endure my punishment," Hermes said.

"Alright, go about your task son," Percy said. "Your mother and I will call you if anything comes up."

"Before I forget, tell Apollo that he must repay what he owes for every oath he has ever broken. He must repay the victims of his broken oaths," Calypso said.

"Alright Mum," Hermes nodded before waving goodbye with Charybdis.

The image showing Hermes and Charybdis vanished.

"Is what Hermes will go through truly a punishment?" Calypso asked.

"No, not really, but It could be considered as such in a sense," Percy said thoughtfully.

"What will really happen to him?" Calypso asked.

"I'm not too sure of that myself," Percy shook his head.

"In any case, as his mother and father we will shoulder him if need be," Calypso said.

Percy nodded.

"Alright, are you really already done condensing your power into your will of virtue?" Calypso asked.

"I've condensed quite a bit of my power into my Will of Virtue," Percy nodded. "You should do the same just to be on the safe side."

"Alright, give me a moment," Calypso said before closing her eyes.

Percy looked at his wife for a good while before he too closed his eyes though this time it was not to condense his power but rather it was to calm his spirit back to normal. All of the events of the past few days had created a sense of urgency in his heart making him feel very uneasy. Even with his intent to calm his mind, sudden thoughts overtook him and did not let go. These awry thoughts thickened into a fog that began to spread. Percy frowned slightly, a crown of platinum light rose above his head that dispelled the fog.

Even when the fog had been dispelled, Percy still wore a slight frown on his face. This frown however persisted for only moment before his expression returned to normal. After Percy dispelled the fog, he took a deep breath and solidified his will of virtue into a tranquil pool of water that was devoid of even the slightest of tremors caused by the air. It was water in stillness and with this his mind became its reflection.

When he was done, Percy opened his eyes and noticed that Calypso still had her eyes closed. From then on Percy sat there in silence while also working on some new runes he had created. An hour later, Calypso's eyes finally fluttered opened revealing a pulse of golden light that rose into a crown above her head that washed all over her body before fading away.

It was only a moment later that Percy and Calypso heard a knock on the door. Percy rose from his chair and walked over towards the door. He opened it only to see that it was the major-domo. The major-domo bowed gently before Percy, "Good evening Milord and Lady," he said. "His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke and Her Royal Highness, the Grand Duchess, would like to extend their invitation to you to join them for supper."

"Very well," Percy said with a nod. "Lead the way."

"Very well Milord," The Major-domo said. "Please follow me."

"Will do," Percy nodded as he and Calypso followed the Major-domo walked out of their guest quarters and towards the dinning room.

When Percy and Calypso arrived at the dinning room they were met by Atalera and her husband Brennan Aren-Veos who was a tall and dignified elven man with bright eyes filled with wisdom.

During their supper together, they kept the subjects of their conversations simple and bereft of talks of Draugr and Atalera's Devil brother, the dark figure Atalo. After supper was done everyone quietly went to their rooms and retired for the evening.

As soon as Percy and Calypso entered the room, Percy sighed deeply with expectation as what he had divined before would come to pass soon. He had already begun to feel the fire of endless vitality coming from his blood ties originating from his children, especially Chiron and Annabeth while his blood tie to Melissa seemed vague and in a very mysterious and unfathomable place beyond his current dominion of power.

In their guest room, Percy and Calypso did not actually sleep rather Calypso closed her eyes and began to Analyse her Will of Virtue again to make sure that she did not make any mistakes that could actually be exploited later on by a capable enemy. Percy on the other hand was slowly generating his power and then funnelling it into his wings to make them stronger and then from his wings his power entered his heart.

Once Percy's power had entered his heart it saturated his blood before being pumped to all the other vital organs in order to strengthen his body so that it would be able withstand the pressure of power later on. Percy drew out a breath once he was done strengthening his body causing space to ripple then tear. His eyes for a second flashed with euphoria before returning to normal.

After that, Percy just sat there and began to generate his power into his Will of Virtue in order to condition and strengthen his mind while also providing a shield around it so that he could later on peaceably generate his power with no more worries of his mind cracking from the strain and ultimately fracturing the sanctity of his soul. The Madness was borne of the fracturing of the mind and the Hollow was borne of the fracturing of the soul by the Madness.

Percy sighed gently once he stopped generating power and thought back to the fact that once your power exceeds the ability of the mind bear and comprehend then the seed of madness would not be far away from taking root. Once the madness took root within you, then there would be no way to avoid the disaster that would follow and you will become forever marked by it until the day you transcend. Even someone like him who heard only the distant whispers of madness was still marked by it.

Soon night passed and in its place was the morning.

Calypso finally opened her eyes once the feint rays of the early morning passed through the spaces between the drapes. The moment when she opened her eyes a golden glow pulsed from within her eyes. Next to her, Percy had already opened his eyes and was in fact looking at her with a charming smile and winked. Calypso rolled her eyes then smiled at him as well.

"Your presence has gotten more and more stable and more profound," Percy said. "The night of training did you good."

"While it wasn't hard to form my Will of Virtue, I actually dismantled my first Will of virtue since I felt that it did not encompass who I was and crafted a new one using the first one as a guideline," Calypso said. "Then afterwards I condensed my power into in order to temper it. You didn't tell me this before."

"That's how it always is," Percy said getting up from his chair. "Only you can craft your will of virtue. I could only point in the right direction and how you actually forge it in only a general manner."

"It would be much easier if I were still as young and innocent as I was when we met those many years ago," Calypso said.

Percy pondered her words for a moment before shaking his head, "Easier it would be," he said. "But it would also be very unstable and thus ultimately useless."

"I guess you are right," Calypso said.

Percy was about to say something when they heard a light knock on the door. They immediately knew that it was the major-domo who had come to inform them that the time of their departure had arrived. Both Percy and Calypso snapped their fingers and their clothes had changed into a fresh pair of travelling clothes.

They quietly walked over to the door, greeted the major-domo who in turn later guided them to where the Grand Duke and Duchess were waiting for them. They became intrigued when they climbed up the stair instead of going down to the stables. It would seem that there was another mode of transportation arranged by their host to take them to the royal capital.

After going up the flight of stairs, Percy and Calypso arrived at a wide silver and black platform where Brennan and Atalera were waiting for them. On the Platform was a series comprised of seven runes.

Chapter 33 Done!

ADDIO!