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[COLOR=silver][sup][b]The Judicator | Lord of the Underworld[/b][/sup][/COLOR][/center][hr][INDENT][sup][COLOR=silver][b]TIME:[/b] [i]Present Day[/i] | [b]LOCATION:[/b] [i]Neberziel - Unknown[/i] | [b]INTERACTION:[/b] [i]None[/i][/COLOR][/sup][/INDENT]
[COLOR=Black][b]"So much [i]death...[/i]"[/b][/COLOR]

The world was dark.

[COLOR=Black][b]"So many Souls left to rot."[/b][/COLOR]

Azhriel couldn't tell if he was dreaming.

[COLOR=Black][b]"The river flows verily, its' currents nigh unstoppable."[/b][/COLOR]

This voice, he recognised it but he couldn't remember from where.

[COLOR=Black][b]"Such a delicacy, the Soul of a Mortal."[/b][/COLOR]

He struggled to see anything around him. What had happened?

[COLOR=Black][b]"They possess so many stories, so many emotions, so much... [i]power![/i]"[/b][/COLOR]

Azhriel jolted himself back to consciousness, a deep and sudden gasp for air overcame him as he did so. He was drenched in sweat, yet his body remained cold to the touch. His mind still groggy, Azhriel attempted to gather his bearings. He was lying in his bed entirely naked. A thin duvet had been cast over him to protect his dignity. Instinctively, Azhriel rubbed his eyes using the palms of his hands, his eyesight was still hazy. Once he'd finished, his sight now cleared, he regarded his own hands and their pale-greyness. It had been a long time since he'd last removed his armour. No sooner than he had awoken did the door to his chambers burst open, startling the God. 

[b]"Lord Azhriel!"[/b] A female cried. The expression on her face was filled with emotion. The most he'd ever seen from her. She didn't stop at the door either, rushing to his bedside to kneel before him. [b]"You've returned, finally."[/b] She said, almost in tears.

[COLOR=Green][b]"L-Lyssa?!"[/b][/COLOR] He questioned, still unsure about his current situation. [COLOR=Green][b]"What has happened to me?"[/b][/COLOR]

Lyssa's head slowly rose up to meet his oblivious expression. 

[b]"Y-you mean, you don't know?"[/b] He could sense the pain in her voice as she asked.

[COLOR=Green][b]"I've been... asleep. For a long time, haven't I?"[/b][/COLOR] Azhriel's confusion only grew, he had no recollection of what or why; he couldn't even remember when he had fallen into slumber.

[b]"Yes, my Lord."[/b] She confirmed. [b]"But that's not all."[/b] Lyssa's face filled with sorrow as she recalled the events that had passed during his absence.

[COLOR=Green][b]"What is it? What pains you, my child?"[/b][/COLOR]

Lyssa was silent for a while, tears beginning to well up in her eyes before she spoke, [b]"It's the Old God... they've gone!"[/b]

The news hit him like a hammer, fear washed over him like a tsunami before transforming into rage. Azhriel launched himself from the bed until he stood above the Ashen Guard, his anger evident by the emerald flames around the room magnifying tremendously. Lyssa's gaze had dropped to the floor instantly.

[COLOR=Green][b]"HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS?!"[/b][/COLOR] He roared. Lyssa began to tremble visibly as his voice boomed.

[b]"S-she was here! She sat in your throne! She looked just like-"[/b]

[COLOR=Green][b]"Explain it to me fully."[/b][/COLOR] His initial rage had subsided, but an anger deep within him still burned as he spoke.

[b]"It was after you recruited Thaddeus, my Lord. Your power seemed to have drained by a considerable amount more than usual. Before we knew anything, you were slumped in your throne and unconscious. That was when she appeared in front of us all. She tried to kill you, my Lord, but Gibari and the others fought against her whilst I brought you here. By the time I'd returned to the Canyon, the others they were defeated."[/b]

Azhriel processed the information quickly, though his anger still remained. It was only then that he noticed his nakedness, which was one of the reasons why Lyssa had refused to raise her head from the floor. He sobered himself slightly, amused by the situation. He needed to calm down, gather all the facts first and then make his move. He'd be swinging in the dark if all he did was attack things with rage. Intent on calming the atmosphere, the God of Souls reached for the duvet on his bed before wrapping it around himself. By his own will, the item quickly began to morph into a dark set of robes covering his modesty.

[COLOR=Green][b]"My apologies, child. I lost myself to my rage. Come, tell me everything whilst we walk. I must see to the others."[/b][/COLOR]

[b]"I am honoured, my Lord, but you do not need to apologise."[/b] She rose from the floor gracefully and began to lead the way out of the room. [b]"Gibari and the others are fine now but there is still more bad news I'm afraid."[/b]

[COLOR=Green][b]"Fear not, I am calm now."[/b][/COLOR] Lyssa remained tentative, though she eventually began to tell the rest.

[b]"Once I'd returned, the Old God spoke to me. She said that it was her turn to rule, that you were... [i]weak[/i]."[/b] Lyssa paused a little before continuing on, [b]"She tried to summon a portal to the Pit in order to leave the realm but she failed. After which she grew angry, she started to rant and rave. Most of it was incomprehensible but she did mention something about the Souls, that they held untapped power. Power that you-"[/b] 

[COLOR=Green][b]"That's enough."[/b][/COLOR] Azhriel interrupted. [COLOR=Green][b]"I want you to forget about her."[/b][/COLOR]

[b]"W-what?! But how can I, after all that?!"[/b] Lyssa's protest was out of character, but she couldn't control herself. It took her a moment to realise that she'd spoken out against her God. Azhriel didn't blame her, but he did remain silent. Lyssa would punish herself for this outburst. [b]"I'm sorry, my Lord, I spoke out of turn."[/b]

[COLOR=Green][b]"No matter, it is done. However, I stand by what I said. Forget about the Old God. She is nothing more than a phantom."[/b][/COLOR] Lyssa didn't need to answer for him to know she'd comply with his wishes. [COLOR=Green][b]"Now tell me of the mortal realm, what have I missed?"[/b][/COLOR]

The God of Souls walked down the corridor leading away from his bedchambers with his most-trusted disciple. Lyssa had taken him to his castle, far away from the Canyon. He would need to spend some time here to fully recover before attending to his domain. The Old God had finally made her move, after all this time. Now he would need to tread cautiously, lest his secret became known to his siblings.