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When speaking of taking the journey, Azariah had not expected to spend two months trudging through endless roads covered in sand searching high and low for the “kingdom” of Aeternum. The thought was enough to make the unscathed man chuckle,[color=gold]”A false palace for a false king, the most befitting of circumstances.”[/color] Despite the chuckle his features furrowed into one of displeasure as he reflected upon the past two months.

The lands were ravaged, overran by hordes of lesser demons being puppetered by higherborns and Circle class demons all in name of their false kings. Hard to believe the conditions in the badlands, the expansive distance between these makeshift kingdoms, were even more so worse off, practically suicide grounds for the mortals. Cannibalistic and more savage lesser demons and exiled half-bloods took to pillaging, hunting and raiding in the areas, attacking unprotected caravans and the odd foolish traveler. The sights were harrowing in the least, the sound of tortured screams and ripping flesh all the more vibrant in his memory as a swift shake of his head dispelled the reflection, a single bead of sweat trailing from his forehead,[color=gold][abbr=nothing is heavy to those who have wings]”alis grave nil*”[/abbr][/color]

Some odd hours passed, the annoying  pang in his stomach enough to make him grumble, as a celestial being no such things affected him, but to make this farce believable he would have to experience a somewhat mortal existence. The sound of fighting drew him closer as he approached the entrance to what could be assumed a false kingdom, a group of demons stood outside the entrance beating upon a middle age man, their chaperon, a highborn, dug around through the ceased cargo as he smiled to himself. Azariah slowed his pace raising his hands into the air wanting to appear as docile as possible, despite the ease he would have in dispatching these poor excuses he need to get into the city, find information on Aeternum, and of its [i]king[/i]. The demon’s paused their actions sensing his presence, hissing at the brightness of the man before him,[b] “What is it you want pretty boy?”[/b] one of the demons hissed stepping over the man and in his direction, their highborn had yet to pay any heed to him, and he planned on not getting his attention.

[color=gold] “I’m just looking for information, I offer silver, and hell ash gunpowder in exchange for entrance. I have every intention of making myself useful in my time spent here.”[/color]

Azariah had abundant practice in gaining entry into the various cities, different problems plagued each of them but, resources and talent were scarce commodities that even the dumbest of lesser demons could comprehend the importance of. A bloodied hand, if you could call it that, was thrust his way and with haste he dropped eight silvers and the bag of gunpowder into the demon’s possession before hurriedly walking past the group and entering the unknown city. Perhaps in different circumstance the angel would have been impressed by his surroundings, whichever of the kings ruled this city was much more well off than the others, in terms of defensive capabilities and occupation limits.

Wandering eyes led his body straight into another as they snapped down in time to see the, [i]human[/i] scrambling to pick up some fallen bread. The smell wafted to his nose and a small groan sounded in his throat, that was the freshest bread he had smelled in all of his existence.

His hunger was pushed aside as he gazed upon the woman before him, there was something special about her, the longer her looked the more pressing of an urge he felt to accompany her. Clearing his throat quietly he motioned to the side for them to step out of the center of the road. Being mindful of the space he left between them he leaned toward her and spoke in a hushed tone, his voice smooth like honey and soft like a lullaby.

[color=gold] “Instead of the bread allow me the opportunity to purchase information from you.”[/color] Reaching into his pockets he pulled out five silvers and showed them to her,[color=gold] “Four questions, for five silvers, and I will leave you to go about your day.”[/color] Azariah continued without waiting for her to continue,[color=gold]” The first, why is someone like you wandering amongst these streets all alone, and so confidently? Better yet, where have I managed to stumble upon where a woman, a beautiful one at that, can easily walk free?”[/color] A small smirk spread across his face, as he appeared to be completely at ease before the woman, maybe it was the familiarity he felt resonating within her, or perhaps for once the being shuffling the the streets paid no heed to his presence,[color=gold “Last two, where is a well-fed woman like you bustling about with that many loaves bread?”[/color]. For the last question he leaned in closer, his eyes scanning the crowd for a moment before continuing,[color=gold] “Is anyone aware, or shown awareness to your… ‘potential’?”[/color]

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Unwavering and magnificent his dark blue eyes challenged the mischievous gaze she had cast upon him. The sound of his voice, though quiet, carried in the room due to its baritone, swirling around her as if taunting her, before resting in the pit of her stomach. A warm chuckle left her lips as her King released himself from her grasps, [i] a month’s time is surely enough for human’s interests to move elsewhere, how disappointing[/i]. Taking a step backwards and clearing her mind Nasrin lowered herself to one knee, placing an arm on her bent knee as she bowed her head accepting Gabe’s dismissal of Azrael’s behavior, and offering a silent apology for her previous behavior before him.

A low growl sounded in her throat at his taunting words, perhaps his affections had changed but his love of games, at the expense of her pride, remained. Lifting her head, her irritation was met with the quirking of his lips sent her almond eyes narrowing as he basked in his own amusement,[color=mediumvioletred] “I have no need to be showered with those… wastes of resources, do not insult me.”[/color] her voice was sultry in its natural state, a byproduct of being the ruler of the Second Circle of Lust, among many other things.

[color=mediumvioletred] “A familiar certainly is not enough to watch over my own domain, and the rumors of another Circle ruler rising to back a King candidate were enough to draw me back to my realm.”[/color] she started in an even tone though the hand resting against the cool stone floor clenched into a fist as she continued,[color=mediumvioletred] “Seems Abbadon, was growing tired of reining in the depths of the Sixth Circle, and has decided to grace this land with his influence. I was able to… [i]convince[/i] him to take your kingship into consideration, he spawns in the West and will be visiting Ex Oblivione first before coming here.”[/color] Nasrin finished in her even tone as she gazed upon Gabriel observing his reactions.

[color=mediumvioletred] “I would expect the Sixth to arrive in no more than two weeks time, his loyalty cannot be won by simply [i]existing[/i], you will have to offer something of interest for him to stay around. Though an [i]omnipotent[/i] being as yourself must already have some remnants of a plan brewing, and will not require anymore of my [i]menial[/i] influence in the matter.”[/color] 

Nasrin’s tone turned devilishly sarcastic, the [s]eagerness[/s] willingness she had to return here, [s]return to Gabe[/s], had turned sour by the state of the affairs and [s] his iciness towards her[/s]. In the past she had shared enough information about the workings of the Nine Circles and how each ruler interacted and behaved with another and within their realm. Though she had not gone into specifics about each of the rulers or about any of the domains, hers included, she did cover the common abilities each ruler had and vaguely the relationships between the nine of them. “Luckily”, Abbadon was a “friend” to Nasrin, and it took just a sprinkle of her “charm” and her expertise to draw him to Aeternum.

[color=mediumvioletred] “Before I forget, Azrael and his scouts will be awaiting with their report on the camp across the ocean, in the counsel room before dinner. Now, if there’s nothing else you require of me, allow me to take my leave.”[/color]