Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"This is disgusting," Lilith grunted, peering up in my direction with blame, "Why did you not cook?"

"Well? Forgive me for not making it to the exact recipe," Shouted the Princess holding a bowl of eggs within her hands.

It had been a tradition I made to help train Lilith to cook. Yu Jing, the sullen wench, had looked a little too comfortable, so I had her cook alongside us, in rotation with Lilith and me.

Placing down the bowl I had not even tried, I bitterly smile, "Did she add too much salt again?"

'Hmm," Nodding feebly with teary eyes, Lilith leaped onto me, "Feed me! I want rice balls!"

"Oooh, Arkanos wants them too. Papa cooks the best!" Shouted the little dragon, rushing on top of Lilith that rested on me.

"Screw you all! You to Arkanos, you little traitor! You said you loved my cooking,"

Turning the other way with guilt, I laughed, tossing Lilith and arkanos high into the air, making my escape away from their hands.

Strapping the Spear of Noctem onto my back, I looked up towards the smoke in the distance just outside the Valley of Norma.

After a year of travel, Lilith had said that we were relatively close to a village that held the only path to the Oasis.

Having Yu Jing, who had been tormented every night clean up camp, I held my gaze upon her for a bit. It was never my intention to haunt her. In fact, I have zero control over what happens within her mind. All I know is that it was the Spear of Noctems doing.

The spear was feeding off of her torment, building its power.

Landing back down onto their feet, Lilith smiled with a flustered expression, "I saw the village!" She vibrantly stated, "We are about a few hours away."

"Let's go then!" I uttered, moving ahead while the haggard Yu Jing followed. Personally, I was surprised to see her so sane. During this long year, it had been only Arkanos who had kept her falling into madness, to our surprise.

Leading the way, Lilith pointed towards a dense marsh that blocked our path. "It's through there. Once we arrive at the village of Demara, I hear there will be a guide to welcome us there should we have the necessary coin."

Snorting air from my nose, I covered them in a hurry at the foul decaying scent of death that hung in the air. Watching a few glimpses of corpses of various beasts, elves, Beastkin, and Dragonkins, I frowned at their bodies that seemed to be withering within this marsh.

Morte Worms, powerful parasites, dark in nature, could be seen drilling holes into some of these corpses. At the same time, various maggots large as human babies trailed over the bodies picking flesh away without concern.

"What the hell are those things?" Whispered Lilith, sensing the Dao of Death echoing from their bodies.

Eh? Wait? How did I know? My knowledge should only pertain to devils and demons from the Hells.

"The Morte Worms are known to be powerful parasites capable of destroying entire civilization. By themselves, they are not that powerful standing only at World King; however, where there is one, you are sure to find billions hiding."

Hearing Yu Jing explain what I somehow already knew, I touched the spear resting on my back, humming with my heartbeat. Listening to the screams of music from Sitri and Yeshimail, I pondered over the implications.

"What is going on here? Why does something like this exist here? The Village of Demara is known to be a luxurious resort shared by many within the Swords Coast." uttered my wife with a chilling glint.

Placing her hands just onto her shoulder, I placed my other arm on Arkanos, "Hold onto Yu Jing," I sharply commanded.

Gripping her hand without hesitation, Arkanos silver eyes glistened with wonder as I shadow stepped high into the air. Moving through the air, with the shadows, I peered down at the swamp of death. It was never my intent to go through that hell hole, not when Morte Worms seemed to be littered about.

Landing upon where land was, I dropped everyone off with a dark expression, "Seems this place went downhill, or something happened."

"It must have had to happen a long time ago," Yu Jing asserted, turning to the black swamp bubbling with death, "For something like this to happen, it must have taken years if not cycles."

"SHREEEEEEE!"

Hearing the howls of monsters and beasts, my mind-melded into the darkness, gazing at the various beast, undead serpents that littered this marsh; a dark expression crept onto my lips.

"What happens if this Oasis is corrupted by death?"

"Nothing changes. It just means the baby-making process is going to take longer. The second reason we are here remains." Said Lilith, lifting her head towards the clouds. "We should get going. Mother has me in another training session tonight."

Stepping ahead as our guide, Lilith took careful note to allow us to avoid the various monster that we knew killing would be difficult. However, as we traveled in silence, I had begun to notice a strange phenomenon.

The closer we grew towards the village, the more I had begun to feel the aura of life unfolding. The air itself had also started to clear away. This, however, had only made my expression darker.

Etching closer, till the tree's glowed with wonder and awe, and the grass hummed with warmth, we somehow found ourselves in a world of paradise.

"This is how scary movies happen," I whispered, getting a light knock on my head by Lilith.

"Silly! Those are just movies. It's not real."

"They said the same thing about Truck-kun and magic itself, but here I am in another world. One thing I learned is that if you can dream or imagine it, it is most definitely real."

Pouting in my direction, I suddenly caught sight of Yu Jing, shivering. Noticing her strange behavior, my eyes grew wide at how the bags under her eye began to fade.

"I... I feel better," She coolly uttered, touching her moist cheeks.

What in the world? Does this aura also heal the soul and mind?