Aftermath

Chapter 2: But Would You Go?

In the Nether, time doesn't pass - the perfect place for Ingressus to await his time to return, but he has someone to keep him company and he wasn't willing to take any chances. Not now. But just because he is the Deathsinger, doesn't mean he doesn't still have soft spot for the people he cares about...

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During the time of the Great War, Ingressus had frequent meetings with King Chronos of the Nether to help solidify their alliance. As part of that agreement, Chronos imparted to the Deathsinger an extension of the Nether region – a small cubby out of sight and out of reach of anyone. They spent idle hours during the war securing the area so that, as part of Ingressus' contingency plans, he had somewhere to hole up should the need ever arise.

And it did.

His corner of the Nether wasn't vast in space, nor was it extravagant in its features, and the wall had been hollowed out enough for an Ardoni to live comfortably for as long as they needed – or, at least, as comfortable as one could get, hidden in the back of the Nether. After the death of King Chronos echoed in news to him, Ingressus knew, then, that his area of the Nether needed to be as safe as possible without the Nether King to guard him while he waited.

The bridge between the portal and the cave extended across the fiery pits of lava below and was stable for only a short time – no-one could walk across too many times before the ground would give way, opening them to a long way down into a seething death. It was a risk the Deathsinger thought necessary to ensure his security while his plans fell into place around him. Time doesn't pass by while in the Nether. Meanwhile in the Overworld, life continued as normal and Ingressus was counting on his clan to pick up the pieces for his return. He wouldn't know how long he would be waiting in the depths of lava for the time to come and so his patience was the only quality he needed – and he had it.

What he hadn't anticipated during all of this was bringing a second into his space.

Ingressus pushed Achillean across the bridge as he dawdled on entering the Nether, stunned and looking around him at the sight of such unfamiliar territory. Achillean had never been in the Nether before, and walking immediately into such a small, well dug-out area was not what he was expecting. But Ingressus was already on edge and, even though he had all the time in the world, he did not want to wait around for a naïve Nestoris to find his feet in a new realm. He could do that later. As they reached the entrance to the opening of the small cave, Ingressus pushed Achillean into the wall just outside, but his force had no malice. He didn't push him with any purpose – just to remind him who was in charge. He eyed him carefully, insinuating that he should sit down and stay quiet.

Achillean returned his gaze, unafraid, yet responded by slowly lowering himself onto the ground, bringing his knees up to his chest and watching Ingressus closely as he went about his business.

He still clutched at the Tidesinger's staff, tighter than he'd realised, as he entered his cave and removed his weapons from his back to lean them against the cave walls, a small clatter of the blades resonating off the netherrack as they rested. As he went deeper into the cave, Achillean could hear nothing but the sounds of lava pooling in the pits below and spilling out of the sides and the ceiling, the steam rising lightly and swaying alone with no wind to partner with. The brightness of the Nether was something to behold and it challenged the vibrancy of Achillean's Nestoris colours, making them appear dampened and dull – just how he felt.

He leant his head back against the wall and heard the faint noise of Ingressus rummaging through what was his chest of supplies at the back of his makeshift cave and he sighed in exasperation. He looked to the portal that they had just walked through and wondered if it was worth the risk of running back through it before it closed for good and tilting the Deathsinger further now that he knew of his plans.