Intermission Part 2- Nocturne The Prince of Shadows: Dusk and Dawn

Amidst Lunara's progeny were two demi-gods in particular who would be the catalyst for the war amongst the Shinjin.

Celestia of the dawn light and Nocturne, the prince born with abilities aligning him with the eternal darkness. Both were born of the same celestial bloodline but destined for vastly different fates.

Celestia, the youngest of the Shinjin and by far the most radiant and benevolent, embodied the daylight aspect of Lunara's power. Nocturne, however, harbored the darkness within him, festered by the imperial blood of his warlord father, drawing him to the shadows that lurked at the edges of their divine existence. As Celestia's popularity grew among mortals, Nocturne's heart twisted with envy. But aside from his ambition was a forbidden love that dared not speak its name—the love he harbored for his radiant sister.

The laws etched into time itself forbade such unions. Meanwhile, in the shadows, an alliance born of hate formed. Nocturne found a familiar voice in the midst of his twisting heart, the manipulative and malevolent forces of a weak and defeated outer deity known as the Abyss.

The plot unfolded in the darkened corridors of the divine palace, where whispers of betrayal echoed through halls once bathed in divine light.

Finally, on the fateful night of a celestial eclipse, a cosmic event that occurred once in a millennium, the siblings' forbidden love was exposed by a silent watcher.

On the same night Lunara's eldest son, Aurellion , Nocturne's full brother of blood, was killed.

These events shattered the fragile harmony of the realm, casting a pall of sorrow over the land. Lunara, heartbroken by the treachery of her kin, whilst dealing with the first death of a Demi-God, descended into madness. Nocturne, manipulated and driven by the forces he had unleashed, seized power from the mad Queen Lunara. With the help of the Abyss, overcame her forces and casted her into exile within the desolate expanse of the Veiled Abyss. A realm where fallen Gods are kept.

With his newfound dominion, Nocturne waged war against his palace, and those loyal to the betrayed goddess.

The celestial realms were torn asunder by the conflict, with mortals caught in the crossfire and the Shinjin running amok. With the realm now Godless, each of Lunara's protege would stake their right to rule their mother's fallen empire.

***

The war between the Shinjin raged on for 50 years.

Celestia, fueled by grief and the desire to free her mother from the Veiled Abyss, led a resistance against Nocturne's malevolent reign. As the war raged, sibling turned against sibling, and the once-glorious realm descended into chaos.

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Silvanna , the princess of Starborne, the one regarded as one of the most fearsome among the Shinjin, would cross the 8 rivers once formed as sacred borders between the races, leading a scourge of famous silver-flagged bands across the realms.

As such, she would succeed in severing the heads of the 8 Dukes. Only for her pilgrimage to meet its end at Dawn Hill. Where her two half-brothers would stand in wait for her.

The Princes of Stoneheart. And the divine half-giants Lionrock and Roargo . They say their battle went on for 12 days. Causing earthquakes shifting lands apart and a relenting storm to engulf the surrounding hills. Silvanna severed one of Lionrocks horns, Roargo was almost felled, but was saved by Lionrock at the expense of one of his eyes. Silvanna wasn't left unscathed and was forced beyond her limits. Losing half of her life span in the process.

During the final days of the war. Celestia faced the impossible choice: save her brother or save her mother's realm. But just before the conclusion of the war could take place. Celestia vanished. Alongside her half-brother Gram , the eldest prince of Stoneheart.

Nocturne's demise arrived shortly after. He was forced into submission and sentenced to death by the last mortal devotees of the sealed Queen of Dawn.

Thus bringing a tragic end to their tale...the Shinjin.

***

Suta sat in stunned silence, his heart heavy with the weight of Anak's tale. The story of Celestia and Nocturne, of the celestial war that had torn their realm asunder, was one of love, betrayal, and the devastating consequences of forbidden desire.

"And so, the Shinjin were scattered," Anak continued, with his blood red jewels lodged in their sockets glinting in the firelight. "Their powers sealed away, their divine tomes sealed, and their fates unknown. Some say they were cursed to wander the mortal realms, forever seeking a way to break the chains that bind them. Others say that most of them were killed during that war."

Suta sat there in deep thought, arranging and piecing the pictures together. He suddenly remembered something fleeting. Anak mentioned there were 8 of them, in fact, he was quite sure after hearing the tale that vampire missed one of the shinjin.

"Y-you mentioned only seven...what happened to the eighth Shinjin?" He found confidence in his curious thoughts now, but Suta noticed a slightly tense look vaguely appearing across Anak's mask before he shifted his gaze toward the flames crackling between them.

"Heh...You're more attentive than you look. Yes, there were indeed 8 of them. The prince of golden dawn himself...my...my master...and friend"

Anak's sharp teeth gritted together. Suta couldn't discern what was wrong but he felt dense emotions pouring out from the usually stoic vampire.

'Is he...having a breakdown?' He earnestly asked himself that, but after a while Anak slowly broke out from his inward tussle.

With a cruel smile he affixed his carmine gaze upon Suta and softly spoke.

"The malevolent Prince of Starborne, the gentle hearted one. Lysann."