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Within the great fortress of Antarmur'ss, the upper levels of the keep were restricted from the commoners. Only those who had gained favor were allowed above the second level. Alutar's room, being that he was the most recent child and currently one of the favored in Antar's eyes, was located up on the higher levels. When Ling would exit Alutar's bedroom, he would find himself within a slim hall of smooth black stone. Unlike the lower levels, no extra effort had been made to make the hallways large enough for multiple pockettu to walk. There were no stones of glowing moss lining the walls for the benefit of those who needed their eyes to see by. The hall was pure blackness. Slender columns lined the hallway every few feet. And arched narrow doors tall enough for Antar to enter with ease were sunk within the walls.

For the majority of the doors, they were closed securely and even locked. Yet there was one door open along the long hallway. Within Antarmur'ss stood. The room itself was shaped like a bubble, only with a smooth and flattened floor. There were twisting representations of shadows etched into the surface of the walls, then lined with silver so they glinted even in the darkness. In the center of the windowless room was a large table. Upon it was a shadow created representation of Antar's entire domain. The miniature representation of the forest, city, and mines were present. Along with his garden and the great rift. There was even a liquid moving section that served as his as of yet unrevealed underground Sea.

Darkness Pockettu gently floated around Antar as he moved slowly around the great map. From time to time one would hold it's shadow gem out towards his ear, and he tilted his head to hear the faint whispering of his servant on the other side. Antarmur'ss reached out and gently plucked a small wisp of darkness from around him, and he gently shaped the figure into a tiny darkbeast. Casually he held it over the map, and he peered down into the forest. Tiny pockettu seemed to be walking through the forest, and he lightly dropped the tiny darkbeast he had created behind them. he waited a moment for the figures to move with a startled manner, then they began to run. Antarmu'ss watched as they ran, and he shifted some of the shadows across their path, so that they missed a turn off and ran in the direction he wanted. it only took him a few moments of shifting the shadows, until the pair stumbled upon a third pockettu shadow crouched at the foot of one of the tall stone spires of the forest. Antarmur'ss then reached out and plucked the darkbeast he had released from the forest, and moved it to another place where there were no others around. he then backtracked and removed the barriers he had placed for the sake of herding the two shadows.

Antarmur'ss attention was so focused upon his work, that he did not take note of Ling's shocked presence. The Darkness god stepped around the large shadow map so he stood before the city. he peered down into it and tilted his head as though hearing something he alone could from the city. With a small tap of his silver tipped finger, he caused a single building to swell in size. The rest of the map vanished as he opened the house the way one might open a doll house. Within more pockettu shadows flitted around, but one had his attention. The shadow was kneeling before a tiny alter and held it's hands out before it. Antarmur'ss tilted his head as a Darkness held it's stone to his ear, and after a brief moment he reached out to lightly tap the praying pockettu on the back. He then closed the building and with a small gesture the building shrank back down into the small miniature city again. Antarmur'ss reached his hand over towards the mines, then paused as a Darkness turned to stare at Ling's presence.

Antar lifted his head towards Ling and he moved his hand to brush some hair from his face. "Ah. So there you are. I see you were quite comfortable in my sons room." He stated.

As Ling would bow his head, Antarmur'ss turned his attention back to his map. He watched the map for a moment. "This is my home Ling. If I had not wanted you here I would have removed you when I found you in my son's room." He stated softly. His tail swayed behind him slowly. "You protected my son when he was in danger. He is one of my favorites at the moment, as such I believe you have redeemed yourself enough to be permitted to return to me Ling. besides..." Antarmur'ss turned his head slightly so he could peer over his shoulder at Ling as he half smiled. "I have missed you."

After tossing Ling the small remark about missing him, Antarmur'ss turned his attention back to his task. He moved a few more things about the map before he heard the small voice of Ling speak. Antar chose not to respond right away as one of the Darkness pockettu held their stone out to him again. He listened to the stone for a moment, then waved the Darkness away from him. He kept his eyes upon his map as he slowly moved his hand through the map streets. "Alutar is imprudent. He has more mettle then he does wit at his age. It is my hope that he will be a asset to my line when he matures some." Antarmur'ss withdrew his hand from the map and turned to peer at Ling. "Out of those who failed me. You have been the only one to truly repent. You do love me, and this makes me happy. You have protected my son, and because of your loyalty I would reward you Ling. Name me anything you wish, and I will bestow it upon you if it is within my power."

While he was certain a degree of humility was feigned in most of his servants, Antarmur'ss had no trouble believing that Ling's was entirely truthful. Antarmur'ss stepped away from his map so he could approach ling. With his head bowed down, Antarmur'ss shifted his tail around so the furred end arched up to try and brush it against the bottom of Ling's chin. "Then of service you shall be. I am closing off the Umbra Roads to the surface. However it is my intention to create small shrines near the surface that would act as guardians to the few Umbra Roads that will remain. I shall appoint you the Under Priest of the shrine, to ensure no Cursed wander down to my domain, and to ensure that any who seek to follow my path will be set to the right road."

As Ling would drop himself to his knee, Antar turned his attention to the darkness around him. He reached out, and his hand vanished. He reached through the darkness itself, and when he pulled his hand back, he held within it a dark purple crystal. he turned it over in his hands for a moment, then offered it to Ling with the expectation of the devoted one to know he was holding something out to him. "Take this stone, and travel along one of the Umbra roads. When it begins to sing, you will know you have reached the place in which I wish you to travel to. Set the gem upon the ground there, and pray to me." He softly instructed Ling. "Before you leave, you may gather what you need from the temple for your travels. Take with you all that you believe you will need to set up my shrine."

After leaving the presence of Darkness he made his way slowly though the temple, holding the cool, dark stone like the precious gem that it was. He did not know what if anything he might need, so he took nothing. Ling was resourceful and would obtain anything needed, when he discovered it to be necessary. The darkness of the halls was pleasant and soothing. Though he had not been given directions on how to get out of the temple, he seemed to just know where he was going now. His pace was hampered by his still fresh injuries, but such wounds of flesh would not keep him from taking the journey to the place his wondrous god wished him to be.
Exiting the temple of Darkness, Ling began his journey down the roads of Umbra. The stone seemed to guide him as he walked purposefully down the dark road. After so long apart from Darkness he felt alive just by being in the domain of what he loved most. And even better he had been given a task and a role to aide the only one Ling would ever open his dark loving heart to. His clawed hand held the stone to the ashen skin of his chest, the energy it had seemed to lessen the jarring pains he got though his injured frame as he strode through the blackness. His antenna waved slowly and each step was sure and determined.
He did not know how long he traveled but he slowed his pace as the precious stone began to release a sweet melodic sound. Ling 'looked' down at the stone he had been given for a moment then wasted no more time. Lowering his bandaged body to the cold stone ground he gently set the dark purple, singing stone before him. Bringing his clawed hand and his bandaged one together he lowered his head and began to pray softly. Words of praise, gratitude, and of the great mercy of Darkness. Each word sincere, even if a bit odd.