Amelie

At the lowest floor of the darkest dungeon exists a plane separate from the realm of men where a sole monster resides.

A woman, a Spellcaster, having braved every floor that the chasm had to offer, enters through a Pathway Mirror -- a mirror traversed using the magic language of the chasm. Entering into this creature's domain. She is the first to cast her light in this plane in centuries.

"Are you the one I seek? Epimetheus, the Dem'i?" asked the Spellcaster.

Visions of horror begin to flood her mind -- of her death, of things worse than death, of dark and twisted fantasies.

She turns to her lantern, which she carries in hand, and speaks three words.

These words summon three corresponding symbols to her side, which turn the lantern's light into an ethereal blue. The lantern wards off her visions.

"If you try to scare me, know I'm not easily deterred. I've entered your realm of shadows to learn."

She wants to study a lost language, that she knows Epimetheus can teach.

This intrigues him.

"I don't get many visitors," spoke a chilling voice.

The voice of Epimetheus echoes through the dark chambers of the realm of darkness.

The woman looks for the source of the voice.

"How did you get in here?" asked Epimetheus from the shadows.

(She is a practicer of the language and knows enough to translate and access portals.)

The woman continues to delve deeper into the realm with her lantern in hand.

"Have you come to kill me?"

"No."

She replies immediately.

The giant enters her sight. He's an astonishing sight; gruesome, enormous and pale. An eldritch horror, sitting hunched over uncomfortably, wearing nothing but filthy rags.

"Are you not scared of me?"

"Well, no. I've come to learn from you," said the Spellcaster.

"You've come to learn from me?" he asked.

"Yes, I want to understand the language to further my arts and well, you would be the perfect tutor, would you not? *laughs* It's your language. You must speak it fluently."

Epimetheus spoke a few words. Words of the lost language that she traveled an unfathomable number of dungeon floors to study. She imprinted it to memory. The pale giant transformed himself using these words -- into something her human eyes could comprehend. Epimetheus had taken a human-like form. A clean-shaven man with long unruly black hair. A handsome interpretation of a male human.

"You're peculiar," said Epimetheus in human form.

"Will you teach me? Or have I traveled for nothing?"

Epimetheus was silent. The Spellcaster looked impatient.

"My name is Evelyn Vail. The human settlers of the chasm call me by the name Pandora -- Mender of the Broken," said the Spellcaster.

"Ah, yes. I've seen you through the eyes of my demons -- before they have them torn out by settlers. You've been saving those wretched souls from anguish. What do they trade you for your service? Do they teach you how to ward off demons with salt? How to craft from bone and tooth? Only primitive beasts dwell in this abyss."

"And primitive they are. Yet, they still deserve some form of kindness or mercy."

"Do you treat flies with kindness, Pandora? Do you allow them to live even when you know they will touch, and eat and breed in your food? Humanity is no more than edible flies."

"If not kindness, then mercy," said Pandora.

"In what form?"

"A single day of rest. Allow them a day of peace away from the hungering jaws of your hordes."

"If I give them a days rest, they will use it for breeding."

"It takes us, humans, much longer to produce kin, than that of a demon.

*laughs* A day of peace with the settlers would be a grand way to celebrate the day you've decided to take on a human disciple," said Pandora.

"You are brave, Pandora. You've entered my domain and have since only made requests and demands of mercy. I watched as you entered and followed your steps so closely as if to swat you with my raised hand upon entry -- but you did not smell of fear, nor look of it."

Pandora unstrapped a book from her satchel and flipped through the pages. Finding the correct page, she shoved it to Epimetheus.

"If you will not teach me then help me understand this phrase before I leave."

Pandora pointed to the untranslated phrase, a few scribbled shapes, symbols of runes. Epimetheus examined the book without touching it -- he allowed the book to hover.

"Are these your writings? They're rather good, if not entirely wrong," said Epimetheus.

"They are wrong because no one's shown me."

Epimetheus continued to flip through the book.

Pandora paced back and forth, convinced she had traveled for nothing.

"I've learned that much alone through studying. I've healed and unlocked pathway mirrors on my own. With proper lessons, I could create things that do exist no longer."

"You plan to create with my knowledge?" asked Epimetheus.

"At first. I want to invent in the ways that were lost."

"In this prison, my powers are restrained, but they may not be for you, Pandora."

"Then I'll teach you, Pandora. If it ceases your mouth from attempting to bargain peace days for the ape-men of my chasm," said Epimetheus.

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The Spellcaster learned from Epimetheus and over time Epimetheus learned from her.

She spent days in his realm. Days then turned to weeks and then months.

The Spellcaster helped mend Epimetheus' blackened heart. His loathing of humankind had puttered off into a firm dislike - - a vast improvement to what it once was.

She walked through the many floors of the black chasm freely now, returning to the realms of men to resupply, and later journeying back.

Veilborn demons feared her for a very different reason now. Before they feared her arcane spells and binding hexes, now they feared her as his influencer. They dared not to rip the flesh of the wife of Epimetheus for fear of a fate worse than death.

Two daughters were born from the union between the Spellcaster Pandora, a human, and Epimetheus, the Imprisoned Dem'i Ruler. Pyrrha of the Vail, a Half-Dem'i daughter of fire, and Metameleia of the Vail, a human daughter of light.

Pandora learned creation through Epimetheus. At first, they simply corrected her scribbled notes, but soon she could alter his abyss in ways she deemed fit. What was supposed to be shadowy prison for Epimetheus soon became a second world - - a world of darkness became one of light and fire.

But her traveling to and from the black chasm did not go unnoticed.

Pandora knelt beside her youngest daughter with an empty box made of cedar wood and bark string.

To amuse her daughter Maya, she would show her the empty box, close the lid and open it again to reveal a present.

"How do you do that?" asked her daughter Maya.

The daughter giggled.

"Nothing is always as it seems, look again," said Pandora.

Maya moved the cedar lid open. A cluster of multi-coloured sparks erupted like scattering fireflies.

Pandora reached inside the box and pulled out a small blue orb.

"The gift of hope," laughed Pandora.

"Really, mom. What is it actually?"

"Crystallized mana, my sweet. A new source of energy that we shall gift to the many worlds. A way for us to celebrate your birthday."

"What does it do?" asked the girl.

"Anything. A renewable source of matter, something edible for the hungry, something that comes with the rain and can be found in the ash of a smoldering fire. This is the first of its kind, and of course, it's yours, dear daughter."

"Now hide it in your pocket. We don't want your sister to see," instructed the mother.

They both laughed.

"But, she was given a world of her own," said Maya.

"But, your gift is far better, my sweet. This gift will be part of all existing worlds. Your present will be used in all things. It will feed the starving trees, and the rabbits and even the sickly trolls you dislike."

A small army of Mageborn entered through the pathway mirror to the Prison of Epimetheus. Pandora had become so complacent in her efforts to hide a realm no one sought that she hadn't erased the symbols that locked the mirror. Perhaps they had spies following her for some time, who watched her unlock the door numerous times.

"So the rumours are true. Evelyn Vail has been having relations with demons, breeding half-blood offspring with the very things that decimate our civilizations. I believe we call this heresy, in our laws," said a hooded man in regal vestments, surrounded by armed men.

Pandora was not far from the pathway mirror. She played and fed her youngest daughter Metameleia as they entered in behind her.

The men in deep hoods and armour drew their swords and held out their hands - - creating shards of blue light in their palms. They began to sprinkle grounded salt around them as they stepped forward.

"I'm no demon. Salt will have no effect on me," said Pandora.

"But, it might on that demon daughter of yours. We will take every precaution necessary," said the hooded man.

"Today is a day of peace in honour of the day of my daughter Maya. Please leave at once."

"We've only come for you, Evelyn Vail, the fine sister of my brother's wife- - and now an apparent practicer of forbidden arts and breeder of demons. Do you not remember me?" asked the man.

"Leave, I said."

"It's a shame such a beautiful woman prefers the company of monsters to men. You know, I always did fancy you when we were in our youth. To think you'd become this."

"Arrest Miss Evelyn Vail before she alters the world further," commanded the man.

"My name is Pandora. Evelyn Vail is no more."

"The name you choose to go by doesn't matter to us. You've forgotten yourself. This plane of existence truly corrupts the mind. How many months have you spent down in these dungeons, away from time?"

"You know nothing of what will come if you harm me in any sense of the word. I am the Mender of Worlds - - demonkin have not harmed man in human centuries, not in any of the realities we inhabit. To enter this realm is to break a lifetime of peace between these races," said Pandora.

"These demonspawn you breed are not bound by rules, they will become immortal, and their kin will be a plague upon humanity for eternity. We cannot allow them to reach the surface and bring forth their corruption. You are a criminal - - a defiler of our laws. You will be tried. Arrest her now."

"Tried for creating peace? You fool. We have no such laws in this realm," said Pandora.

"Tried for a few things. Tried for the death of Sophitia Vail, your sister, whom you slew for her Summoner's Seal."

"Her mind was left scattered and broken. She pled for a second life, I only gave it to her.

There was no malice in my sister's passing."

Pandora covered up her left hand, hiding the seal from the Lord Mage's sight.

"Tried for the use of Creation Magic -- a banned art for good reason, and tried for the birth of that disgusting half-breed child. We'll have to eliminate it before it grows beyond capabilities."

She turned to her three-year-old daughter.

"Close your eyes, sweetie. Do not fret," said Pandora to her daughter.

"Once you've been brought to the surface, you will be banished to the Black Tower at the heart of Sansora. You'll undergo treatment by the Order of Red, and eventually release -- with your abilities as a Spellcaster being revoked of course," said the man.

Pandora spoke a verse in the lost language. She surrounded herself in a hellish blue flame.

"Your deaths could have been avoided," said Pandora as she stood against the small army.

She shaped the world around her, crashing the caverns in on the mages, and sending as many to the depths as she could -- to an eternal, endless fall.

The soldier mages dispersed and charged her from other angles.

"Lord! She's a world-editor!" shouted the soldiers.

"I know, you fool. It's why we're here," said the man.

"My mana is limitless within this plane. My power -- relentless. I will not be subdued by the likes of you, Caius," said Pandora.

"Ah, so you do remember me."

The hooded man, now revealed as Lord Caius Crane, spat on the floor.

"Your trial has now changed. You've chosen death. Fair enough.

Kill the demon already," said Caius.

Pandora assaulted the soldier mages with mind-scattering fears and infernal spells. With each passing moment, several men fell to the floor as their eyes bled profusely.

"You paint me as a demon. You want to see the extent of my darkness, then let me show you," said Pandora.

Appearing beside them in a cloud of darkness, she tore out their hearts and ripped through their flesh with extended fangs.

The Mageborn soldiers tried to barrage her with arcane spells, but nothing could match her speed. Surrounding themselves, they forged a large spellbinding circle - - a nullifier of magic arts.

Pandora touched the vicinity of the circle with her long nails, which left a numbing sting and a searing burn.

"Is this the demon you wanted? I can act as one if you so like, or we can return to a civilized agreement. Leave now with what you have or lose everything," said Pandora.

The mages formed a circle around her, pressing her to the floor with their nullifying magic.

Pandora's powers began to subside.

"Get your father -- with haste, my daughter!"

Pandora commanded her young daughter to run.

The toddler began to cry as she watched her mother scream in a tangled mess of vines of magelight.

"Kill the demon child," commanded Caius.

"At once, Lord Crane!" said the soldier mages.

The daughter ran, while the soldier mages gave chase.

The Lord's brother Lucien Crane followed, rushing after them.

Pandora watched as a small girl only slightly taller than her own daughter and a towering swordsman in black approached her from the pathway mirror. She tried to pull from the spells latched around her.

Pandora's eyes widened.

"You… are a Summoner…" said Pandora.

"It's only fitting that we allow my daughter Cortia to kill you, seeing as you bare the mark of a Summoner with that seal imprinted on your hand. Summoners have to fight Summoners, after all."

"But, I don't have a summon -- they can't be summoned in this plane."

"Then it's a shame you will die with no one to defend you," said Caius.

The black swordsman threw her to the floor by her robe, ripping it from her body -- and tossing it from out of reach.

Pandora laid in the circle naked, her hands raised - - pleading for a fair fight.

"Allow me to beckon forth a summon, so we may settle this. It is Summoner's code. We can return to the surface for a fair fight," said Pandora, pleading.

"There is no such law here, Evelyn."

Epimetheus entered in human form.

Engaged by the sight, he returned to true form - - the pale giant.

"My wife!" shouted Epimetheus.

His shout shook the chasm, echoing through the chambers of every dungeon floor.

"What a grotesque sight... This is what true demons look like, my soldiers. Cast barrier magic," said Caius.

The soldier mages turned their attention to Epimetheus and began to lock him in place with barrier magic. Swords of illuminating light pierced down on his flesh, pinning him in place.

The black swordsman pulled Evelyn by the legs, thrusting her against the grey stone floor. He bashed her as he did it. She covered her face. She tried to block his advances.

Epimetheus was forced to watch, bound by the circles of nullifying magic and light swords.

"You wretched creatures! You do not know pain, nor suffering! You will, your children will!

My wife! My beautiful wife. What have you done!" said Epimetheus.

Evelyn looked up as if to know the pain was over.

The black swordsman swung down with his large greatsword, a blunt sword of pure iron, more similar to a club. He continued to bash down on her as Epimetheus shrieked in pain behind him.

Pandora was no more.

A bloody pulp of flesh and bone remained, disfigured and demolished.

"What have you done… What have you done….."

Epimetheus mourned and breathed in Pandora's last breath.

Her mana -- like floating blue embers -- formed a tether reaching to him.

It allowed him to assume control of her limitless mana.

His shackles now free, he erupted in a hellish flame.

"My shackles are lifted. My powers restored.

Our day of peace will now be a day of mourning and human suffering. Her gift to humanity has been revoked. You shall all suffer like I have... like she has," said Epimetheus.

The Crane family turned and exited through the pathway mirror. The soldier mages attempted to flee but perished to the ever reaching tendrils of the Dem'i Epimetheus at his new level of power.

"Where is my daughter Metameleia?

No… No. Metameleia. They've taken my sweet daughter Metameleia.

Where is Pyrrha? Pyrrha!"

"Over here, father! Beside mother!" said Pyrrha.

The young daughter wiped the tears running down her cheek.

"My dear, come here," said Epimetheus, cradling her.

Epimetheus turned to his wife's remains, which were now searing with infernal fire.

Pyrrha cried beside her fallen mother.

"What have they done?! Poor, sweet Pandora. You've never harmed anyone."

Epimetheus wept.

"They've killed my wife. They've taken my daughter."

"Pathetic creatures!"

His screams are heard throughout the entirety of his realm. Every floor felt her rage. The Cranes quickly exited with haste through the dark catacombs, with beasts of the night closing in on them.

"You will stay with me, young mages. And suffer.

There will be no death for you," said Epimetheus.

Caius appeared on the other side of the pathway mirror outside of the Prison of Epimetheus. Alongside him were his brother Lucien, his daughter Cortia and the black swordsman summon. Waiting for their arrival were the Royal Guards of House Crane.

"Destroy that mirror and have its shards scattered. Kill any man who exits," instructed Caius.

The Royal Guards dispatched the soldier mages upon their exit of the pathway mirror and shattered the mirror, denying an exit for all who remained inside.

"And the daughter? You killed her, yes?" asked Caius.

His brother Lord Lucien Crane nodded.

"Of course, my dear brother. With a dagger through the little demon's heart," said Lucien.

Behind his cloak, nestled in his large satchel was the small Maya, a captive of Lucien Crane. Her mouth and eyes bound by a black cloth.

"I'm shocked it could die. I actually believed these monsters to be immortals."

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The pale giant spoke to his new apprentices.

"None of you know suffering. Not yet," assured Epimetheus.

The Dem'i spoke to his new slaves. Men and women, once soldier mages, now fodder for a beast.

"They've left you for rot and sealed the doors."

The soldier mages begged as the tendrils of the eldritch horror entered their heads and bodies from all sides. He examined their thoughts and souls for his answers.

"You are part of humanity no longer. You will be my creation, something new, once you've been corrupted with fear -- you will be my Fallen, Generals of Demons -- the Black Crowns."

Epimetheus turned his attention to the now ashes of Pandora. Inside her, a small gelatinous golden egg of light similar in appearance to fish roe. Inside the membrane of the gel was a small embryo -- a human.

"My wife's final gift. She creates even in death. I can create as well, dear Pandora. Living flesh armour and weapons from these coward mages. Swords and shields from their bones. We will wear their guts as armour, my sweet Pyrrha. We shall shape man for what they really are."

Epimetheus began to forge armour from the flesh, guts and bones of the living men and women trapped within his prison, leaving only five mind-shattered souls remaining intact to wield his new demon-forged creations.

"You five shall serve to release my brother Menoetius from his prison."

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Epimetheus seeks to restore his brother Menoetius, who has been separated into five souls and banished into separate realms populated by Man to be guarded. Menoetius, also known as the Devourer. The Right Arm of the Devourer resides on Earth.