Return of the Demon Sovereign (Book 2) [MxM]

Erebus, Leo, and the captains spent a fortnight in the Udae cavern. Comet and Erebus immersed themselves in studying runes, while the others delved into the history and technology of the Udae.

Leo, particularly intrigued by the Udaen weapons, focused on their renowned spirit weapons, which were said to surpass anything available in the present age. After much exploration, he finally discovered the lost armory.

Before him stretched the armory like a grand cathedral, its vast walls lined with rows upon rows of gleaming weapons crafted from fantastical materials. Blades forged from shimmering mithril stood alongside axes made of enchanted wood, pulsating with otherworldly energy. Shields adorned with intricate runes glimmered with protective magic, while bows strung with ethereal strands hummed with latent power.

Nearby, a collection of staffs carved from ancient oak brimmed with elemental energy, crackling with sparks of lightning and flames.

The air was thick with the scent of polished metal and the faint whisper of enchantments as if the very walls of the armory hummed with the secrets of ancient craftsmanship. Each weapon seemed to tell its own story, honoring its creators' boundless imagination and skill.

Grinning with excitement, Leo navigated the labyrinthine corridors back to the others. Erebus and Comet were engrossed in drawing a complex rune while the rest were sparring.

"I found it!" Leo called out happily. "I found the armory!"

Ayla chuckled from the crystal, her gaze drifting away from Comet and Erebus. "You're free to take whatever calls to you."

"Are you sure?" Leo asked with a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"It's not like I can use any of it," Ayla replied with a shrug. "Besides, we made those weapons for Shadowbane years ago."

Like excited children, the captains grinned widely and rushed off toward the armory, only to halt and realize they needed Leo to lead the way.

Erebus stayed behind, listening to the echoes of their laughter. With the war looming, he wanted to savor these fleeting moments of peace.

"Are you not joining them?" Ayla asked.

Erebus pulled out his Requies blades. "I was blessed to hold these blades... though I still long to find Gramr."

Ayla raised an eyebrow. "You think Gramr survived?"

Erebus nodded. "I can still feel their call."

He began drawing the runes he learned with Ayla, preparing to scry for a location. "Now I know how to begin searching for them."

Closing his eyes, he focused on the power flowing toward him, setting his intention on his old blades. Though he saw nothing, he felt a pull coming from the south. He followed it cautiously, uncertain of what he might find.

To his surprise, the darkness shrouding his vision lifted, and he found himself once again in New Azor. He stood still as the city and its streets shifted around him.

The buildings rushed past Erebus, and he soon stopped in front of the elite neighborhood. The city shifted again, and he found himself standing before the Themis manor.

Erebus trembled. Could Gramr truly be with the Themises? He pushed through the gates, allowing his instincts to guide him along the long path that veered off toward the crypts.

He gazed at the white building he had visited not long ago, feeling an inexplicable pull. Everything seemed to indicate that his blades were within those walls. Perhaps Zeno would know their fate.

A thrill of excitement coursed through him. He cherished Requies, but Gramr had been his steadfast partner for many years.

Suddenly, a presence made itself known. Erebus instinctively cloaked himself in the shadows of the vision, his senses heightened.