“They may not physically leave their prison, but that does not mean they cannot affect the outside world. Their power is not as potent, but they are ever-present,” Lis states cryptically.
“So,” Moe starts, “What you’re saying is that Nyk should avoid advancing too much for his Shadow Domain.”
“Yes. Exactly. Luckily for you, your new domain doesnothave a Primordial. But it is apparent that the Shadow Primordial does not like competition.”
“You seem to know a lot about the Primordials,” I note wryly.
“I have lived and seen a lot.”
“Then I have a question,” I say.
She juts her chin forward and tells me to speak.
“Shadow Domain, Abyss Domain. I’ve readsomeabout them, but I’m not too certain about the differences since they both deal with a certain type of darkness.”
“It’s quite simple. You may look at it this way—with the addition of a third, similar one.”
My brows go up. Moe, too, is watching her intently as she continues to snack on the food tray.
“Shadow Domain’s main abilities pertain to imitation. You can steal and use shadows, but not the original source. Abyss Domain is related to energyandspace. In most textbooks, it isoften named as the domain that gives rise to realms. The third one is Skia, the Nether Primordial’s domain, which pertains to darkness within beings. While Abyss can create realms, Skia can create entire species.”
“But the Nether and Light Primordials are gone, no?” Moe asks.
“Their descendants are not. House of Skia, in Aperion, is very much maintaining the legacy, though not even the Skia Supreme can reach a level at which he can create new species. His skills are stuck at matchmaking individuals to ensure their genetics can give rise to desirable abilities,” Lis adds drily.
“You know alotabout this.” I narrow my eyes. Since Tartareia is so closed off, there is very little information about Aperion, even less about there matrimonial habits.
She smiles. “I do.”
Once more, she does not expand on thehow. But since she’s so generous withsomeinformation, I decide to ask more about my new domain.
“You said the Abyss Domain deals with energy. The books we read didn’t mention anything on that.”
“It is very simple. Have you not wondered how you were able to syphon energy from souls even in such a realm as Aimaxion, where there is a dearth of energy?”
“You…know?”
“I do.”
“But—”
“And if I know, others will, as well.”
“Others, who?”
She shrugs.
“No one else is able to do it, if you didn’t already realize. This realm is designed specifically for stagnation, so no one gets stronger, so everyonedies.”
Moe bites her lip, deep in thought. “Does this have something to do with whoever designed Aimaxion?”
Lis nods. “Correct. Only someone with an Abyss Domain could create a realm, just as only someone with this Domain could extract the energy of the souls with such exactitude.” She pauses. “This is why you mustnotreveal you have an Abyss Domain.”
If the Abyss Domain has such control over energy, then I wonder if those fractures I saw in Eragon’s shadows were…energy signatures?
“But why? Surely there would be others with this domain and?—”
“It is averyrare domain. You are, in fact, lucky you did not have it before arriving here otherwise the system would have arranged for your immediate demise.”
