A hilltop in Kansas

A rift opened in front of the Corroder of Minds and his Apprentice, and a blurry image faced them, shimmering into sight with all the clarity of a mirror reflecting one's own image.

Instead, however, the rift revealed a figure, busying himself with another man, apparently the two of them working togetehr to save a friend. Non Compos Mentis eyed Praetorious from his 'crystal ball' of sorts, with disgust.

Behold. The Left Hand of Essum. My student, you must know of his history. You must kno-

A wrathful shriek pierced teh air as the Madness had a startling revelation, picking through his pupil's mind.

"you have a sample of the left hand!"

Now enraged that he had not discovered this sooner, he ordered his student to retrieve the vial of Praetorious' 'blood.'

Abyssi Marnin, as punishment for holding his tongue on this, felt every bit of rage which Non Compos Mentis felt toward him. He knw every bit of displeasure and anger which the Destroyer of Reason held for him.

It was much more so than one would have imagined.

We will require it, now, for his capture. Praetorious betrayed your Father, Edo Edi Essum, and this is unacceptable. So, we will teach him how to behave and bow before the Devourer once again.

Non Compos Mentis, the End of All Intellect, waved his hand with a Mad cackle. He was filled with glee, and by extension, so was his Apprentice. EMotions were shared now, despite th esperate consciousness. In the direction the Corroder of Minds waved, a figure of dust began to form.

First it's head appeared, and then slowly, a slender female body regurgitated itself from the Earth, having been dead for eons past.

Madness is a part of humanity. To be human is to be mad. Tell me, Abyssi Marnin. How do you drive mad he who has forsaken his humanity? His madness?

Non Compos Mentis gave a child-like giggle, and peered again tat the image of Praetorious. Then he glanced at the female before him, and gave ita name.

You are A. Do not reveal your true name, for that will end all of our plans post haste. You, A, will drive our Left Hand friend mad. For only you can...

Non Compos mentis had a taste for the theatrical, and threw back his head and laughed, something which Abyssi Marnin probably found tacky, though the Corroder of Minds could care less.

He looked upon his creation, and bid it farewell, as th ebeing now known as 'A' strode off into the distance.

"hmmm" said the cloaked man. He was very far away, but he could hear every word; Every torture, horrible, hatefilled word. whatever these beings were, they may potentially offset the foundation of his purpose. However, from here, he could do nothing but observe. He was good at that, Observing. It was how he did waht he did. It was how he fufilled his duty.

Whoever they were, they hadn't done anything to upset him, yet. As far as he knew at least, and for the moment, whoever - or what ever - these beings were... they were not as important as her.
Wherever she was.

Regardless, the hooded man smiled under the shadow of his white flowing cloak. The jacket he wore over top of it made him appear more mortal and human than he actually was; as if he was an average run-of-the-mill teenager.

The hooded man inconspicuasly closed the windowlike view portal in front of him and folded his arms as he sat back in the most secluded seat of the bus. He watched out the window as the greyhound bus whizzed through the Canadian night. He breathed out, almost unwilling to accept what he thought he had just witnessed.

Right before he closed the silver portal, and ceased his espionage on the two beings. He swore he saw one look up, directly at him.
And smile.

"you have a sample of the left hand!"

Marnin cringed as the emotions of Non Compos Mentis' rage flooded through him. He was caught off guard at the strength of the emotions, but was distracted by his own guilt at the same time. The syringe with Praetorius' blood! He felt ashamed that he had forgot something so important. Even seeing his master's shade appear shouldn't have made him lose his memory of it so easily. He frowned slightly in shame, but quickly dismissed the emotion when his new master ordered him to retrieve it.

I am sorry. I will retrieve it.

He bowed deeply and reached for the black rods in his pants, but he paused. He realized he didn't need them anymore.

"We will require it, now, for his capture. Praetorious betrayed your Father, Edo Edi Essum, and this is unacceptable. So, we will teach him how to behave and bow before the Devourer once again. Madness is a part of humanity. To be human is to be mad. Tell me, Abyssi Marnin. How do you drive mad he who has forsaken his humanity? His madness?"

When Non Compos Mentis cackled, he felt filled with glee too. This emotional link was completely new to him, alien. Yet, he wasn't displeased. It was simply to help revive Edo Edi Essum. He thought of the answer to the question, and his new master instantly knew his thoughts.

You make him re-experience his humanity.

He raised his head, prepared to travel back to Sacramento, when he thought he caught sight of something. Eyes were on them, and he snapped his head up, seeing the fading image of a face at a great distance. Any other mortal might have passed it off as a trick of the eye, but Marnin new better. What's more, he recognized the face. The face of their enemy.

He let a smile crack, only slightly.

The most dangerous enemy to Edo Edi Essum's existance.

He had encountered beings such as the Balance before. But none enraged him as such as ths 'Dallas' being did. For it was he who had impisoned the Destroyer of Reason's brother in ancient times.

A growl which would have shook the core of any nervous system erupted as, through his Apprentice's eyes, Non Compos Mentis viewed the Balance observing them.

For now, it would have to wait, however. There was work to be done. Mad work. The Corroder pleasantly walked about on black leather boots, picturing he and his brothers' conquest. How glorious the da ywould be. How absolutely overpowering their combined might would be to any enemy who dared stand in their way!

His bravado began to crescendo, bringing with it a hail of mad images and disturbing thoughts. Had there been anyone in the field that day, their minds would have been torn asunder and reconstructed into prolific, horrific monstrosities the likes of which humanity dared not dream about.

Nay, the Heavens themselves will next be ours! Edo Edi Essum, Non Compos Mentis, Abyssi Marnin, the Children of Us, We shall conquer! The world shall ripple and bend before us, and Gods will kneel on bended knee, so that we may destroy and assimilate them without ail!

Now the Madness was nearly screaming hysterical, dashing about the field, leaving trails of black fire and smoke and demonic auras in his wake. Where he would stand one moment was a mystery, but the next he would be another place, and another, and another. This continued as his raving, disturbia inspired dance went on.

Our names will be screamed in pleasure and pain at once!! As our dreams and thoughts themselves impose will and domination over all life, He will look upon us and tremble! Him!! Our very Father!!! All manner of life will look up and shout the names 'Edo Edi Essum!' 'Non Compos Mentis!'

And we shall rip from them their very flesh, their very bone, their souls and their minds! Forever more, the Masters of All That Exists!!

"ahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaha!!!"

Stone columns lurched up from the earth, ripping through the soil. They tore hole in the ground and destroyed it all, making it unlivable. Four of them, each in sperate corners of the field, sprang up at the sound of Non Compos Mentis' terrible laugh.

A platform followed, then walls to surround the platform and connect with each pillar of shadow and stone. Evil and hatred, and destruction radiated from inside this building. And within, an army of soldiers, eyeless, and without souls, gaping mouthed, went about their duties to the one true Devourer.

The Corroder looked over and admired his work.

The Temple of Edo Edi Essum, and the sigh of his resurrection, was complete. As Non Compos Mentis' terrible laughed ceased to echo, Abyssi Marnin uttered the words "Take me back."

Instantly, he was with his Master. Non Compos Mentis grinned, or would have could he have, and turned to face the younger being.

You have returned. This is good. Ah. And you have brought the substance we desire.

Non Compos Mentis extended his hand.

Here. Give it to me. I will use it to forge thefinal piece of your transformation; your Hunting Blade. For yay, it is you who will seek the other son of Edo Edi Essum. You, along with our dear friend A. You will hunt him.

Praetorious.

Abyssi Marnin held out the syringe for his master, who took it readily. He didn't worry about the small amount of blood that he had managed to collect; he knew it was more than enough.

Then, he turned his eyes up to the Temple. It loomed over him like a living shadow of Edo Edi Essum, tall pillars aiming for the heavens and shadows hanging in the corners like hidden beasts. It was a beautiful temple in his eyes.

He could feel Non Compos Mentis' laugh radiating through him before arriving, had felt it as if it had escaped his own mouth. He felt the same happiness, the same thrill at the imminent return of Chaos. Then came his next order, one that pleased him greatly.

You, along with our dear friend A. You will hunt him. Praetorious.

"Yes, I will." He had much to smile about lately.