The Shade Of Shadows

The Shade Of Shadows

Prologue

The trees echoes the sound of despair throughout my village tonight, the air carried the burden of a thousand men and was coloured with the darkness of hope. I would describe every detail of my village but it would be pointless as the village itself is cursed with the pointless reminders of that night. The night that everyone seemed to forgot in the blink of an eye, which is infected with the irony of that statement. The night that innocent blood drowned the screams of victims, The night that certain being changed everything.

A shadow seemed to stalk me tonight, haunting my every move but disappearing with sight. Guilt and agony created the cocktail which was my emotions, and destroyed my care and loving for everyone and everything, I hunted the pavement during my walk home, ignoring the cracks and mounts of every step. I turned the key to my door creating a grinding noise in the process, the metal on metal crunch. The door opened to reveal my last saviour, the solid four walls, protector of all.
Ten Thirty pm medication time, the excuses of doctors of this town deemed me crazy for my cry out, my attempt to reason and the sense of justice, futile, made futile by the two faced demons of this village, the fear injected silence to everyone in this town, everyone apart from me. The outlaw, the rebel, the mentally unstable. I bless the glass with a whirlpool of water, and swallow the suppressant of truth.
I decided to retire the night, seeing no further point in prolonging my time, this was the only thing that scared me, the inability to calmly slumber. The dreams.......nightmares haunt my sleep, preventing my endurance of past events, the shadow, the shadow that haunts and possesses every part of my being, the violent streak of blood and limbs tossed aside as easily as can be. The screams muffled by fear and the panic radiated from the existence of this shadow.....this creature.

Monday morning consisted of empty chores and promise-less aid, I had been stripped of my right to work due to my 'madness' so instead I worked for anyone willing to employ from couriering to sweeping, these little jobs and chores were the only thing refraining my mind from that night. My eyes deceived me yet again, whilst delivering a trinket for a middle aged frog looking woman, the shadow watching, glaring taunting and smirking and the fact it knows its existence is denied, I sense its presence but it stays hidden, undetected........waiting. After the delivery I wondered the village, The blacksmith, the Inn, The carpenter, The Hunting association all attending to their daily routines mocked by the shadow, its grin enveloping the stupidity of these respected fools. I stoop towards the blacksmith, a broad fellow, with a fox tail like moustache and a bellowing voice, a warrior apparently, a warrior of carelessness and disregard.
“Hello there, Loon!”
Loon, an adopted nickname due to my 'condition'.
“Hey.......”
“Looking for work?”
“No not today....”
“So what's the matter?”
“Just wanted to look at your equipment?!”
“Loon......you know the Doc says not to let you near sharp objects”
“ Oh............okay”
“Loon give it a few years and I'll train you into a fine warrior, depending on your condition that is”
I gave him a brief smile, then wandered to my next destination The library the one thing that they could not stop me doing was reading, I entered the Library to be greeted by Azores Truman a slim built man, always wearing respectable clothing, made of the finest silks, but this was nothing but a mirage to me, I suspected something of Azores Truman since he moved to the village six moths ago, he has no enemy's and everybody likes him, no arguments and no disagreements, something is definitely odd about him, He is also the only person in the village that calls me by my proper name.
“Ahh.....Mr Shade how are you today?” he questioned as I entered the building.#
I enter quizzing everything about him and the building that I could, when it hits me like a Hammer to an Anvil, there sitting on his desk a Black hood with red lacing in a sort of mystic pattern scurrying along the rim and the inside, red silk. He gains my eye and ensures that it remains there as he steadily removes the hood and places it in the desk's draw.
I knew it this confirmed my conspiracy Azores Truman was different,something else I had to discover what it is, I Had stood gazing out of my house many a night, and at midnight every three days I would see a hooded figure walk past my window and would seem to enter the garden, and every time I went to investigate the suspect had disappeared, it was him!

“What can I do you for? Mr Shade........”
“Errrr nothing just wanting to browse”

I gallop up the staircase and embrace the library at least five hundred books live here, this was where I spent the majority of my unimportant time, I researched as much as I could about the shadow here and yet there was nothing. I began to browse the mythical section as I would usually when, a difference struck me a new book, I began to read the spine they were symbols I could not understand but then they started to morph, twist and turn until I could read them it said only this....'Shade'
I slid the book as carefully as I could out of the historic shelf, this revealed the design the same black and red mystical pattern as the hood, I grabbed the book and concealed it within my bag, I scurried back down the wooden staircase and bolted out of the door, I had to get home, I had to understand. I reached the house, the metal on metal crunch caressed my ears yet again. I slam myself unto the table and begin to read the book, the first page was titled 'Creatures of the Mythic Dawn' I analysed each page Griffin, Minotaur, Centaur, Goblin, Orc all complete with Diagrams and Information about each creature this knowledge was welcomed I had confirmed the existence of unknown creatures then the last page made the nightmares, the screams, the blood awaken within my head, Fairy Diagram:? Information:? The underneath was a small drawing, it was the shadow, the shadow that had affected me so much,the absolute bane if my existence, existed in a way I wanted the doctors to be right, I wanted to be insane so that that night could never of happened and never will happen again. I was inclined to read further until I was upon a certain page, did I know that this page was to change my life? I did not.......

The page was decorated with the Blood print of a hand and the symbols above morphed into words 'Place hand to enter judgement', something inside me was burning at the opportunity so much so no matter how much I refrained I could not help what was to happen, I placed my hand on the page and two words appeared 'Destruction' and 'Conjuration', I was given a choice, and the instructions entailed that I must 'Speak one of the words to gain' Then a voice appeared behind me “Well then choose.......”
My head snapped to see the owner of this voice, it was Azores Truman
“What are you.........”
“Choose and the we shall speak” he ordered.
The panic started to cloud my senses, desperately seeking an escape, corroding its way through reason and understanding. Then the words seeped from my mouth......
“Errrr Destruction”
The moment these words were spoken my life changed, a black cloak of shadow swallowed, this was done elegantly as the shadow was revealing its red underbelly. It was like being caged by a beautiful and rejuvenating tsunami. My body stung from the blessing, still adjusting to its new home. All that remained from this change, was a small regular looking dagger, a wooden hilt, polished and decorated with a Black pattern and the blade again as black as shade but the edge was layered with red patterning. The wood not a usual colour it was a blood red with black grain.
“The bleeding willow.........” Truman explained
“What?......”
“The handle made from the wood of a Bleeding Willow, quite unusual is it not?”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Azores Truman and I am a member of The Shades of Shadows”
“The Shade of Shadows?.....”
“Yes we are an organisation that are dedicated to making dangerous mythical creatures vanish”
“Mythical creature?”
“Yes I am posted here to gather any information on a particularly nasty and chaotic creature”
“What?”
“A Fairy”
“The Shadow?”
“Well yes that is what you have been referring to it as”
“I want to help kill it”
“Whoa.....steady on......I.....”
“That thing destroyed everything and everyone if there's a way I can get revenge on it I want in!”
“You can help me help you so we can gather 'information' on the creature............deal?”
“As long as I get to kill that thing”
“Right have you any idea what has just happened?”
“Errrr some shadow just did something”
“You have just gained the art of destruction............in other words you have the power of magic.”
“What? Magic? Are you crazy?”
“No”
“So can you do Magic too?”
“Yes I have gained the power on Conjuration”
“What's that?”
“The power to summon creatures”
“Show me”
He nodded at me acceptingly as he snatched a pocket size book from the pocket of his Silk Trousers, her turned a few pages then came to a halt, his hand raised to the level of his tidy head, then a similar black and red shadow cloaked his hand. He smites his hand to the page of the book creating a small shock-wave on the page. Then in front of Truman was a small decrepit twisted creature, with an certain desperation embedded within its eyes.

“This is a scamp”
“A....Scamp?
“Yes it is a creature I summoned from my Silhouette”
“Silhouette?”
“Yes My Silhouette is my book, and yours is that dagger”
“What's a Silhouette?”
“A Silhouette is the tool in which we use to conduct our magic”
“So how do I use mine?”
“Well since you chose the art of Destruction we better take this downstairs”
“Downstairs?”
“Yes there is a lot you do not know about yourself Mr. Shade........Not a lot at all.”

We parted from the house and entered my garden, there everything seemed normal, then Truman stopped at a certain area of the grass, I looked at him as to say 'What are we doing here?' He stared back blankly, something was sickly about his expression, perhaps the lack of understanding and knowledge made me to despise him a little more. Then during my inspection of his face he plunged his hand into the grass using this shadowy aura as a glove. Then a section of the grass sank and became a staircase, I followed Truman into the darkness of the stairs, not quite knowing what to expect, We entered an empty space, the whole hall was engulfed in darkness. Truman threw the shadowy aura towards a single hanging chandelier, the shadow diseased the chandelier with a pale light, illuminating the room in a dark way.
“Right, lets get to it?” Truman spoke.
“Yeah but what's this doing under...”
“Not now we don't have time”
“Time for wha...”
“Not now training first then questions”
“Errrr okay”
“Right first you need to activate your Silhouette”
“How do I do that?”
“Right you can feel an energy within you?”
“Yeah kinda”
“Right we call that Shade”
“So what about it?”
“You have to concentrate your shade into your Silhouette”
“Right”
“Try now”
I could feel this 'Shade' surfing through my body, tearing through everything in its path, but not in a destructive way but in a buffing sense. I concentrate trying to guide this 'Shade' towards my hands, a slight burning sensation corrupts the tips of my fingers, a send a burst of concentration towards my hand, my hand is engulfed in this shadows aura, I swiftly grasp the handle of my 'Silhouette', the blade burst into life, becoming a mass of 'Shade', I could feel its pulse, radiating throughout my own body, this 'Shade' was brilliant, I felt alive!

“Good...now you are gifted in the art of destruction, which means you can cast elemental based attacks or defences now do you know of the elements? Air,Fire,Earth and Water”
“Okay”
“So in order to cast a destruction spell you need to focus and visualize an element...for example fire...so try now don't worry I am only expecting a spark...after all you have only just gained these powers.”
“Right okay”
As I said this I felt a surge of power coursing through my body, this power was unreal. I felt different it felt like my life now has meaning, a purpose. My blood boiling with the sense of completion, my lungs burning with anticipation and my head scrambling with questions. This was it. This was what I was meant for. I forced everything I could into my 'Silhouette' emptying my energy. A huge wave of flames intoxicated the hall, Truman even dived out of the way to avoid harm. Despite being in shock from what I had just done, I could not help but being impressed with what I had just done, all that was expected was a spark and I managed to cast a whole wall of fire, this power was impressive.

“What the.....?”
“Whoa”
“How can you do that at your level?...Well this has accelerated your training”
“Whoa”
“Right I'd like you to try a different element but this time rather than attack try defence”
“Errrr okay”
I close my eyes and allow my new instincts to take control, I had to decide on an element, I began to quiz through the choices and decided to go with earth. A solid rock defence.
I visualized a dome of rock using myself as the epicentre, and slowly the shadow radiating its power and segments of the earth around me starting to form the shape of a dome, when suddenly a stream of lightning pummelled into the dome. I swiftly studied the are in order to discover the origin of the attack, I turned to see a Scamp, pale green to the colour and ghastly on the eyes.
“Well I had to test that it actually defended...”
“I wasn't finished”
“Well you think a fairy is going to wait for you to be 'ready'”
“So when do we kill that fairy”
“Whoa you are no where near ready even with your natural skill”
“Guess not”
“Right again but faster...”
“Okay but I...”
As I began to speak, my instincts raged through my body alerting me that something was wrong, I bolted towards the exit, to be halted by a huge metallic being, the result of one of Truman's conjurations.
“And where do you think you're going?”
“The fairy it's here I can feel it!”
“Fairy?...Nonsense no one has ever sensed or even seen a fairy how on earth could yo...”
Truman's preach was interrupted with screams and panic, the shadows time had come to reappear and taunt me, ever so gently turn the knife in my back, gently killing me.
I swiftly cast a gust of wind towards the metal giant sending it buckling, falling with no elegance or grace just collapsing into the wall, decapitating numerous bricks.
I climbed the stairs as quickly as my body would allow me too, this was it this was my chance I finally get to destroy the thing that has been destroying me for so long, revenge, and what a better way to serve it than with my new powers. The confidence on my face was soon wiped, when I came face to face with my emotional murderer. There it was the most daunting and horrifying thing to look at, its eyes corrupt with blood lust, it teeth repairing from the last meal, and claws throbbing with anticipation. The Fairy slouched there still for a minute or to, I could not tell time was different to me now, watching, waiting. I drew my Silhouette and pulsed every bit of Shade I could into the blade, The shadow took the form of a large, Shadowed sword, beautiful to the eyes but deadly to the touch, a red pattern winded round the blade, attractive and deadly. The fairy saw this threat and reacted with a shriek, thwarting my balance and concentration leaving me and open target. My Silhouette on the floor, weeping in the ground. My last form of defence, The Elements, I concentrate all my Shade and manipulate the earth and ground around me creating a metre thick wall of solid rock. Confidence effected my performance, incredibly underestimating my opponent. The Fairy squirted a Luminous Blue coloured liquid from its mouth, corroding the wall and everything in contact with the substance. The liquid rapidly chewed through the barrier all that was left now... was me. I stood there accepting my fate, the sheer pace of the liquid already had me convinced of death, why not embrace it.

“Concentrate” Truman chanted,
I rose my head to be protected by a huge metallic man, different form before his armour was even thicker, radiating protection and courage. I cower to the ground, but the man stands there taking the pain and assault of the Fairy, I cannot help but look up with admiration.
“Fight back!” Truman chanted once more.

Now was not the time to complain and hide from this enemy, now was the time to attack the beast and avenge every single person from my village. The anger started to rage within me, Shade was engulfing my being, erupting and spurting with life. The Shade poured from my Silhouette and created a cloak all around me. Something was happening, something big, but all I could think about was killing this Fairy the thing that has haunted me and my village for so long, and even had me deemed insane and made an outcast of my village. Revenge was meant to be served, served hard and fast.
The Shade erupted from me, resulting in a transformation, My Silhouette had morphed into a Sickly Black Scimitar, and my legs had acquired similarly looking greaves seeming to be made of Shade. Whatever this transformation was, power shone from within me.
I turn to the Fairy to look at those cold, evil eyes for the last time, my instincts came into play once again, the greaves created a massive speed difference, I was running at incredible speeds, the Fairy seemed like it was hard to follow, then to test out my new Scimitar, its name seemed to call out to me...Thorn...Thorn...Thorn, like a rhythm, I zoomed to the back of the Fairy, it seemed I was undetected. My swo.... Thorn seemed to be talking to me it repeated one word 'Flara'...'Flara'. My instincts teamed up with Thorn and overwhelmed my own senses, The edge of my blade was pointed towards the beast...The Fairy
“FLARA!!”
A huge hurricane of flames pulverised their way through the Fairy, digesting every insignificant thing in its path, after the flames were satisfied they felt no purpose and extinguished.
“Flara?,,,Flara? How can you use Flara at your level?” Truman barked.
“What the hell was that?”
“You have just cast a senior level spell!”
“How?”
“Well you definitely are a Shade”
“a Shade?”
“Yes have you never noticed that your last name is the same as the energy we master?”
“Oh yeah”
“That's because your grandfather was the founder of us, The Shade Of Shadows”
“What?”
“You are the rightful heir of The Shade of Shadows”
“But I'm only 17?”
“Age is not the concern, first you need to achieve the Arch-Mage rank, and in order to do so you need to train, the training will be relentless and excruciatingly tough do you accept these terms? Bimdruth Shade? Or do you prefer Loon?”
“I accept and my name Is Loon”
This feeling has utterly destroyed my fears and worries, this sense of responsibility made me feel complete. The realisation of magics and myths, and the bonuses and damages that come with them made me swell, swell with anticipation and dread. The dread that fuels foolish antics and exhilarating adventure, I had a feeling that this was the dawn, the dawn of The Shade Of Shadows.