Shadow Master

Lightless day +20

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"Show yourself!"

Back at the bookstore, where I knew I’d be safest, I sensed danger lurking in the shadows.

Before heading up to the vaulted ceilings, I studied the golden living room, pausing in the dark recesses. Then it’s on to the two corridors that are next to each other.

Nothing.

I went back to my studies.

I had stated that I would not be back for my shadow. That shadow was not, in fact, my shadow. I’d gotten swept away by the excitement of finding it and had failed to notice my own shadow.

Now, though…

I hadn’t acted egotistically… My gloom had not vanished. I’d gotten rid of the person who pretended to be my shadow. The one who had done everything in its power to lure me into this trap, this fight to the death trap.

I was trying to come up with a sensible solution that would allow me to save the Duchy of Emerveille’s shadows and people.

Is it possible that this will happen today?

Simply put, I didn’t have enough knowledge about the person who pretended to be my shadow to draw any conclusions. I have to think things out logically and acquire information.

The crumpled paper from the tournament invitation was placed on a large desk in the room where I had met my father. I stretched it out and rubbed my palm underneath it, smoothing out the creases and making the lines visible.

I was so overcome with deadly wrath that I almost teleported. That, too, was a proven fact.

I took out a large, thick book that purportedly described everything there was to know about the Emerveille people. The Marvelous, as they were referred to in the book, were unique and superior to the other Arum groups, such as the Arum Army and the Chaste. Even though I had never met one of these two sides, I tried to persuade myself of this.

Domination… Luxnevia…

I started reading a book about Luxnevia’s history.

The Luxnevians, a race of light enchanters, derived their strength from other beings that shared their world with enchanted things. To put it another way, the Luxnevians took the Arum light that was possessed by living people or reflected from them, and that was possessed by objects. They were, in the end, vampires. They have spent more time in conflict than in peace over the years. Because of their enchantments, their dominion comprised of an isolated swamp, a world where time did not move at the same rate as it did everywhere.

Luxnevia’s time, like its life, moved at a slower pace…

Nyx, described as a beauty, had reigned as queen for numerous generations and was said to wield incredible power, albeit it was kept hidden.

The queen possessed drakes in her menagerie, which she allegedly used to punish evildoers. Here we are, with a name for the winged monsters who had been feeding on my flesh on a regular basis.

Each enchanter was born with a basic power that they regarded as their soul. Their species was one of the weaker among the immortals, at least in terms of physical strength and regeneration -that is great for me.

Okay. However, I had established one thing.

Nyx’s physical requirements were not only taxing, but also perilous.

There were, however, details that could not be found in books.

My wrist had started to mend gradually. I was in less discomfort, and my wounds were healing nicely. With the absence of $py, the bracelet vanished as well. He had left without explanation again, despite my repeated requests for him to return.

I took a quick glance at the invitation, then the books, then back to the invitation…

My neck was slapped by cold metal. A blade! I’d never been threatened with a blade before. I leaped from my chair and dashed to the opposite side of the room.

"You allowed yourself to be surprised! It’s possible you’ve lost your mind! The Duchy’s head could have rolled off this rug!"

"If you keep doing this, I’m going to smash you again!"

"I’ve come to assist you. You contacted me because you required assistance. You haven’t met anyone yet. I’m the only one you have."

"Think again! If you think this will save your battery!"

"For a long time, I’ve been operating without a battery. What could be so preoccupying your mind?"

"I’m not sure if I’ll die because of you or because of Nyx and hers henchmen."

"It won’t be me, I assure you."

"How did you figure that out?" I muttered this as I pushed back the blade’s point, which was now pressing on my jugular.

The blade rippled and vanished as a laugh erupted in my ear.

"I might lose some of my abilities temporarily, but you, old man, would lose your life," claimed a voice from the water jug’s interior.

This night was full of firsts: feeling the cold metal of a sword on my jugular, meeting Kerry’s shadow and being unable to assist, my shadow … and even meeting Nyx without paying the price.

I instinctively shook a light glove that had slipped over my right hand.

"It’s time to be ready for fight," $py’s voice remarked abruptly.

The room had vanished. I’d entered a fencing room.

"Cousin, draw your sword."

"Cousin? When did you allow yourself to become acquainted with me?"

I took several steps backwards to escape being planted after a blade flew by.

I took the sword that hung in front of me, the hilt facing me, with a tired groan.

"This sword was one of your father’s few items that he cared about," stated $py, its voice deep.

Despite the pain in my damaged hand, I would be the crescent moon-shaped pommel of the sword, believing that I had a memory of my father in this world.

In front of me, a black sword materialized. $py had switched into a demonic sword, as I had predicted, to scare me even more.

"This isn’t fair! Your weapon is significantly larger than mine!"

"Because you believe Nyx will fight according to the rules? Be ready for the worst."

"I’m already bracing myself for the worst-case scenario. Only when making a sandwich do I use a blade."

"This isn’t a sandwich fight to the death."

"When you tamper with me, I despise you even more."

"I understand; that is why I do it. You must first learn to control your rage. You’ll have no trouble handling the sword and knowing how to battle.. All you need is a little more practice."