Mystical World

Remnants

"I remember hearing once that humans were fragile machines. Machines of what? Destruction of course, they've ruined all I ever loved. Nature is where I reside, away from them. I've taken care of the many creature that wonder here, the elk, moose, ducks, beavers, cubs, all life forms."

"Even the plants, from the moss, algae, palms, orchids, and ferns. My name is Shadow, because I am a "shadow" of whom I once was. I think we all are shadows of our own true nature. Since, nature is everywhere and in everything. Take a minute, to breath, close your eyes, and pause your thoughts."

"Open your eyes, and enjoy the wonders around you. Not within this cave filled with chairs, machinery, noise, and dissatisfaction. If you feel at ease now, you have passed my little one. You have finally come of age and are ready to take on a new life! Rejoice!"

I looked down at the small child in front of me, his icy blue eyes staring in awe at me. If I had blood, I'd be blushing from how nervous I became. My mist, taking the form of a human with a skull on her head, leaned in closer to the boy. He grasped my skull mask, muttering to me what I could only feel were words of glee. He had yet to learn to speak, he could crawl, he could walk and stumble, but speech seemed impossible.

"Would you like to hear the story of how I found you again? It's a story I really enjoy, because it involves my favorite child."

He laughed and clapped his hands as I carried him over to a nice patch of leaves. I set a giant rhubarb leaf over him to block the sun from hitting his sensitive skin. I clapped my misty hands together as a black mist took many shades of black and gray around me and formed them into a more suitable stage. It was almost like a black and white film humans used back then. The stage was set, my sweet boy was secure, and now the act could begin.

. . .

(Shadow's narrations look like this)

It was night, and yet, the flames humans had set to these woods had made it bright as day. Their war had killed many of my people, and many innocent creatures; birds, elk, snakes, rabbits, and more alike. My people and I fought valiantly against the humans, and yet it was not enough. Mother Tenaka was a wise leader and she knew this battle would be our downfall, she also knew that the winning side of history would make us the monsters. I was naive when I was young, so naive that I thought she was wrong and that we could win the battle.

Our mists were only as strong as the shade and darkness around us, with these flames were powerless. The darker it was, the stronger we were. Humans ruined our homes just to weaken us, they ruined the innocent's home just to weaken us! I don't know why I believed we could win this battle, I was only a healer and interpreter. I was meant to help my people, but I only made things worse by being so selfish.

"Shadow!" Mother Tenaka yelled, "Run away, run very far away! The humans are coming to burn us, they come to kill us!"

"No," I replied calmly, "I will not let my people or our history be burnt away. I can fix this somehow-"

Tenaka stopped me, "You've done enough my child, whatever tribe you belong to in the future show them this," she handed over her bracelet filled with sigils. "This is proof of leadership, when all sigils glow you will be accepted by any tribe."

I tried to argue but as she put the bracelet in my misty hands, she pushed me away just before a wall of fire blocked my path. I could not shed a tear as water did not run through me. I turned my back onto the wall of flames and ran, not letting go of the bracelet. The screams and yells of my people and the enemy, mixed in with the sounds of the burning forest forced me into a panic. As the day came, my mist solidified slightly.

I was hurt beyond repair like and needed to keep myself safe and concealed, I decided to grab some nearby leaves and used them to cover my newly solidified body. As I wandered from place to place, I reflected.

"This truly was my fault, had I not been so rude my people may have been allies. We may yet have lived in peace. . ." I thought to myself as I looked down at the grass beneath my darkened feet.

~ The mist shifts it's shades and shapes into a city ~

I felt the hot concrete on my feet, being barefoot is not nice even for "monsters" such as me who create pain for others. Suddenly, in the scorching heat, I hear a sound coming from a dark passage between to buildings. It was a small baby, abandoned in the heat for whatever reason it may have been.

I picked up this small and fragile creature, it's most prominent feature was it's icy blue eyes.

"It was your kind that took my life away, now, I will take their life away. . ." I looked into the small creatures eyes and felt a connection. "I will take their life. . . li-life away by. . . by. . . by raising you as my own. . ."

As my words and breath became shaky, I carried you away. Blocking the sun's rays with my coat of leaves and foliage.

~ The mist shapes itself into a forest, a river, and a pond ~

I ended up back in the woods, finding shelter near some water where the fish were thriving. Their patterns and fins enticed both of us, as we looked in awe at the water. I found a way to take care of you, I got you water, shelter, and food.

Food existed, and still does exist, all around us. These fish have been kind enough to share their water with you so that you may live.

~ The mist fades and recollects itself in Shadow ~

"And that's how we got here, I have told you this story many times within the past year. I apologize, I just cannot get over it. I found someone to care for, a future leader." I smiled softly at the small, tired figure bundled up under the giant rhubarb leaf.

The bracelet on his arm had three shining sigils, the remaining seven would light up as he grew. Not just in age either, he must grow in more ways than one.

"If only I had a name for the boy, o well. . . I'll think of one as his life progresses. For now, I will do everything in my power to take care of this boy."