Riley's luck has turn again.
When he got caught, he thought his life was over. In a world where magic and money reigned, what choice could a he have? He had to accept the contract and set on this forsaken quest, with an insufferable man servant.
A...
At some point, I woke up with a jolt. I felt something was off. So very off. Percevin was still sleeping, his back to me. I quickly got rid of my blankets, the cold air of the night chilling my skin. I got up to my feet, giving my comrade one last glance before making my way to the tent flap.
The sound of a thousand crickets filled my ears. Out in the dark night, the camp was completely desert. The only light came from the embers of the fire pit, around which all bench were empty, except for one. One the sitting log nearest to me was a silhouette, their back at me, slightly in backlight. I frowned and took a step out.
At once, the air didn't feel so cold anymore. The breeze felt almost warm, like the wind was pushing forward the comforting heat of the glowing embers.
I walked toward the silhouette, intrigued. Who was it, and what were they doing there, alone, in the middle of the night. With each step, I felt less anxious, scared, that they were something awful. There was something reassuring about their posture.
I got near the fallen log and walked around it, never training my eyes of them and stood there, by their side. They were wearing a hood that shadowed most of their face. I could only see the tip of their nose and the side of their chin.
- Hello, Shade-Bringer, a distorted voice said.
It wasn't coming from the figure, yet I knew it was what had spoken. It had a childish voice, under-toned with a cavernous roar that seemed to shake every bone in my body, and a normal adult, ungendered voice. They didn't move, but I got closer. However, the nearer I'd get, the more my gaze would unwantedly look away from the silhouette. Whatever it was, it didn't want me to see it. So, I settled my eyes on the burning embers of the campfire and sat down beside it.
- What are you, I asked, as whatever it was, it clearly wasn't an earthbound thing.
- I am what they want me to be. The balance between good and bad, darkness and light. I am what they need me to be.
- What do you want?
- To learn. Observe. Prepare.
- I don't know what that means.
My voice echoed into nothingness as my thoughts kept getting more confused by the second.
- You will know. The path you walk is undetermined. Watch your steps.
Suddenly, I was up on my feet and as I took a step, the ground vanished from under it and I started falling, my heart climbing up my throat as this feeling of sickness dizzied my mind and tensed my body.
There was only darkness. Not a single drop of light had made it through. Nothing to define what was me, and what was not. I could not find where I, or it, began. No borders, no limitation. I grew, I shrank, I expended and stayed there.
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- Lee! Wake up!
I jerked up, a weight falling on my chest as I was bringing something up with me. Beside me, Percy turned on his back and grunted. What had been on me a second ago was his arm, and he had been turned with the momentum of the movement. I didn't let myself be surprised and shook my head as I turned to a smirking Aneimis, a sharp pain throbbing in my head. They were standing in the backlight of day, holding the tent flap up to look inside.
