Darkness in the Shadows

CHAPTER 12

Alana woke the next day, surprised at how late it was. The sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow across the room. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her of how long she must have slept. She dressed quickly and made her way to the door, where a small tray of food had been left by Nedene the day before. She smiled gratefully and ate the meal, savouring each bite, its cold and hardened texture told Alana it had been left while ago, but Alana enjoyed the taste regardless.

After eating, Alana felt more energized and ready to face the day. She knew she needed to visit the House of Knowledge to search for any information about the trouble she might have released into Whitefall. The streets were bustling with activity as she made her way through the city. People bustled about, going about their daily routines, seemingly unaware of the danger that lurked nearby.

As she approached the House of Knowledge, Alana felt a sense of calm wash over her. The ancient building loomed before her, its marble walls steeped in history and knowledge. She entered the building, greeted by the scent of old books and the quiet rustle of pages being turned.

Alana walked through the familiar door of the House of Knowledge, expecting the usual bright and inviting atmosphere. Instead, she was greeted by darkness, the lights were out and only a dim glow was casting over the room. She cautiously stepped forward, not wanting to make too much noise. As she moved further into the room, she heard a faint shifting sound coming from behind a desk.

"Excuse me," Alana said, her voice echoing softly in the dimly lit room. A head peeked up from behind the desk, revealing a woman's face. "I'll be right with you, dear," the woman replied, her voice warm and inviting. Alana frowned slightly, wondering where Lares, the man who was usually immersed in his quest for knowledge, could be.

"I'm just looking for Lares," Alana said, stepping closer to the desk. The woman let out a sigh. "He's not here. He's on assignment, and I'm not sure when he'll return," she replied, her tone tinged with disappointment.

Alana's heart sank. She had hoped to speak with Lares, knowing that he would have valuable information that could help her. The building has been closed for weeks, Alana was delighted when she found it open. But without Lare's, it seemed as though something was off.

"Oh," Alana murmured, her disappointment evident. The lady behind the desk stood up and approached her. "Can I help you find something?" she asked, her tone friendly yet curious. Alana hesitated, unsure of how the woman would react to her questions. "I would like to know about 'the darkness' and the blue swift creatures in the woods," Alana said, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil.

The lady raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Alana's request. "I am doing research for the high powers," Alana continued, trying to sound as authoritative as possible, "and they believe that new information has been found about the darkness. I need to confirm what is already known before they release it as 'new' information. As for the blue creatures, that's my personal curiosity."

Alana held her head high, maintaining an appearance of confidence. She knew she had to convince the woman to trust her with the information she sought. After a moment of consideration, the woman nodded and walked away, returning moments later with six large books, one small book sitting on top.

"Return them once the research is complete," the woman instructed, handing the books to Alana. "And be sure to incorporate any new information they might have found into the archives."

Alana gave her a sharp nod, accepting the books. The weight of them surprised her, but she was determined not to show any sign of struggle. She turned and made her way out of the House of Knowledge, eager to begin her research and uncover the secrets that lay hidden within the pages of the books.

She walked out of the House of Knowledge, books in hand, aware of the woman's gaze following her. Alana knew she couldn't appear suspicious by walking in the opposite direction of the city while being watched. So, she turned towards the city and began walking.

Once she felt she had put enough distance between them, she turned down a side street, following the road that led around and behind the houses. It was a route that would take her all the way to her family's home. She welcomed the familiar path and the chance to be alone with her thoughts. Upon reaching her home, Alana dropped the books on the table with a thud, feeling the weight of her task ahead. She stretched her arms, trying to ease the tension that had settled in her muscles.

Alana felt a pang of panic as she considered her next move. She couldn't tell anyone that Lares was looking into information for her, could she? She needed to tread carefully, especially considering the gravity of the situation with the darkness and the mysterious blue creature in the woods.

Time was of the essence. Alana knew she had to gather as much information as possible as quickly as possible. However, she also knew that staying too long in one place could be dangerous. No one knew yet that Perie was dead, and the woman at the
House of Knowledge had not seemed overly concerned with Alana's inquiries.

Alana knew she had only a couple of days before she had to leave. She fully intended to depart, but first, she needed to gather as much information as possible. She spent the entire day and evening engrossed in the books she had borrowed, not even realizing when the suns dimmed. She read about the darkness, its origins, its manifestations, and any known weaknesses or ways to contain it.

The information Alana found in the books was sparse, with each volume seemingly repeating the same information. However, one mention caught her attention—the Mare. These creatures were said to have been sent to the Land of Nothing to control the Darkness, preventing it from entering the world travellers' realm.

According to the texts, the Darkness was a created power, crafted with the intention of gaining a level of power beyond anyone's understanding. It seemed that those who had created it had underestimated its capabilities. As the Darkness took on a mind of its own and began to move without instruction, the powers realized that it was not something they could control.

The Darkness slowly started to influence and corrupt the minds of those who attempted to wield it, turning them into different creatures altogether—beings who sought to yield more of the Darkness. These corrupted individuals became known as the Mare. So the Mare were sent to a place with no light to control the darkness there? The books raised more questions for Alana with no answers.

The next morning, Alana woke up with a start. There was a loud banging at her door, causing her heart to race. She instinctively reached for her knife, holding it tightly as she approached the door. As she listened, she heard a familiar voice call out, "It's me, Nishka."

Alana hesitated for a moment before recognizing the voice. She lowered her knife and opened the door to find Nishka standing there, looking slightly dishevelled. She wore a cape that covered her head, and Alana couldn't help but tease her, saying, "Afraid to be seen with me?" as she gestured for Nishka to come inside.

Nishka rushed into the house, her eyes wide with urgency. "Alana, you need to leave. Now," she said, her voice urgent. Alana felt a sense of foreboding wash over her. She knew Nishka wouldn't be this insistent without good reason.

"Yes, the high powers have failed to summon their commander and are now searching for him. They will request you for answers," Nishka explained urgently. Alana raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Because I know who the commander is?" she asked, seeking clarification. Nishka rolled her eyes. "Yes, it's Perie," she confirmed.

Alana's eyes widened in shock. She had no idea that Perie was the commander. This revelation could potentially put her in even more trouble than she had initially thought. Before she could fully process this information, Nishka continued, "I know that he made an attempt on your life. His aura has been struggling for weeks. The last time I saw him, the aura was certain on death. Your aura, on the other hand, shows goodness and kindness, but it is shadowed by something I am unfamiliar with."

Alana nonchalantly shrugged, acknowledging that the subtle shadows she had been seeing were likely displays of the darkness within her. "I should probably leave, thank you," Nishka said abruptly, nodding before promptly opening the door and stepping out.

Alone with the remaining books, Alana felt a sense of urgency to absorb as much knowledge as she could. She perused the volumes, aware that Lares might not mind her borrowing a couple for further study. Swiftly, she gathered what she needed, her movements purposeful and driven by the need to understand the darkness that threatened to consume her world.

Alana meticulously rearranged the blankets over the furniture, Alana was holding onto them as a reminder of her eventual return home. She packed up all her belongings, carefully storing what she could not fit under the bed. If she needed anything, she reasoned, she could always return for it later.

Exiting the building, Alana briskly made her way through the streets, her hood pulled low over her head, and a bag slung across her back. Only one destination came to mind—a place where acceptance was more common. However, she harboured doubts about receiving a warm welcome there.

Staying on the outskirts of the town, Alana stole a moment to cast her gaze toward her family's home. It stood there, neat and orderly, draped in sheets that whispered stories of the past. Doubt gripped her heart as she pondered when, or if, she might ever return. Yet, even in the face of uncertainty, she clung to hope, envisioning a future day when circumstances would allow her to return to what she had left behind.

Her belongings were reduced to the essentials, carefully packed into her bag—a collection of notes, books, and fragments of her family's history that she had yet to discover. She looked at the box containing her bloodied clothes from her confrontation with Perie, she tried to wash them, but some of the blood would not lift from the fabric. Alana shrugged and pushed them into her bag, determined to leave no evidence behind of her involvement in Perie's disappearance.

The weight on her shoulders mirrored the doubt in her heart about her future, a problem she now carried as her constant companion. Silent and swift, Alana reached the edge of town. Her singular thought was the road leading to Arska, her sole beacon of direction. Seeking cover behind a building, she cautiously made her way to the road she has travelled on when entering Whitefall.

Mindful of avoiding any vigilant guards, she knew they would be on the lookout following the mysterious disappearance of the commander.

As she reached the road and stepped into visibility, her pace quickened. Striding along the tree line, Alana moved swiftly, maintaining a brisk speed without resorting to running. She kept a watchful eye out for any signs of pursuit, fully aware of the dangers that lay ahead and the uncertainties of her journey.

The road to Arska stretched out before Alana, a path leading away from the turmoil she left behind in Whitefall. Shadows danced along the edges of the trees as she paced along the road, her senses heightened, attuned to every rustle in the leaves or distant echo.

As she walked, the landscape gradually transformed around her. The familiar buildings of Whitefall disappeared behind her, replaced by a wilderness waiting to be explored. The road stretched onward, winding through dense forests and rolling hills, offering glimpses of a world untouched by the chaos she had left behind.

As the day unfolded, Alana found herself captivated by the beauty of Arska's outskirts. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating dappled patterns on the road beneath her feet. The rhythmic sounds of nature became a soothing melody, and she couldn't help but marvel at the serenity that enveloped her.

Though uncertainty lingered in the air, Alana embraced the unknown with a resilience born from her familial ties. As she approached the town, she stopped on the outskirts, taking a moment to breathe in the fresh air and steel herself for what lay ahead. With a determined step, she walked into Arska, following the same road she had attempted once before, ready to face whatever challenges awaited her.

Just as before, a man stepped in front of Alana, his demeanour exuding importance as he scrutinized her with a discerning gaze. Alana met his eyes, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. The man, evidently a figure of authority in Arska, studied her with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

"State your business in Arska," he demanded, his voice firm but not unkind. Alana felt the weight of her future in this world resting on her shoulders as she replied, her tone measured, "I come seeking refuge from the high powers."