The Eminence of Not-Shadow

Chapter 10 - The Heist in Alexandria (Part I)

[Not-Shadow POV]

Plans, Plans, Plans. So many plans, so little time left. I am wandering around a poisonous forest, deciding the next course of action before I break completely.

The sword on my back shines as I continue to ponder, protecting me from this forest and allowing me to slowly reach that place, where I can enact a plan. I remove the sword from my scabbard, and stare at it.

The Sword of Memories, or what I call the Sword That Knows All, has been useful throughout my journeys, allowing me to learn and perceive whatever world I land upon.

Molten Fire, Ice, //////, and a few other worlds were ones that I explored with Mordred. I'm just fortunate he was able to accompany me. That is because of the ultimate price I will have to pay eventually.

Getting back home was never going to be easy. I knew that. And I was left with little choice but to use this sword in my hands back then. It slowly seeps away my sanity and memories of the past. It slowly breaks me apart for each time I use this sword.

When I have to access the world's history or use power of the sword itself, it causes pain. At first, I was blacking out each time I used it, but I was able to somehow manage to tolerate the pain for a simple 'wish'. I don't know how much longer I can perform with the right mindset.

Luckily, there are some ways to 'regain what was once lost' within me, but those are only temporary and limited solutions. On the other hand, another key difficulty is the 'stability'.

We should not exist in this world, or any world except our own. There are always a few exceptions to those rules, but it is evident from recent experiences.

My own self, slowly phasing out of existence.

Since we are foreign entities in an unknown world, some unknown force attempts to erase us in order to correct the world. It can be slow or quick, as observed from this sword's archive of many users who held this sword. The experiences recorded are interesting, but the only way to maintain within a world if the force finds the entity is to...

Become a 'person' in this 'world'. Basically, a long game of hide and seek, or /////. And given that this sword can give me any information of a person, it's easy to blend in.

There are many stories to tell, but the most recent impersonation allows me to be freer in using this sword's powers.

Shadow...

Was there a reason why that temple always showed you as the final boss?

—

I continue on my path in this forest, walking ever so casually. Corpses, Beasts, and the atmosphere of poison were all that I could see, all that I could interact with. Eventually though, I encountered a monster that I met once before, however brief it was.

You should have not returned, being from another world.

Spoke the Mist Dragon, the protector of this forest and Alexandria.

"I have one last plan here to accomplish before my own end catches up to me. It would be great if you could stand aside."

I respond with a serious, unemotional tone.

The dragon laughs at me.

As long as 'he' is here, that plan will never come into fruition. As likewise, he has the same connection as you, albeit weaker.

"Connection?"

I am unsure what that connection is, but we dragons in this world can somewhat determine the essence of a person's soul. In the case of yours, you have a similar bright yet fading connection.