The Dark Path: Stygian Days

The Lighter Side Of A Shadow

The Lighter Side Of A Shadow

[Archer’s POV]

I closed my eyes tightly as I woke up. “Ugh…” I said as I got up. I looked around and realised that I was back in the Dark Lands in spirit form.

“Welcome back home, my lord,” Syschela said from behind me.

“Yeah, I’m…back, I guess. Why am I here?” I asked her. We were beside a silent waterfall. Not too far from our location was the temple that contained memorabilia of my predecessors.

“You had a brief encounter with the Water Elemental.”

“How did you know?” I asked.

“Our shadow people told me. I asked them to watch out for you.” Syschela drifted away slowly. “It seems Light is planning something. What it is, we do not know just yet. What we do know, is that it isn’t happening anytime soon, though it depends on a few factors.”

“A…few…factors? Are you referring to my friends?”

Syschela didn’t nod at all. She never did. Not that I knew though, since she always had a hood to cover her entire face. Her voice was whispery as ever. “The Sound Elemental and the Fire Elemental, yes. Light wants rid of the red-headed one first. That’s what I can conclude based in what has happened so far. My assumption is that he feels she has not fully comprehended her powers. Your other friend, the one otherwise known as ‘Miles’, seems to be a natural at his powers. Mentioning his name brings me to something I would like to notify you upon.”

“Which is what? I’ve known Miles for a long time. I don’t think there’s any more to him left.”

“Oh, but there is my lord. I assuming that you already know that your powers work better against those filled with either fear or lies.”

I thought about it for a moment. “I…actually never knew that.”

“Do you remember that skirmish you had with him several years ago? You might not, though there may be some scraps of memories of that night. The reason why he defeated you so easily was because he is the few that walk the Earth that have neither fear nor dishonesty. He fears you not, because he sees his best friend in you, not a demon, unlike others. He lies not, because he never has, unlike others.”

I was quiet for a moment. “Could we go back to the reason why you brought me here?”

“Yes, my lord. You see, I feel that you do not know the deeper realms of your powers. I could tell what I feel is right but it would be foolish of me to advice on something I have never been myself.”

“Are you saying I need help from someone like me?” I asked her.

“Yes.”

“But Syschela, in case you haven’t noticed there’s only one Elemental of each time at any given point of time. Do you see any other Darkness standing here right now?”

Syschela maintained her calm, whispery voice. “Not right now, but I can show you a way. Follow me.”

She beckoned me towards the temple and I followed her without hesitation. I walked up the steps and entered the hallway with glass displays on either side of the walls. The items looked like they had not moved for a long time.

Syschela stood beside me. “What you see before you are more than just dusty, old things. These contain the…recorded personas of past shadow elementals. Not the actual elementals since they died long ago at different times but you would still be able to interact with them. When you visit them, they may or may not be at the height of their power, but they should be able to teach you a thing or two, by book or blood. Not all of your predecessors are here. Some wanted to be forgotten. The powers of darkness were never meant to be a gift after all.”