The Shadow Manipulator

Chapter 3: The Girl

After eating dinner, I hurriedly went back to my room to try my newly inherit power. I still can't believe what had happened just a while ago, but still, some part in me was excited that it happened. He didn't teach me how to manipulate my shadow though. Guess I have to figure out at least that much so I could come prepared for tomorrow's training. I thought.

I sat on my bed and closed my eyes, focusing on the image of a shadow in my head. But still, all I could think of was creepy creatures lurking in the depths of my imaginations. After everything that's happened, I still haven't overcome my fear of darkness. No, you need to overcome it right now. My conscience urged me.

Taking in a huge breath, I tried to focus again. Still, my concentration failed again. I couldn't bring myself to turn off my room's light since my concentration would just go haywire. My shadow looks normal as ever, huh. I sighed in disappointment

"You can't do it like that, you know kid." A familiar voice behind me said.

"Aaaagghh! " I shouted out of impulse.

The voice laughed back.

"Still afraid of the dark are we?" The voice said. "Well, where does the light shine at its brightest?"

I finally realized that the shadow manipulator was the one talking. I glanced behind me and an expected shadow waved at me in return.

"Do you still remember the thing we said when I made you my successor a moment ago?" He asked as he reverted to his human form. "That was the very thing you need to remember to be able to control your shadow."

"You mean, the su-de-ri-ka-hi-no-ta-re, ummm...something something?" I replied. "I couldn't remember.

"That is more than a chant. You must remember it from your heart. Well, because of your weak-mindedness, I guess I need to tell you what it means." He sighed.

"Watashi wa kurayami no naka no kage manipyureta no hikari desu. That's what it means." He whispered. "I just read it backward so that it would be much harder to remember lest someone hears it other than us."

"I am the shadow manipulator, light in the darkness," I repeated after him. "So that's what it means, huh."

Pretty much describes who I am, Kurayami Hikari. My dad used to tell me that I should be a light in the darkness, that's why he named me like that. (My first name literally means light, and my last name means darkness) Such a very absurd name. I thought to myself and smiled.

"Now, back to my question, where does the light shine it's brightest?" He asked. "In darkness!"

You answered your question. I thought.

"Well, that's what you need to remember." The shadow manipulator advised. "You must become a light in order to overcome darkness."

I nodded and bowed my head. "Thanks, Master Ryu," I responded with a slight bow of my head.

"You're welcome, kid." He said, disappearing once again. "See you again soon!"

I breathed deeply, remembering everything that he told me. A shadow skimmed through my wall and waved his hand. I waved back. I finally got used to that shadow manipulator. Well, I guess he was too excited for tomorrow that he ended up giving me a lesson after dinner. I smiled. Well, it's been a long day, a lot of stuff has happened to me.

I tried imagining what our lessons would be like tomorrow.

With that thought, I fell asleep.

.....