A New Dawn

Inclusion

Harvey

         It’s been a couple of weeks now since the first time I saw the Timekeeper, he was originally the Owl, he changed his name because he thought he could get used to being an independent shadow; a shadow that specializes is manipulating time. I once saw him training with Annie, two fearsome shadows with great talents. Annie’s talent to read mind’s helps her to know what the enemy’s thinking making her more strategic with her approach, while the Timekeeper on the other hand, he just loves to play with Annie. Playing with time and poking her here and there till Annie gives up. I noticed that the time patterns that he uses mainly affects the target that he chooses. Danny decided to name his shadow Chester, he said it rhymed with the name call Jester. They’re all being cooperative, but then there’s me.

        I haven’t had another chat with my shadow since then, whenever I do want to start a conversation with him, he just walks off like I’m no one. I do deserve it, I think, but Anna keeps telling me to be more offensive. Great idea, if you want your shadow to detest you for the rest of your lifetime, I just keep tabs of where he’s going. The Station, the closest pubs, training grounds, but he’s just too observant of me as well that sometimes I don’t even know where he goes. I try to ask around some of the kids but they just say he goes to his private place. Well, where is this private place of his anyway?

        Anna and Danny, I really need to get used to Dante, were planning a search group among the children near the camps. They heard rumors of a special child that might have a trait; same with us, the seven heavenly virtues. Rumors of the child that has the same shadow like Anna, but his shadow is the whole resemblance to an Angel. He and his shadow roam the street giving off rations to the kids and sometimes helping them harness their talents. Charity, they haven’t had the specifics of where the kid lives but the search might be easier than guessing and pin pointing on maps with no direction.

        “This kid, he’s like angelicky?”

        Anna seems puzzled with my question “Why angelicky? We don’t know what he looks like, we just know that his shadow is an Angel, like Annie.” She gives off a forlorn look before walking off.

        I think I might have stepped into a thin line of privacy regarding Anna’s shadow.

        The next day, the search began, questions were asked here and there. Kids pointing to almost the same direction, some cheeky bastards pointed us towards an entertainment house for adults. We were passing by a group of children which looks like they were new to the concept of dying are scattered and panicking.

        “MY MOM! WHAT ABOUT HER?! SHE NEEDS ME! GET ME OUT OF HERE!” holding her head while she screams out her pains.

        “I don’t want to be here, it’s scary and creepy and I miss my daddy” he’s too young to be dead; he looked like he was seven or eight, what is happening in the real world that children are dying from?

        Then out of nowhere, a loud crash and came with it a big shadow with wings black as Annie’s. He’s holding a kid between him and some hysteric thug kid. It seems like a fight for territory, but then I noticed something peculiar about the shadow, he has rations.

        “Just give me more rations and there won’t be any more trouble! I just want to survive! Okay?! I didn’t want this life of being a conjurer! I hate my shadow! I hate my father! He killed me! Stabbed me to death!” he began pouring his eyes out as his shadow came out; it resembles more like a demon than a shadow. It has four pointy horns sticking out of his head and eyes that glow red. We’re just observing the fight go on, kids like us join the scenario, cheering on both parties.

        “I’m just giving out rations and its one ration for child. I’m very sorry, but if you want you could have mine?” a tall bulky kid came out of the arms of the feathery shadow. He looks more like in any other kids bully scenario, but this kid is not the bully but the thug looking kid.

        Lucas, don’t be so kind to such foul mouthed child. If it’s one ration for child then so be it. You, yourself also needs sustenance so don’t you dare feed this kid your share. His shadow has a point, if it was me he’ll be starving off with that attitude.

        Lucas, as the shadow says, walks towards the thug kid and hands another ration to him, even giving off a radiant smile. “If so he wishes more ration, then I give him my share. I’m not hungry anyway. Let’s go Michael” he and his shadow walks pass us and greets us with a smile and a nod then walks off to the other kids consoling them and giving them their rations. He’s the kid we’re looking for.

        As the kid gives out rations, we followed him through his route. As we found out, there are more children now that needs rations so when he was done, we were all tired following him that he gave us rations too. “These are the extra ones, I know they aren’t much but they’re rather delicious” he said with a kind smile. This kid is just the epitome of kindness.

        “Thank you very much for your kindness” I do mean every word I said

        You’re very welcome then, I can sense that you are sincere with every word that you have said. I am Michael, Lucas’ shadow. He stands and gives me a nod; they’re both kind and polite.

                “Hi my name is Anna, this here is Harvey, and t he tall kid is Dante. You’re Lucas as your shadow says. We’re from the seven virtues and-“

        “No.”

        “No? No what? I haven’t even said anything yet”

        “I know what you’re trying to do and my answer is no”

        “You don’t understand, I just want to have a talk with you”

        “And so did the others that wanted to recruit me to their faction, so my answer is no”

        “Kid! Just let me finish!” then a very awkward silence came on for quite a long time. When Anna was done composing herself she started again. “I know we do looked like we’re here to recruit you, yes that’s true, but no it’s not for the same purpose as you’re thinking”

        “It’s not?” he looks really puzzled no"

        “No, the seven virtues are exactly what the name implies. We’re searching for the other four more virtues that would help us defeat the seven demons”

        Lucas, they know. I think we should consult to them regarding the “kid thing”. Before his conjurer even answered he blurted out the most terrifying words that could kill by its worth. The demons are collecting children to test their worth, if they don’t find them suitable, they devour them as source of energy. Now, it was our turn to be flabbergasted with what they had just revealed.

        “I have kept this information for quite some time now because I am looking for the exact people with the same purpose as I am, Exterminating the demons” he bowed his head with disgust as he say those words.

        “So, what’s your plan Lucas?” there’s no more question that needs to be asked. It’s for certain.

        “I’m in”

        AU: sorry for being on hiatus for a while, just spent time with the beloved one. So here’s how I pay my debt.