Order Of The Shadows

Chapter 4 A Rivalry Is Formed

"N-no way. H-how is this possible? It can't be. Who are you?"

"I am you."

"But how?," I question.

"Well you see I am the you that knows more about you than you," the other me answers.

"Sooo... my conscience?"

"Well not exactly but you could say that."

"Wait why am I here?"

"You are here because you got your ass handed to you."

"So how is being asleep helping me?"

"Well that is technically not true. You see when you and I talk time around you freezes."

"Oh I get it now. You are the me that knows more about me than I do. Which would also mean you have more power and you have brought me here to unlock it."

"Exactly."

"Well what are you waiting for tell me how to unlock it."

"Well first I need to inform you of how this works. You see how your mage tattoo is colored black?"

"Yeah."

"It means you found the key to unlocking your power."

"Key?"

"When unlocking power a key is needed. The key is someone who is able to change the way you feel easily."

"Okay but how do I unlock my power?"

"Well you see there are multiple abilities or forms that a mage possess. One can unlock them by emotion. In your case you need to be thankful inorder to unlock the first of your forms."

"Thankful? But to who?"

"Let's just say a certain pink haired girl who is cheering you on."

"Wait you mean...," I say as I wake up lying on the ground, "Venus."

Cronos turns around. "Wow you can talk after that. Amazing! I didn't think you ha-."

"Shut up and let me speak," I interrupt while trying to stand up. "Venus... Thanks." I turn my head left and immediately spot her out of the crowd. "It's only been a day, but in that day you have changed me. You changed the way I felt about this town. You changed the way I felt about myself. And most of all you helped me remember my name. So I'm thankful that I met you. I swear I will win this match. And after I win, let's do something fun... Cronos you can tag along with us."

"But I'm your enemy."

"No you're not." I stand up straight. "You're just someone looking for a rival. I know 'cause I'm the same." My mage tattoo disappears and is replaced with thick black lines stretching from the back of my hands up to my eyes. I clench my fists and my skin turns dark grey.

"W-what are you?," Cronos questions, "A-are you a d-demon?"

"No I'm a boy with no memory, a boy with no family but instead a friend." I glance over at Venus. On her face isn't the look of fear but instead a smile. She winks. I turn red...why am I affected by that. I look back at Cronos. "I'm an inexperienced warrior, getting stronger is the reason I fight. I'm the only shadow mage left. But you can just call me Zytrax."