The Dark Path : The Start of Darkness, The Beginning of True Struggles

Chapter Three

- Chapter Three -

Water was filling my lungs as I sank deeper underwater. The pain in my chest stung a lot but it didn’t matter. When Alessandro swung that sword at me, it felt as though I had become vulnerable.

The drop from the top of the train into the river below felt like it lasted forever. As the train travelled away along the tracks, my body splashed into the water below. When the coldness of the river water touched my skin, it felt like I was falling into death’s embrace.

I was underwater, too weak to swim up to the surface and try to save myself due to the slash from the sword. I guess this is where my life ends. How pathetic.

It was deathly quiet underwater. All I could feel was the coldness of the water. All I could see was the sun’s rays piercing the surface of the water.

I closed my eyes and accepted my fate. What point was there in continuing my life? Maybe it was better this way.

Just then, I felt myself being pulled out of the water. Water fell away from my body as I was lifted out of the water. Above the water, the sun shined a lot brighter and I had to close my eyes since they hadn’t adjusted to the bright light.

I was still too weak to see who was saving me. My head was turned away from them so I couldn’t get a glimpse of their face.

The water really deep so whoever was helping me had to be incredibly tough. I felt myself being dropped onto the side of the river. I was still too weak to move but I had begun coughing out the water from my body.

I felt hands checking my body. I winced in pain whenever those hands ran over the cut I received from getting slashed by Alessandro’s sword.

The river water was causing my wound to sting intensely and all I could hear was my own heavy breathing as I went into unconsciousness.

Soon, I had begun to regain consciousness. I brought my hand up to my head and rubbed my temples. As I become more aware of my surroundings, I noticed that the sky had turned orange signalling that it was close to sunset.

I tried to sit up and as I did so, my faithful shadow wolf, Ava, came to my side.

I found myself smiling as I looked into her dark eyes. Sigh… Ava, I really wonder if you knew the pain that your master is going through.

Nearby were my faithful servant angel Syschela, who was wearing her long black robe that hid her features, and Dokkalfar, my loyal second-in-command of the shadow people.

“How are you holding up, my lord?” Syschela asked me with a monotonous voice.

“I think I’m alright. What happened? I vaguely remembered being dragged out of the river.” I tried getting up but as soon as I did, my chest exploded in pain.

Dokkalfar caught me as I fell to my knees. “My lord, I would advise against any sudden movement right now.”

“Alright, I understand. Hold on, I took a wound from a sword. Shouldn’t I be feeling a lot worse?”

Dokkalfar nodded. “You would be feeling worse…if you were a normal human being. However, there are some upsides to being an elemental with servants. Would you mind explaining to the lord, Syschela?”

Syschela cleared her throat. “You are the elemental of darkness, my lord, this you already know. Being that, you are one of the few elementals who command a vast number of servants. Even less than that number of elementals, your servants are actual sentient beings. They will be able to think independently from you. Only two known elementals are gifted with servants who can think for themselves. You, the elemental of darkness and…”