The Shadows of Nature

12. The Kindness of Solitude

As those last words escaped Kaczie, rage's storm had vanished. While a dejected aura remained in the atmosphere, the particles carried solace, too.

Everyone wore a look of immense awe, though Zindel in particular was proud. He took a step to approach her on instinct before being stopped by Joha, nodding in understanding.

Such an old spirit... she deserves respect, Zindel thought with a smile. Kaczie stood with a serene expression, closing her eyes as the dark fragments around her faded away.

Vlad was now undetectable other than a gentle touch of its presence. Kaczie stood with her chin high and her eyes higher, holding an expression of immeasurable humility.

Silence passed and Time felt still, the now king of demons being lulled into slumber by the kind soul. A fragmented string of crimson and green circled around Kaczie's wrist, swirling in a uniform manner as if the force of gravity held it in place. Kaczie walked towards the four Shadows in an even pace and the king was now bound to her; he in her kindness and she as his captive.

"How did you come here?" Zindel asked in pure surprise. Joha and Kaczie shared a look, the former chuckling gently.

"Kaczie's Yuran enables her to use the Technique of Solis without being drained because of reasons I do not know," Joha began, shy pride reflecting in her eyes.

"That is how her Zeal Lietearu was very active, pervading even through the seven lands if only faintly. She picked up on that surge of wind and Isaac's Yuran. As my own was bonded to Isaac's, Kaczie was able to connect to me. Just as two quantum particles in super position have a connection that allows them to somehow coordinate and exist in the state opposite to that of their partner's, Kaczie's and my aura developed a connection that let her sense my surroundings from the briefest moment. She then came here at once.

"How did you come, though?" Joha was now a little curious herself.

"Through the abyss of Earth," Kaczie said with modesty. Prompted by the expressions of astonishment, she continued her explanation.

"I was surprised and honoured myself. The abyss must've known that the situation was delicate."

As a fragile silence overcame the atmosphere, the aura of a daunting being moved quietly to the minds of all the Shadows. They were overcome by an undetectable state of conscious chaos before returning to reality.

"Now, what happened?" Joha asked softly, admiration evident in her tone.

"Nothing, really. My Yuran helps alleviate others adversities and it appears that Vlad simply needed rest."

Zindel knew that her explanation was nothing more than an illusion. How the illusion came to be, what really happened with her Yuran was much deeper than that. Perhaps kinder and sorrowful, too.

"We must get going. There is a place on the land that has a connection to the land's abyss and thus the energy there is great. If Joha amplifies and contributes to Isaac's strength, and perhaps Brier takes nature's help, the four of you can return home."

Home. As that word left Kaczie, a wave of hope, relief and gratitude washed over the Shadows, though concern quickly overtook Zindel's thoughts.

"What about you? You must come home too."

Zindel's insistence brought a small smile on Kaczie's face, but the Shadow shook her head.

"My home is where I am needed, and for now, that is here.

"Do not worry about me, I will be fine. You all have greater things to worry about and so you must go now."

A hesitant silence followed. Joha rested her palm on her former student's head to prevent the him from speaking any other, his lips closing at will. His palms lay loose with disappointment and regret but he nodded anyway, lowering his eyes towards the ground.

"Brier, you will have to build something in that spot that acts as an open prison, if you know what I mean. When the time comes it may contain a strong being and for now, it will guard you against any opposing forces."

Brier nodded with obedience, smiling for Kaczie's sake. The latter faced Zindel and lightened her mind, the sensation of a breeze urging the boy to lift his chin.

"You like smiles, don't you, Zindel?"

The boy nodded.

"Please smile for me."

Shadow Beings in truth had no instincts. Yet the Shadow smiled on instinct, even if only a small one that lasted for a moment.

It lasted in time, and it was true.

The four turned, all their negativity transitioning into something neutral. It was then when Kaczie was really relieved, her expression empty but so full of love.

Zindel picked upon the development of that emotion, sighing as he recognised it for the first time, letting it become a part of his world line.

The four soon came to a stop, their conscious minds meeting the impact of the abyss. For a moment they stood still as if everything had shrunken to nothing, before regaining reality. Brier closed her eyes as she recognised the boundaries of that aura, remaining straight only those radiations in focus.

In a slow and subtle fashion did the particles start coming together, layers of hard brown settling on the short limits of power. The walls existed into visibility, holding the sensation of protection for the in from the out, and for the out from the in.

A moment of nothing passed as the sight unfolded before the four, their existence paused by nature's will. Soon after they walked into it, facing each other with calm expressions.

As if on instinct Isaac brought forth his black Yuran again in perfect contrast with Joha's black one, the two forming in an invisible and subtle force who's power really was hidden in strength. The sensation of a gateway circled within the cave they had formed, Isaac's black shadow melting into a thin fabric and surrounding the four shadows. Tranquility lay in their minds and their particles began to disintegrate, dark-light sending them back home.

The space through which they travelled now seemed so familiar and yet so enigmatic, its touch flooding the Shadows' time bound minds with an incomprehensible sensation. Soon they found themselves in the abyss of their home but the minute their particles assembled again, their consciousness slipped into another dimension.

Absolute darkness. The aura of the five Shadows remained, but their friendly glow was missing.

Darkness could haunt shadows.

"Welcome back."

The five shadows increased to nine and after a minute's daunt, to ten thousand.

The sensation of the unknown, the greatest unknown and the only truth.

Truth. The truth. No time, Truth.

Truth. False. Lies, illusions all to be true, all to be nothing but one.

Silence remained, silence prevailed.

Darkness could haunt shadows