nature
Perhaps it is the home
Perhaps the destination
Perhaps both.
Can you push past the constraints you have inherited?
Can you seek to understand that which scares you? That which you hate? That which angers you?
Truth and Time, is this the prin...
Thousands of delicate appeared, the fearful gazes remaining behind the reaches of time and yet still bound by it. Silence pervaded in their minds but the silence was delicate, the smallest leaf having the power to disturb the still water.
Mildred remained calm and so did the other five, keeping their own aura composed to alleviate all others. Nevertheless, the growth of unease was undeniable, the fear of failure and loss amounting to many emotions.
Mildred's invisible resonance reached for the grey aura, the two coming close to aid each other.
"The Demons. Each one of them is here."
The blithe tone of the gentle spirit was alarming and the leader relaxed her own emotions to ease the other Shadow's.
"The Shadow-Trappers, too. No, it's all of their consciousness that has been brought here, and the atmosphere here puts them into anguish. Their thoughts are blurred, but their emotions are so vivid.
"I want to help them."
Mildred knew that this was the work of Thet's Yuran. His kindness activated that Technique of Solis and it came from the depths of his conscience. No matter what happened he would not turn it off, even if it caused noise and disturbance to engulf him.
"Then help them."
His friend's words seemed to echo light years away, the briefest power of their resonance touching Thet's thoughts. The grey waves now increased their frequency, building up energy as the Shadow braced himself to face trauma.
Help.
The silence of agony...
Kindness.
...only he could sense their raw emotions, aid their brave facades.
A flash of brightness came and with it, a mundane visual of what he felt.
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So dull. Nothing.
Grey fog filled the black space, holding the void with all its might, wearing no expression, remaining absolutely still. Oblivious, keeping the worldly affairs away.
No escape. Only endure.
And that's what the grey Shadow did.
They will all drive you mad.
Reality taught Beings to endure. You learn, you live it out, and you come to Oblivion, thought Thet silently.
I shall withstand it.
Silence pervaded the space, carrying the familiar feeling of comfort, subduing all uncertainty. The pains of the Demons weakened under the strength of their will that was now powered by Thet's hold of all those emotions, understanding all those emotions.
"No... why do you do this?"
The tone of Ethelred's thoughts was empty and genuinely questioning. The man immediately realised what caused his friend to bear such a burden, and he couldn't help but feel the growth of an unwelcome emotion.
"The Demons are not your slaves. How dare you bring them under your control and abandon their thoughts, their emotions. Their true minds all hidden in their subconsciousness, reaching towards Thet with despair."
Ethelred's gruff tone suddenly softened.
"And he never says no."
Thet's aura melted in a way that could be mistaken for a smile, spreading immense comfort in his friend. Ethelred believed in Thet and knew he would handle that weight despite everyone else's wishes. However, what the Demons has been reduced to... it was unacceptable.
Ethelred felt their pain. He understood them and as a result, he was angry with Vlad.
"You are their leader. How could you have made them mindless, an empty vessel?"
Threat flickered in crimson flames, circling the invisible space of Vlad. The Being remained mute and Chaos's Shadow only grew more furious, his connection with the Demon's home burning.
Upon recognising the emotion of another friend did Ethelred calm down, the kindness of his understanding surfacing once again. Zoey was afraid for the Shadow-Trappers and Ethelred's tranquillity provided little comfort.
The blue aura reached towards the white one, her fearful thoughts seeking comfort from her mentor while gripping the crimson one for support.
"Everyone... are they okay? How did they all come here?"
"Vlad brought them. Nothing in existence would be able to stop this," Joha thought in a nonchalant tone, a shred of kindness lingering in her notions.
"But the abyss..."
"Does not intervene in the matters of the Shadow Dimension. It probably is a part of the dimension and thus wouldn't be able to protect them all from Vlad. I should've thought of it before."
Kasia was bitter, so very bitter. Her zeal was tensed but she still remained calm, not letting her emotions explode.
"They, they have to go back home without harm. I-"
"I made my promise and have to fulfil my duty, Zoey. No harm will come to them."
"And I will help you. All of us will. Besides, look how strong they are. They remain silent and I know they try to hold back their feelings to ease Thet's burden.
"They deserve life. I will return it to them."
"It doesn't justify Vlad's actions," Kasia thought, the first layer of hatred tipping into the sea-green aura.
"I agree with Ethelred. To bring a sentient individual's sentience under control is despicable. They might as well not be sentient anymore."
"Do not say that," Brier spoke softly. "Their subconsciousness remains. Their minds do too, and will eventually be returned to them."
Without warning, the blue aura circled around the crimson and sea-green ones, merging its ends to their ends. Picking up the Shadow's thoughts on instinct, the crimson and sea-green merged their own ends, forming the perfect circle.
The pace of the swirling accelerated continuously, building an immeasurable amount of zeal. Every presence was now devoid of notions and motions, feeling the sole emotion of ebullience. The white aura's glow brightened and a burst of its energy entered the circle, amplifying the zeal to a great level.
Then, it stopped. Still, but such a fine presence. For a brief moment golden particles pervaded throughout the dimension before everything reduced to an invisible but powerful barrier of zeal.
Protecting the Shadow-Trappers against everything, aiding the Demons to not feel pain.
"A zeal blanket of protection made of all particles, waves, quanta and pure energy. Truly, Zoey. Your intuition is strong," Zindel thought with pride.
The blue aura glowed with a humble tone but more importantly, the hatred in the sea-green had completely disappeared, replaced with the general sense of wisdom and acceptance.
"However..." The yellow tone continued, its aura turning towards their leader's. With the exchange of a thought in unison, the Shadow continued.
"Do you not sense that presence? Seven foreign shadows who aren't from our time?"
As all shadows realised their presence, the aura of the foreign shadows deepened. With it did the pervading presence of Vlad finally establish its existence, relying his thoughts.
