Shadow's end

Chapter 2: The perfect One

The man was leaving the Shade's Mead tavern when he stopped short. Someone was there, he could feel it. The aura of his observer was so powerful that anyone could detect it. The man did not like the sinister undertones it had and decided to walk away as fast as he could. He had turned a corner, yet still he could feel the aura following him everywhere he went. It seems that the perfect lands of the Shad'raa are not so perfect as they would have us believe, thought the man to himself when he turned another corner and found himself trapped within a dead-end. He turned around to leave before his pursuer reached him, but he was too late. Standing there at the end of the alleyway, the silhouette of a tall man was blocking the traveller's way. The traveller could not clearly see who it was but he knew that this was certainly the source of the sinister aura he felt. He knew that he would have to talk his way out of this or fight. "Pardon me, sir, could you tell me how to exit the city? I seem to be lost" said the traveller to the figure blocking his path. "Now now, why leave in such a hurry? It would be bizarre to leave so soon when you have only just arrived. Unless, of course, you have committed a grave crime". The traveller had to laugh. The suggestion was completely absurd and he said so "Why no, of course not! That is a completely ridiculous notion. What crime could I possibly have committed?". The figure started to slowly approach the traveller and said: "I have been sent to investigate a break-in of the Council's Great Library". The traveller said "That is very well and all but-" he was cut off by the figure as if he had never even spoken "and suddenly, I see a suspicious figure leave the Shade's Mead, which is coincidentally located right across the Great Library, in a hurry". The traveller was getting annoyed with this figure and did not try to hide it so when he said "That is all very well, but I still do not see how this makes me guilty of such a crime. I am willing to cooperate with the investigation and tell you all I can, but I will not suffer false accusations". The figure laughed and said, "Oh, I am not falsely accusing you, or were you not within the library but three hours ago?" "Yes," said the traveller "I was. I still do not see how this makes me guilty or how you know this". The figure finally stepped into view and said "It makes you guilty my dear trespasser because that was when the infraction occurred. As for how I know, well, there are witnesses that saw you leaving the library at the exact time of the crime and no else left at all". The traveller was speechless as his accuser was telling him all of the facts. How could all of this be real? He had never even been near the restricted area but he could not prove it as he had been the only one in the library at the time. His thoughts stopped dead in their tracks as he analyzed the figure's aura. His hate rose to a boiling point as he saw a certain element in it that was in every living creature but was much stronger in this one. This is one of HIS pets, thought the traveller. He took a deep breath to gather himself and reasoned, Now is not the time. I must wait for the right moment.

Rasocren was basking in delight over the stupidity of this traveller but when he went to make his arrest, he had a slight moment where he seemed to have skipped a second or two. He frowned and shook his head in confusion. How odd, he thought, It's almost as if time stopped for a moment. I must be getting overexcited. "Now then" he declared "I, Rasocren of the Head Elder bloodline, declare you, wandering thief, officially detained for the infraction of the Elder Council's restricted area of the library." and he grabbed the traveller's arms and pinned them behind his back as he led him out of the alley. The traveller offered no resistance as Rasocren detained him and brought him to the Council hall. On the way, he was stopped by the guards at the entrance. "Halt!" barked the first one "no one is permitted to enter! The Council is in session and has ordered not to be disturbed for any reason!". Rasocren scoffed and said "Surely you must be joking? I have been instructed to find the one who trespassed on the Council's property and I have completed my task. I was to bring him to the council at once for the trial but now you hinder the completion of my task. You may be Council guard but I still am General and have priority on any matters concerning infraction on supreme law." he now leaned towards the guards and harshly said "I could have you detained for interfering with matters that are tier one clearance. Do you really want to be so foolish as to make such an idiotic mistake?". Fear fell on both guards' faces and the second one said: "Of course not sir, go right inside." They both opened the doors and announced "General Rasocren, here to see you great ones!" as Rasocren stepped inside with his charge, not waiting to be called in. "Thank you, you may return to your posts," said Drash'aa to the guards. They bowed and closed the doors behind them. "Your guards are incompetent, O great ones!" exclaimed Rasocren loudly, using very little formalities "They do not even know the priorities of supreme law!". "Why do you say that, General?" asked Sh'aard. "They would not let me enter and start the trial! I had to inform them of the policies of supreme law!" said Rasocren disapprovingly. "You will have to excuse them. They are temporary replacements while we look for adequate replacements. Our previous guards have been slain by unknown assailants and we have others looking into the matter as we speak" said T'aarsh with concern. "Now" he continued, letting the matter drop and beginning the trial "This is the trespasser?". Rasocren confirmed and explained how he had found the criminal leaving the Shade's Mead tavern and suspiciously leaving in a hurry. He also brought in witnesses stating that they saw the traveller leave the library at the exact hour of the crime. "Thank you for your account General, now we will question the traveller" T'aarsh turned to the cloaked traveller and said, "Now, I ask of you to remove your cloak so that I may know your face". The traveller did as was bid and removed his cloak. Underneath it, he wore black slacks as well as simple sandals and his chest was bare. On it was a big black one that seemed to part of his skin and not a tattoo. Somehow, Rasocren felt that it was not the original marking on his body yet he had no idea why. "Good," said T'aarsh "Now, tell me, what is your name?". There was silence for a while before the traveller answered: "I am called One". "Is this your true name?" "It is". T'aarsh exchanged looks with the other council members and continued "Where do you come from?". Again, silence. Just when the Council started to get restless, One answered the question "I am from no place in particular. I have no home but the wilds and my purpose is to wander them to my heart's content". "Very well," said T'aarsh clearly seeing that he would not get a straightforward answer to that question "Do you confess your crime?". Immediately, One answered "Yes. I confess". Taken aback by this unflinching admittance to committing such a serious crime, the Council took a moment to talk quietly amongst themselves. Finally after what seemed like centuries to Rasocren, Drash'aa, and not T'aarsh, spoke the final judgement "One of the wilds, you have been accused of infiltrating the Elder Council's library of very dangerous knowledge. For that crime, your punishment should be public execution". Rasocren smiled to himself, feeling pleased that things were going to plan when his mother kept speaking. "However," she said, "for your honesty, we have taken the time to lower your punishment from public execution to permanent exile and eternal reputation of knowledge thief". Rasocren was dumbstruck, as he would never have foretold the events that had just transpired. However much he wanted to protest the final judgement, especially after seeing the subtle look of triumph on One's face, Rasocren knew that he could not, must not protest, or all would be lost. "Rasocren," said T'aarsh "I would like you to personally escort One out of the city. Make sure that he does not cause any other problems and once you are done, come back at once! There are matters of grave importance that we would like to discuss with you". Rasocren snapped to attention and said, "At once, Councilman T'aarsh!". Quickly, Rasocren led the way out of the Council halls with only the thought of setting the unforeseen events of the trial right by any means necessary.

They were soon out of the city and One thanked Rasocren for the escort. Rasocren, however, said "Nonsense! I understand how hard this might all be and I feel quite terrible for being so hostile with you when I detained you. As a token of apology, I will escort you to the nearest village" with much regret and sympathy. One was surprised and accepted. They set out for the last journey of One's surprisingly short life.

The two travel companions had stopped in a small clearing that was on a path that had not been used in over 300 years. They had been travelling for three hours already when Rasocren had said "I am not used to travelling so far, unfortunately, and I am quite exhausted. I am loathe to ask this of you but may we rest here for a moment just for the time I regain my breath?". To that, One simply nodded and they had stopped. Now Rasocren was off wandering the small wooded area with the excuse that he needed to relieve himself. That, however, had been a lie as he was now stealthily creeping back towards the clearing and doing his best to stay out of sight. He had spent about a minute out in the woods wondering how he would get rid of his problem and had not found an answer, deciding instead that the answer would come to him when the moment was ripe. He stayed there for many minutes until One got restless and decided to investigate what was taking Rasocren so long. That had been a fatal mistake. By doing so, his back was now facing Rasocren and it gave him his opportunity. As if controlled by a powerful instinct, Rasocren had rushed in mist form towards One and plunged his hand in his back. What happened next, Rasocren could barely remember as the pure pleasure of the act had him in a state of blinding ecstasy. Once his hand was through, Rasocren pulled it out quickly ripping out a second, identical One of his body, except he was glowing blue and was translucent. Afterwards, he opened his mouth much wider than should have been possible and ate the blue figure in one bite. Such power as he had never felt before in his life was coursing through his body and Rasocren felt like he could do anything. However he was not done. Again by instinct, he stepped forward and phased into One's body and something incredible happened. He was One! He now had control over One's body as well as his abilities and memories. How?, thought Rasocren, How is this possible? Unless... of course! Suddenly he knew how this had come to be. He had finally discovered his Fcovehjj Lobweh, his soul gift. He was ecstatic to a point where he did not pay attention to the memories of One that were flowing in his mind, or else he would have learned much that many have yearned to know. After a while, his wits had returned and he thought to himself, I think it is high time I returned to the Council, as he stepped out One's body, making it dissolve in thin air.