The Sixth God (Arc 1: From The Pale Ashes) [BL]

Chapter 3

It was a two-hour walk.

Ina's brightness and warmth kept the night chill away in a halo of silvery light as he chatted happily to the man who half-listened as he led the way.

Shida watched them interact with trepidation. They only thing that kept him from running back was Ina wildly swinging their clasped hands.

Slight irritation made Shida's eyebrows twitch as the shadows desperately tried to cling to his hand as well, only to be mercilessly be burned away by Ina's light.

Shida couldn't help but glance back at the darkness, watching the black tendrils follow loyally, hearing their whispering raspy voices as the brushed against the trees or tangled in the grass.

Biting his lower lip, Shida glanced at Ina before reaching out his free hand behind him, away from Ina's light.

Immediately a tendril wrapped around it and relief filled Shida's heart. He smiled softly and swung the tendril-like Ina did his hand as they continued walking.

Ina glanced back at the shadow, frowning. "Shida,"

Shida looked at him and seeing his expression, his smile dimmed.

Ina immediately choked back his words, bumping their shoulders together. "Why do you like the dark so much? Isn't the daytime better? the sun's out and it's warm..."

"Alright, we are here-!" The man suddenly choked as he turned around, stumbling back. His robust butt landed into the snow, torch going out. He scrambled back a few feet, kicking up snow.

It wasn't really an issue since Ina was glowing enough to see. The man's eyes stared at what Shida was holding hands with.

It didn't have a form, just rotten tentacles of pure darkness stretched thin. It was wrapped around the boy's hand, tiny fingers climbed higher to the wrist. But where that darkness came from, it's true form was unseen. It went all the way back into the forest as if wanting to drag Shida back, unwilling to let him go.

Shida watched the man's face go pale, eyes so wide they looked like an owl's. His hand brushed a strange sharp thing in his belt.

Shida watched the man breathe heavily on the ground, frowning. What is wrong with him?

He took a step forward and the man jerked the sharp object out of the sheathe a few inches.

"You cannot bring that thing into the house." The man pointed at the pulsating darkness.

The thought of leaving the shadows sent a spike through Shida's heart.

The shadows tightened their grip.

"Shida!" Ina seized his hand tightly, tugging for attention.

Ina lowered his voice and whispered, "Just make it let go of your hand. The shadow doesn't need to go away just not be so obvious. After all, it's everywhere, right?" Ina gestured to the darkness that is surrounding them.

That's right. It doesn't live in the darkness, it is darkness. And unless it is burned away with light, it can't be driven out.

"I'm sure the house has shadows. They are right there with you." Ina squeezed his hand.

" I am right here. I will protect you."

The unease wouldn't leave Shida's heart. He didn't know why he was so wary but it wouldn't leave him like a leech to blood.

But Ina's smile was so bright, so sure that Shida couldn't help but nod.

Ina waited for the nod before grabbing Shida's shadow wrapped hand with his glowing one.