Shadow Slave: Possibilities Without Meaning

Sunny had caught Aldric up on what had happened to him in the past month. While he was not happy to have to repeat himself for the third time, it had to be done. Explaining how he reached the nightmare seed and its location was something that he could not hide. 

Even the elusive identity of his helper was revealed. 

After all, all the specialist knowledge that Sunny had surrounding the nightmare and the Chained Isles had to be sourced from somewhere.

From how Sunny described Mordret and how he thought to himself that the mirror shard had to be made by a lost awakened. A person whose physical body had perished in the waking world, left to be a wandering soul in the dream realm. 

But Aldric knew better. 

'If only he knew.'

He thought. 

Looking to Cassie, he thought about her next move. 

Sunny had admitted that both of them would be making a trip to the Night Temple. 

Knowing exactly what Cassie had done when she entered the Night Temple and her intentions, he had to keep his eyes open. 

'As if I'm going to let that happen.'

What exactly he was talking about was a secret. 

"Alright. I'll join you. But I have one condition."

The Singularity said. 

"What do you want?"

Sunny asked. 

He did not blame Aldric for having concessions. From what he heard, the hunter had formed something of a cohort within his organisation. To not go with them and join Sunny, a deal would have to be made. 

"I have an idea, but I'll let you know well before we challenge the nightmare."

He responded. 

"Alright, Mr. Mysterious."

Sunny could not argue with the request. He was sure that it would not be something ridiculous.

'At least I hope so.'

Finishing that line of thinking with the thought.

The rest of the dinner was a relaxing moment for them all. Catching each other up with what they had done since returning to the dream realm. 

Aldric learned more about how life in Bastion was for Kai and Effie. If it really did live up to the image portrayed in the media. 

Details surrounding the Chained Isles and its surrounding ecology. 

Aldric shared some of the challenges that arose from attempting to organise so many awakened.

There was an obvious tension between Sunny and Cassie that extended within the conversation. It was not Aldric's place to say anything about what had happened. 

Though, he knew that Sunny was a better man than him. If someone had done something like that to him, he didn't know what he would do. 

Finishing up their dinner with the promise to meet up regularly to discuss their plan on conquering the nightmare, the long day was over. 

----------

"Kura, cover the front. Lyn, protect the rear. Everyone else, follow me."

Aldric, covered in the [Mantle of the Underworld], spoke to his squad. A shroud of darkness emanated around the armour like a flame. 

However, more than that, the shroud looked alive. Pulsating and shifting with a form of intelligence that should not exist within a metaphysical element.

A small group of four awakened could be seen in what could only be described as a furious jungle. Sprawling fauna littered the landscape like it was a rainforest. Towering trees with high canopies blotted the sun, trapping a wave of heat on the ground layer. The floor was covered in wild grass and plants; even dead biomass scattered the forest bed. However, the air itself felt alive. Causing all those that passed feelings of discomfort and danger. 

Just above, the skyline was covered in a dense fog. All-encapsulating, the water vapour lingered on anything that it touched. However, its movements seemed strange. Almost as if it was being guided to some degree.

"Kura! Two Hornets ahead."

Iris shouted. Squatting with perfect balance on a large branch high in the air.

Two grotesque creatures hovered in the air, propelled by a plethora of small buzzing wings. An acid green carapace with a brutal stinger jetting out from their behind. With each of them being the size of a cow and as thick as a dog, they were just within the range of Fallen creatures.

From the rear, the young girl seemed to have the smallest scope of vision, but that was not the case. Acting as the eyes and brains of the group, she directed and guided the group away from danger. As well as strategising against nightmare creatures.

"Roger!"

An androgynous voice shouted. 

Reaching to his belt with his left hand, the blonde-haired male grasped a thin black node. 

In his right hand, an ivory, intricate bow stood tall. An intricate design made of ornate marble was etched on the bow. A thick string connected the two ends, taut like a steel cable.

Placing the black rod on the string, sparks of static charge began to spread from Kura's limbs, forming around the black node and taking the form of an arrow. A bolt of pure lightning took shape.

"SCREECH"

The sound of pure electricity pierced through the air, coalescing around the fully formed arrow. A pale blue light sparked the surrounding area. 

Feeling a sudden drain in his essence reserves, the archer released his fingers.

"BOOM"

The bolt pierced through both of the hornets, dropping them from the sky. The static charge stunning their body and wings. 

"Mine!"

Lyn shouted. 

Dashing to the now vulnerable prey, Marielyn jumped into the air, channelling all her weight and momentum behind the large mace in her hand. 

"SPLATTER"

Swinging her weapon once more. She crushed the enlarged head of the second hornet.

"SPLATTER"

The ascended memory easily broke through the hard carapace, splattering blood, brain matter, and viscera all over the field in a 2 metre radius. 

"That was fun!"

Lyn shouted in a happy tone. The kind that could be taken at face value as well as sarcastically. 

Ignoring the strange girl, Aldric spoke.

"Iris, how far away is this supposed temple?"

Pulling out a sheet of rolled-up paper from her pouch, she kept silent as she studied the map. 

"The border of the temple is marked by a group of large trees."

She responded in a quiet voice, but to those around her it was loud enough. 

Dark, viscous emptiness began to pour from Aldric's foot onto the ground. Blotting out the ground beneath them. With no sound, no one noticed the strange occurrence. 

"I don't know if you can tell, but we are not exactly lacking in the number of trees around us. Anything more specific?"

Lyn spoke out. Leaning her body forward in the direction of the taciturn woman, using her mace to keep balance.

The mace in her palm was a dark crimson. Close to a third of her height, it carried a hefty weight behind it. The head was ornate, with a design fitting an iron maiden. An untold amount of spikes jetting out.

Her armour was made of flowing white fabric like a priestess. With her vital areas being covered in dark blue armour plates. Shimmering scales lined each plate, emanating a feeling of vitality and life, as if it was made from the carcass of a sea monster. Fitted with a dark blue helmet, with her upper face visible.

"Blood-red leaves."

Iris rebutted quickly. 

A look of annoyance spread on Kura's face. His effeminate features contrasting sharply with his expression.

"Red. Why is it always red?"

He said rhetorically.

In their moment of conversation, nobody noticed 10 black-shaped miniature birds leaving the pool of darkness. 

With a subtle jolt, Aldric spoke out.

"Northeast in two hundred metres."

Now raising his voice, the leader directed the group of people that were trailing behind them. 

A group of five, each fitted in clothing that screamed utility instead of protection, were who they were protecting in this mission. 

One elderly man led the group, with one of his colleagues and three research assistants. 

The lead researcher was a man named Judas. An awakened researcher under the employ of the government. While he held a few lectures during educational conferences, the man dedicated his entire life to researching the rich history and culture of the Dream Realm. With his specialty being in archaeology and ruins. 

Judas was also the vice-chairman of the Archaeology Guild. A melting pot of the brightest researchers in the field. Collating and comparing their knowledge in the hopes of widening the scope of their knowledge with the betterment of humanity in mind. 

With Judas' connection to both the guild and the government, his request for a protection squad was not a priority for the government with their limited resources. An expedition deep into a death zone with no confirmed end date was not something that the government could support now. Judas knew from experience that bureaucracy was the killer of momentum and progress. He estimated that it would take at least 3 years for his proposal to be expected. So when he was recommended a faster option, it was a no-brainer. 

The aim of the proposed expedition was to study and explore the temple located fifty kilometres west of the death zone dubbed as the Phantom Verge. 

The Phantom Verge was an expanse in the Dream Realm that had been discovered decades ago. When Clan Valor had expanded beyond Bastion and conquered the neighbouring forest, they set their sights on expanding. 

North, and they conquered the Chained Isles and more.

South, and they discovered Rivergate, leading to the Stormsea.

However, east of Rivergate was a land of fog. 

A large ring of fog covered its entire perimeter. Obscuring all vision from the outside.

While it was classed as a death zone by Clan Valor, the issue that faced the knights of the Sword Domain was not the nightmare creatures inhabiting it but one crucial thing that all regions had. 

The Phantom Verge did not have a gateway. 

Or at least one that could not be found. 

For decades, the elusive gateway was hidden from sight. Even from the most omniscient of seers.

With its lack of habitable land in the form of jungles, the Sword Domain did not find any value in putting any more manpower behind conquering the death zone. Strategically putting focus into solidifying their existing strongholds. 

But while it did not hold strategic value, like anything in the Dream realm, it was bound to be rich in knowledge and history. 

In the landscape of the never-ending fog and jungle, one of the only standing monuments was a large temple. The aim of this expedition.

With over fifteen whole days of travelling, they arrived. Moving the overgrown branches and plants away from blocking their sight, a massive clearing devoid of trees and abominations was ahead.

The mausoleum looked straight out of the Aztec era, planted on a high elevation. With large steps connecting it to the ground. Vines and plants encroached well within the temple's boundaries and beyond. 

The strangest part of the temple was the steps leading above. Like a strip, the centre of the stairs was suitable for humans; however, at either end, it seemed that the steps were made for literal giants. 

They were finally here.

"What a glorious day!"

A voice shouted out.

**********

Thanks for reading. 

Happy New Year, everyone. 

First chapter of 2025. The first of many to come.