Otherworldly - A Shadowed Awakening

Peak of Autumn, Week 5, Day 2

[System Notice: For defeating a hostile with 100% contribution you have unlocked the command [Combat Report]. This will give you details regarding your actions, experience, and achievements. This report condenses all notifications from combat into a single notification. Once the command is utilized the [Combat Report] will become the default notification for combat encounters.]

[Congratulations! You have slain your first monster! Additional experience awarded!]

[Congratulations! You have utilized your Skill Shadow Manipulation in combat!]

[Congratulations! You have—

Looking at the half dozen notifications, all seemingly related to combat, I appreciated the [System]’s first notice and decided a summary is perfect.

[Combat Report]

[Skills Used in Combat:

Inspect Lv. 2

Shadow Manipulation Lv. 4

Shadow Conjuration Lv. 4]

[Hostiles Defeated:

1 Level 4 Juvenile Mimic - Killed]

[Contribution: 100%]

[Level Discrepancy: 8 Level Excess]

[Overall Experience Modifier Adjusted for:

100% Contribution against Hostile

8+ Level Excess above Hostile]

[Achievements:

Utilized Inspect to Identify a Monster for the first time. Extra experience applied.

Sustained Shadow Conjuration in combat for the first time. Extra experience applied.

Sustained Shadow Manipulation in combat for the first time. Extra experience applied.

Sustained a mana weapon in combat for the first time. Extra experience applied.

Survived first Solo Combat against a single monster. Extra experience applied.]

[Post-Combat Results:

Skill Level Up! Inspect is now Level 3!

Skill Level Up! Shadow Manipulation is now Level 5!

Skill Level Up! Shadow Conjuration is now Level 5!

Class Experience Applied.]

As the oversized notice filled my vision, I stared at the System. Then I raised my hand and reached for where the word ‘killed’ was hovering. White words on a green window. My success was stated so succinctly. As my fingers went to run over the word, they sunk past the notice. It was incorporeal, after all. I let my hand drop.

It dug at me that the System stated ‘Hostiles Defeated’ and not ‘Monster Defeated.’

This world is dangerous, and not just because of monsters.

Still, I felt a sense of achievement fill me, and a small smile spread across my face. I’d reached competence in all of my Class Skills. Finally. I felt ice well up within me in anticipation as I Willed the compartment to change.

[Shadow Manipulation]

Nothing grew, the shadows staying flat, but against the empty wooden wall –where a crack of light from the window was reflecting, the shadows twirled around each other. With a pulse of my Will, a segment of one shadow broke away from the rest and began morphing into the crude shape of a butterfly. Then I had another form, and they fluttered against the wall. The fine control I had lacked before my Affirmation was a thing of the past. I created a tulip with a stem. Then, more butterflies –each circling either the flower or another butterfly. Soon enough, I was directing a symphony of butterflies that flowed from one side of the compartment to the other –fluttering along the wooden walls. I was able to feel where they were without focusing on anyone in particular as I created evermore.

The cold threads connecting me to the butterflies reminded me they were mine, just like my knit creations. I lowered my hands and gently pet Noir. This was mine. All mine. And now I didn’t need to recklessly practice my Skills, or worry if an enchantment held. Unlike [Shadow Animation], [Shadow Manipulation] did not require verbal commands.

At that thought, I released the butterflies and looked at Noir and Haze –Shade was curled too close to my throat for me to see easily. I readied myself and pulsed my Will. The cold of mana left me and flowed into Noir, and I tried to take control. I felt resistance as I attempted to lift his arms. The bunny didn’t want to move away from me. I could feel it. It sent a sickening shot to my gut, and I dropped [Shadow Manipulation].

Not because I had to but because the feeling of overtaking Noir’s control felt wrong. It felt perverse. [Shadow Animation] was still running, though, so perhaps it was my own Will I was attempting to usurp.

Looking up at the ceiling, I felt another pull of my attention.

[Congratulations! Shadow Manipulation is now Level 5! New features unlocked! Class experience applied.]

[Congratulations! Shadow Conjuration is now Level 5! New features unlocked! Class experience applied.]

[Status]

“[Inspect] [Inspect]”

[Shadow Conjuration: As a Young Lady of Darkness, you will become a master of the unseen. Whether you wield the darkness offensively, defensively, or passively is dependent on your will. With this Skill, you will be able to summon a hardy Shadow that can become corporeal. Upon activation, subtle shifts in the tint of Shadow can be altered to better blend in with other shadows. Color options increased per level. Total effectiveness is dependent on your Perception, Magic, and Divinity stats. Additional effects unlocked upon level up.]

[Shadow Manipulation: As a Young Lady of Darkness, the world of the stalker shall be yours to command. Whether you animate the shadows to do your bidding, wrap yourself in the comfort only darkness can bring, or simply wish to obscure yourself -this Skill will allow you to manipulate natural Shadows according to your will. Upon activation, you will gain awareness of all shadows in a sphere around you. Area of Sphere increased per level. Total effectiveness is dependent on your Perception, Magic, and Divinity stats. Additional effects unlocked upon level up.]

I focused on both Skills before pulling out the relevant changes.

[Shadow Conjuration] – Upon activation, subtle shifts in the tint of Shadow can be altered to better blend in with other shadows. Color options increased per level.

[Shadow Manipulation] – Upon activation, you will gain awareness of all shadows in a sphere around you. Area of sphere increased per level.

[Shadow Manipulation] was still active, and as I looked around, I could feel the shadow surrounding me. The compartment was filled with options. There were even some below me –and while I couldn’t feel much else, I could tell they were too far away to be within the compartment.

“[Inspect]”

[Shadow Conjuration: 2nd Tier Skill. Continuous activation. No cooldown. Current volume of Shadow able to be summoned: 50 CY. Current Shadow Camouflage options: 5. This Skill requires mana to maintain. Current level [5] out of [60].]

I coughed on a sharp breath.

50 CY is a huge change from the 3 CY that [Shadow Conjuration] gave at Level 1. It’s also monstrous.

I bit my cheek.

“[Inspect]”

[Current Shadow Camouflage options: Slate Grey, Navy Blue, Deep Purple, Hickory Brown, Lindwyrm Green.]

[Shadow Conjuration]

Out of the darkest shadows in the compartment, a pitch-black miasma grew and solidified into a misshapen ball. I brought it to me, hovering it above my head. Despite being in the flickering light, the darkness was a sharp black in contrast.

Slate Grey.

Before my eyes, the darkness… dulled. I could still feel it under my control, but it was no longer a void mid-air. It wasn’t transparent either, but its edges blended into the compartment better than before.

I stretched the edges out, thinning the base of the shadows until it was paper-thin, and pressed it up against the darkest wall in the compartment. It was disconcerting how well it blended in. I was halfway in love.

In elsewhere, magic couldn’t do things like this.

I fell asleep shifting the shadows on the wall between slightly different tints of shadow. It was the world's darkest light show.

I woke up to a knocking on the door and a gruff voice calling for me.

“What?” I croaked, my throat cracking from sleep. I flexed my muscles to loosen them and found myself hugging Noir more firmly than I’d intended. I released the bunny, stretching my arms up and out.

The only light leaking in from the edge of the curtain was a flickering orange light.

“Breakfast and briefing, my Lady.”

“Coming,” I sighed.

I rubbed my eyes before running my hands over my hair –making sure that the braids hadn’t fallen out too terribly while I slept. I slid off the makeshift bed and put on the loafers I had worn last night. It had been a comfortable sleep, and I had slept without dreams.

Outside the carriage was Captain Rellar, with his bald head and bulging muscles. Despite the early morning, he was already in full armor. The only natural light was at the edge of the horizon, the rest was provided by dimmed magelights and the campfires. Many of the knights were taking apart the camp, one was stirring a pot, and two were standing by a small table with silver place settings.

I followed Sir Rellar to the table and climbed into the seat he pulled out for me. As I looked over today’s breakfast, Sir Rellar moved to stand on the other side of the table. As he did so, I noticed a sword on each hip clanging. I picked up a fork and took a bite of some eggs while I waited.

Sir Rellar looked at me, and I felt his aura overcome me once again, anxiety and fear welling up within me. I swallowed. Enough.

“I have breakfast,” I said quietly, “What about the briefing?”

Sir Rellar nodded, the light of the campfire reflecting off his head as he did so.

“We should reach Juvel by early afternoon, where we will convene with the local Dusk contingent. Rather than staying with House Zora, we will find an inn to stay the night. We need to prepare more thoroughly now that we’re out of Adeline. And–” Sir Rellar paused, “You will need to prepare for a visit to the local church.”

My expression went flat, and my grip on the fork tightened.

“The church?”

“It is custom.”

Came the bitter voice of Eunora. I bit my cheek, crushing the insecurity that was welling within me. Neither were explaining, and it was making me angry.

“I’ll need more than that, Sir Rellar.”

The man blinked before shaking his head, a wry smile on his face.

“Apologies, I forget, my Lady. You are still young –I was told you had not left the estate before. Even when we’re traveling discreetly, Dawns are to make an appearance at the local church, pray for a fashion, and leave a donation.”

I could feel them, the chains of this family, choking me. Forcing me to pray to Gods I did not worship.

I swallowed the taste of bile at Eunora’s words. Because, of course, the original was devout. She was not me, not even in her affinities. No. The original had constructs of light in the vision Scylla had shown me. Frill, the eternal caretaker, the divine healer, the one who constantly treated Morloch’s ever-bleeding wounds. Of course, despite her resentment and rage, Eunora would pick her as a patron Goddess. Because underneath it all, Eunora was in pain.

At the thought, I felt a hiss coming through the link [Eternal Communion] had forged. I desperately wanted Eunora to run out of steam. There was, after all, a limit to how often she could reach out. The Skill itself had confirmed it.

I couldn’t convince myself to pretend, to hide my distaste at the thought of speaking to Grel or Brel –or, worse yet, Scylla. So, instead, I didn’t say anything at all. I lowered my head and focused on my food. The Gods of this world may not walk among mortals, but they clearly still demanded their worship. I would not be able to explain my disgust to Sir Rellar, and besides that, many ears were listening.

“I didn’t donate in Adeline.” That was all I could get myself to say.

Silence.

“Well,” Sir Rellar found himself, “That’s because it was your Affirmation. The other nobles made donations on your behalf.”

I sighed and listened to the rest of the plan for the day. It wasn’t much.