Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 265 - 245: Ascension of Shadows

Shadow Beasts.

This is the name of my race. We also have another name, called Moon Beasts. This name comes from our abilities, which bear similarities to the moon. At birth, we are all but shapeless shadows. As we grow, we morph into the form of an animal and develop some of the corresponding creature’s habits. Like the moon, we can only reflect the sun’s brilliance. Shadow Beasts are a kind of magical beast, a dangerous monster. However, we possess a special ability. We can attach ourselves to other races and achieve symbiosis. Owing to the vast difference between our constitution and the physical world, upon reaching adulthood, we must find an object to possess in order to maintain a corporeal form in this realm. The elders of our race set up black Pillarstones when we come of age, which serve as vessels to store our strength—thus allowing the Shadow Beasts to exist independently without a host.

We live like shadow, in places untouched by light. There is no brightness here, but we don’t need it. I still remember from my childhood, the Pillarstone Forest formed by the tall stones of our people, which was my favorite playground. I would frolic among them with my companions, and those steady pillars were our umbrella of protection. They were as unbreakable as my race.

On the day I came of age, Avonreiter and the elders erected my Pillarstone. Avonreiter was my brother; we almost awakened in shadow together, but unlike me, he wasn’t fond of play. Gloomy Avonreiter always whispered in shadows, like a mouse. On that day of maturity, I looked at my Pillarstone, as the shadowy hand caressed the stone that symbolized me. I smiled at Avonreiter.

"I will become a cat! A cat that catches mice!"

Avonreiter simply scoffed with indifference, "As you wish, Veraliz."

After coming of age, I earned the right to attend the clan meetings, though I crouched in an inconspicuous corner.

I wasn’t interested in the matters the elders were discussing, my mind was on playing in the Pillarstone Forest with the young lads. But my keen ears still caught their conversation.

"In the west, where dragon wings cannot reach, a new kind of creature has appeared."

"Isn’t that normal? Dragons are developing their subordinate slaves. Maybe it’s just a new toy, what’s it called, the dragons’ nail-knives?"

"No, those creatures haven’t sworn fealty to the dragons. I can feel it, within their fragile bodies lurks something dreadful. It’s as strange as their bizarre powers."

"What race are they, elder, and what is their power?"

"Humans, those who wield the holy light."

In the times that followed, the terms ’holy light’ and ’human’ were repeatedly mentioned, and the frequency of these mentions only increased. Humans are combative beings, and the stories reaching our children’s ears were all about them expanding their territories. To us, this seemed nothing out of the ordinary, the law of the jungle, the rule of the world.

Until that day, when a piercing screech swept through the skies like a violent storm. The sky was dyed red with blood, and the mournful screams shook every race that existed in the world.

Even I, detached from worldly affairs, knew that the heavens had changed, the dragons had fallen.

The world had changed; it became bright and warm. As a price, darkness was dissipating, including us species who struggled for survival in the dark. I joined the Hunting Team, for now, food was scarce, and we had to compete for sustenance with the magical beasts in neighboring territories. With our mighty strength, we eliminated them.

I never played in the Pillarstone Forest again, each visit was but a fleeting one. I needed to train, to rest, or else my kinsfolk would starve. The black Pillarstone was my pillar, the motivation for my determined survival.

Day after day, this way of life became familiar, and I grew into an outstanding hunter.

I came to the Pillarstone Forest, where my power had now become one of the strongholds of the clan. I looked upon the Pillarstones with relief, like looking at those kin who sought new territories far away. The turmoil of the changing era had ceased, and with humans leading the times, we became the strong, surviving.

It was supposed to be this way.

Those Pillarstones that had stood since my youth, those utterly firm Pillarstones, suddenly began to shake. Cracks formed at the base and climbed up the Pillarstones like cursed insects. My heart was hollowed out by fear, and I dashed over, with my shadowy tendrils drawing power to fill the crevices. The state of the black Pillarstones, the foundation of our adulthood, didn’t affect us—but our state could affect them. I knew my struggle was futile.

The black Pillarstone shattered before me. Its fragments hit me, bringing down a black rain. A black catastrophe, and in one night, my race was halved.

Avonreiter soothed the frightened me and we both attended the final meeting of the elders.

"Humans have waged a war. We, just happen to be in their way."

How ridiculous it is that the demise of half the Shadow Beasts was simply because we were in the way.

Avonreiter clenched his teeth, "Elder, what should we do?"

"Flee, Avonreiter, take Veraliz and run."

"Right, then we must hurry to organize the people to evacuate. I’ll go now. Elder."

Two fallen Pillarstones were tossed before me.

"Elder?"

"Go, it’s too late. The holy light has come. You are the most outstanding of the young generation, live on with our will. We’ll buy you time."

Roar! All the Moon Beasts in the meeting revealed their true forms, their massive bodies tearing branches, their rolling shadows tearing through the clouds. My kinsmen, they howled under the moonlight. They were roaring wildly, unleashing a savage fury.

A flash of sword light cut through the barrier of the shadow realm. My tribespeople roared, their massive forms charging towards that sliver of brightness.

Avonreiter, with me screaming, fled into the darkness in the opposite direction.

Shadow Beasts, only the two of us remained.

I cursed Avonreiter frantically, cursing this coward who fled. I had no idea what else to do; the screams of my kin under the light became a nightmare that accompanied me day and night.

Our Pillarstones lay just a short distance away, just like the fallen bodies of the Shadow Beast clan.

"Coward! You just watched them go to their deaths, for the sake of your own life!"

"The elder’s command, you must survive."

"Now we are safe! Everything as you wished!"

"Yes, you are safe now, Veraliz. Please, continue to live well."

Avonreiter’s words gave me an ominous feeling, and I grabbed him, apologizing anxiously in his arms with a sobbing voice.

"I didn’t mean to curse you, Avonreiter, you are not a coward. I know this was also a painful decision for you. I am sorry my harsh words disturbed you, please don’t be angry. I am sorry."

Avonreiter’s usual chillness, which I had always found distasteful, now provided me with a strange sense of security.

"Veraliz, our clan cannot perish, this is our responsibility. But the revenge for the elder, the vengeance for our people, someone needs to carry it out, this is also our duty. I am going back to make the humans pay. You must stay and fulfill the duty of continuing our lineage."

I was very scared, I knew what that meant.

"Let me go, Avonreiter, I can carry out the revenge as well!"

Those cold eyes looked at me as if I were a stranger.

"I am stronger than you, Veraliz. I will reclaim our clan’s crown."

The crown, a power bestowed by the rules of the world, a force belonging uniquely to a leader, a symbol. When a clan grows strong enough, their leader will receive the crown of power; it is authority and legacy. When a clan’s power nears exhaustion, the once forged crown can spark the new glory of a lost clan. As an arcane force, the crown can be inherited in two ways. Given by the preceding leader, or the birth of a new king. It meant that Avonreiter’s strength had to surpass that of the deceased elder. While difficult, only with the crown could there be hope for the clan to survive.

I couldn’t stop him.

"Avonreiter, you must come back. Otherwise, I will be very angry."

"Of course, I will become the king of the Shadow Beasts."

Avonreiter left, and I could only curl up in a corner of the shadows with his and my Pillarstones.

I erected his Pillarstone, leaning against it day and night.

This was all I had left.

Before long, I was overjoyed to find that Avonreiter’s Pillarstone was growing stronger; the shadows spraying from this stone were changing the environment around it. My heart held only joy, knowing he had succeeded. As long as his power advanced further, we could establish a new Shadow Beast clan in this new territory, a reborn, stronger clan.

This beautiful vision abruptly shattered that day, coming to an abrupt halt.

Its shattering was so sudden that I couldn’t even touch it one last time.

"Liar, damn rat."

I merged into the shadows, burying the remains of the Pillarstone in them. I shouldered my own stone and set out on the road to leave the dense forest. Above the mountains that reached into the clouds, the dawn of holy light rose with the sun, burning fiercely just as the rage in my heart.

Veraliz gently tapped on the ancient, eerie black column, its desolation adding new power to the altar swirling with shadows. Arranging her disheveled hair behind her ears, Veraliz moved her long legs, looking at the boy bound in the shadow, delivered by her own Witch of Cats.

"Holy light has erected its Pillarstone on the peak of Lokarot. So, I must also erect a Pillarstone of my own. Light and shadow, this time, one must be freed. Unfortunate child, you are the first sacrifice."

Veraliz’s fingertips touched Lyle’s mask; the shadow surged and soared into the sky.

"Holy light, my Destroyer, my vengeance, begins now!"