[Present time]
In the dark, chilly corner of a secluded cave, a large dark mass gathers upon its center, near the middle wall. Silently, it exists there according to no man's knowledge. If there ever was a light, it would have probably been gobbled up by this enormously gelatinous black egg, that looks as if it could trigger doomsday.
Time ticks by, yet day and night are of the same color in this place where people don't wander.
A few miniscule bubbles pass by inside the thing; almost as if they were imaginary. There is movement, but there is nobody to witness it. Slowly, a palm presses upon the surface of the gelatinous dark mass from the inside, as if caressing it; thanking it, and then testing it a couple of times before it retreats.
It isn't long until the white hand comes back to poke the surface with his forefinger—
The whole mass jiggles into soundless popping, like a bubble filled with the smokes of dry ice poked by a needle. The black fog artistically floods outward, flowing until the wisps hit the walls of the small cave and disappear.
The only thing that remains is me.
For long while, I stare at the culprit that destroyed the dark mass that had sheltered me for who knows how long—my index finger.
I check my other limbs—nothing feels missing. I clench and unclench my hands. There are two things I have noticed upon my wake; one is that I seem to cultivate my power whenever I sleep for long periods of time, and the second one is that I feel lighter. Not particularly in the physical manner, but mentally.
Though I feel something missing—a detached piece of me, to which my instincts tell me that if I look for it, nothing good will come out of it for me. So I ignore it.
My elbow joints pop as I stretch my now rune-riddled extremities. It seems that my clothes have also been devoured in whatever that mass was. Everything was gone, save for a few things like my father's mask and Tukare's silver fangs necklace that I picked up from the floor, my silver fangs anklet, and the leaf bracelet Evelyn gave me. Sadly, even Aovialutre's necklace also remains situated on my neck.
Whenever I think of taking it off, either my body stiffens like a statue or the necklace turns itself into a holographic thing that can't be physically touched.
Aside from these things, something akin to black clothes had covered my body, though I'm not sure when it happened. The material isn't familiar to me but my guts tell me that it could only be worn by me. I have no shoes as well.
I stretch my neck sideways, not satisfied until I hear an audible crack that eases the tension of my unused muscles, and then proceed to walk out.
A large shadow looms in front me, inserting itself in the small gap of the only entrance and exit, before it splits into two and devours both rocky sides. An archway big enough for my stature easily forms in a matter of seconds. I feel the rocks moving inside my shadow domain. I spit out the rocks somewhere along my way out. It looks like I still can't hide in the shadows, but I can move, hide or store inanimate things there now. I hide the few belongings I have left.
It is nighttime when I set foot out of the cave's mouth. The black canvass of white twinkling lights is the real deal. I take the sight in and briefly marvel at the view that I seemed to have missed a lot once upon a time.
The air near me condenses enough for me to testingly take a step on it, using it as small staircase to traverse from the cliffside cave to the top of the cliff.
I walk, heedless of a destination. I even stare at the grass on my feet. I know I should feel at least a little bit nostalgic at the feeling, but the only thing I feel is nothing. Like it doesn't concern me. Like I'm a third person onlooking what's happen to my body.
I'm unsure whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, but it doesn't matter anymore.
I remember everything. I prayed to forget everything, yet not a single memory has been forgotten. But it doesn't matter. I've forgotten how to feel anyways. Or so it seems.
See? That's why none of it matters anymore.
Walking in the dead of the night, I visit the places I have been to. The only place I don't visit is the Nymph's territory. For some reason, I feel uncomfortable having Evelyn see me as I am now. I feel lacking.
Behind me, I do not notice the small shadow vine that seemed to move by itself, hiding inside my domain. The best way to hide a tree was to put it in a forest after all.
When I get to our old house, there was nothing left standing there anymore, just rubble and a few pieces of decaying wood here and there. I stand there, emotionlessly staring at it for who knows how long.
Father's Wraith-kind clan no longer resides in these parts of the forest shadows. To be more accurate, I can't feel the presence of any other living human-kind within the radius of my domain.
The sound of a twig snapping brings my attention to a large beast.
A saint edaine beast, I note to myself.
Gigantic dilated pupils follow my movements, or the lack thereof. I can see its attentiveness of me, as if I'm the most dangerous thing it has ever seen.
For a rare creature like this saint edaine to appear here, it looks like this place has been inhabited for quite a long time.
I'm no longer sure how long I slept. My eyelids lower themselves halfway as a memory of a boy's face flashes by in mind.
There is nobody left to tell me how long I slept, huh?
Gazing back at its large deer-like eyes, feline face and body, four long, large blue-green feathers on its head, polished hooves that had hidden sharp talons, and a scaly tail, it looked apprehensive despite me having my guard down.
"Go", I whisper hoarsely.
I massage my throat when I barely get my voice out. Maybe in another story, I may have had a soft angelic voice that beckons the trust other creatures, but here, I can only proclaim my versions of horror.
The saint beast's eyes slowly contract a little. It lifts its head from the low pose, which appeared to be its defense position. Seeing that I did it no harm, it ignores my existence eventually and leaves.
I also take my leave and walk the opposite direction.
I pass my days randomly walking around the woods silently. All the animals kept their distances from me for some reason. But it doesn't matter. It gives me no competition whatsoever when I pick the fruits I want. I don't forget my manners of course—I thank the trees for the food. In return, I give it carbon dioxide.
As I contemplate whether to show my gratitude by breathing down at the bark of a tree or by breathing at the leaves one night, I hear a loud reluctant scream. With nothing left to do, I head over to the shout's direction, chancing upon a pillar of smoke rising atop the sea of green crowns.