" Darkness flows across the land,
creatures within how they scream,
begging to be free
what once was surface being
cursed to be stepped on
merged to the sole of one's feet
Shadows what a disgrace
evil isn't our names
we had no choice but to corrupt beings
thirst, despair, and desperation were the keys
how dare you blame a mortal's desire
Once like thee,
yet you think you're more divine?
What a crime,
these thoughts are what fuel our scheming minds
let's see how you scream when you're stuck within
black puddles morphing, can your scream be heard
without a mouth to echo through?
Citizens of Zakheaven
home to all kind
such a shimmering empire
sunken down, black puddle now
broken and merged to reflect
reflect is all they can
under lesser grand
while the devious light warps each sight
Forget all you ever known
for you'll never be free
from the black puddle within."
Darzirak hummed softly to himself as he jumped from shadow to shadow. One moment he was staring at the uninviting alleyway of the village Holden. The next he was staring at a black and white empire that had been torn apart like broken pieces of glass, only at a certain angle can parts of the city be seen. Each piece was rearranged and angled to create the shadow of the building that stood above.
Darzirak stopped for a moment when noticing a beggar moving in his sleep above Holden, underneath the beggar, a shadow man breaks more glass pieces of himself before fixing it back to reflect the begged perfectly. Each angled piece shines up the darkness, looking closer at the piece, there were things moving within. Darzirak strain his eyes and saw within that shadow piece was sending depressing thoughts of giving up.
" Working so hard just to steal a beggar's body?"
Darzirak asked in a cheerfully joking tone. The shadow man, pieces that weren't angel-right and reflecting white light, nodded its head toward Darzirak. Forever hopeful to return back to the world he once knew so long ago.
Darzirak grinned in reply as he continued down the shimmering empire until he noticed a shadow woman in the exact shape of Philomel. Looking up he saw Philomel sitting in a tavern booth nursing a mug of ale in hand, with a grin he leap upwards, grabbing onto the ground and pulling himself up. Enjoying the expression of envy and shock from the shadows as they watched him do so. Immediately his body grew slightly bigger, gaining power from the shadow being's envy.
" If you don't like how I'm able to do this then become more powerful and become a rogue shadow like those in Mountmend."
Darzirak smugly thought to himself as he wiggle his little bum trying to pull his back legs up. Darzirak then leaps from the ground onto the tavern booth, taking a seat next to Philomel.
Philomel let out a long sigh as she stares at the not-glowing but greenish-blue ring on her finger. The color indicated that Amon's life was no longer in danger but it was turning more green within the minute. Philomel stare deeply into the ring, knowing that such a ring could fetch more than enough gold for the last potion they needed but how could she bring herself to sell it? Especially when she knew that it was Amon's most treasured possession and it meant the world to him. However, Amon needed the potion and he needed it soon. His life or a ring??
Surely they could sell it now for the potion and buy it back at a later date but that also has the risk of it being sold to another or even stolen. Following the trail of such a thing might take years and the whole time Amon might resent her for it. Philomel couldn't bare the thought of him resenting her for saving his life but she understood where Amon was coming from.
With her lips pressed in a thin line, she made the decision to sell the ring if they couldn't raise enough money in the last 5 minutes. That way she could save Amon in the final moments and prove to him that she really did her best and there was nothing else she could do. Darzirak sat next to Philomel, watching her facial expression change from worry to uncertainty. He soon got bored of guessing what she was deep in thought about and decided just to ask her.
" Why the long face? Are the quest too deathly?"
Darzirak asked as he placed his front paws on the table. Philomel flinched away from Darzirak, shocked at his sudden appearance when she noticed someone next to her talking. It took her a while to realize it was just Darzirak and slightly a while longer to calm down but she managed to hide the latter fact.
" No, worst... Even if we do all the quest... it wouldn't be enough for the potion."
Philomel glumly informed as she took another sip of her ale.
" oh..."
Darzirak's ears flattened on his head as he did his best not to sound disappointed.
" How's Amon? Did the mana potion help?"
Philomel asked even though she could tell his condition from the ring but she wanted to be reassured and confirm how much time they had left. Silently hoping that the time would somehow increase to a day or two.
" He's doing much better now that his body is flowing fine with magic. It's starting to balance out the blood and spirit mana in his body. But still, not enough blood and the infection has increased its pace now that Amon has better blood flow. According to Percy's daughter-in-law... We might only have slightly more than an hour before the infection completely takes over his spine."
Darzirak informed as he rest his chin on the table between both his paws, looking completely defeated at the situation and regretting breaking the seals.
" Sh*t, it's never easy for us, isn't it?"
Philomel cursed as the grip on the mug tighten. Darzirak's ears immediately perked up as he stared at Philomel in shock.
" Did you just... curse in front of a baby?"
Darzirak asks in disbelief.
" Dam... dame! Oh, Little One you better not be paying attention!"
Philomel panic as she looks around the area.
" Where is the baby anyway?"
Darzirak asked as soon as he noticed that Little One wasn't on Philomel's shoulder.
" He was just here!"
Philomel exclamation as she got on all fours on the ground, looking for Little One. She then noticed her shoelaces, leading toward the table behind them. Without much thought she followed the shoelace, finding Little One crawling under the knight's table in a straight line as his gaze kept drifting from object to object, exploring the tavern in his own little way.
" Little One!"
Philomel harshly whispered as she quickly crawl up to him and caught him in her arms.
" Uwa?"
Little One questioned as he turned to look at Philomel.
" Hey, Joey *hiccup* buy the next round. You guard the treasure room, so you can afford it *hiccup*."
A swaying Knight demanded.
" I may guard it but our salaries are the exact same."
Joey the guard pointed out.
" But you guard the treasury shouldn't you be able to pocket a little extra? Without anyone knowing? "
Another knight questioned as he lay his head on the table.
" Kinda hard. The door is locked with a fetterlock and only the lord has the key. Even I who have been guarding there for so long never got a chance to see the gold. "
Joey whined as he gulped down the last bit of his ale. Philomel who was crawling out from under the table with Little One in one arm, froze for a moment when she heard that.
"Fetterlock."
The words echo throughout Philomel's mind as an idea hits her. Her eyes twinkled a brilliant sky blue that looked white under light for a moment before she continued crawling back to her table and took a seat.
" Oh, you found him."
Darzirak peered at Little One and from the corner of his eyes, he noticed Philomel's smile growing into a very creepy one.
" Uhhh... You okay?"
Darzirak asked as he slowly backs away from Philomel.
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