Chapter 46 – Kill the Truth
[Name] dismounted from the steed as did Mine and Leone. The area was fairly dark with only the illumination from the home keeping the property somewhat lit.
Mine: [Name]? What do you have planned?
He did not answer right away. He let the ambience of the night take over for a few moments. Perhaps he himself did not know what he had planned considering who he might encounter.
[Name]: I just want to see something. Then we'll go. You guys stay here.
He walked to the small home and knocked on the door. However, much to his shock before he finished knocking a voice had already sounded from inside the home.
"The door is open. You can come in."
The voice was all too familiar. [Name] without a moment's notice entered the home and saw a man, back turned, sitting, cooking a meal over a small fire. The man wore the garbs of a vagrant to say the least. For moments [Name] stood in the man's home inspecting it and the man himself.
Shadow: Well, you certainly haven't changed [Name].
[Name]: How did you-
Shadow: Your walking and breathing patterns haven't at least.
[Name] stood in the dimly lit hut of a home. It was dim and dowry. The entire hut was just one singular room with numerous things strown about but not untidy.
[Name]: So, you are the original shadow. It's been so long since I last seen you.
The man said nothing and continued to stir his sludge like stew.
[Name]: I have so many questions. . .
He said as he held his hands out and left them fall back to and rest at his sides. The man continued to stay silent as [Name] did.
[Name]: Do you just let anyone into your home? A door with no lock or anything?
Shadow: I suppose. I mean the only persons who'd try to enter my house without knocking is people trying to steal from me.
[Name]: Who even are you?
The older man only tasted some of his partially prepared food. [Name] could see even from behind the man that his face contorted in disgust. The man seemingly ignored [Name]'s question as he kept on dotting on his stew.
Shadow: I'm no one now. I've been no one for a longest time now.
[Name]: Well, in any case we can use your help now. There's so much that's happened.
Shadow: Not interested.
[Name]: But you were somehow interested in training some runaway kid?
His tone softened. [Name] was perplexed at how the shadow has changed. His appearance is now gaunt than he had remembered. He is older and looks like he'd seen better days. The man who [Name] knew as the shadow did not behave in the way he would have expected either. The shadow was not interested in helping anybody else the way he did him.
Shadow: It was a mistake.
[Name]: A mistake? Is it because of what I did to the village?
Shadow: When I saw the smoke, so many things ran through my head. At first, I thought it was just a simple fire…But when I reached it.
He recalled a moment from many years ago. After leaving his stead with [Name] to pass the figurate torch. He was forced to conjure another and travel to the sight of the village. Upon reaching the village, he saw what he believed to be a nightmare. The flames of the entire village billowed towards the sky in dozens of blazing columns. The black smoke almost resembled that of a demon mocking his attempts to create another version of himself. The horror of the sight was immense and overwhelming. He knew that it was [Name] upon seeing the disaster ridden site that used to be a small village. He ran amongst the flames to see if there were anyone to save; and much to his dismay there was not. Not a single soul survived [Name]'s vengeance and it was the "shadows" fault.
Shadow: For a short time, I actually blamed you. But then as time progressed, I realized that I shouldn't have been. It was my fault. I should've listened to your father.
[Name]: Wait?!
[Name]'s eyes opened wide as he ran to the shadow who was still sitting down, toiling at his stew.
[Name]: You knew my father?
The shadow finally stopped and gave [Name] his full attention. He looked at [Name] for a few seconds before smiling and looking away. He looked up at the ceiling and sighed.
Shadow: Of course, I did. He was my son in law after all. I'm your grandfather.
[Name]'s mind nearly went blank and then exploded as if a ton of fireworks were let off simultaneously. The shock that [Name] felt was incredible. He smiled too as the elation took over. He grabbed onto the shadow as he rag dolled him speaking unintelligibly as his did.
[Name]: Why didn't you tell me this before?!
Shadow: Because I didn't want you knowing who I was. I very much planned to disappear completely after I finished your training. I just needed someone to take over where I left off in guarding the village. At the time, they needed my help. However, things became peaceful and it was quite clear to me that I wasn't needed any longer.
The man answered back, his tone flippant and yet relaxed. [Name] frowned and left the small home. Leone and Mine still standing there walked to [Name] as he met them.
Mine: Did you find what you were looking for?
[Name]: Not yet. Look, you guys head back to the capital. I'll follow you when I done here. There are some things I need to sort out before I keep going.
Leone: [Name], we can't just leave without you. We're going to need your help and you're going to need ours.
Mine: Yeah [Name]. What if the empire tracked us here? I don't want to risk anything happening.
[Name]: Mine it's okay. I'll be back. You've got to trust me. If this man has the power I think he does, then he'll be huge help.
Mine jumped slightly in protest.
Mine: But we'll need you for the assault on the capital if our plan worked! We don't know how long you'll take! What if something happens to you again?!
Leone: Mine's right you need to come back with us! Not to mention we can't add any body to the cause.
[Name]: He's not just anyone. He's the man who made me what I am today. For me, this can help in a few ways. He can help us out a lot on one end, and on the other; this could be the only chance I have to find out more about who I really am. I mean look, I just found out that this man is my grandfather. I'm sure I can make him come around.
The trio let the ambience of the barren wasteland fill the air of noise. After a brief moment of mental protest, mine threw her hands up and they fell right back to her sides. She sighed.
Mine: [Name], fine then. If you really need to get the answers you need then it's okay with me.
Leone almost whole heartedly backed Mine's statement before she shook her head and realized that she'd given in to [Name]'s demand.
Leone: But Mine we need him! [Name] come on, we finally find out that you can copy imperial arms and use them against the empire and you're going to take this risk?!
[Name]: Leone…I need to.
Mine: [Name], If this is really what you need then fine. But I do have one last thing to say.
[Name] stood firm, ready to listen. Mine took a deep breath. She was essentially getting ready to potentially sign away the lives of her and her entire crew. While the group had everything it needed as it was, [Name] and the orphans were an incredible boon the revolution. With the revolution almost shattered the final assault on the capital was going to be the end all be all. Mine knew that they need every helping hand they can get and [Name] was potentially the greatest hand to grab onto.
He will not budge and Mine knows that. For Mine to honor the memory of all of her fallen comrades and her family alike; she needed to let go. However, before she does, she wanted to impart some of her wisdom onto [Name] as not to leave on a bitter note.
Mine: I wanted you to know [Name]. The only thing that should matter to you is who you think you are on the inside; not what someone else tells you.
The pink haired young woman jammed a fist into [Name]'s chest. It was a fist bump of sorts and a very friendly one. Leone did the same thing yet in her case she did so with far more force and smiled.
Mine: I hope you find the answers you're looking for.
The two women boarded [Name]'s phantomlike steed and departed off into the night beyond.
Leone: Make sure you don't die! If you do I'll kill you!
She yelled at [Name] as the Nightraid duo vanished into the shadows. [Name] smiled as Bet had told him literally the exact same thing earlier.
Shadow's Home – Uncharted Outskirts – Dark Morning Twilight
The man wanted to brood for years. He did brood for years. After his failure that resulted in his daughter's death and the destruction of his original home; he wanted to simply vanish. He made an incredible error by not training [Name] in the ways he'd been taught. He'd been taught to serve and protect for he'd been granted the ability to do so due to his immense physical talents. [Name] took his teachings and effortlessly cut down everyone with his own talents.
Even though he wanted to wallow in his own sadness which had worn his features and one great physical talent, he felt somewhat overjoyed by the arrival of his grandson despite his wrong doings.
Shadow: Something's different with you. I felt it as you were traveling by. It's as though a presence is living within you and helped your powers grow immensely.
[Name]: Powers?
Shadow: I know that you can use the powers of the imperial arms.
[Name]: But how could you even know that?
Shadow: I know because I was something, I was able to do to in my youth.
[Name] was completely speechless at this revelation. He was in complete shock. The man who shaped him, the man who trained him to be who he is now was him in nearly every sense.
[Name]: Tell me this, what do you know about this "presence"?
He used his fingers to exclaim the term the Shadow used for the Spirit of the Beast.
Shadow: Let me start off by saying that not just anyone can wield the power from the etheric plane of existence. It would take a true master of the arts to manipulate the will of the etheric energy. The witches are natural fits but ever since The Great Sovereign they've vowed to never use their powers for conflict ever again.
[Name]: Where are you going with this?...Was this being inside me a witch at some point?
Shadow: Since testosterone is a natural inhibitor to the powers of the ether or magic as plenty would call it, Male witches don't exist. But as you could guess this presence was indeed a male and a witch.
He got up from his seat and walked to [Name], the two men stood mere inches from one another.
Shadow: Give me your hand and grant me access…
[Name]: To the presence?!
He'd begun to sweat. [Name] was extremely uncomfortable with the conversation. It was scary that this man had known so much of what no one but the Head Mistress of the Polaris Academy should given her status. He had no idea what to think, was he a clone of some kind? Is the beast a liar? [Name]'s mind was everywhere at the same time; he was actually very hesitant to outstretch his hand.
[Name]: Before I do…Tell me what you are going to do! What are you going to do?
Shadow: I want to talk to him.
[Name] backed away slightly. [Name] felt a cold presence swish through his veins and a surge of calmness wash over his mind. The echoing voice of the beast spoke to him.
"It's okay [Name].", The deep voice said with a reassuring tone having sensed [Name]'s fear and uncertainty.
"Let him talk to me." [Name] then outstretched his hand and his grandfather gently took it. They both closed their eyes and within seconds their minds were taken straight to the etheric realm where the Beast's spirit resided.
Etheric Plane
The two were now in the presence of the towering beast whose true size was unclear. The two eyes of the beast were of incredible size. The darkness of the ether was filled with the radiant blue eyes of the large spirit in front of them both. [Name] with his infrequent visits had forgotten the true scale of the beast which astonished him every time he saw it. The beast spoke first, his voice echoing into the eternity of the realm.
Beast: Look how old you've become.
Shadow: Well, not all of us are near immortal spirits.
He fired back with an equally casual sense of familiarity with the being.
Shadow: How much have you told him?
Beast: More than enough. He knows what he has to do.
Shadow: Really?
Beast: But there were complications. Things are far more complex than during time. Not to mention, [Name] has his own exploits that complicate things further.
[Name] grabbed the bridge of his nose in embarrassment.
[Name]: If you're talking about me being with Esdeath then I'm sure there's something else we can talk about.
Beast: No. I'm talking about your unwillingness to do what needed to be done when you had the chance. You've had numerous chances to do what needed to be done and you couldn't muster the strength to do it.
Shadow: Was I any different when you trained me?
He asked to get the heat off of [Name], understanding how feelings can get in the way of life's path. His feelings had led his numerous failings that ended his career and connection with the etheric plane.
Shadow: Plus, I'm certain you had those problems too. Hell, you were probably worse than [Name] and myself, having to run an entire empire can do that with you being the first emperor and all.
[Name]'s eyes widened for seemingly the thousandth time today.
Shadow: [Name], like I said moments ago, only one who has an unprecedented mastery over etheric energy can bend it to their will. In this case can also create mystical objects that hold large amounts of "magic energy". I'm not sure if he'd told you. But if he didn't, [Name] this individual whose spirit stands before you now is the creator of the imperial arms. [Name], meet the first emperor himself.