I am Maribel Holloway, age 15. I am a worthless street rat, and I think I just died.
It started with a bright light, so intense I couldn't see anything beyond it. Then came a sensation, first at my fingertips, then spreading across my whole body. Something warm, soft, almost comforting. Am I in the afterlife? The world between worlds? In mere moments, will I stand before Celestia, the goddess of creation? Is this her divine embrace? Or perhaps I've rejoined the Great Spirit, becoming one with nature? I don't know. I suppose I'll soon learn which religion had it right, just in time to be judged for believing in none of them.
I move a finger, feeling it slide against something soft and cushioned. I shift slightly, and a pang of stiff soreness shoots through me. Pain? Soreness? The dead don't feel these things. At the same time, the piercing light starts to fade, and my eyes adjust. I see its source, an open window letting sunlight spill into the room. Sounds follow: at first muffled and distant, but soon clarifying into the sweet chirping of birds and the soft rustle of wind through trees.
"You're finally awake," comes a familiar, deep voice nearby, resonating with a steady calm.
I turn toward the voice as my vision sharpens further, revealing a hooded and masked figure seated in a wooden chair at the foot of the bed. Shadow. His large frame leans forward slightly, his posture casual, but his attention fixed on me.
I blink, trying to process my surroundings. A bed? My eyes drift down to see my legs covered by a simple blanket, then further down to my stomach. Slowly, I lift a hand and trace my fingers over the fabric, pressing lightly against my gut. The memories rush back all at once, I was sliced open. I remember seeing my insides spilled onto the grass. My heartbeat quickens, and flashes of the battle flood my mind. I can see the bear lumbering toward me. It's teeth, it's massive teeth coming at me. And then, right before I passed out I saw...
"Don't worry, you're fully healed." Shadow remarked cheerfully. "Not even a scar."
My eyes snap back to Shadow, my mind fog lifting. Did I really see Shadow punch a 5-ton armored monster? Did I really see him break its neck with a punch? My eyes are now locked on Shadow's right arm.
"I see you've replaced your burned clothes... Shadow" I say a bit accusingly.
Shadow wears a fresh, long-sleeved shirt and thick leather gloves beneath his cloak, leaving no part of him exposed. In fact, his entire outfit seems meticulously chosen to cover every inch of skin… if he even has skin. The memory flashes back to me: during the battle, his clothes burned away from his right arm, and I saw it, metal. A metallic arm and fist striking down the bear with unnatural force before I blacked out.
"Maribel, I'm sure you have questions about what you may have seen..." Shadow begins, a note of unease in his voice.
His tone betrays discomfort, but his posture remains unnaturally still, no human can be that still. He's hiding something.
"What are you, Shadow?" I demand bluntly, my eyes snapping to the mask, staring where I imagine his eyes should be… if he were human.
Shadow hesitates before responding. "I think we make a good team, and I want to continue working together."
"That doesn't answer my question," I interrupt sharply.
Shadow sighs, his shoulders shifting slightly before he continues. "Please, be patient. I'll answer that question if you want, but first, I need to explain something."
"Fine," I reply tersely, crossing my arms. "I guess I owe you that much for saving my life… twice."
"Alright," he begins, his voice steadying. "The way I see it, we make a great team. I'm durable, but I lack the offensive precision you bring. You, on the other hand, are incredibly lethal but vulnerable. Together, we complement each other perfectly. We just defeated three monsters far beyond both of our skill levels because we worked together."
"I only did as well as I did because you boosted me," I retort, my voice laced with frustration.
"And I only did as well as I did because you supported me," Shadow counters smoothly.
"I nearly died!" I snap back, the heat rising in my voice.
"And if you had gone herb-picking alone that day, you would have died. Alone," Shadow shoots back, his tone rising as he stands abruptly.
The sudden movement makes my heart lurch. Shadow's size and presence are undeniably intimidating now that I know what he's capable of. My words catch in my throat, and the fight drains out of me. But deep down, I know he's right. If Shadow hadn't been with me, I would have wandered to the same spot, found those bears, and they would have torn me apart. No one would've even noticed I was gone.
"You don't need to be alone anymore, Maribel," Shadow says, his tone softening into something genuine, almost caring. It slices through the tension he had just created, easing the heavy atmosphere.
"I'm fine on my own," I lie in a low, unconvincing tone, avoiding his gaze.
"We're both struggling, Maribel," Shadow says, his voice urgent now. "I know you need my help, and the truth is… I need your help too. I need your experience and your skills… and I need someone I can trust."
Shadow moves to the side of my bed, sitting down carefully. The mattress sinks beneath his weight, and the bedframe groans in protest. He leans forward slightly, seemingly meeting my gaze directly.
"I want to make a deal with you, Miss Maribel," Shadow says earnestly. "I want you to work with me. I promise to protect you. I promise to heal you when you need it. And together, I know we'll be far more successful than we could ever be alone."
I hesitate, the words sticking in my throat. "So… you want me to join your party?" I ask quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. "But being a team means trust, and trust means honesty. I'd need to know what I'm working with."
Shadow straightens slightly, his tone growing serious. "You're right. I want you to trust me, so it's only fair I tell you what I am." He pauses, as if bracing himself for something difficult. "I am a human soul cursed to be trapped in a metal golem."
He leans forward, his voice softer now but filled with genuine concern. "It's a huge risk for me to tell you this. If people find out what I am, my days as an adventurer would be over. They'd see me as a monster and hunt me down."
I shift back against the headboard, my gaze locked on Shadow. A golem? That doesn't make sense. Golems are mindless constructs brought to life by magic, nothing more than tools following their creator's commands. But Shadow… he's not mindless. He thinks and acts on his own like a real person.
"If you're a golem," I say cautiously, narrowing my eyes, "then who's your master? Golems always have masters, right?"
Shadow's tone sharpens. "I'm not a mindless puppet with a master. I'm a real person, trapped in this metal body. I can't sleep. I don't eat. I don't feel pain. I can't be poisoned. But this body, it's a prison."
"You're right," I say with a bitter edge. "People probably wouldn't believe you if you told them. But you know what, Mr. Shadow?" I smirk, a sly grin spreading across my face. "I don't care if you're a bit of a monster. You're less monstrous than half the humans I've met."
Monsters are made by their actions, not their form. I've seen true monsters, human ones, and the scars they left behind run deeper than anything else. Shadow doesn't scare me. If anything, he's been the first person in a long time to show me kindness.
"Miss Maribel," Shadow says, his voice steady but sincere. "This is the deal: I'll work with you, protect you, and together we'll accomplish great things. All I ask is that you keep my secret and don't press me for more until I'm ready to tell you."
It's a reasonable request. He's already shared more than I expected. Besides, I haven't exactly been forthcoming about my past either. Trust takes time. Before I can respond, Shadow pulls out a coin pouch and places it on my lap. The weight presses down heavily, and I look at it in surprise.
"What's this?" I ask, startled.
"Your share of the reward for the three bears," Shadow says with a hint of pride. "Lord Griswald was very pleased. It's also half of the payment for the herbs I managed to… salvage," he adds, his tone tinged with embarrassment.
Herbs? Did he really go back to the field after dropping me off? I glance at the bag, astonished. It's stuffed with more coins than I've ever held in my life. Not needing sleep must be an incredible advantage.
"Where am I, exactly?" I ask, glancing around the cozy room.
"This is the Rabbit's Paw Inn in Stonebrook," Shadow explains. "Each room has a private restroom, and your stay includes three meals a day at the restaurant downstairs."
As if on cue, my stomach growls loudly, breaking the tension. Shadow chuckles softly.
"I recommend heading down, they're serving lunch right now," he says. Then, with a more serious tone, he adds, "But before you go, can you tell me what you've decided?"
I don't need much time to think. Life alone has been nothing but a series of struggles, always a day away from starving, a day away from dying, or a day away from losing myself completely. But since meeting Shadow, I've felt something I haven't in years: hope. With him, there's a chance for a better future. A future where I don't have to fight alone.
I meet his gaze and smile. "Shadow, I'd love to join you. And your secret is safe with me."
A broader grin stretches across my face as I add, "Besides, even if you are a monster, you're my friend."
Shadow stands, moving toward the door. "Thank you. Then it's a deal. From now on, you'll live here at the inn. I'll meet you every morning to discuss quests. There's a guild branch here in Stonebrook."
He opens the door, then pauses and looks back. "I look forward to working with you, Miss Maribel. Get some food and rest. I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you then," I reply, slipping out of bed, eager to try some fresh cooked food for the first time in a long time.
I stand up and look myself over. Someone had removed my outer clothes, and glancing around, I see them folded neatly on the bedside table, freshly laundered. The thought of someone undressing me makes my cheeks flush with embarrassment. However, I quickly decide that no good will come from dwelling on that question. I check myself over, everything seems undisturbed. I sigh in relief and begin getting dressed.
Once I'm ready, I grab the pouch of money Shadow gave me and step out of the room. As I close the door, I note the number on it: Room 10. I make my way down the hallway and staircase, passing through a door that leads into the main lobby.
The inn is warm, clean, and brightly lit, with numerous lamps casting a cozy glow on the walls and the tables in the restaurant below. The room buzzes with activity, patrons chatting and waitresses bustling about with trays of delicious-looking food. As I approach the service desk, the mouthwatering aroma of roasted beef envelops me, making my stomach growl in anticipation.
"Hello, ma'am," I say, addressing the friendly middle-aged woman standing behind the desk. She's dressed in a neat red dress with a white apron, her long blond hair styled into a braid that falls gracefully down her back.
"Hello, sweetheart!" she responds with a warm smile. "You must be Master Shadow's friend, Lady Maribel. It's so nice to see you up and about!"
I blink in surprise at her words. "Ah, yes. Thank you, ma'am," I reply, feeling slightly awkward at being called Lady. It's not a title I've ever been associated with, but I suppose being Shadow's companion changes how people view me here.
"Are you joining us for lunch, my dear?" the receptionist asks kindly.
"Yes, I'd like to," I say, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "But I also wanted to ask how much I owe for my stay." Despite Shadow's instructions, it feels strange to stay at a place like this without knowing the cost. Spending money on something as luxurious as an inn feels indulgent after so many years of scraping by.
"Miss Maribel, Master Shadow already paid for your stay for the next forty days," the woman explains. "You don't owe a thing."
I'm momentarily speechless. Shadow paid for an entire arc's stay upfront? That must have cost a small fortune. Did he know I'd agree to work with him, or was he simply taking a gamble? Or perhaps… perhaps it didn't matter to him. Maybe, regardless of my decision, he just wanted to help me without expecting anything in return.
I don't know, but I'm certain of one thing: I've just taken a massive first step toward a future I never thought possible. For years, my path has been shrouded in darkness, filled with suffering and despair, with no light at the end. But now, walking beside Shadow, I feel the faint stirrings of hope.
This new future will undoubtedly be dangerous, of that, I have no doubt, but for the first time, I won't be facing it alone.