Chapter 31- Shadow

Rose and Morpheus stood behind Themetruük as he prepared to release the entity. Morpheus brandished his axe while Rose cladded herself in rock armour.

Themetruük began to write runes in the air and the Abyss node began to slowly take shape. The air grew even denser and the two could barely stand.

The glass cylinder cracked in the center and the room began to shake. Themetruük waves his hands for the two of them to get back. The spirit also took a step back as the vibration eased.

Outside of the glass cylinder a small ball of shadow magic began to form.

(Shadow, Level 74)

A small eye appeared in the center of the ball of shadow magic.

“What is it!” Rose shouted, startling the shadow.

The ball of shadow magic looked at the three with its eye.

“Hush.” Themetruük ordered.

The spirit held out its hand, his ghostly fingers just touching the shadow.

The shadow began to make its way up the spirits arm and perched on his shoulder, eyeing the two.

“This is a infant elemental. Be very careful.” Themetruük said.

Rose looked terrified, but Morpheus was calm.

He held up his hand to the shadow, his finger just barely touching it. It felt soft and furry.

It blinked twice at Morpheus and began to crawl up his arm. The shadow felt warm, comforting Morpheus. It landed on his shoulder, like it had for Themetruük and disappeared.

“Where’d it go?” Morpheus asked.

“I think it went in your cloak.” Rose said in a trembling voice.

“Your cloak must have shadow affinity, how strange.” Themetruük said,

“What does that mean?”

“That means it will be its new home.” The spirit said.

“Huh? I can’t have an elemental hiding in my cloak!”

“You must not offend an elemental.”

“I’ve never heard of an elemental, can you recap me?” Morpheus said on edge. He had never heard of an elemental in Arios. The young chimera had read about them but he thought they were meant to be spirit like.

“An elemental represents the magic it is born from.” Rose said.

“Indeed child, you are very knowledgeable. An elemental can grow exponentially.” The spirit added.

Rose bowed to the spirit. “Thank you.”

“So this shadow can grow to any level?”

Rose nodded. “The highest recorded was three thousand.”

“Recorded yes, I have seen a level four thousand lightning elemental.” The spirit said.

Rose gasped.

“If left alone they can become wild and wipe out a continent. They can usually be tamed early or sometimes a god may intervene.” Themetruük said.

“So this shadow elemental is a ticking time bomb?” Morpheus asked.

“A time bomb? Interesting analogy child. But yes, unless it is cared for.”

“You want me to care for it!” The young chimera exclaimed.

“Hush child, it is an infant. It needs to learn and grow. You may level it or let it grow naturally.”

Morpheus huffed, he wouldn’t even trust himself to take care of a cat, how could he take care of a continent killer.

The shadow magic emerged from his cloak and perched on his shoulder. Morpheus was now more terrified than Rose. Morpheus held his palm flat and the shadow made its way down to it.

The shadow looked up at Morpheus with its eye and blinked twice.

“I think he likes you.” Rose sneered next to him.

“Yes indeed, you have great shadow affinity. Your cloak seemed to greatly influenced the shadow’s choice.”

(Shadow, Level 74) would like to make a familiar contract with you. Do you accept Y/N

“I got offered a familiar contract with him.” Morpheus said.

The spirit cleared his throat. “Morpheus, as my marked I would highly suggest you accept.”

Morpheus swallowed the lump in his throat and mentally suggested yes.

‘Congratulations’ you have made a familiar contract with (Shadow, Level 74). You are now bonded with your familiar. As time progresses your familiar will understand you more.

Would you like to choose your familiars skills? Y/N

The familiar is requesting for you to let it choose it’s own skills.

Would you like to have full control over your familiar? Y/N

He suggested no for both, that would just sound like slavery.

Due to contracting a shadow elemental you have been given the title ‘Patron of Shadows’. +Increased Shadow Affinity, +5 Intelligence.

Due to forming a contract you have been given the title ‘Tamer’.

“It’s done.”

“Well done child, you have officially tamed a shadow elemental.”

Morpheus continued to stare at his new familiar.

Themetruük turned to Rose.

“Do you long for knowledge, child?.” The spirit asked.

“Yes Themetruük.” She replied.

“Good.”

Themetruük waved his hand and a small mark appeared on her left hand.

She brought it up and looked at it in amazement.

“Thank you so much, I am honoured.” Rose said.

Morpheus was not even paying attention to them, his eyes were fixated on the shadow.

“Well Morpheus, you have explored the unknown. I must leave you know.”

He looked up.

“Urm, yes, thank you for helping us.” He said with a small bow.

“Find knowledge in both your paths.” The spirit said while vanishing.

Rose collapsed on the floor. “I need a minute.”

“We both do.” Morpheus said while sitting down next to her with the shadow still in his hand.

“Do things like this always happen to you?” She asked.

“Pretty much.” Morpheus replied.

He brought his hand up slowly and began to stroke the shadow. Morpheus could sense it’s feelings towards him, confusion and love were the ones he could feel.

It made a cute purring noise as he continued to stroke it.

“Did you gain control over it?” Rose asked.

“His name is Fuzz.” Morpheus said. He felt it suited the shadow.

(Shadow, 74) has accepted your name ‘Fuzz’.

“Ok, did you take control over fuzz?” She asked again.

“No. Is that a bad thing?”

“Well you can’t view his stats or skills. But ‘Fuzz’ can act on his own.”

“I prefer that.”

“Well good luck controlling a fucking elemental.”

“Oi, don’t talk to him like that.”

“Fine.”

They sat there for a while, Rose was still processing everything and Morpheus was obsessed with Fuzz.

Rose stood up. “Do you think we have enough information now?”

“Yeah let’s get the fuck out of here, I need a bath and an ale.”

“Agreed.”

“Should we take the rest of these papers and books?” Morpheus asked.

“Leave it all.”

“Why?”

“We’ll tell the Scarecrows about it.”

“Fair enough, and about Themetruük?”

“I won’t talk about it, and your secrets are safe with me. He did give me a blessing after all.”

“Thank you Rose, do you wanna hold Fuzz?”

Rose looked down at the shadow, it’s beady little eyes staring at her.

“He doesn’t hurt you know, kinda feels like a cat.” Morpheus said.

He brought Fuzz up and rubbed his cheek against the shadow, it purred in return.

“I’m gonna give you to Rose now buddy.”

The shadow looked longingly at him while handing him to Rose.

Rose looked down at Fuzz, and slowly began to stroke the shadow. It yet again purred in pleasure.

“He likes you.”

Fuzz jumped out of her hand and began bouncing around the room, seemingly in enjoyment.

Rose laughed. “What a day it’s been.”

“Yeah.” Morpheus said as Fuzz bounced back in his hand. He put the shadow back on his shoulder and the two set off with Tako’s journal.

They exited out of the cave and made their way around the outside of the city. Careful to not attract any golems. Finally they had reached the exit.

“We should camp up in the trees over there.” Rose said, pointing to a small woodland.

Morpheus nodded and the trio headed over to set up their tents. Rose set hers up first.

“Come in for a bit, I wanna stroke Fuzz some more.”

Fuzz seemed to get the message and leapt in her lap, streaks of shadows following it.

“Who knew a shadow elemental could be so cute.” She said.

“I’m still processing it, I’m terrible at looking after things.”

“What do you reckon it eats?” Rose asked.

“Well, shadows or people, maybe both?” He joked. “Do you have that pilocal?”

“Yeah, can we do it outside though.”

Morpheus laughed. “Sure.”

With Fuzz in Rose’s hands they headed outside. She placed Fuzz down on the ground and brought out the dead pilocal.

Fuzz looked up at Morpheus with puppy eye(s).

“Go on buddy.” The young chimera said while crouching down next to the dead pilocal.

Fuzz bounced over to the pilocal, and stared at it.

The next moment completely shocked the two of them. Fuzz expanded and layered itself over the pilocal, completely engulfing it in shadows.

It disappeared under the shadows and all that was left was Fuzz.

“He ate the whole fucking thing.” Rose said over Morpheus’s shoulder.

Fuzz suddenly transformed into the pilocal, and they both freaked out.

(Pilocal, Level 74)

Fuzz transformed back into his little ball of shadows since he thought he did something wrong. He looked upset.

“Hey, buddy you didn’t do anything wrong. Want another?”

Morpheus could feel Fuzz expressing happiness.

Morpheus brought out the huge mountain lion, and Fuzz leapt on the carcass.

“By Zeus, what level was that?” Rose asked.

“Two hundred, a bunch of war orcs killed it.”

Seconds later Fuzz transformed into the mountain lion, except slightly smaller.

(Mountain Lion, Level 74)

Rose was intrigued. “So he transforms into things he eats, but keeps his level. That’s why it shrunk slightly.”

Morpheus got up and walked over to the mountain lion, and began stroking his face.

“So this must be a skill of his?” Morpheus asked Rose.

“Must be.”

“Ok buddy, can you transform back now?” He asked the huge mountain lion in front of him.

The mountain lion disappeared into shadows and the little shadow leapt on his shoulder.

“Ok, can you try turning into it again?” Morpheus asked Fuzz.

The shadow stared at him not knowing what he meant. Morpheus made a lion pose which confused him even more. Rose was pissing herself as the young chimera put on a little show.

“It’s ok, we’ll work on it.” He said while stroking Fuzz.

“I have some emergent ale in my tent if you want some?” Rose offered.

“Yes please.”

Fuzz hopped up onto his back.

In her tent he laid down his cloak and placed Fuzz on it. The shadow rolled around for a moment then instantly dispersed into it.

“He really is something.” Rose said while handing him a cup of ale.

“His skill is pretty terrifying, could you imagine if he swallowed the manifestation.”

Rose shuddered. “I don’t even want to think about it.”

Morpheus laughed. “Well we aren’t dead and we got the information. I count it as a win.”

“Yeah, by the way is Themetruük like your friend or something?”

“He offered me a class when I cleared a dungeon solo. I declined it.”

“By Zues, why?”

“I couldn’t advance it. When I chose a different one he presented himself to me. Said I shouldn’t long for power, instead gain it myself. Then he left and gave me his mark.”

“Wow, have you met any other powerful beings?”

“No.” He lied. “I shit my pants when he showed up.”

“I almost did when I kicked that door in. My life flashed before my eyes.”

Morpheus laughed. “I have a lot of respect for him, take a look at his mark.”

He held up his left hand for her to inspect.

“Woah the Gorgoroth!” Rose said. She really turned into a little girl in these situations, which reminded him of a girl he was in an orphanage with.

“Yeah, he told me to explore the unknown and to call him when I find it. He really lives up to his name.” Morpheus said, staring into the tent ceiling.

“Did you want a bath? I can leave if you do.”

“I wouldn’t want to kick you out of your own tent.”

“It's fine elf-boy, you’ve earned it.” She said with a grin. She tucked her hair behind her ears, something Morpheus had never seen her do before.

Morpheus smiled. “I think I have, to be honest.”

Rose got up and walked over to the bath. She put her hand on the top and hot water began flowing out.

“Soap is just next to it.” She said.

“Thank you.”

Rose left and Morpheus stripped down into his birthday suit. It was a bath he had definitely earned.

He washed all the grime off his face, blood still stained some of his skin from the battle. He submerged his head under the hot water relaxing him.

His face broke the waters surface and saw Rose standing there naked.

“Rose.”

“Shut up elf-boy.” She said and then jumped in the bath with him.