Najeem cracked his eyes open to a dark stone room and the patter of heavy rain. He groaned and rubbed his eyes, sitting himself up in a bedroll.

When his vision cleared up, he yelped at the figure in front of him.

It had a tall, spindly build with long limbs and a somewhat jutted out neck. Its flesh was all made from shadows, while its eyes glowed a dark golden color. Its gaze was transfixed away from him.

“W-what the hell?” Najeem hissed, reaching for his scimitar, but failing to find it there.

“You’ve awoken.” The creature’s voice sounded like a man rasping from thirst in the middle of the Al-Kubra.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Najeem scrambled backwards.

“I am you.” The creature hissed, “I am a sliver of your soul. What I want is of no consequence to you.”

“What kind of answer is ‘I am you’?” Najeem asked, “Give me a name, damnit!”

“You called me...The Steel Hidden in Shadows. That is what I used to be among your people.”

Najeem narrowed his eyes. The creature, underneath the veiling darkness, had a remarkable likeness to himself. At least...in bone structure. He thought.

It clicked in Najeem’s head, “You’re a Shedim.”

The creature nodded slightly.

“You’re...my Shedim? How?”

“You gave up an expectation to live or to even be remembered while your mistress was in her time of need. Your sacrifice, though you did not expect it, inspired her.” The creature hissed, “With this act of humility, you opened yourself to my power.”

“How can you talk?”

“All of my kind can communicate with their masters. But most do not until later in their journey. I find that being direct is better for me.” The Steel Hidden in Shadows said, “Another comes.”

The Shedim vanished into black mists as a pair of footsteps grew louder. A sharp chill ran through his bones. The Shedim’s power retreating back into him.

Seang stepped into the room, “You talk to yourself a lot?”

Najeem staggered to his feet and assumed a fighting stance.

“Calm down.” the nun said, “Your mistress convinced me to join you.” She gestured to his right, where Shahla was asleep in a bedroll, bandages wrapping her head.

“What the hell did you do?” Najeem growled. He stepped forward, but stumbled over himself.

“She challenged me to single combat. I won, but she still got what she wanted.” Seang shifted her gaze to him.

“Where are the others?” Najeem asked.

“Staying with me until you two are ready to travel again.” Seang said, “After that, I’ll be joining you on your journey to Koinelia.”

Seang sauntered towards Shahla, which Najeem had the impulse to impede, but he let her be. She knelt down, her hands glowing softly and positioned over Shahla’s body. Not like the violent radiating light from their battle.

“I didn’t get much sunlight today, but with any luck she’ll be awake tomorrow.” Seang said.

“You’re...healing her?”

“Yes.”

“God, woman, how many powers do you have?” Najeem asked.

“I’ve had my Shedim for a long time. So long as you continue to advance your bond, you grow stronger and gain new abilities.” she explained.

Najeem huffed, “A shadow was waiting for me when I woke up. A Shedim.”

“That doesn’t surprise me for some reason.” Seang muttered, “Shedim tend to manifest during times of great stress.”

“Where’s Lokapele?”

Seang pointed outside with a tilt of her head.

Najeem rolled his shoulder, which was still somewhat aching, before picking up his turban that had been laid near his bedroll and wrapping it around his head.

He left the room and navigated his way through the halls until he reached the one that wrapped around the courtyard.

Lokapele was lying down under the overhang that protected the elevated stone path around the courtyard from the rain. She muttered to herself in her language.

“Lokapele.”

The Aotearoan woman snapped her eyes open, glaring at Najeem, “I was in the middle of writing a poem.”

“Aren’t you at least glad to see me doing well?”

“Eh.” she shrugged.

Ass.

“Can you teach me to use my Shedim?” Najeem asked.

“Your what?” Lokapele sat up.

“Shedim. Big ghost that comes out of your body and lets you throw magma.” Najeem muttered.

“You have one? For what?” Najeem didn’t know if it was better or worse if she was joking.

“Doesn’t matter. I have one. Can you teach me?” Najeem repeated.

“No. Didn’t you just hear me composing?” Lokapele laid back down. “I’m busy.”

“Your poems come after our survival.” Najeem said. He shunted the chill out of his body, manifesting the Shedim. He was able to figure that one out by observing Shahla, “I need to be able to use this thing effectively.”

“I am not a thing, thank you.” the Steel Hidden in Shadows hissed.

Lokapele blinked, sitting up again, “Yours talks?”

“So does yours.” the Shedim said.

“Couldn’t he just tell you what you can do?” Lokapele asked.

“I manifested two minutes before my master went unconscious. I’ve barely had time to explore the nature of my bond.” Najeem felt his Shedim wasa little more than just talkative. Najeem felt dread, despite the fact that he himself enjoyed the odd argument every so often.

“Well, you manifested it, right?” Lokapele asked, “Just do the same shit with the chill, but...like out a limb or something. Most of this is just trial and error.”

Najeem huffed, “Fine. I’ll do it myself.”

He crossed his arms and pushed the chill out from his body, but not in the same way he did to manifest his Shedim.

Then he fell into the ground.

Najeem landed in a completely black void.

“What the fuck?” Najeem cried. His voice echoed, amplifying the sense of nothingness around him.

Everything around him was dark. He could hear the noises around him before the void had come, but everything came through muffled as though he’d stuffed beeswax in his ears.

“This is the world of reflections and shadows. Your new domain.” his Shedim whispered, clearer than everything else, “Shadows are your window into the material plane.”

Najeem looked down to a break in the void, shaped exactly like the shadow of a nearby pillar, allowing him to look back at the real world.

“Najeem?” Lokapele's voice came muffled through the window as she glanced around for him.

Najeem backed away from the window to get a better look at it, but upon taking his feet off the window, a force yanked him into it, pulling him back to the world. He landed with a thump outside of the shadow created by the pillar.

Lokapele turned again, “Where the hell did you go?”

“I’m...not sure.” Najeem said as he got to his feet. His head rushed with a second or two of vertigo, “Hold on a second.”

Najeem stepped back onto the shadow and threw himself into the other world.

“Holy shit!” Lokapele exclaimed.

Najeem looked at the window created by the pillar next to his. Could he...travel between shadows? So long as his body never left a shadow.

He got down low and reached his leg over to the other window. Upon putting his leg down, he channeled the chill of power into his foot and was pulled through the new shadow. He landed on his back again.

“I should start writing down the rules to this thing.” Najeem muttered.

“You’re picking up on this stuff really quickly. Uncomfortably so.” Lokapele said.

Najeem stood and dusted himself off, “I think that’s a good starting point for now. Is it true that Shahla fought Seang in a duel?”

“Yep.” Lokapele said, “Seang eventually just let Shahla have what she wanted because the damn girl wouldn’t stay down.”

“Shahla did that?” he raised an eyebrow,

“Hey, give her credit. Wasn’t she a nomad before being a princess? She’s tough. In spirit at least.” Lokapele said.

“I give her plenty of credit.” Najeem frowned, “But she’s no warrior. Her body isn’t toned to take much damage. She likely would have died. No, she should’ve died. It’s a miracle she survived.”

“Maybe. But she’s alive. That’s all that matters.”

“I just don’t want her taking more unnecessary risks like that.” Najeem muttered, “Where’s my scimitar?”

“Vai’s holding onto it for you. He and Shakti went go-”

“Buy supplies.” Vai and Shakti, as if on cue, entered into the courtyard with wax-covered bags and sacks. Vai tossed Najeem’s scimitar to him, “Good to see you up and about, friend.”

“Thanks. We’re leaving once Shahla awakes, right?” Najeem asked.

Vai nodded, “Sounds good to me.”

Seang entered the courtyard with the rest of them. Najeem’s muscles tensed. It was odd seeing the other three appear to trust her. He had to be ready to strike her down at any moment.

She was wearing a long red skirt and sleeveless beige top with a gold-adorned band that wrapped around her collarbone. Her black hair was only loosely tied in the back, as opposed to the tight head scarf she was wearing with those orange robes.

“How’s Shahla?” Shakti asked.

“Well enough. She actually managed to wake up. She’ll be on her feet tomorrow morning.” Seang said.

“She’s awake?” Najeem asked.

“Did you not hear what I just said?” Seang cast a sidelong glance of condescension at him, but Najeem didn’t care.

He made his way back to his mistress as fast as he could without sprinting, as his wounds still ached. It appeared Shahla got all the magic healing, which he would have to admit was the right call on Seang’s part.

Shahla halfway opened her eyes as Najeem entered the room.

“Sorry. Were you trying to sleep?” Najeem murmured.

Shahla shook her head, “No. I just feel a bit woozy.”

Najeem sat himself down next to her, “Are you alright...ish?”

“I’ve been better.” Shahla laughed weakly.

“I heard what you did after I went down,” Najeem said.

“Are you mad?” Shahla broke eye contact with him.

“Why would I be mad?” he asked.

“Because I did something stupid.”

“I’m not your mother. But I would be lying if I said I’d like you to avoid doing something like that in the future. You’re not built to handle trained fighters.” he said.

Shahla sighed, “I know...it’s just...I want to stop feeling like a burden in battle.”

“You’re not a burden.” Najeem insisted. Though he didn’t know quite how truthful his insistence was.

“Am I? My powers are slow to activate and everyone has to turtle around me so that I don’t die from a stray spark. I want to be able to handle myself.” Shahla said, “I refuse to be helpless.”

“You aren’t, really.” Najeem pursed his lips.

“It doesn’t matter.” Shahla muttered, “I feel helpless. I want to get stronger. I want to fight my own battles for real. Will you teach me?”

“Teach you what?”

“I don’t know, swordplay?” Shahla asked, “I still have my knife. It’s pretty long.”

Najeem cupped his chin. Her dagger could be used like a short sword. But only with the correct stance. And he somewhat admired her for wanting to be more independent. Not many had the determination to take on such a skill after adolescence.

“I suppose I could show you a few things. But only after you’re completely healed.” Najeem said.

“Thanks,” Shahla nodded, “I saw you get scars as you saved me. I choose to assume that it was a Shedim and not Plague.”

“Well, you’re right. I’m coming around to it rather quickly, in fact. But he’s a talker.”

“It can speak?” Shahla asked.

“Apparently that’s a novelty among his kind. Or rather, the others just refuse to open their mouths.” Najeem said.

Lokapele rushed into the room, “We have to go. Now!”

“What?” Najeem stood, “What are you talking about?”

“The Nikan invaded through the western border. They’re looting the town before they head off to a major city.” Lokapele said.

“How many?” he asked.

“Do I look like a mathematician to you? I don’t know, a few hundred probably.” The Aotearoan hissed.

“So not the whole army, then. They must’ve split up to get supplies.” Najeem muttered.

“Then shouldn’t we try to fight them?” Shahla asked.

“We have about equal chances of fending them off as we do the whole army. They still outnumber us by hundreds.” Najeem said, “But we’ll be able to escape.”

“And leave the people behind?” Shahla exclaimed.

“Yes!” Najeem answered, ensuring to be forceful.

Shahla looked at Lokapele for some avail. The poet wouldn’t look at her, but murmured, “Najeem’s right. We can’t afford the risk.”

Najeem picked up Shahla in both arms and followed Lokapele back to the courtyard. He could already hear the screams and flames of a raid.

“Everytime I think they’re spread thin, they continue to surprise me.” Seang muttered, a thousand yard stare in her eyes. She shook her head and gulped before turning her attention back to the group.

“Which way are we going?” Najeem asked.

“Well, it was supposed to be where the army just came from.” Vai said, “So we’re going to have to go through the town. And evade the raiders.”

“Then let’s move while they’re still occupied.” Najeem said, running for the temple’s gate, followed by the Aotearoans and Seang. He turned to find Shakti staring at the town below, as if mesmerized by the flames.

“Shakti. Come on.” Vai pulled on his friend’s wrist. Shakti blinked.

“S-sorry.” she gulped, “Let’s go.”

While the Nikan had yet to make their way up to the district of stone buildings, they were starting up the staircases. Their way out was the jungle to the west.

“I’m assuming you can’t run.” Najeem said to Shahla.

“No.” she replied.

Najeem turned to the others, “I’m going to be a handicap, so I’ll get her out my own way. I’ll meet you in the jungle.”

Lokapele nodded, “Good luck.”

“Same to you.” Najeem said before sinking into the shadow of a tree.

_________________________________________________________________

Part of Shakti’s world shattered with the realization that she would have to leave her hometown behind forever.

No matter how far she was from home or how long she spent traveling, this town was always there in the back of her mind, as a safe haven that she could always return to. Now, that untouchable place of rest was under attack.

And there was nothing she could do about it.

As she, Vai, Lokapele and Seang descended the stairs to the main district of town, Lokapele wove lava before them, melting crossbow bolts fired at them and scaring the soldiers off.

They reached a break in the stairs to find that twice or three times the numbers of soldiers were now committed to climbing to the stone district.

Lokapele created a path onto the sloped roof of a building by cooling her lava.

“Come on!” she shouted, leaping onto the building.

Shakti followed with the rest, leaping over the six foot gap and nearly stumbling on her landing. Lokapele melted some more stone and shot pellets of magma at the crossbowmen who had caught sight of them.

They skidded to a stop on one of the rooftops as Nikan soldiers started climbing onto the roof ahead of them.

Shakti turned to find soldiers on the roof behind them as well. This particular building happened to have a fire growing inside.

Vai yelped as he nearly fell through into the inferno. Shakti managed to catch his hand and helped pull him up.

“Jump!” Seang yelled. She unleashed a blinding flash of light at the troops on the ground and landed in the mud with a roll. The others followed her.

Shakti looked only at the ground when she started running again. The sight of the burning buildings stabbed needles into her heart.

She’d heard plenty of stories of the Nikan massacring people without reason. She thought them to only be inflated stories to sow fear and interest.

No. No, those stories were true.

The bodies of women and children were being dragged into the street and lit aflame while the soldiers stole only their livestock, rice and fruit.

People Shakti had known, people she’d grown up with were being systematically murdered before her. And she ran. Just like before.

Everytime, she ran away. Even in their hour of need, she abandoned them.

Couldn’t she do something? Anything to atone for her cowardice?

They came to a stop once again, surrounded.

Lokapele slammed her fist into the ground, enveloping herself in molten earth as Seang shone with a brilliant radiance.

Shakti stood by, useless.

Would a Shedim make her able to stay and fight? She wanted to know. Despite being in the middle of a slaughter.

Even Vai, without a Shedim, engaged in the battle with a measly jade paddle.

Shakti’s attention was drawn as Seang stopped glowing.

She collapsed to her knees. She was out of power.

No...there was something more.

Seang was trembling, eyes widened at the ground. The soldiers had backed away and were hesitating, but Seang wasn’t doing anything to hold them off.

Instead, she was muttering to herself.

“Seang!” Shakti ran over to her.

“We’re surrounded...no way out...no way out...we’ll die...all the others are-”

“Seang!” Shakti grabbed her friend by the shoulders.

Seang screamed in terror, a bolt of light firing from her palm and missing Shakti by an inch.

Lokapele landed in front of them just as the soldiers Seang had been holding back were gaining their confidence again.

“What’s wrong with her?” Lokapele demanded.

“I-I don’t know!” Shakti said.

Soldiers screamed as Lokapele attacked them with magma, causing Seang to back away. Her hands started to glow again.

“Seang!” Shakti grabbed her friend’s wrists and held them up as two blasts of light shot from her hands, “Seang, it’s me! Shakti! Look at me!”

Seang blinked, her breath starting to become less rapid. She looked Shakti in the face.

“What happened?” Shakti asked.

“I...I’m sorry. It was...I’m okay. I’m okay now.” Seang assured, “Let’s go.”

Vai was picking off stragglers from the front that Lokapele was originally fighting on.

“Vai! Let’s move!” Shakti yelled.

He joined them, with Lokapele trailing behind as they left the town and started into the jungle.

_______________________________________________________________________

Exhausted, Shakti couldn’t accurately express her relief when they finally found Najeem sitting next to a campfire a mile or so into the jungle.

“That would be the second time we were run out of a burning village.” Lokapele muttered, “I see this becoming a trend.”

“I'm in no mood for quips, Lokapele.” Shakti growled.

“You think I’m trying to make light of the situation?” Lokapele asked.

“I do.”

“Hey, guys, the last thing we need right now is-” Vai started.

“I don’t even want to hear you and your paddle talk.” Shakti said.

“It’s a club and at least I killed some of them!” Vai exclaimed, “What did you do?”

“Back off, asshole!”

“What the hell is with you guys?” Najeem asked.

“And you ran off with your princess!” Shakti roared.

“I thought we agreed that was a smart decision if we didn’t want Shahla to die.” Najeem muttered.

“And how many women and children died in her place?” Shakti roared.

“Those people were going to die anyway!” Najeem let his facade of calm drop.

“Screw you, you-”

“Everybody shut the hell up!” Seang snapped.

Everyone flinched, including Lokapele.

“Shakti,” Seang said, calmer now, “I understand your pain. It was my home too. But looking for someone to blame, especially among your allies, isn’t doing us any good.”

“You don’t understand.” Shakti murmured, “You were always there. Everything there was your world.”

“And now that world is gone. How do you think that affects me?”

“Whereas that place was my safe haven, away from the world. And now it’s gone!”

“So you’ve lost your vacation spot and I’ve lost my home. I’d say we feel a very similar amount of pain.” Seang said, “Now’s no time for weakness. We should set up camp.”

“So I’m weak, am I?”

“Shakti, please calm yourself and think a little. Take some time to breathe.” Shahla groaned from a bedroll.

Shakti ground her teeth together before turning on her heel and stomping away into the jungle. The sun was setting, darkening the forest floor. But despite that, she felt no fear in distancing herself from the camp.

She kicked stones and twigs aside as she seethed before sitting herself down on a rock.

Where did they get off? None of them knew that town the way she did. None of them could give a damn.

Not even Seang could...

“I’m an idiot.” she muttered to herself.

Seang knew her pain all too well. But she was focused on the way forward.

Shakti was fixating herself on finding excuses. Ways she or others could’ve helped to avoid the slaughter..

She wasn’t angry at the others. She just wanted it to be that way instead of the truth that she was angry at herself. She had no control.

She was the one who didn’t manage to save anybody. She was the one without power or even so much as a weapon. She could only do what she had ever done: Run away.

There was barely any light left in the sky, so she started on her way back to the camp.