NOVEL WEB Chapter 3: Lightless Shadow
Sunny found himself in a familiar place. It was an endless black void illuminated by a myriad of stars. Between those stars, countless strings of silver light were woven into a beautiful and inconceivably complex net, forming various nexuses and constellations. It was truly breathtaking.
'Come to think of it, how can anyone see the strings of Fate in the first place? It wouldn't be that surprising if I could, even though not only do I not have Weaver's lineage yet, but I am not using the [Where is my eye?] enchant of Weaver's Mask either...'
His little brainstorming session came to an end soon, because the Spell finally spoke out.
[You have received a Memory: Puppeteer's Shroud]
'Good, it seems that I am receiving the same memories as before. Fate is doing its job correctly.'
A moment after that, the Spell spoke once more.
[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]
[A divine shadow, bound not only by light, but also Fate, was attacked by the loathsome Vile Thieving Bird, and took damage in the process. The strings of fate surrounding the treacherous shadow were torn apart and so, to make sure they restore themselves properly, Fate ejected the shadow to the point, where it all began, to create a new foundation to build upon. And so, a nameless slave favored by Fate ascended the Black Mountain. Both heroes and monsters fell by his hand. Brimming with resolve, he entered the ruined temple of a long-forgotten god and spilled his blood on the sacred altar. The gods were dead, and yet they listened.]
[You have defeated a dormant beast: Mountain King's Larva.]
[You have defeated three dormant humans, names unknown.]
[You have defeated an awakened human: Auro of the Nine.]
[You have defeated an awakened tyrant: Mountain King.]
[You have received the Nightmare Spell's blessing.]
[You have received the Shadow God's blessing.]
[You have received Fate's blessing.]
[You have achieved the impossible!]
[Final appraisal: unimaginable. Faced with unthinkable horror and agony, your resolve blazed deeply and your treachery knew no bounds nonetheless.]
'... J-just.. w-what....'
'T-that's pure insanity! What do you mean ''Fate's blessing'' and why the hell is the Spell itself blessing me?!'
[Dreamer Sunless, receive your boon!]
[You have been bestowed a True Name: Lost from Light.]
[One of your Attributes has evolved.]
'E-evolved already? Which one?'
Also, his true name remained the same. He wasn't surprised by this fact, he was still Lost from Light, that was his identity, the name that kept him sane during all those times, during the Dream Curse that his black steed put on him during his 2nd Nightmare, during the transformations using Shadow Dance, it was the proof of his existence... In fact, it would have been weirder if it actually changed, since that would mean that he himself was practically someone else.
[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]
'The moment of truth...'
Sunny crossed his fingers, hoping desperately for a different outcome this time.
"Yes."
[Dormant Aspect Slave of Fate is evolving...]
[New Aspect required.]
[Aspect Rank: Divine.]
'Please... gods... daemons, Spell, Fate... whoever, just please don't make me into a slave again!'
[Aspect Name: Lightless Shadow]
***
Sunny stood there, eyes widened, completely paralyzed by the revelation. He spent so many years of his life agonizing over the fact, that he would never be free. Always enslaved by something or someone, it didn't matter if it was Nephis, the woman he loved, or Fate itself. He just wanted to be free of it all...
And now...
Aspect: [Lightless Shadow].
Aspect Rank: Divine.
Aspect Description: [You are a miraculous shadow, one whose existence shouldn't be possible. As a divine shadow, you possess plenty of strange and wondrous powers. Normally, it would be improper for a shadow, let alone a divine one, to walk around without a master. But what kind of a being could ever enslave a shadow, that managed to break out off the chains cast by light and Fate itself?]
Innate Ability: [Shadow Projection].
Ability Description: [As a shadow, that's free of the burden of having to follow and be cast by light, you are now the conduit that casts shadows instead.]
'...'
Sunny was baffled completely. He was overjoyed at the fact, that he was free, but still perplexed by the new Aspect.
'What does it mean that I am now the conduit that casts shadows?... Is it perhaps something like how the Shadow Lantern functions? A gate that can swallow and throw out shadows as it pleases?'
He had a lot to digest...
Everything that happened so far, everything that lead up to this point... it... it was worth it. He can finally be free of this feeling that filled his mind, he can finally not be scared of being taken advantage of, he can finally stand at the summit, not being a mere follower or slave. He can... be an equal to Her...
'I'll work hard to protect this freedom, I will never be taken advantage of again. This is my own will, who dares stop me?'
He was brimming with the resolve to protect this peace of mind, it was his conviction even...
To stay free. Forever.
Sunny's train of thought was cut short by another interference from the Spell.
[The First Seal is broken.]
[Awakening dormant powers...]
He felt the feeling of something waking up inside of him, the feeling was still kind of insane in his opinion. Energy filled every fiber of his being. His mind got clearer and sharper, his body began to change, too. It was as though a small star started radiating in the center of his chest, the feeling was warm and revitalizing, slowly reaching every part of his body. All his bones, organs, blood vessels were being rebuilt into something greater. He was becoming stronger, faster, healthier.
It was like he was reborn.
It was euphoric.
With each second, his transformation was becoming more profound. With his powers awakening and his will unbroken, he gained even more confidence in himself than before.
After some time had passed, the star - his first core burning in his chest finally cooled down. The heat was replaced with a soothing coldness. That coldness washed over Sunny's previously unawakened body, taking away all of the aches and discomforts accumulated there over the years. Then it moved up, reaching his brain and finally, his eyes.
His vision doubled.
He saw a void populated by an endless pattern of stars. But he could also see something different.
A silent, calm dark sea illuminated by a lonely black sun. Before, it seemed to be transparent, devoid of light, but now it was different from before, he couldn't quite explain the sight, it was like an entirely new law of physics, something unexplainable... There was no light whatsoever coming from it, just like before, nonetheless Sunny knew that was one of his cores.
Sunny's Soul Sea was dark and lightless, yet it felt different... And that something that made it different was able to cast shadows, just like light. There was a familiar feeling to it however, it seemed to remind him of his very own presence... Is that what it means to be a lightless shadow? To be the existence that's responsible for existing on his own without needing anyone or anything?
It's as if it just willed itself into existence.
How peculiar and confusing...
He gazed upon his core and spotted the two spheres of light orbiting around it. They were the Memories he gained, it seemed contradictory that his core and soul were supposedly lightless, yet there was a pair of spheres made of light circling around it, but they weren't a part of the lightless core and the whole sensation was unexplainable anyway...
[Awakening Aspect Ability...]
'Is it going to be the same?'
[Aspect Ability acquired.]
[Aspect Ability Name: Shadow Control.]
Sunny summoned his runes upon seeing this. He wanted to see if the description changed in any way.
Name: Sunless.
True Name: Lost from Light.
Rank: Dreamer.
Shadow Core: Dormant.
Shadow Fragments: [24/1000].
'Huh, hold on... wasn't it supposed to be less than that?'
He was surprised and happy with this revelation, it seemed that things are going to get easier from now on. If he can gain double the fragments from now on, and with his past experience... Frankly he would be scared of himself, if he was his opponent.
'Haha! Seems I am getting more awesome by the minute!'
Memories: [Silver Bell], [Puppeteer's Shroud].
Echoes: -
Attributes: [Fated], [Spark of Divinity], [Child of Shadows]
Looking at his attributes, Sunny noticed something. [Fated] wasn't grayed out anymore and it seems that the description changed a bit...
[Fated] Attribute Description: "The strings of fate wrap tightly around you. Unlikely events, both good and bad, are drawn by your presence. There are those who are blessed, and there are those who are cursed… but rarely both. However, due to the blessing given to you by Fate, you are now able to choose if you wish to evade some of these unlikely events or not."
'What?!'
Sunny had a completely puzzled expression on his face. What does it even mean that he is able to choose to evade them, how is he even supposed to do that in the first place? And which events does it mean, when it said "some of these"?
'Doesn't this mean that I have some sort of influence over Fate itself, now that I am able to evade the events it sends my way?'
The thought was extremely scary, after all, Fate was like an absolute law itself. Even Weaver, The Demon of Fate, was unable to change it, yet Sunny now can.
'I did guess that the Spell was trying to change Fate before, and if Weaver had to create something so extraordinary, unprecedented to even attempt that, just how ridiculous is this Attribute of mine? Is this what it means to receive Fate's Blessing?'
He decided to stop thinking about it, since it won't do him any good to scare and baffle himself even more and went on to check the Aspect Ability.
Aspect Abilities: [Shadow Control].
Aspect Ability Description: [Your shadow is more independent than most. It is an invaluable helper.]
'Well there had to be something that didn't change, I guess...'
Suddenly, the Spell's voice resounded in the black void once again.
[All power has a price.]
[You have received a Flaw.]
[Your Flaw is: Clear Conscience.]
Flaw: [Clear Conscience].
Flaw Description: [You cannot lie.]
Sunny sighed, but wasn't mad at the fact at all, he had already learned to live with it after all, and now that his biggest invulnerability is gone, it doesn't even seem that bad. In fact, he was really surprised, he thought it would definitely change, since his Aspect did almost completely. Wasn't that the point of the Flaw? Because he had an invulnerability in the form of [Shadow Bond], if he was ever asked about it, he had to say the truth and couldn't hide it. Though it seemed that the Spell and Shadow God somehow thought that [Shadow Bond] was actually a great boon instead, even if it enslaved him.
It's true that thanks to the bond, he was able to augment his master and be augmented by his master as well and also be able to take them into Shadow Step, and more importantly, see their runes. But that was all. Were there perhaps some much greater benefits awaiting him once he transcended or became an even greater being?
Well not that he will ever know anyway, since it's all gone...
And with that, the Spell interrupted Sunny for the last time today.
[Wake up, Lost from Light!]
The black void spun and disappeared.