Zadius had awoken from his slumber first, the strange voice that resounded in his mind still lingered at the back of his head. Sharp rays of moonlight shot through the cracks of the broken-down shack, but Zadius' mind was distant yet ecstatic.
"I've awakened…" He thought, his gaze distant.
His body felt renewed, any fatigue he had felt was gone and was replaced with a burning vigour. Then, there was the strange energy that he could faintly sense flowing through his body.
Slowly, he shifted his gaze to Xaryus to see if he had also awakened but his younger brother still sat beside him in the pose the book had outlined.
"What?" Zadius blurted out reflexively…
…Floating in the air in front of him were a set of strange words.
Name: Zadius
Titles: N/A
Rank: Novice
Stage: 1
Spite: [Prince of Shadows]
Spite Abilities: [Kin of Shadows] [Herald of Shadows]
Spite Description: Fate has been distorted, and you have inherited a will not of your own soul… One of shadows, darkness and the void beyond. As such, your soul has been ensnared by the will's darkness, protected by its ever-changing folds; your authority has been exalted and your dominion over shadows has become like that of a young lord.
Stigma: [Torchbearer of Sardant]
Stigma Traits:[Stigmata] [Fanged Darkness] [Ensnared Soul]
Stigma Description: You have inherited the will of ■■■■■ and assumed his role as the Torchbearer of Sardant. The darkness beneath the throne awaits you…
Taking a moment, Zadius slowly read through the words as best as he could. If he had half a mind he would have thought he was going insane, but he had just awakened, and they had not finished reading the strange book in its entirety.
So there had to be some information on what he was experiencing.
It seemed to be harmless at least, some sort of personal analysis manifested through words.
Whilst rereading the words he focused on the list of abilities he gained from his spite. Then, as if sensing his gaze, they quickly shifted and expanded.
Spite Ability: [Kin of Shadows]
AbilityDescription: The world itself cannot discern whether you are of flesh or of shadow. When within the embrace of shadows, they welcome you, but you are unable to beckon their call. However, their mere grace empowers you…
Spite Ability: [Herald of Shadows]
Ability Description: The shadows recognize you as their young lord. Some may be reluctant to heed the call of a strange new ruler, but many will follow you into the brightest of places.
Reading the strange words, Zadius pondered for a moment and outstretched his hand towards the darkness nesting in his home.
It was an instinctual motion, he could feel a palpable connection between himself and the shadows around him, but nothing had happened.
"Am I missing something?" He thought briefly, looking down at his hand.
In that brief moment he recognized he wasn't even sad anymore; his grief was replaced with a burning curiosity. Said curiosity was then overwhelmed by a feeling of guilt.
He felt like he was betraying the memory of his mother, like he had no right to be happy.
But before he could delve deeper into his grief, he faintly heard Xaryus rustling awake.
After a few moments, Xaryus eventually opened his eyes and stared for a moment.
Then his lips moved ever so slightly.
"We've awakened…" he said matter of factly, still staring off into the distance.
Zadius nodded with a soft smile and responded, "...What do they say?" he questioned, assuming Xaryus was now watching his own set of strange words.
".... They say a lot." Xaryus added with a small chuckle.
Name: Xaryus
Titles: N/A
Rank: Novice
Stage: 1
Spite: [Emissary of Light]
Spite Abilities: [Illuminate] [Solar Augment] [Solaris]
Spite Description: Your fate has been distorted, and the cold nature of your soul has been reborn into that of a vibrant star. You are destined to shine bright and inspire others but for a star to shine it must first endure immense pressure and strife.
Stigma: [Last Blade of Light]
Stigma Description: You have been given a vibrant light that attracts the attention of the most heinous and horrific beings. You are destined to suffer to ease the suffering of others, such is the fate of a "Blade of Light". But as a being that shoulders a burden that none should bear, you are loved by Law and mana. Your fate drives you to fend off darkness and protect those around you.
Stigma Traits:[Stigmata] [Arcane Medium] [Sword's Blessing]
***
Meanwhile, Andrew was seated behind a desk in his home near the wall of Rosa. A small candle was all he used to shed light on the old notebook in front of him.
Although he had enough money to purchase runic apparatus to better illuminate his home, he preferred the natural light provided by flames.
It reminded him of his home.
After staring at the flickering flame for a moment, he finished up writing in his book.
As he was about to finish writing down the last sentence, his pen suddenly scraped across the page. His head suddenly perked up and shot eastwards, towards his new investments.
"Did they actually do it?" Andrew thought for a moment, almost doubting his senses.
But even though he was in a weakened state, his body was still rather powerful and so was his ability to sense changes in the strange entity that interacted with all sorcerers, Law.
He had felt a subtle shift, but he wasn't certain…
"I had just left that book with them, there's no way…" Before he could formulate his thought though, he sensed a more profound shift in Law.
He had reflexively risen out of his chair, throwing it to the ground. Someone had just awakened, he was sure of it.
A bright smile had flashed across his face and an intense look of elation and excitement fluttered in his eyes.
***
Xaryus didn't have much of a chance to look at the analysis in front of him.
He was more interested in reading what a new sorcerer such as himself was supposed to do after awakening. Ignoring his attributes, he walked over to the desk at the centre of the shack.
As he moved, he became aware of the strange energy that flowed within him, but it weirdly didn't feel foreign to him. It felt like it had always been there, he was just never able to perceive it.
Xaryus also noticed a faint energy similar to the one inside his body all around him. Whilst he walked forwards, the energy moved across his body, almost embracing him.
However, its warm embrace was short-lived. The moment Xaryus had opened the strange book; he had looked back to his older brother trying to get him to come closer to continue reading.
Zadius' expression was illuminated by the beautiful moonlight, yet his horrified expression gravely contrasted it.
His face was flushed with fear, and said fear was pointed towards the front door. Seeing Zadius' face had made all the hair on the back of Xaryus' neck stand up.
Slowly, he turned back to the front of the shack and saw a figure standing in the door frame, away from the illuminating moonlight.
The sudden appearance of the strange man had shaken Xaryus to his very core, maybe it was the man's sharp and heavy breaths or the fact he couldn't see the man's face through the darkness.
But Xaryus would've regretted seeing his face, Zadius was sure of it because he himself had seen the man's face in all its mad glory.
It seemed that Zadius' [Kin of Shadows] ability also allowed him some sort of dark vision, letting him see the strange figure with stark clarity.
It was Andrew who stood in front of the two brothers.
His chest was rising and falling quickly as if he had just rushed there, a disgustingly wide smile was stretched across his face. One so wide it pressed his eyes together and yet Zadius could still see the perversely satisfied look resting in each of his delighted eyes.
"...Hello, my little sorcerers!" Andrew exclaimed with pure joy.