The young man growled to himself as he lit the final candle within the room. It didn't matter anymore it seemed… Barely enough food to survive with, no one would give him work, nor anything if he sat in the streets and begged.

So, I'll try something else… At any rate… I cannot stand this place anymore… May it suffer for all it did to me.

There were strange symbols on the ground. The young man took a dagger into his hand, closing his green eyes.

"May Ra have mercy on my soul…" He murmured before making the slice, crying out a bit before steadying himself…

The blood dripped onto the symbols as he began to chant… The room darkening as the candles slowly flickered out one by one, smoke rising up around him.

To anyone who listens to my plea… I will give up my very life to see the rotten souls of this place suffer...

"Well, well, well… What have we here…?"

The man gasped, looking up, seeing something that looked like a human… yet didn't. The person was completely black, save two white spots on their face that represented eyes. It appeared to be… what could only be described as a walking shadow.

He swallowed hard.

"I'm sick of this world… I can't eat, I can't work… What else is left to do? I'll lose my home at this rate… And no one will help me… I'd rather see them all suffer… See them grow as desperate as I …"

"Quite the order… and with the symbols you've made you're different from the others the shadows keep telling me about. You want to be rid of your soul… You don't want to live anymore… That's very unusual for a human to ask."

The man sighed, lowering his gaze.

"What else is there to even live for? I don't have family or friends. No one to talk to. No work to be done… And the afterlife forbid I try to steal from the king of all people. I'd be executed on the spot. So… What is the point? WHAT was the entire point of even being born!?" He growled, his gaze darkening. "What's the point in being here… If I'm useless… So useless I can't do more than this…"

The shadow just stared at him before its eyes narrowed, tipping the man's chin up so their eyes locked.

"I admit… I do not really care for this world… but I hear so much about it from the shadows and some of my subjects who have dared set foot in this place in the name of exploration. Yet… I wouldn't mind seeing more for myself… Unfortunately, unlike my subjects who can walk about without being questioned, I can not. For my appearance is as you see. My subjects look human, but I do not… Though… maybe I might have way now that would involve a deal that could please both of our needs."

"Then tell me… And I will do it… I mean it when I say there is no point to my existence as of now.."

"I can let your soul pass on… in exchange, I want your body. Possessing it would give me the ability to see more of this world, and maybe find something of interest that could help my world."

The man felt a chill go through him, as he looked the creature in the eye.

To pass on… To die and allow this creature to parade his body around once it was empty..

It sounded strange…

It sounded….

Wonderful…

He smiled faintly.

"We have a deal."

"Very well, what's your name?"

"Seth… My name is Seth sir…"

"Well, Seth… My name is Maxwell…" He held out his hand. "Do you accept the terms of our deal? Your soul, for the use of your body."

Seth took his hand, shaking it firmly, a serious look in his eyes.

"I wholeheartedly accept it."

"Good."

Maxwell held his hand tightly as shadow hands came around Seth, Maxwell disappearing into them as the man was consumed. There was no scream… only silence as the process began.

Seth felt himself slip away as a new being took his place.

The shadow hands parted, Seth… Maxwell, slumping to the ground a little, his hands gripping at it. He took a shakey breath before opening his eyes, looking at his hands.

"Interesting…" He whispered, grinning. "So this is what it's like…" He chuckled, getting up, looking around the room. "Hm… I can see a lot of benefits to this…"

He snapped his fingers, shadow creatures appearing in the room, looking to him curiously.

"Come my friends…" Maxwell gave a sinister look. "I believe we have some exploration to do."

The creatures gave gleeful shrieks, moving about the room, eager to do as their master told.

"King, King all hail The King!"

Maxwell took a bow before leading them out.

Let's see what this world has to offer.

oooooo

It had been a long week.

The kingdom was alive with activity… But it was still concerning. The king was still worshipped, but the instances of theft and murders had started to increase…

The Pharaoh sighed as he stepped out onto his balcony over looking the city. The people were walking around, going about their day… While inside, he had criminals to see to.

If I have to see one more I'm going to scream…

"King Aharon?"

He looked over to see one of the members of his court. "Yes Neferet?"

"You seem troubled… Are you sure you will be able to handle this?"

Aharon sighed.

"What choice do I have?"

Neferet frowned.

"We, as part of your court just want you to be at your best, My King. Maybe you should go out for a ride at some point to clear your head."

"Maybe… I'll handle this last one then I'll go out… Just be sure Chione is safe."

"Of course, My King." Nefret nodded. "This way."

Nefret lead him to a room where his court was seated around a man chained to the floor. They all glared at the man, suspicious at what he had been brought in for…. Though unlike the others that had been brought in, this man was calm and collected. He just stared at all of them, his face blank of expression.

Aharon frowned, standing before the man.

"What is your crime? Do you know what you were arrested for?"

The man looked up at Aharon, his expression shifting to one of disgust.

"I was brought in for something I didn't even do."

"Liar." Nefret scoffed. "You were brought in my two men screaming you were casting spells on them, causing them to go insane."

The man rolled his eyes.

"Oh sure… Blame their issues on someone else. They were the ones causing themselves to go insane, not me."

"Neferet, please."

"I apologize, Sire."

Aharon shook his head, looking back to the man.

"What do you know of such insanity?"

"That people are doing things they really shouldn't even consider." The man narrowed his eyes. "They summon beings hoping for power, only for that power to turn on them… That's their responsibility. They just pinned it on me because I just so happened to be near by some of their foolish summonings… Oh, I hope you know this, Your Highness, but quite a number of people have been attempting dark magic in order to try and overthrow you. Just thought I'd let you know."

The royal court all gasped, looking to their king in concern. Aharon had a mortified look on his face.

He looked at the man's eyes, looking for any signs of deceit… But he saw nothing but truth.

"... Guards. Unchain him immediately. I'd like to talk to him in a more comfortable setting. Right now." He ordered.

The guards hesitated.

"I SAID NOW!"

"Y-Yes sir!"

The man was unshackled in seconds. He sighed in relief, rubbing his wrists.

"Ah… much better."

Aharon offered him a hand up.

"Please allow me to make this right. Your name?"

He took it.

"They call me Seth."

Aharon smiled a bit, helping him to his feet. "Then Seth, it's a pleasure to meet you… And I apologize for this. Usually my court listens to BOTH sides of the story before hauling people in." A glare was thrown in the others' directions. "But with recent events… We can't be too careful… Though, I would love to know more of what you know regarding it.."

"And I'll happily share… Just… I would prefer it was only the two of us talking. These are rather heavy matters… as well as hard to explain."

"We'll go to the gardens… It's quiet, no one will listen in." Aharon looked to his court. "You all have duties to attend to, I will handle our guest."

"But Sire, are you sure?"

"Quite. I can handle myself just fine one on one."

"... Yes, Sire."

"Good." Aharon looked to Seth. "This way."

Seth followed behind him quietly, looking around the place.

"So this is what the palace looks like." he commented, noting all the decorations. "How regal."

Aharon smiled sheepishly. "Thank Chione, my wife, for that. She's better with keeping things like this in order… Most of these things I wouldn't have out if it weren't for her. She thinks the place should show what kind of king I am… Though sometimes I wonder what kind I actually am.."

"Oh?"

"I hate blood. I hate, hate, HATE it…"

"Hm, I see. So that means executions must be rather unpleasant for you."

Aharon cringed. "Precisely. I don't dole them out unless absolutely necessary… Most of the time I just banish them to another part of the kingdom. Farms mostly… Or the desert… It's petty, but I just can't stand it."

"Banishment… I see…" Seth hummed in thought, smiling a little. "Heh… That's an idea…" He whispered.

Aharon looked to him, raising an eyebrow. "What was that?" He asked, taking a seat on a bench near the pond.

Seth sat next to him.

"Oh, just thinking out loud in regards to your punishment methods. In a sense, you make them die slowly depending on the environment you put them in. Of course, not all are deadly, but I'm sure a majority are not livable conditions."

"No. The worst I usually send straight into the desert. If bandits don't kill them, the lack of food and water will. It's quite a ways from the river you see." Aharon crossed his arms. "The last one I banished I had them tie his wrists first… He had gotten in and tried to murder my wife… Somehow found their way to our sleeping chambers."

"I see…" Seth narrowed his eyes. "That means that while the shadows have driven them to insanity they still gain some form of power… Hm… How odd…"

Aharon raised an eyebrow. "Do tell more… You seem more familiar with these bouts of madness then I."

"That I am…" Seth closed his eyes. "These mad men keep trying to summon beings from another world as means of gaining strength or knowledge. Hoping these beings will grant them some wish… But… the thing is, they keep it doing it wrong. They summon the servants of the being they want. They want someone known as the Shadow King to appear before them to make a pact."

"And you know this King?"

"Yes… He's known as Maxwell."

Aharon looked at his eyes again… Seeing a sly look in his eyes. "... And am I speaking to him?"

Seth grinned, showing his canines were rather sharp.

"You're smarter than most. I see why they made you king."

Aharon's eyes widened a bit before he smirked.

"I do what I can. I rather prefer listening to both sides of the story."

Seth… Maxwell, chuckled, his demeanor softening a bit.

"And I appreciate it… I will be clear about something. While my servants have caused insanity, mind you, they only caused it because those men couldn't themselves with their need for power. They asked them to come, they do what they do and then feed off their insanity. It's food for them. If they wanted real power they would have to actually call on me. There's only one person who has gotten this right and compared to these fools, his offer was rather "humble" for lack of a better term."

"What did he ask of you, Shadow King?" The king asked, curiosity coming to his eyes.

Maxwell held up his right hand, showing a scar on the palm.

"He wanted freedom from this world. So, I gave him that, in exchange, I could walk amongst humans without being questioned by taking his body."

Aharon gasped.

"You... possessed him… And he asked for it? He truly wanted that?"

"He also mentioned wanting others to suffer, but in all honesty I had no need for that. I just wanted to see what my subjects had been seeing. See if there was anything I could make use of here. For the shadow creatures, they quite enjoy feeding off the insanity of those criminals. But yes, he asked for me to do that. He didn't find any reason to keep living, so I relieved him of that."

Well… If he was just going to kill himself anyway… And since he hasn't directly caused the problem…

"I see…" Aharon cleared his throat. "Well then… What do we do, regarding keeping these waves of insanity down then? I'd rather not have to throw everyone with dark thoughts in their head to the desert."

"Well… when you mentioned banishment… I thought about my world. It would be interesting to see these criminals put to the test of survival. Our world is quite different in what dangers lie in it. I… could make them "disappear" from this world the moment they cause a summoning or if one is brought in to your court again proven guilty."

Aharon was quiet as he pondered this possibility… Having the criminals spirited away… Out of sight, out of mind… No need for executions if he had someone this powerful on his side. He smirked.

"You have yourself a deal… When they've been brought in would be preferable but… I will allow you to make a choice based on just WHAT they wanted from the summoning… If they were outright intent to go out after and try killing me, then please. Dispatch them."

"Very well. I'll make sure any summoning now brings me to them. I'm sure my shadow creatures will understand." Maxwell grinned. "Though… funny thing is, you yourself are making a deal with me. This is a very twist. Considering it's my creatures that have been causing the ruckus. I would think you would want me gone."

"Oh quite the contrary… I'm rather interested in having those of power on my side… And I have always been interested in the practice of magic." Aharon grinned. "You have no intent to harm myself, or my wife… Nor do you intend to take my court and kingdom correct?"

"Absolutely no interest. I already have a kingdom. I don't need one in this world too. There's not much for me here."

"Then…" Aharon held out his hand. "I'd like a partnership… To invite you to be part of my court."

Maxwell looked at the hand before locking eyes with him.

"I hope that's only in regards to public appearance. For you know, we're technically equals."

"Of course. Only to the public… I'd rather a friend than another priest… Though I wouldn't exactly consider a man known as The Shadow King to be a priest.."

"More so… Magician, Your Highness." Maxwell took his hand, giving it a shake. "You have yourself a deal."

"Welcome then Maxwell… And I hope this will be as interesting for you as it will be for me."

"I'm sure it will."

Though… don't count on the friend concept.

Partners, sure.

But friends?

Pheh… I'm not exactly the one anyone wants to be friends with.