Chapter 8: The Dark Beginnings
It was dark… far too dark even for it to be night. There was no wind, no sound, no movement, not even a minor cricket chirp or the dropping of a late leaf. It was as if everything went stone cold. Shane couldn't explain it, like being in some mist like world that mirrored the room he was sleeping in.
You can call me a parasite… The voice was ghastly yet as if it was hidden deep within a thick cloud of smoke, a cruel and cold heartless voice.
"What…?" Shane looked around for the speaker.
You can brand me a devourer…
"Who are you!?" Shane started asking in desperation.
A parasite that devours souls…
That word: Souls. That got him. It's Soul Edge.
Souls like yours… and your friends…
Shane then stood up, unsheathing his blade. "Leave them out of this!"
There is nothing you can do… just like there is no life… in the void…
The room around Shane began to fade, like being washed away by the wind and water. A great skull appeared in the forefront, wreathed in flame and shrouded by the misty setting.
Only… me…
Shane's sword crumbled into dust blowing away with the landscape. A person then came from the skull's mouth, unfamiliar but strikingly familiar at the same time. He was looking at mirror image of himself with one difference that Shane could see in those eyes. No soul.
And Death…! And the image struck.
Shane awoke the very instant where his copy's own blade should have punctured his heart. Cold sweat streaked down his neck. Soul Edge was here… but where.
Shane's violet exsphere began to glow an unearthly flame and he realized it.
"The battle with Edge Master…" Shane said to himself. Something happened when he was struck in the chest. The reason why and how he gave Edge Master the grievous wound.
Shane then put his hand on his head. "Damn it… It came here… through me…"
The dark embers faded away leaving only the crest of an Eye.
"I have to stop it… but how…" Shane thought for a moment and then realized the one person here who may have the arts to do it: Dirk.
Dirk was still awake, heaving over the fire, making sure it didn't go out. Shane got up and walked downstairs.
"Dirk…" Shane said grimly "I need your help…"
"What can I help you with lad?" Dirk asked turning away from the fire.
Shane opened his vest to reveal his exsphere
"An exsphere?" Dirk said with mild surprise "What's going on with it?"
"Not what's going on with it" Shane answered quietly "It's what's hiding inside it…"
At the moment Shane said 'hiding', the exsphere let out a brilliant red light making Dirk fall over in surprise.
Shane however felt a sudden surge to tear the dwarf apart as he laid on the floor.
Take him… grant him peace…
He struggled with his own body, his right hand reaching for the hilt of the katana.
Let… it out…!
The blade was unsheathing…
Do it…!
"No…!" Shane said defiantly, sending his blade from his hands into the floor. The bright light flickered away and died leaving Shane the eerie voice…
Let… it out… let me… out…
Shane collapsed into the chair and then laid his head down on the table. Dirk had finally gotten up after witnessing that weird display.
"I think I understand now…" Dirk said to Shane patting him on the back "Just what gave you that… thing?"
"Trust me Dirk…" Shane sighed with a deep breath "I hope you never find out…"
Later that day…
"Lloyd Irving…! Wake up! Lloyd!" Raine was about to throw a chalk eraser when Shane raised his hand to stop her from outside the window. He entered the schoolhouse, headed straight to Lloyd and swatted him at the back of the head.
"Agh…" Lloyd said annoyed from being woken up "What you do that for?" Lloyd said looking at Shane.
"What would Dirk say if you were sleeping in class? Let alone standing at the same time!" Shane retorted
"How DO you manage to fall asleep standing?" Raine asked
"Oh Professor" Lloyd said "Is class over?"
Shane face palmed himself shaking his head. "Lloyd…"
Raine headed back to the front of the class sighing. "Never mind" she said "Let's have someone else answer the question. Genis how about you?"
"Yes, Raine" Genis said "Mithos the hero brought about the end of the Ancient War in the holy ground of Kharlan."
"Correct" Raine respounded "Afterwards, Mithos the hero formed a pact with the Goddess Martel to seal away the Desians who caused the war."
"But the Desians came back and are now causing everyone to suffer!" Lloyd shouted with obvious anger.
"We covered that last time remember?" Genis said back
"Yeah… I… just forgot…" Lloyd said blushing.
"Today is the Day of Prophecy." Raine announced "It is a very important day, which the Chosen of Mana will receive an oracle from the Goddess Martel. Now Chosen one...Colette, tell us about the journey of world regeneration."
"It is a journey to seal the Desians." Colette answered
"Correct. I suppose we should expect the Chosen herself to know the answer to that one. Mana depletion is the use of the current food shortages and droughts. It is said that this occurs because the Desians consume vast amounts of mana in their human ranches. The Chosen's journey has two purposes: to revive Mana as well as defeat the Desians, sending them away again. Now, for the next question…"
Before anything else could be said a bright light appeared in the corner of the window.
"What's that?" Lloyd spluttered out.
"That..." Colette started facing the window.
Shane said quietly to himself "It's time…" Before Raine would keep the class in, he quietly left the classroom. "Time to get the thing I need from Dirk…"
"Settle down everyone" Raine said to keep the class's attention "It seems that the oracle has come. I will go to check on the chapel. Everyone, stay here and study on your own."
Colette stood up from her seat "Professor let me come with you!"
"Colette." Raine said shaking her head "If it is time then I will return with the priests to get you."
Colette nodded her head a down a little and said "Yes ma'am"
Lloyd however wasn't exactly going to sit down and study, he proceeded to leave when Genis stopped him.
"Lloyd where are you going? Raine said to stay here!" Genis was almost yelling now, as if he didn't want to go the temple with Raine there.
"I'm really curious to find out what really happens to Colette when she receives the oracle. They always talk about the Chosen of Regeneration and the Day of Prophecy, but no one tells us what really happens. Or if even half of it is true" Lloyd smiled "I want to find out!"
Genis was not convinced in the slightest. "My sister will get very mad at us Lloyd, especially if she finds out we headed to the temple."
"Alright then…" Lloyd sighed really wanting to go "I just wanted to find out…"
The classroom door opened and the town Pastor came in and fell flat on the floor.
"Pastor!?" Colette cries in shock heading to his aid.
Lloyd, Genis and the rest of classmate came over as well
The Pastor choked out: "Desians… attacked the temple..."
Lloyd: "WHAT!?"
Genis then said "Wait, but we had non-aggression treaty with the Desians!"
Colette added "Yes...Grandmother said it was to protect me... and the rest of the town"
"I don't know why, but they have broken the treaty... Chosen One... hurry... receive the oracle..." The Pastor was coughing up his own lungs at the same time.
"I will." Colette said to the Pastor
"Please... be careful... I regret that I was unable to...." His voice croaked and his heartbeat stopped.
Lloyd muttered as he checked the now dead priest's pulse, "He's gone..."
Colette upset at the Pastor's passing stands up "I'm going now." She said, her voice filled with a newfound determination.
Genis spoke up against it "Colette, the Desians!"
"Yes I know but I am the Chosen. My job is to accept the oracle on the Day of Prophecy."
Genis then turns to Lloyd "Lloyd, we can't let Colette go by herself!"
Lloyd shook his head in agreement "I'm going with you too, I can't let you go out there by yourself!"
"Are you sure?" Colettle said worried "It's dangerous. The Pastor…"
Lloyd responded with Dwarven Vow #1
"Let's all work together for a peaceful world".
"Wait a moment!" Genis interjected "I'm going with you guys. I'm worried about Raine. The Desians might capture her!"
Lloyd then looked around finally realizing something "Did somebody find out where Shane went?" He asked
Genis looked around but found no sight of him "I wonder how he does that?"
Colette replied "He probably went after Raine…"
"Then why are we standing around?" Lloyd asked "Let's go!"
They ventured out of the schoolhouse to find Frank, Colette's father outside
"Frank!" Genis yelled out "What happened?!"
"The Desians came through town and are heading for the Temple!" Frank grasped his arm, it was bleeding.
"Are you ok?" Lloyd asked walking over.
"Some monsters from the north attacked almost as soon as the Desians left…" Frank groaned
"How did you get away?" Colette asked
"Your new friend…" Frank said quietly "He dealt with them and headed off…"
"Shane!?' Lloyd said surprised "He's already on the move… We have to catch up with him!"
The group turned around to find a zombie right smack dab at the exit to the north.
"Whoa it's a monster!" Genis yelped out nearly falling over when he turned around to see it.
"The trial…" Colette said "There are no monsters up north… this must be it."
"Let's take it down!!!" Lloyd said taking out his wooden blades and assaulting the zombie. Which fell in no time at all… *I'm not doing the battle scenes for something that minuscule*
"Lloyd, you're amazing!" Colette cheered right after
"Well I owe it to this thing," Lloyd said. He brought his hand up to show his exsphere
Genis said, "The exsphere."
"Yeah, it's designed to brings out my maximum strength. Without this thing, I'd be nothing but another kid"
"But you're still strong, Lloyd!" Colette cheerfully answered
"At least his sword skills are good." Genis mumbled, while rolling his eyes
Lloyd continued to walk out of town "I heard that…"