Out of Order
Chapter 4: Embrace the Shadow
This place is oddly quiet... too quiet. Zed thought as he wandered down a flat path he knew would be the best route to the other base. He looked down at the fallen turrets, the dried blood on the dirt, and the many blades and arrows lodged into almost everything.
Just then, the Master of Shadows stopped before he walked into a large web that stretched across the whole lane. It looked too thick to pass a shadow through, even with his skill. Hundreds of spiders crawled over the thick silk, one even stopped to glance at the ninja as he reached and plucked a strand. It's fangs rubbed together, warning him to keep his distance.
"Alright, friend. I will go another way." Zed said as he took a few steps back. The ninja turned as he heard whispers to his left— it was the Treeline. The branches of the dark woods swayed, calling him in. Zed sighed, he knew he was going to have to go through the forest. He stepped through an opening between the tall trees and a thick fog engulfed him.
"Ionians are not welcome here!" Hissed a voice in his ear. Zed brushed it off and kept his calm stride through the woods. His boot hit a hard steel lock lying in the path. The ninja picked up the thick lock, throwing it up once and catching it.
"Something this strong must have been holding something even stronger back." He mumbled as he tugged on the chain attached to it. He tumbled forward, extending his blades, when he felt something brush across his back. Zed found himself staring into the glowing eyes of one of the millions of lost souls doomed to roam the Shadow Isles.
It was the shadow of a large man in heavy armor. His long hair swayed in the breeze as he stood before the ninja. Zed slowly got to his feet and he saw the shadows of spears lodged into the man's back.
"FILTHY IONIANS ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!" Shouted the shadow, unsheathing the blade from his hip. The spirit lunged for Zed. The Master of Shadows leapt sideways, narrowly avoiding the blade. He looked beside him and saw that the heavy blade had split a rock in two. The warrior grunted as he pulled his blade from the dirt and raised it above his head once more.
Suddenly a dark sphere blasted through the shadow warrior, bursting it into a dark cloud. The Master of Shadows managed to roll out of the way of the blade as it fell to the ground. Zed stared at the familiar orb as it flickered in front of him. The ninja glanced behind him, spotting a familiar floating woman.
"Syndra." He greeted her.
"Zed." The sovereign growled while she raised her hand. Zed recognized the command and immediately teleported away from another dark sphere. Syndra only followed him with more commands.
"Hey! What are you—"
"You embarrassed me, Zed! You killed me one too many times on the battlefield and now I think I should teach you a lesson!" Syndra cackled while she gathered the spheres from the ground.
"Syndra, calm down. It was just a match." Zed said as he took a cautious step toward the sovereign. Syndra flung a sphere at him but he managed to dodge it.
"I'll calm down when I crush you under my magic. This is going to be fun!" Syndra giggled, playfully balancing herself on her spheres.
"So be it." The ninja sighed as he formed a hand sign. Two clones appeared on both sides of Zed in the same stance. All three unsheathed the blades on their arms and then surrounded the woman. Syndra's laughed died down while she looked around her.
"You could at least play fair, Zed." Syndra pouted. The real Zed chuckled darkly behind her.
"If you surrender now, I won't hurt you."
"I don't know the meaning of the word." Syndra grinned, raising her hands up and the spheres orbited around her faster.
Zed wove in between them and held this blade near Syndra's neck. A dark wave sent him and his shadows flying a few feet away. The ninja shook his head— he wasn't familiar with this much power.
"Dizzy?" The mage snickered at him while sat on a sphere.
"Where is all that power coming from?" He asked.
"Losing connections with the summoners also released the seal they had on me. They've been suppressing my power for too long." Syndra grinned wickedly. Her eyes shifted to a large boulder beside Zed, her hands glowing a sinister violet as she held up to the ninja. "I feel great."
Syndra shut her eyes as she laughed, holding the boulder over Zed. Suddenly she felt a light breeze brush her hair back. Opening her eyes, she saw the ninja in between her arms. His shadows dispersed, leaving only a dark haze where they stood.
Syndra growled and pulled her arms closer to her. Zed looked just overhead and saw the boulder looming over the both of them. He smiled under his mask.
"You will kill us both." He whispered. Zed could see the mage's dark lips twitching in annoyance. Suddenly she clenched her fists. Pebbles rained over the two as Syndra sighed. The ninja swept the dirt out of her white hair and chuckled.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Oh, nothing." Zed smirked, "You are just adorable when you throw a fit." The ninja caressed the sovereign's cheek as she pushed his shoulders away.
"I could throw you across this wasteland if I wanted to. So don't tease me!" Syndra growled. She raised her hand in front of Zed and lifted his mask up enough to see his scarred, smirking lips. The sovereign quickly kissed him and placed his mask back down.
"You always end our scrimmages with a kiss. Does this mean you give up?" Zed asked, pinching her cheek. Syndra swatted his hand away.
"No! At the rate this was going at I would have eventually killed my favorite plaything. I'm showing you mercy, ninja."
"As always. Thank you, Syndra."
Just then a bloodcurdling screech came bellowing through the Isles. Zed covered Syndra's ears as the screech grew increasingly louder. As it died down, leaves and twigs fell from the trees. Zed let go of Syndra when she tried to pry his hands off her ears.
"It's awake." Zed said lowly. "It sounds hungry too." He looked down at Syndra who glared behind him. The ninja turned around and saw the dark figure walking into the Isles.
"If those other fools get caught alone with that thing they will surely be devoured." Syndra glanced up at Zed who was deep in thought.
"We have to gather everyone now."
Notes: Sorry for taking so long, I have to get ready for finals. I hope you enjoyed this and I will see you next chapter! Also thank you Cornonjacob for helping me edit.
