Not that she had ever suspected it to be any other way, but yeah, actually talking to her magic teacher was too awkward. Claire couldn't help feeling lost.
Should she have demanded apologies for the lies? But hadn't she already gotten some from both Douxie and Jim during their visit?
Should she have been the one to apologize then? Claire hadn't been the nicest to them, even if her anger was justified.
Perhaps, pretending that nothing had happened could be the best… Yeah, sure, as if! She failed herself in that, and apparently, Douxie didn't fare better.
It had been so much easier when only Zoe and Archie had been around. Claire's mind trailed back to her introduction to the familiar. Dragons were real. Who could imagine that? The magic world seemingly had too many surprises, both good and bad.
And Archie sharing some of their team's adventures and misadventures through the centuries just proved how little Claire knew so far.
The world was so much bigger, swarming with all kinds of mystical creatures.
And humanity, apparently, wasn't the nicest to those. No, Archie had never mentioned it directly, but some subtle subtones here and there, some nasty events referenced, and the fact that Douxie's team had been working from shadows were pretty much telling.
They didn't hide stuff on a whim. It was the deliberate decision to keep the damage to the minimum, even if it could possibly destroy some bonds with the outsiders.
If Claire wanted to be a part of that, she would be forced to lie and find excuses too. Though, hadn't she started already when she had decided against telling a thing to her parents and best friends?
With Archie still telling some funny and embarrassing stories, she had been able to keep her mind distracted.
Now, facing Douxie? All the troublesome thoughts had hit at once, nearly burying her beneath their load.
"You can always stay away from all of that, you know," Douxie's sympathetic voice broke up her reverie. "We'll protect your house and…"
It was a tempting thought. Hadn't Claire considered it herself? Just running away - what could be easier?
Just a natural human reaction no one would ever criticize.
And…
She shook her head:
"I've already decided. How can I pretend everything is fine after knowing that the world is in danger? That some of my friends are fighting against monsters? That my family might be under attack one day? I simply can't turn a blind eye to that. I want to join your team even if my magic isn't that strong now. I'll just work hard to improve, I promise."
Claire wondered if her determination sounded convincing enough. Sure thing, Zoe had told her that everything should have been fine, but in the end, the final decision belonged to Douxie as her magic teacher.
The pause felt suffocating.
"Aren't you scared?" Douxie inquired with a sigh and continued before getting any response: "There won't be any normal life anymore…"
"Well, I'm old enough to understand that things take an unpleasant twist sometimes," Claire chuckled, trying to hide her anxiety. Were her arguments enough?
"I hear you," her magic teacher surrendered as Zoe gave her a thumbs-up. "However, you should promise not to risk without need."
"Sure!" Claire beamed enthusiastically. The hardest part was already over - and, geez, it certainly felt great to feel some burden lifted from her shoulders.
"And you need to explain to me what's the deal with the Shadow Realm," Douxie's expression was grim for some reason. Claire glanced at Zoe - the witch also became serious out of nowhere. Something was seriously wrong here.
Claire took a deep breath, trying to banish the growing sense of unease, and began her tale. Sure thing, she had asked Zoe several questions before, but something told her that right now. she should have relayed as many details as possible.
Everyone listened to her tale attentively, with occasional clarifications. Archie also cursed below his breath from time to time.
"And after that mysterious person helped me, the pulls have stopped altogether," Claire finished, hoping that her magic-using friends could give some clarification.
"See, that's why I asked about your opinion," Zoe broke the silence after exchanging glances with Douxie. "Any thoughts?"
"Well, Mo… I mean, my senior, said the Shadow Realm possessed its own will…"
Claire could swear her teacher wanted to mention some name at first but quickly changed to address that person in a round-way manner. A spark of curiosity flashed through her thoughts but was dismissed at once.
Whatever was the deal with that senior, so far it had nothing to do with the current situation.
"Isn't the Shadow Realm one of the borderland dimensions?" Zoe inquired. "It was classified that way in the grimoires I read. Or Merlin's school uses some other theory?"
"No, technically, it's borderland one, but Mor… my senior always said it was more than just that. And well, probably everyone will agree that it's nothing like the pocket dimensions we use, so lumping them together is rather ridiculous!" Douxie disagreed, throwing in another unfamiliar term.
And there was yet another weird pause when it came to the name. Yes, that one could be only a deliberate omission.
"I'd say being a borderland dimension would explain that pulls, though," Archie pointed out. "Magic exhaustion and near-death experiences often result in the soul becoming more attuned to those… And if Claire has at least minimal aptitude to the shadowmancy, that could be the trigger for that phenomenon."
"But there are no pulls anymore," Claire protested. The only idea of getting back to that eerie dimension gave her chills.
"Most likely, because you've recovered your power already," the cat-dragon jumped on knees, examining the girl closer. "And it protects you from the external influences. I'd still recommend refraining from crazy stunts. Next time, the luck might not be on your side."
"Ok," Claire nodded, trying not to think about the possible consequences. On the other hand, her previous energy birth had had nothing to do with being reckless.
She just had had no other choice back then.
So, what if something similar happened again?
"Instead of wondering about the nature of the Shadow Realm, I'm more interested in knowing about the person Claire met there and that mysterious presence," Zoe admitted. "Because I haven't even the slightest idea what it means. Has our shadowmancy prodigy ever mentioned it?"
Now another one avoided naming, though way less clumsily than Douxie.
"No, I'm as confused as you," he responded honestly. "Sure thing, there can be other shadowmancers even if it's a rare type of magic, but there are still too many questions. Like how they found Claire or why they concealed their identity or…"
"Or it could be no a shadowmancer to start with," Archie interrupted him all of sudden. "Or even a wizard."
"Oh, come on, Arch," Douxie rolled his eyes. "Who else could enter the Shadow Realm and lead someone struck there out?"
Claire silently agreed with her teacher. She might have known close to nothing about that mysterious dimension, but experiencing it first-hand had given her a unique inside. It was as if she could understand it a bit. Well, at least the part where it wasn't welcoming to anyone.
"Well, we, the dragonkin, have some tales about the eldritch entities beyond simple mortal's comprehension," Archie gave his partner a dirty look. "I believe that you've heard at least about Nimue… There are several others at least - and I wouldn't count out the possibility of one of those passing through or even residing in the Shadow Realm."
"Wow, kitty, no offense, but that's reaching at the straws at the finest," Zoe whistled. "How did you even come to that conclusion?"
Archie opened his mouth to argue and suddenly closed it as some kind of realization flashed in his eyes.
"Forget it," he muttered, his expression impossible to read.
It was as if…
Yeah, as if the cat-dragon had realized that he had said too much.
Just great, why does everyone keep concealing stuff?
Claire felt some irritation rising. Hadn't they already agreed to let her join? So why would they…
Her train of thought stopped abruptly as she noticed Douxie's expression. That kind of confusion was simply impossible to fake.
Zoe, on the other hand, seemingly got some idea:
"Is there something you can't share with us because of your magic oath?"
Archie said nothing but apparently, that alone was a good enough confirmation.
"Then it should involve the events nine centuries ago," Douxie looked at his familiar seriously. "Can you tell at least a bit, Arch? Is it about the amulet again?"
"No. It's about its second creator. That one, apparently, had met the same person as Claire. Sorry, can't say more," Archie seemed upset as well, even if he was the one keeping them in the dark.
"Well, you already mentioned eldritch entities involved, so…" Zoe chuckled, patting the familiars head in an attempt to lighten the mood. "Perhaps, it's not that important in the end."
"Besides, we trust your judgment," Douxie smiled. "I'm sure you'd mentioned if it was dangerous even if it involved trying to break the magic oath."
Claire wondered if she could add something too. Wasn't she basically an outsider for now? She could clearly see the bonds those three had. The unshaken trust. The ability to believe in each other without demanding any explanation. Would she ever be able to become a part of a team like that?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Walter genuinely wished he could take a break from everything. There had been so much stuff going on lately, and it kept stressing him too much. And exhausting would inevitably lead to a misstep, which would become his last mistake. Too many vultures were circling above his head, ready to rip him apart at the first opportunity.
Stricklander needed the amulet asap. Yes, that was the only thing with the ability to silence everyone. Even Bular or Barverra would never dare to do anything. And the rest of the Janus Order? Oh, those would be able only to seethe in powerless rage.
The problem? No one planned to underestimate the Janus Order leader. His subordinates, apparently, picked up the strategy of restricting his actions, be it the recent clash with the hostile wizard group or placing Shen inside the school.
The latter was the most infuriating - no one should have soiled his playground. Shen must have gone if Strickler wanted to proceed. What kind of tactics could he use?
Walter frowned, getting inside his car, his mind still busy imagining each possible scenario and outcome.
Too risky.
Depending on luck too much.
There's a high possibility of that imbecile Bular getting involved and ruining the plan.
Oh, and this one can actually work, but Barverra will consider it a foul play.
Strickler groaned. Brainstorming led nowhere, and probably he should have focused on the road during driving. The accident was the last thing he needed at the moment.
He wondered if Nomura would be willing to help. No, sure thing, he could always blackmail his aide into submission, but there was a limit to her tolerance. She could easily take the I-don't-care-about-consequences-anymore stance - and Walter would hate that kind of scenario.
And right now, it would be way wiser to play nice. Nomura had had some not-that-thriving experiences lately. Her mood was surely hanging in-between 'I'm gonna kill someone' and 'let this world burn'. Who knew when it would improve?
But if she agreed to cooperate, it would give Strickler way more resources. Like he could leak Shen's identity to the Trollhunter's team using Nomura as an informant.
Yes, that one could work perfectly - and Walter wouldn't need to risk his own secret being compromised. And…
He caught sight of the familiar redhead standing on the bridge and watching down at the canal forlornly.
Drive by, you'll get nothing there.
His reason kept demanding to stop wasting his time. Barbara Lake was just a link in his intricate scheme - and right now, there was no profit in talking to her whatsoever.
If anything, Stricklander should rather focus on finding a way to have a heart-to-heart conversation with her son, pushing him into despair direction. The stubborn kid had definitely kept drifting away more and more from that desired mental state.
You'll just waste your time for nothing.
Walter usually obeyed his common sense. Not today. A relaxing break was so desired. His being late to the gathering would change nothing. If anything, Nomura would probably be happy to spend more time without seeing his face. So, a win-win situation for everyone.
His body made the decision itself, hitting the brakes and stopping the car.
Strickler looked at Barbara once again. Somehow, she looked so magnificent in the rays of the setting sun, reminding him of a valkyrie lost in thought.
Valkyrie? Yes, apparently, his tired mind had already started to play tricks. That was perhaps the most unfitting comparison. Barbara wasn't a warrior, after all.
Besides, wasn't there some unpleasant hunch too? Something he had noticed unconsciously, yet his mind refused to acknowledge because of the stuff it might have implied.
Exactly.
The location.
Barbara was looking down on the spot of Kanjigar's death with a difficult-to-read expression.
No way.
That place could only have any meaning to those actively involved in the secret war between Gunmar's forces and the Trollhunter's party. Barbara was just an outsider, someone who just happened to have a connection to one of the major players.
It had to be a coincidence.
Unless…
Ok, Young Atlas might have been mature beyond his age in certain things, but he was also just a child, easy to get scared and feel insecure. What if all the recent events led to Jim breaking down and confessing everything to his closest family member? Or Barbara herself could notice something being off and talk her son into sharing his secret.
And that was bad. More adults on Jim's side would probably lead to the less reckless approach - as if he hadn't been careful before. And Barbara being well-aware of possible dangers to her own life would mean the diminishing possibility of her becoming a hostage or collateral damage.
Walter had to check. Even if it might be risky. No, not any risk whatsoever - as long as he played the role of the concerned acquaintance. Didn't Barbara look lost enough to encourage anyone who knew her to approach her?
"Barbara, is everything alright?" he asked carefully after coming closer.
"I wonder," she chuckled, still watching down intently. Strickler unwittingly followed her gaze. There should have been some scattered remains of the fallen enemy, but he failed to pinpoint any fragment. Apparently, someone from the Trollmarket had finally bothered to pay some respect to their dead defender.
"Has something happened?" Walter inquired. There was no way Barbara would answer him honestly if she had learned that her son was the Trollhunter and had more responsibilities than any other boy his age.
"Have you ever wished to just give up and run from everything? Or better just be born as someone else?" she asked back instead of answering.
Ok, that was the last thing Strickler expected to hear. Asking a changeling that? Had she seen through his disguise? Wait, no, it was simply impossible - he had played his role perfectly in her presence! Besides, how could she possibly know about changelings to start with?
Unless his first suspicion was right, and Jim had told his mother everything. But then it meant that the entire Trollhunter's team was aware of Stricklander's true colors!
He cast a careful glance back, nearly expecting some hulking troll looming there in anticipation to break his neck.
No, no one.
Perhaps, he was simply overthinking. But no, that kind of question - what was the point to asking anyone who hadn't lived a double life? Wait, no, it could also fit someone with serious troubles. And, wouldn't it describe Barbara way better? A lone mother, struggling to raise her son, long working hours, perhaps, some fear of starting a new relationship…
Yes, it was just a false alarm.
Well, he could afford to listen to her venting. And why not complain himself? No one who could use it against him was nearby, after all.
"Actually, I wish to have some other kind of life all the time," Walter leaned at the railing. "Probably would find some other job, try something new or better search for a kindred soul…"
The latter would be just perfect. The society Stricklander belonged to was so full of liars and backstabbers that it often drove him crazy. Having at least one truly honest and loyal ally. That was an unreachable dream. Perhaps, in some other life, he could find someone like that. Here? The second he dropped his guard, his back would suffer countless stabs.
"Kindred soul?" Barbara repeated as if trying to get a taste of that phrase. "Sounds nice."
She smiled wistfully, and Walter couldn't help marveling at the image. Usually, she was so tense as if expecting some kind of attack, but today… It was as if he had peeked at something forbidden, and his greedy side wished to get more of that.
Barbara's hand accidentally brushed against his, and Strickler gave up on an impulse to squeeze it gently. Their eyes met. Her blue ones felt like a bottomless ocean - beautiful, yet concealing some kind of danger.
Too enticing.
Too captivating.
Impossible to resist.
And perhaps for the first time in his life, Stricklander had put his common sense on mute.
"Barbara, what would you say about dining out with me?"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Remind me again why I agreed to your plan?" Jim complained, emptying a can of soda in some gulps.
"Because we need to find these evil-lurking-shapeshifting trolls?" Toby shrugged indifferently and snatched the can before his friend managed to throw it into the trash bin. "And seriously, stop wasting nice snacks for our teammates!"
"Sorry."
Jim felt that stress was getting to him. If he was in a better mood, he would definitely help Tobes to find something tasty for Aaarrrgghh. But well, it was impossible not to get stressed after watching the local orthodontist for hours!
"Back to your plan," Jim continued. "I don't think watching everyone in your list of suspects is a good idea…"
"Oh, come on, Jimbo! No one is perfect, it's impossible to pretend all the time… And once they make a mistake - we'll be there, kicking their ass!"
As if trying to demonstrate, he tried to execute a high kick - quite awkwardly, but well, it wasn't as if Toby Domzalski had ever been bothered by such trivialities.
"So, who'll be next? Taco guy? Psycho Steve?" he inquired, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
"I think we need to try a more efficient tactic," Jim interrupted. Sure thing, his best friend still hadn't brought up that other name from his list, but he would rather not risk the possibility.
"Yeah, let's use Daylight to beat a confession out of Steve!" Toby nodded. "There's a ninety-nine percent chance that he's a troll…"
"Gosh, Tobes, no! How many times do I need to tell you that he's not a troll!"
He's too pathetic to be one.
Ok, that one was one hell of an unneeded thought. Jim cursed his overstressed brain - it wasn't the best time for some unhinged ideas.
"Besides, by efficient tactics, I meant asking Blinky or Douxie - shouldn't at least one of them know the method to expose those impostors?"
Now that he thought about it, shouldn't they have gone to the Trollmarket first instead of playing spies? And…
"Oh no," Toby suddenly freeze on the spot, staring ahead of them. "Jimbo, how do you feel about deja vu?"
"Deja vu? What do you…" Jim followed the gaze and felt the fear creeping up his spine.
Deja vu. That was such a peculiar way to describe the situation - yet, it fit perfectly, with a giant black troll blocking their way.
Yes, it wasn't Bular, at least, but the brute from the museum wasn't the better option too!
And…
The situation was way worse. The sun had set already, and the boys had no bikes this time, meaning more difficulties to escape. Not to mention that a narrow back alley wouldn't give him any advantage - that trick simply wouldn't work with someone able to change his form and size.
All of that flashed through Jim's mind in some seconds.
"Tobes," he whispered. "When I command, turn away and run. Run as fast as you can."
"And you?"
"I'll win some time. I have some experience now, remember?"
Apparently, that one wasn't convincing in the slightest, as Toby refused to believe him.
"Let me help," he scowled. "We'll outsmart him if we work together."
It wasn't the right time to argue - not with the dangerous enemy watching each of their steps. He still hadn't attacked - but obviously, it had nothing to do with the possibility of friendly intentions.
No, that one came for blood - Jim could read it in his stance, his eyes, and his smug expression.
"Tobes, go and find some backup."
His best friend would never abandon him to save his own life, but searching for help would have been a good enough reason.
Jim just wished Tobes wouldn't see his attempt to trick him into running away alone.
Because, in the end, the Trollhunter knew that the chances for help would be minimal. Both Benoit's French Bistro and the Trollmarket were far enough.
He would have to fight this battle alone.
"Just hang on, Jimbo," Toby bit his lip. "I've read your last letter once, don't make me live through that horror again!"
"I'll survive," Jim smiled at him. "Believe in your bro a bit, ok?"
His fingers were already clutching the amulet tightly. A warm surge of energy was good enough proof that Daylight was his willing partner this time. Perhaps, it wasn't much, yet it was still reassuring.
"At the count of three."
Toby made a careful step back while Jim prepared to rush forward.
"One."
The troll apparently noticed their movement and got ready for the ambush himself.
"Two."
Jim clenched the amulet so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"THREE! Go, Tobes!"
The armor and sword appeared from thin air at once as he launched an attack. Most likely, Blinky would criticize the Trollhunter for his reckless approach, but for now, Jim had to turn the enemy's attention away from escaping Toby.
The first slash missed the target, and now, the boy had to roll away before the brute's fist crushed his head.
He already wished it was Heroes Forge again - surprisingly, that hellish location might have given him some advantage.
He barely blocked the second punch - mostly thanks to the amulet magic that minimized the impact. Going on defense was a huge mistake - the hit and run tactic might be more successful in winning some time.
Winning some time? Hadn't Jim already realized that the chances for a quick backup were basically non-existent? And for how long would he be able to stall? Sure thing, some training with Blinky helped him to improve his finesse and stamina - but there was a literal killing machine against him.
The enemy had a different build from Draal, so his blind spot was probably different too. And…
Crack.
Jim didn't even understand himself what exactly had happened. Perhaps, he slipped on something, perhaps, his foot got caught on something… Did it even matter? The end result was disastrous in any case.
Losing his footing.
Losing momentum.
The enemy grabbing his head and smashing him into the building.
For a second, Jim thought he had died as everything went black.
Nope, apparently, he just lost his consciousness for some time. Most likely, at least some minutes passed because the troll was dragging him away by the leg.
Jim tried to slash at him, much to the enemy's annoyance.
"I'd stay put if I were you," he growled. "Be happy that Herald ordered to bring you alive!"
Herald? Oh, yeah, one of Barverra's titles was the Herald of Doom, wasn't it?
Blinky's tales about the devious daughter of Gunmar resurfaced one by one. She was the one known for instilling the ultimate suffering in those who dared to oppose her or her father.
So…
Barverra didn't simply want the Trollhunter dead, no, she would probably make him beg for death as she obliterated every single soul dear to him.
He had to get away - and preferably to kill the troll who had captured him.
'Please, help,' Jim mentally pleaded with the amulet. Douxie had told him once to treat it as his partner. So, shouldn't he have believed in it a bit?
The armor flashed bright blue, making the enemy yelp and release Jim's leg. Alas, other circumstances apparently had decided to play on the evil troll's side.
The adrenaline rush was wearing out, everything hurt, and Jim could swear something sticky and warm was streaming down his right cheek. Not to mention that his head still span.
Mom will freak out if I have a concussion.
It was so ridiculously random that he nearly laughed. Yep, he had definitely hit his head too hard.
And the fact that Jim wasn't scared to die took the cake for sure. Not that long ago, the possibility of facing Draal in the death match crept him to the bones. Now there was even a more chilling danger, yet he felt numb.
Perhaps, he had built up some tolerance to that. Or maybe that was a concussion (if he had one, of course!).
"Hm, not bad for a fleshbag," the enemy commented. "At least you have guts. That alone raises you above the prey status. I'm Gomragg, son of Gothrugg. State your name!"
It was probably some kind of a feverish dream. Oh, yeah, probably in reality that troll was still dragging him, and Jim was just hallucinating the entire thing.
Why would the enemy introduce himself and demand the same from him?
Besides, he could swear there was Tobes yelling at some distance. And that one was simply impossible. Toby would never be able to get a backup so fast, so…
"JIMBO!"
The yell was so loud that Jim fought an urge to cover his ears. Something massive and blue rushed past him, bodyslamming the dark troll. And the next second, Toby was by his best friend's side panting like crazy.
"I've… managed… in time… Found Draal… on my way… Luckily, he can be… not an ass… when needed…" he switched his attention to Jim and paled: "Gosh, Jimbo, you ok? How many fingers? You need a doctor! Now! I'm calling Dr. L!"
"No," Jim protested, snatching the phone from Toby's hand. "I'm fine!"
"Fine? Have you seen your face? Let's pray it's salvageable!"
"I'm fine, Tobes, just slightly dizzy."
Jim hated to admit it, but his legs were ready to turn into jelly. If Toby hadn't caught him, he'd probably have added some more injuries to the already long list.
"More important, how have you convinced Draal to help?" Jim asked, watching two brutes exchanging punches. "I thought he hated me!"
"Actually, he rushed to help the second he learned you were in danger," Toby shrugged. "You know, maybe we were wrong about him, and he's better than he seems at first…"
"Maybe," Jim nodded, rather captivated by the fight he witnessed.
Of course, he had known that his predecessor's son was powerful and trained a lot, but it was the first time he had actually realized the full implication behind those claims. Draal couldn't possibly have gone all out against someone way weaker, but the current enemy allowed him to shine.
"Wow," Jim gasped when the son of Kanjigar hit the opponent three times in a row. He wasn't just punching blindly, no, there was a clear pattern of stances and moves. Barbara had shown her son some martial arts for self-defense, so he could recognize something similar.
"So, Troll-fu exists," Toby muttered, "and Blinky said there was no such thing!"
"I guess," Jim nodded absent-mindedly.
No, hand-to-hand wasn't enough. The one who acquired the weapon first would win. The enemy went for the lamppost while Draal broke off the road sign.
"Hey, Jimbo, I've just realized, but shouldn't Draal be extremely capable in fencing?"
It had to be like that. The broken-off sign had turned into a deadly spear in his hands, forcing the opponent to go full-on defense.
Someone who had been so much difficult to fight against for Jim seemed entirely hopeless against the son of Kanjigar.
And the Trollhunter couldn't help feeling some odd emotion growing inside his heart. Was it amazement or awe, perhaps? No. Irritation? Envy? Those two felt closer to the truth.
Draal continued his battle, having no trouble with parrying an occasional swing of the lamppost. The enemy grew irritated, his attack growing wider and…
He left so many openings! Even Jim, not that experienced with fighting, could tell that easily. Of course, Draal should have noticed those too, meaning…
The enemy's head burst into countless pieces as the final attack had connected. Toby unwittingly covered his eyes, but Jim watched to the end. Sure thing, troll deaths were seemingly less gruesome - he hated to even think how the similar damage to a human head would look.
"Down!" Draal barked, rolling away from the fallen opponent. Luckily, both boys obeyed without questioning the command. The remains exploded, covering the surroundings in a thick layer of dust.
"Oh boy, I think we need to get out of here!" Toby freaked out, breaking the deafening silence. "Even if no one has heard your fight, they definitely heard the 'ka-boom!'. I don't want to explain anything to the police!"
"You're right," Jim nodded, wincing from the pain. Oh yeah, there would be way more troublesome interrogation incoming. Barbara would never ignore her son being injured like that! Perhaps, he should have started brainstorming for any sound explanation that wouldn't land anyone in trouble.
"Passing away without leaving anything. A horrible fate for a warrior," Draal spat, looking at the dust with disgust.