The Nature of the True Self

The Party of the Hestia Familia found themselves together once again. They were still in the "Throne Room" inside the Wakandan Castle and when they were about to congratulate each other, the floor below them opened up.

Natsuki: WOAH!

Keeva: AAAAH!

Iman: WOOHOO!

Eoghan: EH?

Adalwulf: *chuckle*

*

After what felt like an eternity of falling down through a dark hole, they landed softly on an even darker room. As soon as they all got up, torches on the walls lit up. The sight in front of them was, to say the least, flabbergasting.

Piles upon piles of jewels, metals and other precious things were stockpiled in what they assumed was the treasury of Wakanda. Ad caught Eoghan's hand before he could touch anything, the blonde looked at him questioningly.

Adalwulf: This is not ours yet... we have to prove our strength.

As if his words were the trigger, five shadows appeared in front of them. They got closer, each standing in front of one of them. Then, the shadows extended their hands and touched they heads.

Each shadow took the form of the person it had in front. Then, they all began laughing. The first shadow to speak was Iman's.

S. Iman: Dumb. You are so dumb! How would you ever be of help to Darling if you are so dumb? Luckily you have those huge mammaries, that way he will at least pay attention to you!

Iman: What did you say?! I love Darling and he loves me! Wait! Come here!

The shadow had taken off running to an unknown place in between the piles of treasures, Iman running after it.

Natsuki: Wait, Iman!

Shadow Natsuki: Oho? Why pretend like you care? After all, if she leaves you will have less rivals, right?

Natsuki: I don't think like that!

Shadow Natsuki: Oh, but you do, my dear. I'd know, after all, I am you...

Natsuki: Stop lying!

Then, Natsuki also left after her shadow, this one running in the opposite direction of Iman's. Ad didn't bother trying to stop her, neither did Eoghan or Keeva. They all had understood what this test was about and they knew prefectly that those two would have the hardest time dealing with it.

Eoghan: No need to say anything, let's go now.

Keeva: As my husband said, there is no need for pointless talk.

Adalwulf just chuckled and their shadows smiled. They were the more mature ones after all. They had to set the example. In the end, Ad was left alone with his shadow.

Shadow Adalwulf: So... I guess it's fighting time, right?

Adalwulf: Yup... best two of three hits?

Shadow Adalwulf: Make it best three of five. Natsuki and Iman are going to take a while.

*

Meanwhile, Iman was trying to punch her shadow. She was mad. The stupid shadow had said her biggest insecurity in front of everyone. And she couldn't accept it. She was dumb and her mind was simple, so she trusted her skills and body to keep Ad looking at her.

But she couldn't admit that, could she? She had to keep that hidden deep inside her, after all, how would her Darling look at her if he knew about her insecurity? About how shallow she actually was?

Shadow Iman: Huh, your love for Darling is what is shallow. You don't even trust him truly. You doubt his love towards you with you hiding your deeper thoughts.

Iman couldn't take anymore of her words. She couldn't deny her anymore. She felt naked in front of her shadow, in front of herself. She cried. She asked for forgiveness, knowing that every time she denied herself she betrayed her Darling.

Shadow Iman: You don't deserve to be by his side.

Iman's shadow got closer to her and placed her staff on her head, about to attack Iman. Then she felt it. The connection with Adalwulf she shared. She knew it existed because of a skill but, was that the case?

No. She knew better than that. The connection was only born because she loved him deeply and he loved her as much, if not more, than she did him.

She realized all her fears were unfounded. She was actually seeing him as everyone else. She vowed in her heart to stop hiding that self-doubt she held deep in her heart.

Moving with strength she didn't know she had, Iman hit the shadow with her staff. It began blurrying and before it vanished, it congratulated her.

Shadow Iman: It would seem like you finally realized how stupid you actually were.

Iman: Thank you. I'll go back to Darling.

*

Natsuki was having a hard time keeping up with her shadow. She knew that it what it said was the truth. She was envious of everyone else. They all had great bodies, were beautiful or had a characteristic unique to them. Ryuu was an elf, Ais was the first girl Ad connected with, Iman had tanned skin and a perfect figure and Hestia was a Goddess. Who was she? Just a little girl that brought problems to him.

She wanted to be like them. She wanted to help him in battle. She wanted to have the strength and confidence to hold her head high and mean it, not just fake pride.

Shadow Natsuki: Ugh you're so annoying! Why can't you just understand that he loves you all the same! He went as fucking far as wanting to declare war for you, bitch!

Natsuki's jaw hung down as soon as she heard her shadow's words. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. It was the truth. Why should she care so much about her figure and her origin, when the man she loved loved her back?

Thanking her shadow silently, Natsuki fired an arrow aimed at its head. The shadow, much like Iman's, began blurring.

Shadow Natsuki: I'm glad you finally understand. Now I can spend more time with Ad through you.

*

Somewhere in between the mountains of treasures, Eoghan and Keeva were still fighting their shadows. Ad on the other hand, had long pacified his own. Currently, he was searching for the girls, whom he could feel were no longer in danger.

He wasn't worried about Eoghan and Keeva but, perhaps he should?