Chapter 25

It was 1 o'clock in the afternoon, and a young woman sat within her house, diligently sifting through the paperwork spread out before her. These documents had been dispatched to her by the mayor's office, and she had dedicated hours to the meticulous sorting process. As she neared the end of the stack, she murmured to herself, "I should treat myself to a meal outside today."

Suddenly, a series of knocks resonated from her front door, causing her to jump slightly. "I'm coming!" she called out in response, placing the papers aside and heading toward the door. She swung it open, her curiosity piqued. "Who's there?" she inquired, but her question was met with silence. No one stood before her. Perplexed, she tilted her head, contemplating, *Could this be some sort of prank?* Her gaze then fell to a small cardboard box placed on her doorstep.

She gingerly lifted the box, finding it surprisingly light and devoid of any inscriptions. *Who could have left this here?* she mused with a furrowed brow. A gentle shake of the box confirmed it was empty, yet she decided to bring it inside, setting it down in the hallway.

Returning to her desk, she couldn't shake off her curiosity. She pondered the mysterious box for a moment, her thoughts wandering, but ultimately, her commitment to finishing her paperwork won. She shrugged her shoulders, dismissing the box, and settled back into her work.

As she diligently worked on finalizing her paperwork, the faintest hint of a sound reached her ears from behind. Instinctively, she turned around to investigate. However, before she could react, a sudden, powerful blow struck her square in the jaw, sending her into unconsciousness. The assailant had struck swiftly, leaving her no time to identify them or defend herself.

Xain cracked his knuckles, a confident grin on his face. "One down, one more to go!" Ercale chimed in within Xain's mind, *Well, what are you waiting for? Tie him up, just like you did with Almer.*

Xain proceeded to scan the house, ensuring no unexpected surprises awaited them. Satisfied that they were alone, he entered the bedroom. He tore up the bedsheets to fashion makeshift restraints. While securing the unconscious vampire thrall, Xain inquired, "This one was Sora, right?" Almer, bearing the visible marks of their earlier interrogation, hesitated before managing a trembling, "Y-yes."

As he worked, Xain couldn't help but reflect on the bizarre turn of events. *Never in my life would I have imagined becoming a cardboard box. That was such a weird experience,* he thought, his mind drifting. Ercale's voice brought him back, *Trust me, with magic, a lot of things you thought weren't possible are going to happen.*

After learning about the impending ritual, Xain and Ercale rushed to the location with Almer in tow. Ercale emphasized, *"He's been fed blood, so he's important to them,"* explaining Almer's presence in this situation. He then directed Xain, *"Once you've got her securely bound, find out where the other thrall is."*

Xain efficiently tied up the unconscious vampire thrall, ensuring she couldn't pose any immediate threat. Though Ercale had initially leaned towards more drastic measures, he reluctantly accepted this course of action.

With the thrall securely restrained and gagged, Xain turned his attention to Almer, who was still recovering from the effects of their earlier encounter. "Hey, Almer, where can we find the other one? Is his name Jami?" Xain inquired, to which Almer responded with a weak nod. "Jami lives deeper within Moonveil. It'll take some time to reach his location," Almer replied, his voice trembling with residual fear.

As the weight of their mission pressed down on Xain's shoulders, he found himself torn between two pressing concerns. He couldn't shake the worry for Larkin and Zee, who had been left behind for over an hour. *Shouldn't we head back to check on Larkin and Zee?* Xain asked, his voice laced with concern for his friends.

However, Ercale's response was swift, emphasizing the urgency of their current quest. *We can't afford to go back now,* Ercale replied, his mental voice resolute. *The ritual is scheduled for tonight, and if we don't act swiftly, countless lives could be lost to those two evolved vampires.*

Xain nodded in reluctant agreement, fully aware of the gravity of their mission. *I know, but I can't help worrying about them.* He wished, as many did in desperate times, for a way to be in two places at once. *If only there was some way we could ensure their safety while dealing with this.* His thoughts lingered on the dual challenges before them, each demanding their full attention.

Ercale, upon hearing Xain's inquiry, had a moment of revelation. *There might be a way,* he announced, capturing Xain's attention.

*Really? What is it?* Xain asked, his curiosity and excitement building.

*I'm not entirely sure how this will work, but stand still for a moment,* Ercale directed. Xain complied, standing still with a sense of anticipation. He experienced a peculiar sensation, as if something were being taken from him. Then, to his astonishment, his own shadow began to move independently. It grew increasingly substantial, gradually acquiring a three-dimensional form, until an almost perfect replica of Xain himself stood before him. Everything about this duplicate was strikingly identical, save for one distinct difference: its eyes held purple pupils instead of Xain's familiar blue.

"Erkie?" Xain queried, slightly bewildered, as he observed the duplicate. The copy nodded, grinning. "In the flesh, well, shadow," it replied.

Almer's fear intensified as he witnessed the Xain with purple eyes emerge from Xain's shadow. Xain, however, appeared fascinated by the entire process. He lightly tapped his duplicate on the shoulder and expressed his amazement. "Wow, that's incredible! But why do I feel so different?" Xain inquired, sensing a peculiar emptiness within him.

Ercale offered an explanation, "That's a side effect of this spell, 'Shadow Shelf.' The sensation of emptiness is because you no longer possess a shadow." Xain instinctively looked down to confirm the absence of his shadow. Ercale continued, "You won't even have a reflection."

Curiosity piqued, Xain asked another question, "And how did you end up in that body?" He pointed at the duplicate Xain with purple eyes.

Ercale clarified, "The spell typically ensures that the shadow adopts the same personality as the caster. However, in this case, with two souls in one body, it automatically transferred me into this one." Ercale examined the new body carefully, adjusting to his altered form.

Ercale made it clear, "Alright, you can now go back to your friends while I take care of the thrall." Xain nodded in agreement, ready to depart. But before he left, he had one more question, "When should I come back?"

After a brief pause, Ercale responded thoughtfully, "Don't come back. You can't do much against vampires. Your priority should be keeping yourself and your friends safe. I will handle the vampires." Xain wanted to argue or protest, but deep down, he knew that his strength paled in comparison to the vampires, and ensuring the safety of Zee and Larkin was the best he could do. Unbeknownst to him, his friends were already ensnared in the vampires' clutches.