Among Shadows

While absorbing the mana in the air he felt a strange sensation, it was comforting somehow.

It was like a chill, a coolness on the body.

He was already able to feel better from the heat he had been in for hours but that sensation was long gone and this was different.

It was like taking a sip of cold water and feeling it enter your stomach or entering a cold pool on a hot day.

He felt refreshed and alive!

Soon he found a place where he could cultivate without any worries.

He sat down beside a tree and dove into his cultivation like never before.

As he focused more and felt that comforting chill he noticed a strange thing.

Where previous attempts at manipulating mana took effort and concentration, manipulation of the shadow mana was like breathing.

Literally.

He noticed that every pull he made with his mana control took less and less effort until with the slightest tug he could bring the dark motes of mana into a sucking force.

With how little effort it took to absorb the shadow mana he soon tried to grab more... and more... and even more.

It was like he had become a whirlpool.

The shadow mana in the area was sucked in by his mana control with such little effort that it truly felt as if he were breathing the mana in.

He was so engrossed by this strange feeling that he almost didnt notice that he seemed to be absorbing more mana than he had originally thought.

With every passing moment he saw that mana was appearing in his vision before being sucked into his body.

He tried to extend his senses further and vaguely saw that the mana even beyond his mana sense and mana control rdius was actually being sucked in like a lake draining into a whirlpool.

As he cultivated his mana he slowly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him until he collapsed against the tree.

He had done so much that day that it had become mentally taxing towards the end, he had not even noticed that he was on the verge of collapse thanks to the relaxation the shadow mana brought.

As he fell asleep the mana surrounding him was stirred into a frenzy as if he became an open drain under the sea.

~

In a land far from the village, the human continent.

A man wearing pure white robes was rushing through the vaulted hallways and approaching a grand wooden door.

When he opened this door and entered he quickly prostrated himself before a man wearing a strange set of robes with a golden crown like halo atop his head.

"Your holiness! Forgive my presence but word from the watchers has come and i confirmed it myself not long ago."

The man in the golden crown walked forward regally, "speak my son, we are all children of Luminous so please do not feel afraid."

The man bowed even lower and spoke up quickly, "a new shadow user! A new shadow user has appeared your holiness!"

As the man spoke the crowned priest's face twisted in disgust.

He turned to face the statue behind him, a statue of a woman framed by a giant golden ring.

Her face was carved into the most beautiful expression of kindness and love while her hands were held together as if in prayer.

The crowned man kneeled before the statue with his hands together in prayer as well as he spoke to the man.

"Send word to the branches, we must begin a new hunt for this beast of death."

The man rose from his position on the floor and exited in a bow, "yes your grace!"

As he left the room a wave of magic seemed to cover the walls and faces began to appear.

Each face was framed by black like a portrait but these individuals were all shown to be slain, covered in burn marks.

Under each portrait was a name as well as a date.

Deep below everything there was a room of pure white with black sand strewn about.

Amongst the sand were a set of pillars.

One pillar stood reaching the roof with deep carving and intricate designs.

Another twelve were visible of various heights, most reaching the size of a teenager or an adult.

Amongst them all was a small pillar slowly growing, barely at the height of an inch.

~

In a grand castle made of dark stone.

Inside of a room that was as dark as a cave closed from the surface, a pair of red eyes opened.

A wave of mana flowed into the room and soon the door opened.

"I greet you my Queen, how may i assist the Lord of Devils today?"

A woman with deep red skin and blue horns approached a throne made of black glass.

On this throne was a devil with gray skin and jet black horns wearing a well embroidered gown under a fur jacket.

"A member of the infernal race has begun to cultivate shadow magic, find them. Bring them here."

The devil with blue horns bowed before her queen and left before she approached a pair of large demons.

These demons were also female but they carried large weapons that would make orcs salivate over the destructive power.

"You two, the Queen has sensed another infernal who has begun to cultivate shadow magic. Send your armies out to find this infernal no matter the cost."

No titles were exchanged, no pleasantries.

The demons bowed before her before leaving to put the orders into action.

~