Shadow Slave: In The Eye of The Beholder(chap 4)-Echoes in the wheat.

In the bountiful fields, Silas traversed through the dense wheat, the large sprouts completely blocking any view beyond. He managed to follow his 'uncle' by the slightly bent crops and the noise of his boots pressing down on the soil.

'It seems that this nightmare is peaceful for now, but with the terror in the area, I can't let my guard down.' His imagination, fuelled by anxiety, constantly conjured scenes of monsters leaping out and tearing his brittle body apart

His weary eyes looked up at the seeds atop each stalk. Something deep in his mind urged him to stop, observe the magnificent crop, gather its seeds, and take them home to spread its beauty further.

With a quick shake of the head Silas started to speed up, the area had been unnerving him deeply, to the point that nightmare creatures became the least of his worries but instead to the golden field. It was the most alarming danger in the moment, based on the subtle feeling that nearly took him, he theorized that he could be taken by the field, his mind stripped of its earthly desires, replaced with the obsessive corrupted love of the field.

The sun continued to drift across the sky, the shadows of the day growing ever larger, the wheat completely overshadowing him, and with the nervousness driving his legs to kept moving forward, the day waning further and further.

'It doesn't help that my visibility is limited, how am I going to see the strings if I can't see through this HORRID GRAINFIELD!' Silas cursed inwardly, the wheat was truly clawing at his mind, any time he let it wonder the dammed vegetables tried to speak sweet whispers into his ears.

'Wait, they're not vegetables. Aren't vegetables like apples? I wonder if there are any apples.' The thought of such sustenance made him drool.

'What would they taste like? surely, they would be better then synthpaste, or the dirty rubber meat, the wheat already looks amazing, so it's bound to be divine!' 

then Silas paused slightly, his aching feet thanking him for even such a small rest. 

But that was not his reason. 

'God dam it, I can't keep going like this' Silas sulked, it seemed like the farm was designed specifically to consume him.

After all in the boring state of the outskirts accompanied by the repetitive yet mundane task of scavenging for food often meant thinking about other things to pass the time. 

His outlandish goals, his regrets, his traumas, his hopes, his family....

The habit he had all of his life was not very helpful at this moment.

In fact, it was deadly. 

'Now that I think about it, how am I even able to resist it?'

The morbid curiosity within him sprouting.

'Hell, any aspirant would be instantly taken from free will as soon as a terror even set their sights on them.'

An idea came to mind, and with some focus he brought up his runes, the shimmering symbols revealing themselves. 

Name: Silas

True Name: ___

Rank: Aspirant

Soul Core: Dormant

Memories: ___

Echoes: ___

Attributes: [Touch of Divinity], [Soul Sight], [Empowerment]

Aspect: [Beholder of Strings]

Silas gaze seemed to bore directly into the attributes, he didn't check them before but maybe they were the reason, so he might as well check now. 

'Attributes description, detail, meaning, attribute information.' no matter how many times he attempted to bring them out, they remained hidden behind the veil of their runes, refusing to show.

Grinding his teeth against each other he yelled into the uncaring farmland.

"JUST TELL ME ALREADY!" 

Yet no matter how loud he screamed the spell did not listen, still adamant into keeping its secrets. 

'It has to be one of them, maybe [Empowerment]? that could potentially boost my mind or will, [Soul Sight]? eh that doesn't really sound like it would help.'

he then glanced at [Touch of Divinity] the runes carved Infront of him certainly looked unique compared to the other text, although it doesn't seem to invoke the idea of protection from mind attacks. 

Silas's breath was heavy, his frustration echoing through the field. The wheat around him swayed gently, indifferent to his outburst. The silence that followed was thick, amplifying the pounding of his heart in his ears.

Just as he began to wonder if the field itself was mocking him, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

"Silas what are you shouting for? if your too tired I can carry you the rest of the way! after all were nearly home." his rough "uncles" voice rough yet caring snapped him out of his spiralling thoughts.

His figure emerging from the thicket appearing before Silas who just managed to stop before he walked headfirst into the goliath's chest. 

'By the dead gods how does he sneak up on me every time?' Silas questioned, his gaze shifting over to his uncle's silk woven shirt, it certainly looked expensive compared to the mundane leather he was wearing. 

He kept staring at the expensive shirt so much that it seemed like it hurt, but it was a different then pain, an abstract warmth started to spread from his pupils to the rest of his irises.

suddenly a faint image of a bright, polished sphere appears on his uncle's sternum, streams of ethereal energy running between its flawless surfaces. the image taking Silas by complete Suprise. 

'Wow, a soul core, he's awakened! wait why can I even see it in the first place?'. Silas questioned, with his head resting on his knuckles.

'Oh, it must be [Soul Sight]!' thought Silas, it seemed the bloody spell didn't need to tell him their purpose, hell he could figure it out. 

Eventually.

Silas while stuck in his own head seemed completely unaware to his uncle staring at his inner conflict with confusion and patient anticipation. he seemed used to his "nephews" antics. 

And when the boy still didn't answer, he gave a slight smirk and picked Silas who franticly and unsuccessfully attempted to escape his grasp. 

With a plop, Silas found himself of the shoulders the goliath.

He gave up on a trying to refuse, instead choosing to make use of the situation.

On top of the giant, Silas was overlooking the maze of crops, instead of being drowned in their field. the endless clawing at his mind lessened, even if a tiny bit. such relief was felt immaculate. 

With the new perspective he saw in the distance a sturdy stone castle, the borders of its structure surrounded by grey spires that seemed to pierce the orange sky of the sunset, the warm light peaking past the distant mountains, a farewell gift to the nature that bathed in its presence. 

The wind picked up, brushing his grey hair in its currents. The freedom of the air, once confined to the prison of the wheat, felt incredibly relaxing. Yet, it was not invasive; it wasn't thoughts and feelings implanted in his mind by the terror.

He truly felt peace. 

Of course, looking at the sun leave the sky brought him some concern, there might have been a reason his "uncle" wanted to return before the darkness swept over the farm, maybe that's when the terror that had been around would appear, rendering his flesh under the veil of darkness. 

Yet with his weight supported by the freakishly built uncle under him, such worries seemed like nothing.

Enjoying the short break, he watched the sun fall. enjoying the moment, the break he had from endless running, again letting his memories of the past emerge, they certainly weren't pleasant, yet Silas found himself with hope, with all the misfortune life had given him, maybe the spell might be the light in his dim world. 

A chance to go beyond what he had always been.

A nobody, a outskirts kid like another. 

but with his aspect, at his fingertips, he felt like more, he felt like he could achieve more. 

With that thought. he let time fly past.

 Under the embrace of the soon appearing stars the wheat parted, revealing a modest cabin constructed of burly brown logs, with a patchwork thatch roof covering the base, beside it lay a wooden fencing that held three mellow cows, there unintelligent eyes looking towards the visitors before returning to their grazing. 

Silas was ushered into the house, his uncle's strong arms guiding him through the warm, welcoming interior. With smoky meat resting on the table, maybe prepared in advance.

Silas eagerly devoured a chunk of the meat like a feral cat, between bites, his uncle made light conversation, probing gently about Silas's thoughts and concerns, with Silas attempting to reply and savour the brilliant food simultaneously. 

After dinner, Silas made his way to his room, the soft creak of the door signalling his arrival. He glanced back to see his uncle's reassuring nod before closing the door behind him. The room was quiet, a stark contrast to the day's chaos.

'Maybe I can actually get some rest.' Silas thought with a smirk, only to be questioned by his weary self. 

'Though I should stay watch, it's still the first nightmare.' anxiety and reasoning battled it out for dominance in his brain space. with the victor being decided shortly. 

It was a third party who showed up late.

Greed.

'Fuck the damn trial, I'm soooooo TIRED.' Silas complained and jumped into the feathery mattress, that caught his weight without any issue. 

In its heavenly embrace, Silas tucked himself into the covers and attempted to sleep.

Yet one thought lingered, holding his awareness captive before it could drift away.

'Will I ever wake up?' This question sullied his once cheerful mood. Silas grappled with the darkness of his room, searching for an answer.

Eventually, he settled on a single word.

"Maybe." With that thought, he drifted into sleep.

_______________________________

Silas's consciousness stirred as he awoke, his weary eyes opened taking in the fresh new morning. the spring breeze welcoming his return with a gentle brush. 

'Wait I had the windows closed, there should be any?' Silas thought attempting to free himself of the drowsiness waying down on his mind.

Glancing towards his door he found it to be wide open, and then found something else.

 A cow stared deeply into his eyes, as if with anticipation.

Silas stared back at his new companion, tilting his head in confusion.

The cow mirrored it, doing the same.

Before opening its mouth, the flesh beside its teeth tearing with a horrid scream, the teeth of the beast sharpening and emerging from its gums, canine in shape and drooling with fresh saliva that slowly dripped down to Silas's chest, the animals eyes parting from Silas and drifting beyond, showing the red veiny white void of the sclera. 

And like that, everything seemed to happen all at once.