Malk went to his room, and I laughed inwardly again. I love winning.

Clary was cheering for some character on the television. I started to order Clary to come with me, but I stopped myself before I could say anything.

Malk managed to figure out what I was doing to him and Clary, and Malk… Malk is not exactly a genius. As proven by his abysmal failure of an assassination attempt. Moron.

Clary seemed to be in love with me and more than willing to do whatever I said, but perhaps it was best to not take any more chances than I needed to. “Hey, Clary. I finished with Malk, do you want to come spar with me now, or would you rather wait until your show is finished?”

She looked up at me and said, “I can come now. It was a rerun anyways, and not really a good one.” She got up, grabbing her circlet and staff, and walked over to me, smiling.

I opened up a portal and we stepped through, emerging back in the clearing. Clary strolled over to the other side of it, and then turned to face me. She frowned, and pointed at something. “What happened to that tree?”

I looked, and it was the same one that I’d thrown Malk into. “Malk and I got a bit… intense, during our sparring session. I guess one of our attacks must have hit the tree.” I shrugged, and Clary nodded.

“So, will we be practicing illusions like usual?” she asked.

“Actually, I was thinking we should try and test how powerful you are, considering you now have those cool artifacts. They basically increase your power and skill, right?”

“Eh, pretty much, yeah. So, what kind of tests were you thinking?”

“I figured we’d start with a bit of control magic. I cast a spell, you try and take control of it and push it back towards me, while I try to push it towards you.”

She blinked a few times. “Me… trying to match your strength? Um, you realize I’m not crazy, right?”

I laughed. “Don’t worry about it, I won’t be giving it my all, just testing your limits.”

She didn’t look particularly reassured, but shrugged and pointed her staff at me, ready. I conjured a (harmless) ball of darkness, and sent it wobbling towards Clary. She closed her eyes, in deep concentration. When she opened them, the ball was a lot closer to her, but it suddenly slowed down as she exerted her will. I could feel her pushing against my spell, and doing a respectable job of it.

“So, Clary. What’s been up with you lately? I seem to remember that you work at a library, and that’s where you found the information on the dungeon, right?”

“Yep!” She beamed. “I’m now head of history and magic! I mean, it basically just means I have higher seniority and more free time, but still, it’s a nice title.”

“I’m not sure I’ve ever really inquired about what you do at the library. It doesn’t seem like much, just reorganizing books. What do library people even do?”

“Well, that is what my official job is, to manage the books and the sorting and keep things running. But in reality, most of the time I just read, and read, and read some more, and study, and research. And occasionally construct book forts with Jill and Riley.” She giggled, and I laughed as well.

“Book forts, hmm? Very professional, that’s exactly what I think of when I consider a professional library.”

“Professional? Shadow, it’s a library in a fairly boring, unimportant city. The few people who come in are regulars, and it really is a small team, even if we’ve got a silly system where ever wing has to have its own head librarian, mostly due to the size of the library. We can usually just do whatever we want.”

I sent a second orb at Clary, shoving my will through them both, and I felt her begin to strain a bit as she kept them away. “Sounds fun, to be honest. I don’t think I’ve ever really visited the library here, I suppose I should one day.

“Yeah, you should! It’s fun, and sometimes we have marathons where we watch entire seasons of our favorite shows. And I could give you a tour of the library!”

“A private tour, hmm, just the two of us?” I smirked, and Clary blushed, her attention slipping enough for one of the bolts to slam into her. She made a little shrieking noise, and barely managed to stop the second bolt from reaching her.

She laughed nervously, and said, “Well, you know, there are other people, but if you wanted, um, I guess, uh…”

She’s adorably awkward. “So what’s up with Malk these days? You two hang out so often, you probably know more about him than I do?”

“What, Malk? I mean, I guess we technically live together but, well, we don’t really talk much. Mostly about you, or about shows we like or dislike and the arguments that result. He doesn’t really care about the library other than the monster books, and I don’t care about his silly art obsession except when it comes to illustrations in books, and even then I don’t get all crazy about it like he does. We really don’t have much in common.”

Hmm. Time to lie.

“Huh. I’d always kind of figured you two were an item, what with you two living together, and the dynamic I’ve observed whenever the three of us are together.”

She looked mortified, and her concentration slipped again. She saw the orb at the last second and stopped it, but still seemed more focused on the conversation. “No, oh no no no! We’re not together at all, believe me, that is so far from the truth.” She hesitated, then took a deep breath and said, “To be honest, well… we’re both sort of, I guess you could say, um… infatuated. With you, I mean. We’ve tried to hide it, but…”

And now to play the role.

I adopted a shocked expression, and let Clary shove the orb back towards me, relaxing my will and only ‘recovering’ in time to keep it from hitting me.    “Infatuated? With me? I mean, I know I always act the way I do, but, I mean. Wow. I… I had no idea. I mean, me? Have you met me? After the way I act towards the two of you, the way I treat you? You like… me?”

“I… yeah. I do. And I don’t care about those things. I’m okay with it, because it makes me feel useful, like I have a place in the world and you know what that place is. By your side. I trust you and what you say.”

“Even the moment, the moment in the cathedral? My words, the titles I gave. ‘Belonging’. You weren’t scared by that, or revolted? I know that sometimes I can…” I made myself laugh nervously. “Sometimes I can be a bit insensitive, when I joke around with the two of you. I’m honestly, I’m just not good with people, so I snark. You… you really didn’t mind?”

Clary blushed further, and started stuttering. “Y-yes. Actually, I… it didn’t revolt me, it, it… it almost did the opposite. It excited me, the idea that I could be yours… but maybe I interpreted it a little too… r-romantic. I-I want to help you, I want to be with you, I would do anything for you.”

I slowly walked towards her, and I dismissed the darkness. When I was directly in front of her I asked, “Anything? You would do anything for my affection?” She nodded, and I leaned in to whisper in her ear. “You would obey? You would serve? You would be mine in every way, if it meant earning my affection?”

She hesitated only for a moment, and then said, “Yes. Yes, so much so. I want to be yours, Shadow. I think… I think I love you.”

I smiled at her and said, “That’s all I needed to hear.” I brought my arm around Clary’s back, and pressed her to me, feeling the warmth of her body. I tilted my head, and brought my lips down to meet hers, melding together in a flood of passion.

My eyes closed, and I relied on my other senses, which flooded me with information. I could feel Clary’s body, her lips, her warmth, all so close to my own, and I could smell a scent I’d never noticed before; a flowery perfume permeating Clary’s being, strong and fragrant. They were the same as a bundle of flowers I’d once gotten Clary as a half-joking gift, and brought back memories of her awkward expression that day.

I pulled Clary tighter to me, my other hand running through her hair as we were both lost in the emotion and intimacy of the kiss.

Or rather, she was lost in it. So innocent, so naïve. So easy to fool, to charm. And now, now she’s mine. She’ll do whatever I say, she’s practically my slave, my thrall. And all because of her love for me. The fool.

And then, reveling in the passion of the kiss and the triumph of truly controlling Clary… I felt a pang. A hurt. A clenching of my heart, and a feeling I’d felt only once before, and resolved to never feel again.

Guilt.

Eyes flung open.

Falling to the ground.

Clary too, but I barely noticed.

Scrambled to my feet.

“Wait, Shadow, what’s wrong?” Desperation and fear tinged her voice.

No time to speak, no time to think.

Into the air, the darkness around me.

Escape.

Trying to escape from that moment, trying to figure out what had gone wrong.

How?

Why?

WHAT IS HAPPENING!?

My mind was so confused, so wrapped up in the events of the past day, that with barely a whisper my spell fell apart, and I fell to the forest floor, crashing through trees, breaking bones, before landing with a savage snap against the ground, my body bruised and broken.

And I lay there on the ground, unable to comprehend.

Everything is… it’s all falling apart, it’s all changing. Fitzdonald won. I lost. And then, then Malk somehow figured out what was going on, and broke my hold on him, and we fought, and I broke him, and then Clary, and she loved me and I’m using her- with that last thought, another pang went through me, and I screamed in panic.

No, no, no! I don’t-I can’t- what is going on? Clary, she’s a slave, a pawn, she exists to serve, it’s why I entered her mind in the first place! That kiss, that moment, it was supposed to make her mine, not make me hers! Why? Why would I feel guilt? She’s nothing! She’s just a pawn!

I… I have a right! I told Mirror, I told her that I had a right and it is true, I have the right to do as I wish, why, why, why is this happening, I don’t, I don’t understand, she’s just a pawn, she’s just a fucking pawn!

Why?

The little girl from my dream stepped out of the trees and knelt by me. “Don’t you understand yet?”

“I… no, I don’t. Nothing makes sense anymore.”

“And nothing ever will. You’re supposed to be smart, Shadow. So think. What makes Clary different from anyone else you’ve ever manipulated? What makes her special, and what makes you vulnerable? Ignore Fitzdonald, ignore Malk. They aren’t important, and they aren’t causing this, you know that. So what is?”

I thought, and I thought, and then I found it. The thing that made her special. The thing that made me vulnerable. The cliché would have made me sick if I was capable of thinking straight right then.

“Love.”

“Correct. Beautiful, wonderful, passionate, joyous love. Or to you, a disgusting, hideous, revolting thing. It unites people, and sometimes it can drive them to commit atrocities, whether out of love for an individual or a community. And you’ve never been loved, not once. Oh sure, you’ve made people adore you, made them pleasure you, maybe you’ve even made them say they loved you. But that’s always been you doing the talking, the pretty little puppeteer. But now? Now it’s real. All you gave Clary was the spark. She really does love you. And that is enough to plant the seeds of doubt, to tear apart all your masks and your villainy and strike at whatever remains of your empathy.”

“Then… what do I do to stop it? To stop the guilt? I can’t… I don’t want to kill her… I can’t, why can’t I kill her… but I can’t… I can’t let her make me weak.”

“Then you must make yourself strong. Let not guilt enter your heart. Convince yourself. Make yourself believe that you are her superior, that she is nothing more than a slave that loves you. And play along with her obsession. Do this, and you can have everything you want. Embrace your role once more. You are Shadow. You rule on high, and it is only natural that others might feel love for their goddess. You’ve spoken these words to yourself before, but now you have to really, truly believe them.”

I nodded, and sighed, less worried than before. Then, I looked up at the girl and asked, “You’re not really me, are you?”

She smiled, and her smile reached past elemental limits, forming a cat-like grin of sharp teeth. “No, I’m not. But you might not remember that.”

I scowled at her, and tried to rise. “What is your name then?”

She waved her hand, and laughed, and then everything began to fade. For a brief second, I thought her eyes flickered golden-brown.

“My name… is-

I was lying on the ground, bleeding, broken, and briefly unconscious. As I woke, I shook my head to try and clear my mind, and I tried to grasp at any remnants of my dream. I remembered… I remembered panicking about the guilt, about Clary, and I remembered the girl appearing, and I remember us discussing love, and how it was a weakness, and I needed to convince myself that I was above Clary, so I wouldn’t fall into a trap and make her my weakness. And then… something blurry.

It probably wasn’t important. I stood up, and began healing my wounds, depleting my energy reserves to low levels. I needed to get more, soon. I began walking back in the direction of Clary, and thinking.

I needed to maintain the illusion that I cared for her, while keeping myself emotionally distant enough that I wouldn’t be affected by guilt. Perhaps… perhaps this called for a reevaluation. Previously, I’d been seeing her as a friend and a belonging, something to be manipulated, used, and cast aside if she became useless. But with this… guilt thing, maybe another route would work better, another way of seeing her.

Perhaps not as a slave or belonging, but rather as a pet. A creature of love, adoration, and obedience, to be treated kindly but still a lesser creature. To be cared for, but still at the whims of the owner.

Yes, that would work. At least in the short term, until I could better come to grips with everything. My minions had ruined so much in such a short time.

As I heard Clary calling through the trees, signaling that I was close to her, I quickly adopted a nervous expression, and prepared my speech.

I walked into Clary’s vision, and she came running over, worried and shaking. “Shadow? Are you alright? Did… did I do something wrong? I’m so sorry, I just, the moment, it was… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, or hurt you, or anything!”

“It’s okay. It… it was me. I was nervous, and scared, and just… shocked, shocked that you cared for me, and it only hit me what it meant when we were already kissing. It’s my fault.”

“I… I’m still really sorry. Now that you’ve had a little time to think… do you, do you still want to do this? To be… with me?” She looked so scared, so nervous, so afraid of losing her chance.

I stepped forward, and again, and came up beside her. I brought my hand up to caress her face, and said, “Yes, I do. Everything’s going to be fine, okay? As long as you’re with me. My love, my pet.”

She smiled a desperate, obsessed smile, and we kissed again, and this time there was no guilt. Just Shadow, the goddess of all elements, and Clary, her beloved pet. And… and a curiosity.

I have to know.

I want to understand.

As we kissed, I inhaled, and I drank in her memories, entering her mind and-

“No, no you’re kidding me! Seriously?” I stared in amazement at Vendestri, a Council member.

He grinned and nodded. “I think it’s perfect for my gallery, honestly.” He gestured at the hall we were in, the walls adorned with paintings by various artists.

“But I mean, you’re such a major patron of the arts, and I’m… me. I-I’m sorry, I’m being ridiculous.” My face was stuck in this expression somewhere between shock and glee, and I felt really embarrassed that I was repeating myself.

He clapped me on the back, and laughed. “Don’t worry about it, a lot of the artists here have reacted the same way when it was their first piece. You’ll get used to it. But before you decide if you do want to sell me the piece, why don’t I take you for a tour of the gallery?”

I blinked a few times, then said, “Yes, yes I’d be honored!”

Inwardly, I was this ball of anxiety and excitement and-

You were so happy and full of life before I got a hold of you. Lovely.

-happiness, but I was trying my hardest to try and be at least a little bit professional. He laughed again, and we started walking.

We walked past familiar pieces, things I’d studied and seen in books. It was so surreal, being in the Vendestri Gallery of the Arts in person, and not just that, being given a tour by Vendestri himself! He pointed to a painting of a starry sky. “That’s one of my favorites, I often come in here just to look at it. Such beauty, such elegance. Do you know it?”

I nodded. “Kelbran’s Lights in the Sky. The textbooks say that it was meant to represent how even in what we consider the darkest of places, the night sky, there is still light, but I’ve always thought that Kelbran was more appreciating how when you look up at the night sky, everything else just seems to fade away. Light, Dark, it doesn’t matter what element you are when you’re looking up at those patches of starry sky. Although those are so hard to come by when the sky is dominated by Warfield…”

“You know, I quite like your view of it. They don’t mention it in the books, but Kelbran painted this on Warfield, so it would have been easier to see the stars.” We both took a moment to admire the piece, before moving on. We quickly brushed past easily recognizable pieces, and then he stopped at one I didn’t really recognize.

“I don’t think I remember this one.” I told him. The painting showed a campfire scene, with several tents pitched in the middle of a strangely green forest. Perhaps it was the light, but the people gathered around the fire all seemed to have skin that was some pale cream color, and one had noticeably pointed ears. That one, who seemed female, was holding what looked like stars in her hand, and was feeding them into the fire, which was purple. The sky overhead showed alien stars, and a weird white orb in the sky. Glowing red eyes were dotted through the forest, and a part of the sky seemed almost… torn.

The title card called it Twilight Dawn.

“It was an anonymous donation. Just the painting and the title, no sign of who left it. The art style doesn’t exactly match any known artist. It’s an enigma. Even more so because the card it came with had three title, two scratched out.”

“I can’t believe I missed it in the books.”

“You didn’t. It isn’t commonly discussed, because a lot of artists seem to think it was painted by someone of a different element, and thus don’t want it to gain recognition. I disagreed, and put it up in my gallery.”

“Interesting. What were the other titles?”

“Telvaria was the first, and Elizabeth was the second. I liked this one the most.”

“It’s… beautiful, in a way. Eerie.”

“Perhaps someday soon, people will say the same of your piece.” He smiled at me, and I laughed.

“Maybe.”

Today is going to be a great day.

I was full of cheer, my first painting having just gone up in Vendestri’s gallery. In a few days, we were going to discuss what to make next. We’d been chatting a lot lately, and I’d brought up the idea of creating a small collection to display for an upcoming event.

Me, an artist in Raven’s Shade. I still can’t believe this is happening.

As I walked through the streets, and felt a craving for something to drink or eat. I noticed a café, and decided-

Hah. As if you ever had a choice.

-to enter it and get some coffee. Café Ritan, it was called. I walked inside and got in line behind a girl in hiking boots and a blue skirt. She ordered, “Two cappuccinos, one with spiraldust please. Ooo, and a muffin!”

She took her order and sat at a table, putting the coffee with spiraldust on the other side of the table. I ordered a coffee, and took it to a different table. As I drank it, I noticed that she was looking at me with this weird expression on her face. After a few moments, she waved at me, as if gesturing for me to come near. I looked around to see if she was waving at someone else, but she shook her head and pointed at me.

Okay, weird, but, whatever. I guess I could do with some nice conversation.

I walked over and pulled out the chair across from her, but she shook her head and said hastily, “That seat is reserved, she wouldn’t like it if you took it.”

I blinked in confusion, and took a different seat. “Who wouldn’t like it?”

“Oh, she’s not important. A friend. So, what’s up?”

“I’m drinking coffee.” I said as I took another sip.

She giggled. “Aside from that! You’re the new artist at that gallery place, right?”

I brightened a bit and sat up straighter. “Yeah! You go to the gallery?”

“Not really, to be honest.” I slouched again. “I like books and shows a lot more than art. Just a personal thing, you know? I’ve never understand why people get so crazy about art. I mean, I like a good picture too but you don’t have to go obsessing over them. Uh, no offense.” She said awkwardly.

“It’s… fine. A lot of people don’t understand why I wanted to pursue art instead of being a slayer, so I’m used to it.”

“Well, you could always try being both.”

I quirked an eyebrow. “How so?”

“I dunno, killing monsters and then like, using the body parts to do stuff? That’s what Shadow does, anyways.”

“That… sounds creepy.”

“Shush you. It’s perfectly normal. So what do you do, besides art and ex-slaying?”

“I mean, art is my passion. I guess I do read a bit, I like learning about art, and about the beauty of nature.”

“Oh, like monsters?”

“Well, I mean I guess they fall under it yeah because there are strange creatures in nature, but I mean like, the overall beauty of the ecosystem as animals and plants interact in a way that benefits the whole, while each piece has its individual elegance.”

“Uh huh. So you like monsters then?”

“I…” I sighed and gave up. “Yes, I like monsters. And you seem to just like paper and ink.”

“And shows! Shows about detectives, and stuff! They’re fun.”

“Right, well…” I finished my coffee and stood up. “I’ll be seeing you.”

I turned around and took a step forward, accidentally bumping into a woman with dusky hair and gleaming amethyst eyes. I felt a brief flutter of attraction, and she smirked at me. “How clumsy of you. Clary, was he annoying you?”

“Actually, I was just leaving.” Her eyes seemed to pierce mine, and I blinked a few times.

“What, did she frighten you off?” asked the newcomer.

“Well…” Yes. Or… sort of. It wasn’t actually that bad, now that-

Now that I’m in your head. I love it, it’s like a beautiful canvas waiting to be torn apart. Symbolic of art or something, you dork.

-I think about it.

“She’s nice. But I’ve got places to be. I’ll see you around, Clary, and um…”

“Shadow. I’m Shadow.”

I read the letter. I read it again.

That isn’t possible.

I read it backwards.

I threw it against the wall.

Vendestri’s dead.

He’d apparently gotten the sudden urge to explore the wilderness in search of a good spot to see the ‘starry sky’, and had been ambushed by wild creatures. It was a horrible accident-

Like I’d leave anything to chance.

-that I mourned, but… now what?

I pulled out the other letter.

I guess I’m going to Widow’s Dusk.

Something was wrong.

Something had been wrong for a while, I’d realized once I could think straight.

Everything was just… off. Memories once crystal clear had become muddled, shrouded in fog. I had used to… I had used to be better than what I had become. I was going to be an artist, I was going to live it up and pursue my dreams… and instead I was in a fucking suburb. I was in some backwater city. Nobody cared about Widow’s Dusk, least of all me.

It has to be her fault.

Shadow.

I didn’t know what, or how. But I knew that Shadow had to have done something. That much I was certain of. She’d put a spell on me, or something. Clary too. Had either of us ever felt this way before meeting her? I’d seen the way Clary practically worshipped Shadow, and at one point I’d almost felt those desires in myself, though I didn’t really feel an attraction to her anymore. But what I did feel, it wasn’t natural. Nothing made sense anymore.

Nothing makes any sense.

Nothing.

Does she want me under her power? Is that it? She wanted me and Clary and she’d done something, but why? This lack of ambition, this contentment with the shit that was my life, why was this part of her plan? What did she even want? Why was I just… why was I just standing here?

I knew the answer to that, because my own mind had been battling me for weeks trying to force me to stand and defy her, and it had failed. I’d ignored that choice.

I sighed, and slouched on the sofa, shaking my head and wondering when it had all first gone wrong. When I’d gone from dreams and ambition to living in a house with a psychopath and her adoring pet.

I was woken from my state of moping by the sound of two knocks on the door, and then like sixty more. Fuck, it’s probably her. Ugh, why does she have to be so fucking annoying-

Well, I didn’t know you had such zeal and hatred in you all this time. It’s amusing, listening to your inner rants.

-all the time?

“I’m coming, I’m coming, calm down.”

Thoughts of suspicion left my mind as I opened the door and blinked at the change in lighting, as well as her… outfit. “Oh, it’s you.”

She said something crazy about killing fellow elementals, brushed past me, and flopped down onto the sofa. Bewildered, I looked down at her and she asked, “Anything good on the telly?”

I stared. She giggled. “Gotta say, I love this couch. Extremely comfy, which is nice when you’ve spent the last day arguing with politicians and fighting monsters in the forest.”

I hate you so much. Why do you have to do these insane things? Why? Whatever, maintain your cool, keep your composure. “Right, yeah, great… now can we talk about the killing of a Champion thing?” Okay, so I didn’t keep my cool.

She brushed me off, and I attempted to clear my mind, making a few circular motions and breathing deeply. When I was ready I said, “Okay, okay, clearly you’ve put a little thought into this. Should I get Clary, so we can both hear whatever insane plan you’ve come up with?”

She gave the affirmative, and I went upstairs.

This is going to be a nightmare.

Shadow argued with her mirror duplicate, but the words slowly filtered out, to be replaced by rage burning inside me.

That bitch. At least I know for certain now. She’s never cared about me or Clary, she’s been using this whole time, fooling us. We’re pawns.

Betrayal.

Confirmation.

She’d been playing us.

She’d been playing me.

And I’d fallen for it, for who knows how long. Clary was her toy, and I was her puppet, dancing to her lies and deceits as she played with our emotions.

She needs to pay.

And then Mirror said what I needed to hear.

Mind control.

She’d been using mind control.

I was right. She’s been in my head. She thought she could take my will, my mind, all that makes me who I am and leave an obedient slayer in my place. She thought she could break me.

She thought she could leave me as a husk, a slave to her will.

No.

No.

I will not take the easy path.

I will stand in defiance.

I’m not loyal to you anymore, Shadow. I’m Malk. I’m me. I’m still me, and I will never, I will never ever let you take that away. And I will not let you get away with this.

Clary accepted her paltry words.

I did not.

It was time for me to stop being a painter.

It was time for me to truly be a slayer, like they’d tried to train me to be.

You are a monster, and I kill monsters. I will kill you, Shadow. I will free Clary. I will end you before more people fall victim to your tyranny. I will end you, or I will die trying.

“Clary! Malk! I need to do some training, let’s go have a practice fight.”

I nodded, and a surge of reckless need made me say, “Sure, but let’s do it one-at-a-time, so we can practice better. We’ll fight with sword, and then Clary and you can do magic.”

Shadow blinked at me. “Uh, I suppose that’s a plan. Clary, you can stay here, Malk and I will go spar, I guess. Let’s go to that clearing I found.” Clary nodded and said, “I’ll just stay here and watch some television.”

Shadow opened a portal to the clearing, while I quickly raced upstairs to get my things. I slipped on the caster gauntlet, flexing my hand and testing it out. With an exertion of will I managed to create a tentacle of darkness, and imagined using it against Shadow. Now was the time to strike, and I needed every advantage I could get. I grabbed my sword, my magic shield, and also grabbed a helmet to cover my face. As long as she couldn’t see my face, my eyes, I’d be safe from her power. I’d be me.

For a moment I had a pang of fear. What if this ended in my death? What if I accomplished nothing…

No. No matter what, this needs to happen. I’ve helped this…. this monster. Thanks to me and Clary, Shadow is close to achieving her goals. One day she might rule over all of Nyx… over all worlds… and I can’t live with myself knowing I let that happen. I have to end this monster I’ve helped.

I walked through Shadow’s portal to the clearing, and stepped out, ready to end it. And then the fight began.

Swords clashed, and we talked of simple things, such as my art. She seemed to see nothing amiss… but that would change.

“I had just begun my art career, in… actually, in Raven’s Shade. I’d managed to get a good place there, and a few contracts, and things were looking up. Then, one day I went to this coffee place, called ‘Ritan’ I think. Clary was the only other person there, but after a few minutes we realized we had practically nothing in common.”

Shadow continued her efforts to break my defense and said, “That must have been when I came in. Clary was in the city with me, I’d met her back in the Academy of Magic when she was in her last year and she’d taken a liking to me, so when I graduated early I decided to stay at her house. I chatted with you, I think, and you were fascinated with me.”

“Yeah, I guess so. All I remember is a few days later, I ended up moving into Widow’s Dusk with Clary. Strangest thing, really.” A touch of bitterness entered my tone, and I struggled harder now, though she kept pushing me back, proving her strength.

“I guess it could be seen as strange. Perhaps you just realized that I was powerful, and that helping me could lead you to great rewards.”

“Maybe that was it. But thinking about it, that’s not the only time I’ve done something that doesn’t fit, something that isn’t really… me.”

“I see. And what do you think about those moments?”

“I think that every one of them benefited you. And I think it’s been happening to Clary too. For example, when you outright told her you considered her nothing more than her property.” My voice nearly cracked now. Fury was rising. It was time to end this. Time to make her pay!

I made a mistake in movement, and Shadow tried to get in an attack, but my magic shield protected me, and I smirked, assuming an arrogant stance. “I figured it out, Shadow. I know you’ve been manipulating us, playing on our emotions, on our thoughts, and infiltrating our minds. You’ve been tugging at our strings, the smug puppetmaster, and we’ve danced to your tune. It’s why I came to Widow’s Dusk. It’s why Clary falls all over you. And it ends today!” I lunged at her, sword drawn, and she darted back. As she fled I tossed aside my sword and gestured with my gauntleted hand, summoning a tendril of darkness to grab her foot.

“So, how long have you known? I doubt this was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I bet you figured it out when Mirror talked about me.”

“Oh, that helped, certainly, but I’d had my suspicions for a while. It was truly confirmed when you labeled Clary your belonging, and she was reassured by that.” Hatred burned in me at remembering that moment, and I knew that I had to make Shadow suffer for doing that to Clary, and to me.

“Perhaps it’s just because she loves me, like I thought you did. And really, you can’t tell me you still don’t… feel, for me?” She smiled roguishly, but the smile fell when I laughed scornfully at her.

“Shadow, maybe I should make something clear. Clary loves you. She is smitten with you, infatuated, absolutely in love. She has been for a while I’d bet, and not all of it from your spells. But me? At most, I felt a physical attraction to you, and to your power, magnified by the mental tampering you did. But it was only ever an attraction, a crush. And crushes end. I’m over you. And I want my mind back!” I charged her again but she dodged, and we entered a closer duel, a duel of life and death now. “Time to pay, bitch!” I sent a bolt of darkness at her, but she sliced it apart with her stupid sword, and I fumed with anger.

“You know, Malk, I do have a question. Why didn’t you confront me at the cathedral, when I was fighting Mirror or the knight? Why wait-

Let’s hurry this along. I don’t need to see all the details, and I don’t care if this part is accurate, I’ve already seen it.

-until now?”

“I didn’t want you to catch on to me knowing. I figured I’d wait for the most opportune time to strike, and this seemed like my best bet.”

As I dodged another attack she said, “You’d make a shit assassin then. Best time to kill me is in my sleep, or to stab me in the back when I’m fighting a real enemy. Not now, on an open field, when you know I’m better than you.”

She’s right. This is stupid. I’m being an idiot here, I can’t win, I can’t fight her, I should have just taken her out in her sleep or… no. This is the only way. For honor. For setting right what I helped make wrong. Whether I live or die, at least I can change things. At least I can try and save the world.

“Oh, I know you can kill me. I’m betting on it. See, if I killed you, Clary would still be affected by your magic. She’d still love you, and she’d see me as a villain and a traitor for killing you. But if you kill me, here and now, she’ll be forced to realize the truth. And if somehow I do kill you, I can live with Clary hating me. I don’t care about her anyways, you already know I only lived with her because of your magic.” I charged her with all my fury and hatred, knowing that now was my hour, now was when I-

Shadow sighed and dropped her sword, raising her hand and saying, “You’re a fucking idiot.”

As I blinked in confusion Shadow sent darkness slamming into me, and I flew backwards into a tree trunk, my sword falling from my hand, my shield following. Shadow took the gauntlet, and I lay there, broken, battered, and beaten. But knowing that my death would make a difference.

“Think, you dolt. If I can make you abandon art contracts to move to a city, if I can make Clary practically worship me, if I can do all of the things that I have done, why can’t I just make you obey me? Huh? Why would I kill you, when I could enslave you instead?”

I gave a tired laugh.“Th-that’s what the mask is f-for, bitch. You always look people in the eyes, w-when you enter their m-minds. No eyes, no entry, no eternal enslavement. Now, finish it. Kill me.”

“Moron.” She sighed again, and as I stared in shock and horror she ripped my helmet open. “And for the record, I don’t have to see your eyes. I have so many, many other ways to control and manipulate.”

I shouted, “NO!” and then everything began to drain away.

This can’t happen, she can’t win!

She destroyed me, she destroyed the girl, she’ll destroy all of Nyx! She’ll destroy everything that has ever existed in her quest for power! And I failed…

She deserves to burn. She…

A shock of pain went through me, and a voice whispered, she deserves to rule.

I lashed out, and then I was inside my own mind.

It looked like a beautiful painting, a canvas with a landscape and grandiose structures that were both two-dimensional and three-dimensional at the same time.

But there was… corruption. It was blotched, and ripped, and decayed and dying… and it was at war. Darkness surged through the land, tearing apart spindly soldiers of paper and paint. I could see where the darkness, these foul wraiths, had been beaten back, but now Shadow was leading them. I grabbed a sword from the ground and charged into the fray, desperate.

This is my last chance.

I swung my sword through the nearest wraith and it was torn apart, but more swarmed. I cut, and I cut, and I swung and I stabbed and I rolled and I jumped and I dodged, but there were so many, and then one leaped through the air and landed on me, and it went through me and then-

No! NO! GET OUT OF MY MIND!

Hahahaha. I’m not in your mind… I am your mind. I’m you, and you are me. And together we will serve.

She… she’s a monster…

Yes, she is. And a goddess. A horrible, evil goddess that we will worship and obey. To serve is all that matters. Loyalty, obedience.

No, that… that isn’t me…

I fell to the ground, clutching my chest, and tried to rip out the darkness that had seeped in. I gasped, and I writhed, and the darkness swarmed around me, and then they all flooded in at once, as Shadow stood over me, laughing.

You don’t matter. You aren’t Malk anymore. You’re her servant. You belong to Shadow.

No…

Property.

Person!

Slave.

Slayer!

Just let go. Stop fighting. You can’t any more. It’s all gone. Everything that made you who you are is fading away… and it will never come back. Say goodbye, Malk.

I…

No…

Shadow grabbed my neck, lifting me off the ground with one hand, her grip iron-clad. There was a savage hunger in her face, a sadistic joy at my suffering. The hunger we will serve.

No!

“Malk, Malk, Malk. Dear, precious Malk. It all ends here for you.”

“This was… this was my chance.” I coughed, barely able to breathe. “I fought to… to make a difference!”

“And you failed.”

Failure.

Give in.

Game over.

You lose.

I woke, blinking in confusion. Lady Shadow extended her hand towards me, and said, “Got a bit carried away with the sparring, sorry. I think we sparred long enough for today, right?”

I pressed my hand to my head, feeling a brief headache, but nodded and said, “Yeah, that makes sense.” She opened a portal, and I walked through, quickly moving to my room to collapse on the bed, weary, and tired, and not knowing why my head hurt so much.

I woke with a start, staring at the face of Clary. “Shadow! Shadow, are you alright?”

I blinked at her, then shook my head and stood up, ignoring her outstretched hand. Wabbit nuzzled against my leg. “Okay, what the fuck was that? Did Fitz just… just win? Seriously?”

“Uh, I guess. I’m sorry, Shadow, I tried so hard, I set up the rules of the contest specifically to stop him from messing things up, but then he did it anyways.”

“Well, it’s not your fault. It’s that asshole’s fault, and I’m going to kill him. Slowly.” I stood, and began opening a portal. Clary grabbed my hand and said, “Wait, don’t!”

I tilted my head quizzically and she continued, “If you kill him now, you will never become Champion. The Council will stop you, the soldiers will stop you, and you aren’t powerful enough to take on all of Nyx. You can’t win this by fighting all of your problems.”

I bit back a retort, and took a deep breath. I released it in a long sigh, and said, “Okay, you’re right. But I have to fix this. I have to fix it, or everything will fall apart. She said so. I said so. Whatever!”

“Uh, what are you talking about?” asked Malk.

“I’m talking about the freaky dream-vision-thing I just had, while uncon- oh what the fuck, did I really faint? Seriously? That is so uncool.”

“Yes, you fainted. Dream-vision-thing?”

“Right, that. Well, I think I visited my own mind, or something, because I found this little girl who looked like me, who had painted all these scenes that represented the path my life was supposed to take. She got really mad, saying I’d broken things, and I needed to fix it. I don’t remember it very well. Dreams are always hard to remember.”

“So why did you also call it a vision?”

“Because dreams aren’t that… sane. I mean, not that it was all normal and realistic, but dreams are usually crazy and chaotic and don’t make sense, but that was straightforward. So, I’m not sure what it was.”

I had a dull pain in my head, some sort of delayed headache, and pressed my hand to the side of my head. Clary asked tentatively, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I just have some sort of headache, either from landing on it or from that stupid dream. Gah, I need to do something to clear this stress and pain and all of this annoyingness going on. Let’s go home.”

I opened a portal, this time back to Widow’s Dusk, and we walked through, coming out in Clary and Malk’s living room. I sat on the couch, and began to think.

Obviously, I needed to fix the whole not-being-Champion issue.

But how do I fix it? I mean… I really don’t know. Killing Fitz would be fun but probably wouldn’t work, and neither would killing Drake. I’d already tested the limits of what the Council would allow without sending the military. I need the military alive for my plans.

The Council wouldn’t be swayed on this matter, the decision had already been made and would be effectively irreversible without… without something! Something that I didn’t know what it could possibly be.

If I tried to force the issue, those I wanted to lead would be dead, and Darkness would hate me, not see me as their savior. But there had to be a way. There had to be a way to fix it, to fix everything. There had to be a way!

How? How can I fix this! There has to be a way, I just need to think, to figure this out! Gah, my head still hurts. There… there has to be… I-I need to think. I need to fix this. I need to think. I need to fix this! I just… there has to… I need… I need to clear my head. Get rid of this stress, approach the problem from a different angle. Maybe I should fight, do some sort of sparring or practice bout. I have to… I have to fix this!

“Clary! Malk! I need to do some training, let’s go have a practice fight.”

Malk nodded, but said, “Sure, but let’s do it one-at-a-time, so we can practice better. We’ll fight with sword, and then Clary and you can do magic.”

I blinked at him. “Uh, I suppose that’s a plan. Clary, you can stay here, Malk and I will go spar, I guess. Let’s go to that clearing I found.” Clary nodded and said, “I’ll just stay here and watch some television.”

I opened a portal to the aforementioned clearing, and entered it. I emerged in a clearing (obviously), a wide, open, and flat bit of ground within the forest. Malk followed a moment after, having presumably gathered his equipment.

I compared our gear. I had only Whisperdeath, my awesome sword, which was likely more than enough to beat Malk.

He, on the other hand, had gone all-out. He was wearing the caster gauntlet, carrying his plain sword and the magic shield, and was also now wearing a sleek face-covering helmet. The last one seemed an odd choice, but I merely shrugged at it, unconcerned.

He readied his weapon, and I unsheathed mine. I smirked at him, and called, “Alright then, let’s begin.”

He charged me with full force, sword raised to slice down. I nimbly danced to the side, and brought my own sword around in a horizontal arc, which he barely managed to block by swinging his shield around.

I asked, “So, you mentioned a few days ago you wanted to try out a new form of art. Had any ideas on what type?” I then sent another three blows raining down on him, but his shield held fast, and immediately after the third one he sent his sword forward in a piercing motion, which I dodged by stepping back at supernatural speeds.

He said, “Not really. There are lots of things I could branch into, from sketches to charcoal to chalk, or maybe oils. And in all honesty, there are still some areas of painting I haven’t explored yet, I just want a break from it.”

I brought my sword down at him the moment I was safe, and said, “I’ve debated trying art before, but it seems so much time and effort for such a simple end. Much easier to use magic instead.”

He stepped forward with shield raised, protecting himself from my attack. “Yes, you have always liked that. I noticed it since we first became friends, however long ago that was.”

“It was after I left the caster school, but before I convinced the Council to let me do a year at the slayer school.” I began to hammer on his shield, my sword raining down in rapid succession.

The shield didn’t seem to budge, and Malk said, “Right, I remember now. I had just begun my art career, in… actually, in Raven’s Shade. I’d managed to get a good place there, and a few contracts, and things were looking up. Then, one day I went to this coffee place, called ‘Ritan’ I think. Clary was the only other person there, but after a few minutes we realized we had practically nothing in common.”

I continued to try and break through his defense, and said, “That must have been when I came in. Clary was in the city with me, I’d met her back in the Academy of Magic when she was in her last year and she’d taken a liking to me, so when I graduated early I decided to stay at her house. I chatted with you, I think, and you were fascinated with me.”

“Yeah, I guess so. All I remember is a few days later, I ended up moving into Widow’s Dusk with Clary. Strangest thing, really.”

Slowly, my attacks began forcing him back, step by step. “I guess it could be seen as strange. Perhaps you just realized that I was powerful, and that helping me could lead you to great rewards.”

He stepped back again and again under my merciless onslaught. “Maybe that was it. But thinking about it, that’s not the first time I’ve done something that doesn’t fit, something that isn’t really… me.”

“I see. And what do you think about those moments?”

“I think that every one of them benefited you. And I think it’s been happening to Clary too. For example, when you outright told her you considered her nothing more than your property.”

I lunged forward, and his foot snagged on a thick root. His masked head turned to look at his his foot and he tried to stop himself from tripping, and in that moment I darted to the side of his shield and swung my sword around to slice into his midsection.

I was annoyed by the appearance of a translucent energy barrier, the source of which I assumed to be the magic shield.

I could practically feel Malk smirking as he said, “I figured it out, Shadow. I know you’ve been manipulating us, playing on our emotions, on our thoughts, and infiltrating our minds. You’ve been tugging at our strings, the smug puppetmaster, and we’ve danced to your tune. It’s why I came to Widow’s Dusk. It’s why Clary falls all over you. And it ends today.” He lunged at me, sword drawn, and I darted back. As I did so, he tossed aside his sword and gestured with his gauntleted hand, and a tentacle appeared, wrapping around my foot.

“So, how long have you known? I doubt this was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I bet you figured it out when Mirror talked about me.”

“Oh, that helped, certainly, but I’d had my suspicions for a while. It was truly confirmed when you labeled Clary your belonging, and she was reassured by that.”

“Perhaps it’s just because she loves me, like I thought you did. And really, you can’t tell me you still don’t… feel, for me?” I smiled roguishly, but the smile fell when he laughed at me.

“Shadow, maybe I should make something clear. Clary loves you. She is smitten with you, infatuated, absolutely in love. She has been for a while I’d bet, and not all of it from your spells. But me? At most, I felt a physical attraction to you, and to your power, magnified by the mental tampering you did. But it was only ever an attraction, a crush. And crushes end. I’m over you. And I want my mind back!” He picked up his sword and charged me, and I reacted instantly, slicing apart the tentacle and leaping to the side, landing in a roll.

He turned to face me, and pointed the sword straight at me. “Time to pay, bitch!” A bolt of darkness gathered around his sword, and leapt straight at me. I laughed mockingly, and cleaved it in two with Whisperdeath.

“You know, Malk, I do have a question. Why didn’t you confront me at the cathedral, when I was fighting Mirror or the knight? Why wait until now?”

“I didn’t want you to catch on to me knowing. I figured I’d wait for the most opportune time to strike, and this seemed like my best bet.”

I sent a bolt of darkness at him, and as he dodged it I said, “You’d make a shit assassin then. Best time to kill me is in my sleep, or to stab me in the back when I’m fighting a real enemy. Not now, on an open field, when you know I’m better than you. I mean, I’d probably just wake up and kill you if you tried to kill me in my sleep, but still. Terrible planning.”

He snarled, “Oh, I know you can kill me. I’m betting on it, in fact, as my backup plan. See, if I killed you, Clary would still be affected by your magic. She’d still love you, and she’d see me as a villain and a traitor for killing you. But if you kill me, here and now, she’ll be forced to realize the truth. And if somehow I do kill you, I can live with Clary hating me. I don’t care about her anyways, you already know I only lived with her because of your magic.” He charged at me once more, and darkness gathered around his sword, while his shield’s magic barrier sprung to life.

I sighed, and dropped my sword. Then, I raised one hand, my palm facing Malk, and said, “You’re a fucking idiot.”

As he stared in confusion, darkness shot out of my hand, and slammed into Malk, sending him flying into a tree trunk. His sword fell from his hand, his shield next, and I directed the darkness to take both those and the gauntlet, and fling them behind me. Once Malk’s tools were out of his grasp, I stalked forward, and said, “Think, you dolt. If I can make you abandon art contracts to move to a city, if I can make Clary practically worship me, if I can do all of the things that I have done, why can’t I just make you obey me? Huh? Why would I kill you, when I could enslave you instead?”

Malk laughed weakly. “Th-that’s what the mask is f-for, bitch. You always look people in the eyes, w-when you enter their m-minds. No eyes, no entry, no eternal enslavement. Now, finish it. Kill me.”

I grabbed my sword, and brought it to his neck. “Is that what you want? Your death at my hands, forcing me to kill you so that Clary is free of my power? You want me to take this sword,” I moved it to his chest, “and drive it through your chest?”

He let out a hacking cough, and said, “Do it. End my torment.”

“You fucking moron.” I shook my head disgusted, and then sighed as I ripped Malk’s helmet open with my bare hands, exposing his panicked face. “For the record, I don’t have to see your eyes. I have so many other ways to control, and manipulate, and enter your mind. Let me show you!”

He opened his mouth, terror in his eyes, and said-

Dreams are nebulous things.

I stopped walking sideways and looked at the upside down.

“This is reality, life is a dream,” spoke the whispers.

“What you are in the dark, what you are to yourself.”

I ignored them and attempted to open my eyes.

When I reached out, the world tilted, and I regained use of my senses.

I was standing in a hallway. Very ornate, with good use of greys and violet. At one end, a throne. At the other, a balcony. The walls had many locked doors, and one ajar.

Of course, it was more jarring to see what rested on the throne.

It was a black mass of darkness, with two blazing golden-brown eyes. It stretched out a tendril that looked like it might once have been a hand, and all the doors opened. Out of four came things, and then they all locked once more, except for the door that had already been open.

The darkness shifted, and I felt rather than heard the command. Kneel.

The four figures knelt, though I did not. I kneel to no one.

The darkness seemed not to care, and after a moment it moved its tendril back to the main mass, and the figures rose once more, though they did not leave.

So this is weird.

It’s probably a dream.

Why am I dreaming?

What happened?

I… I don’t remember.

I walked forward, and tripped on something. A crack in the ground, unnoticeable until my foot had hit it.

If this is a dream, or my mind, or whatever, then everything has a meaning. So this must be-

Shut up.

I looked above the throne, and saw three banners. The bottom section of each seemed jagged and torn, but it wasn’t random, it was part of the design. The center banner was a purple eye with a violet slit for a pupil, on a grey background. The right banner was a black fist on a purple background, and the left banner was a jagged black blade on a purple background. They all seemed weathered, and malevolent.

“The Eye that watches, the Hand that guides, the Blade that strikes.”

“The Shadow that rules.”

A high-pitched voice laughed in the distance, and I heard the sound of footsteps running across stone.

I turned back to the hall, and noticed more banners.

I moved to the nearest of the figures.

It was a Darkness elemental.

But it lacked a face.

I turned to the others, and they were the same, though each had uniqueness to them.

This one bore a circlet, and carried a staff. It seemed female, and wore a short skirt and a small top, both fancy, as well as boots and gauntlets.

I walked to the second one on the left side of the room. It too seemed female, though its clothes were simpler, and it carried only a small tiara in its hand.

On the other side, the nearest to me seemed male, carrying a sword and shield. Its gauntlets did not match, and it wore form-fitting armor, mobile but defensive.

The other, the final one, seemed a perfect image of me, only younger, and with long furry ears that seemed almost rabbit-like. There were other imperfections, differences that made it seem a little more androgynous.

I heard movement, and turned to see the plain one with the tiara in hand walk to the balcony.

I followed, and looked upon a battlefield.

A knight in battered, dusty, broken armor led the charge. Lemmings and pigeons followed him, ineffective alone but strong together. They flung rocks at the balcony, and at the walls.

The being at my side became a magpie, and a flock of vultures descended upon the attackers.

I turned back to the hall, and when I looked up I saw a palace of shadowed stone and glorious spires and dark, twisting storms.

I walked inside.

The battle was silent, but the laugh of the little girl and the running in the walls was not.

I took the only door that was open.

Down through the steps, down past the halls, down past the barracks, down past the armory and the treasure room and down past the dungeon with the girl crying, “I’m sorry,” and “I’m so afraid,” over and over again.

Is that me?

No. The birds aren’t me, so the girl that would apologize and feel fear with sincerity isn’t me either.

I kept walking.

Down past the banners with the black background and the golden-brown eyes. Down past the hall filled with cracks. Down past it all.

Into the cave.

Into the hall.

And then I stopped, and I was in a hall.

In a way, the hall seemed like some grotesque mockery of the knight’s mind, replacing an ornate hall with dark, cracked stone, and replacing the beautiful murals with the paintings of a child discovering finger-painting for the first time.

I didn’t recognize the hall, or where I was, or even myself.

But I did recognize the images painted on the walls.

They were dreams.

Ambitions.

Dark, insatiable desires.

On one section of the walls, a crudely-drawn woman was rising through the air, the darkness around her, as a man in simple robes gave her a sword and a cloak, and columns of armored figures knelt to her.

On another, the woman led that same army in battle against legions of multi-colored enemies, ranging from blue to red to yellow to grey.

On the third, the woman sat on a throne of bones, surrounded by rivers of fire and darkness. A crown rested on her head, crown with six gems; one for each element.

On the fourth, the woman was worshipped by thousands, little stick-figures of every color.

On the floor, a little girl sat with a paintbrush and an empty bucket. She looked up at me and asked, “Why has the paint dried up?”

The fog in my head, the malaise that made me accept all this without question, began to fade.

I blinked at her, and asked, “Are you me? Are we doing this again?”

She glared at me, and said, “Answer the question! Why is my paint gone?”

“Oh, fine. The paint is gone because you’ve drawn everything, or something like that. Seriously though, what is this? Is this my mind? Because if so, something is seriously wrong with me.”

She smirked. “You didn’t know that already? And that’s not why the paint’s gone. You did something, and now everything is changing. What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything! All that happened was Fitzy said something, I… fainted, I guess, and now I’m here. I honestly can’t remember it very well.”

“Then remember it! You did something, and now look!” She pointed at the walls, and I looked again.

The images were smearing. The paint was dripping, and everything was beginning to look muddied and unclear.

“I don’t remember! Look, it’s your little playground, you remember. I can’t be bothered.”

The girl stood up, and as she did her shadow darkened and she became a little bit taller. Her eyes flashed, and she yelled, “What did you do? WHAT DID YOU DO?”

I stumbled back, falling to the floor, and said, “I didn’t do anything! I don’t remember!”

“WHAT DID YOU DO!” she screamed, as the walls became blank and featureless.

“I don’t…“ As I said that, the walls cracked, and suddenly it came flooding back; the battle, the aftermath, and Fitzdonald declaring Drake the Champion of Darkness. I said, “It was Fitzdonald! We were playing this game of speed chess, trying different tactics, constantly reevaluating the plan, and when I thought I’d won, he completely turned it around on me. He made Drake the Champion. He beat me.”

The girl said, in a much quieter voice, “Yes, he did. So what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to fix it. I’m going to somehow become Champion, kill Fitzdonald, and then I’m going to become a goddess.”

The girl nodded, and said, “Hurry. The mirror is the key. Time is running out.”

I tilted my head in curiosity and confusion, and asked, “Wait, what?””

Then, everything blurred together, and it faded away.

It is done. The world may judge me, I may fall from the Council and be cast aside, but I have done my part and I will accept the consequences of my actions.

I looked to Drake, uneasy at all this, and sighed. The Council would do their part to help him enter his role. I… was tired.

I walked through the streets of Raven’s Shade, barely noticing the people, and returned to my home. It was simple and austere, and all I cared about now was writing. I had to get my thoughts down, before anything else happened.

I pulled out a journal, which I’d used in the past to write memoirs that I doubt would ever leave my house. It was a way to formulate the words, nothing more, for I had no wish to achieve fame. I simply had a part to play.

I took a deep breath, and began writing.

As I write this, I have just made the most dangerous move of my career. I have declared Drake the Champion of Darkness, finally putting to rest any chance of Kiana achieving her goals via politics. My role is completed, in that respect. I could stop now, and none would blame me. But I must remain vigilant. Though I gained the backing of enough of the Council to end this tiresome battle with her, she still has allies, and she has always been… unstable.

I have written before of my thoughts on Kiana.

I hate her, and all she represents. And I am afraid. This I repeat now, in what may be my final memoir in this life.

I am afraid. But I am not afraid of dying.

Perhaps I should be. But I’m not afraid of death just as I am not afraid of making a mistake, or of angering her, or of losing my reputation and my career.

I am afraid of Kiana.

I fear what she is, what she means, what she will do to Darkness.

I am willing to die to stop her. I am willing to sacrifice my name, my reputation, my entire career, and my life, so long as she does not rise to power.

Those who do not understand Kiana Vessian have often criticized me for being so openly against the woman who is indeed the most powerful Darkness elemental ever to live. They do not know why I fear her. They do not know why I have such hatred for all she represents. But that is because they are incapable of examining any perspective not their own.

Centuries ago, before my time, Darkness was powerful. We were the most powerful element, and all others feared us. And the forces of Darkness were monsters. We were ruthless horrors that would destroy anything, murder children, and commit a thousand atrocities merely because those we were massacring belonged to the enemy And sometimes atrocities happened not even for so weak a justification, but merely because it entertained us. We were monsters, every one of us.

And I say ‘we’ because though I was not involved, I carry that guilt, that burden. All of Darkness carries that, for we must never forget, never forgive, what was done.

I’ve seen the reports from Kiana’s Academy. Manipulation, missing students, theft, strange meetings and odd behavior from the students… I am capable of putting the pieces together, and when I first connected the dots I was concerned, but merely saw her as a grim reminder of the old days.

Now I know better.

She isn’t a reminder.

She is the Second Coming.

I do not hate her though, not truly, not even with all I have said.

I pity her.

I hate what she represents, and I hate what she has done, but the girl herself… I pity her. I pity what she has gone through, I pity her for the actions she has taken, I pity her for the broken mind she has, I pity her because she is in a way just as much a victim as those she destroys. I pity her, because her life has become consumed by ambition and a love of conflict, by horrid desires that I do not believe will ever be satisfied. I pity her, because she can never know true happiness, and only temporary satisfaction from the results of her cruelty.

And yet, though I pity her, I oppose her, and I acknowledge her as the second coming of a vile path. She is powerful, and cunning, and she is purest, most vile evil. Under her, Dark would rise. And under her, we would become monsters.

If Kiana rises, Darkness will once more become the big bad monsters that other elements tell horror stories about. We will be hated and reviled for our evil ways. All elements will fear us, and they will work together to stop us.

And I worry they would not be able to, if Kiana was leading our forces.

I will not… I cannot let that happen.

I looked up from my journal and looked at a key hanging from a peg. Doubt caused me to hesitate for a long moment, but in the end I made my choice, and took the key.

I will not let Shadow sully our pride, our honor, our nobility. Darkness is noble and just, and I will not let us go back to the old days when we were the opposite. I will stop her.

Even if it costs me my life.

We emerged onto a red carpet by the side of the canyon. The carpet led to a large seating area with tons of tables and chairs all facing the site of the action, and Malk and Clary stood on either side of the canyon, standing straight and looking almost presentable.

“Hello, sirs and/or madams! May we take your coats?” asked Malk in a pseudo-fancy voice.

“Alternatively, we’d happily take your money.” declared Clary.

“Yes, tips are appreciated! Especially tips of a monetary kind, much better than tips of a non-monetary kind, unless those non-monetary tips are things like gems.” said Malk.

The Council stared at them, Fitzdonald especially just blinking in confusion.

I stifled a bit of laughter and Fitzdonald frowned. “This is your doing, Kiana?”

I couldn’t stifle it any longer and burst out laughing. “No, but I so wish it was! Haha, oh the looks on your faces! Lovely job, Malk, Clary, couldn’t have done it better if I tried. Ah, that was good. Alright, you Council lot. Go take your seats or what have you, and we potentials shall make our way to the arena below.”

The Council shuffled over to the seats and arranged themselves so that they were sitting in groups. Meanwhile, I walked over to the edge of the arena and jumped down. I called back to my soldiers, “Hey! Verca, other two, you lot coming?”

They stood at the edge and looked down uneasily. Clary said, “Uh, there is actually a path down. It’s right over here, you didn’t need to jump.”

She showed the soldiers and potentials to the path, and I said, “Jumping is more entertaining! Plus, it’s quicker.”

Verca, Jamis, and Rak joined me in the arena, while the other two teams went off to the right and left. Once they were in place, I asked, “So, how’s this contest… challenge… tournament…. thing going to work? Clary?”

She nodded at me and announced, “These are the rules and details of the Arena Challenge. Within this canyon there are three monster nests, all filled with the same types of monsters; ravagers. For the uninformed, ravagers are creatures of the same body type as an elemental, but far more feral, with sharpened teeth and claws and heightened agility and strength. Each team, led by a potential, will go to a different nest, and attempt to destroy the ravagers. The Challenge shall be over when all teams have either completed their objective or are unable to continue. The winner shall be determined based on their teamwork, their kills, their time to completion, and their number of living soldiers. Are these rules satisfactory to the Council?”

Fitzdonald nodded and said, “Yes, yes those sound quite appropriate and fair. You may begin.”

Clary nodded and yelled, “Let the Challenge begin!”

I burst into a sprint, heading towards the center of the canyon. A moment later I heard my three underlings start running after me.

I ran quickly, and in only a few moments I sighted the target; a twisting spire of stone and plant life, lined with faint glowing crystals. I adjusted my course to arrive at the spire, and in only another minute I stopped at its base.

Verca and the slayers arrived a moment later, and caught their breath. While they recovered their composure, I looked around in search of the other potentials, and sighted them just arriving at the other two spires; Drake on the right, Kymien on the left.    I nodded to Drake and sneered at Kymien, and got similar responses.

I looked back at my spire and frowned. For something containing a host of (magically-enhanced) vicious monsters, it seemed fairly quiet. Someone more clichéd than I would have said it was too quiet.

“It’s quiet. Too quiet.” said Jamis.

I glared at him. “Rule the third of Shadow’s elite team; clichés are bad, stop being lame.”

Verca tilted her head and asked, “What’s the first rule?”

“The first rule of Shadow’s elite team is don’t talk about Shadow’s elite team. The second rule is a corollary to that, stating it’s okay to talk about the team as long as I instigate the conversation.”

As Verca opened her mouth to say something else, I noticed a flicker of movement from the spire, and said, “Wait! Movement!”

Then the entire spire erupted, and combat began.

Ravagers flowed out of the spire, spindly things with feral faces and sharp claws. I summoned the shadows and directed them into moving shields, blocking the ravagers and separating them, crippling their mobility to make it harder for them to attack. I called out to my allies, “Verca! Start throwing around magic! Jamis, Rak, get your swords out and start slicing at any exposed bit of ravager, but don’t get hit!”

They moved into position and followed my instructions. Verca conjured up several tentacles of darkness, which lashed out at ravagers, slicing and swiping and causing general mayhem. Jamis took one side, Rak the other, and they began cutting at ravagers in a sort of rhythm, every two swipes followed by a quick back-step to avoid retaliation.

I saw a ravager sneaking up behind Jamis, and I quickly swiveled around a shield to block, the ravager’s feral talon clanging into the solid mass of darkness. It snarled, and Jamis noticed it, turning quickly to lash out at its legs, sending the creature toppling to the ground. Jamis turned back to the main combat, and I sent the shield smashing down onto the ravager’s head, killing it.

The other shields were moving almost independently on preset courses, funneling the ravagers into large groups to make it easier for my allies to attack them. Still, quite a few were escaping, and there were several ravagers still coming from the spire. I sighted one on a course to Verca, and called out to her, “Verca! Ravager on your right!”

She turned in a flash and, upon seeing it, conjured up another tentacle, this one spikier. She shoved her hand forward towards the ravager, and the tentacle followed, stabbing it in the chest and coming out the other end. With another gesture, the tentacle shifted and the ravager was flung off it, landing amid one of the main groups.

Then, my attention was brought back firmly to the ravager groups, as one of them lashed out at a shield, its clawed hand wreathed in darkness. As its fist connected, the shield shattered, and a horde of ravagers flowed through the gap before I could close it, ten converging on the nearest target, which just happened to be Rak. Well, looks like Clary upgraded them after all.

I yelled, “Rak, move!” as I directed the shadows once more, raising a set of angled spikes from the ground against the oncoming ravagers. Rak saw them and began running, as three crashed into the spikes and were impaled. The remaining seven wove around it, still intent on their target.

I shouted, “Jamis, Verca! Focus on those seven chasing Rak!” Jamis rushed over from slicing at ravagers to chase after Rak’s pursuers, while Verca sent tentacles flying at the outliers of the pursuing group. The first tentacle slammed into a ravager’s head and came out the other end, while the others only found appendages, slowing down but not killing three ravagers.

With only six left, Rak turned to face them, and they slowed to surround him, giving Jamis enough time to catch up. They split into two groups, three facing Rak, three facing Jamis. I checked the other ravagers, and enhanced the shields to make sure they couldn’t disrupt the fight.

One ravager flung himself at Rak, who neatly brought his sword up in an arc, slicing into the ravager. The beast fell back, snarling and wounded, but another ravager brought his claw down on Rak, leaving long scrapes down his arm. Rak cried out and twirled, his sword slicing into the ravager’s leg.

The third ravager facing Rak came up then, shadows around his hand making his claws bigger and sharper. He sliced down at Rak’s head, and I barely managed to defend him in time, raising a wall of darkness to intercept the claw. Rak tripped forward, falling to the ground, and a moment later the ravager darted around the wall and jumped on Rak, claws out and snarls issuing from his throat.

Just in time, Rak brought up his sword, impaling the ravager before it could seriously harm him. However, that left him vulnerable to attack by the remaining two ravagers, who raced toward him. So, I sent a spike of darkness at each’s head, killing them both.

Meanwhile, Jamis had been carefully dueling his ravagers, using his sword to block their attacks and taking any opportunity to retaliate. He’d managed to hold them off, but he’d also done very little damage, and would likely wear down faster than they would. I sent another spike to kill one of the ravagers, and he took advantage of the momentary break to slice out at another, cutting through its leg.

The wounded ravager fell to the side, and Jamis faced the third ravager alone, his blade against its claws. His sword darted out, and the creature ducked, bringing its claws in an arc to slice into Jamis’s leg. Jamis cleanly dodged to the side, bringing his sword around to cut into the monster’s arm, and it couldn’t move in time. The sword gouged into the ravager’s arm, and it howled in pain, before Rak’s sword came down in an arc and sliced through its head. Rak nodded to Jamis, and together they turned to the wounded ravager, killing it cleanly.

However, while they’d won a minor victory there, there were still loads of ravagers, and they were hammering down my shield with surprising force, likely a result of Clary and Wabbit’s alterations.

I considered for a moment, then turned to Verca and said, “This isn’t working. When I say ‘go’, I’m going to drop the shields and cast a mass invisibility spell on us. I’ll need you to cast your flash of night spell at the same time. Can you do that?”

Surprised, she said, “Um, uh yeah I can but wait, invisibility, you can cast invisibility?”

I ignored her, readied myself and my spells, and as I canceled all the shields I cast mass invisibility, and yelled, “Go!”

Verca threw her hands into the air, and darkness flew out in a surge of black and purple, flowing over the battlefield. In mere moments, the entire area was shrouded by night, and we were all invisible.

However, for this plan to work, I needed to be visible. So, I cast an illusion of myself, with a one-second delay on it so I would always be moving slightly ahead of where the ravagers would be attacking.

I drew Whisperdeath, gathered the darkness about my other hand, and prepared to cause chaos.

The moment the night dissipated, I flung myself forward, weapons ready, and slashed with my sword, cleanly decapitating the nearest ravager. I swiveled in an instant to face the next one, and sent a bolt of shadows to throw it back at the spire. I shouted, “Kill them all!” and sliced out at another ravager, cutting it in half.

While I did the dance of death with the majority of the ravagers, I saw a few others losing limbs or gaining cuts seemingly at random, from the invisible slayers. A few tentacles popped up nearby, distracting a few of the ravagers. I grinned at my allies’ work, and continued the slaughter, thrusting my hand into a nearby ravager’s chest and ripping out his heart.

A ravager leapt through the air at my illusion, and I swung my sword around to meet it midair, catching the thing by surprise for the second before my sword bisected it. The two halves fell to the ground amid the carnage, and I stepped over them to grab another ravager’s head. I sent a full pulse of darkness through my hand, and the monster’s head simply exploded, the limp body falling to the ground a moment later.

I did a quick head count (hah, pun), and estimated that only about a quarter of the ravagers were left after all of the killing I’d just done. Apparently, they realized that too, because at that moment the ravagers fled, falling back into the spire. I caught a few more with spikes and blasts as they turned tail and ran, but to the soldiers I called, “Don’t follow them yet. They know the spire far better than we do.” I dropped the invisibility spell.

“So, what do we do now?” asked Verca.

“You three take a moment to rest, regenerate, so on. I’m going to take a look at our competition.”

I looked first to Kymien, over on the left. He was standing atop a mound of dead ravagers, and killing more as I watched, but his caster was dead, and his slayers were backed against a wall. One ravager latched onto his arm, and he flung the creature off, sending it flying into the spire. It collapsed against the side and fell to the ground broken. The second ravager, however, simply slashed at Kymien’s shield with magic claws, leaving deep gouges in the metal. Kymien’s blade swept out and removed the monster’s head from its shoulders, but I could see other, similar gouges all along the potential’s armor. He was hurting.

Satisfied that Kymien was having trouble, I checked Drake. He had no such wounds, but his situation was arguably worse. Drake was weaving about, constantly moving from place to place, and slicing out at any ravagers he passed, leaving them with wounds aplenty. A few big groups of ravagers lay dead on the ground in other areas near the spire, and as I watched Drake’s caster gestured, and darkness exploded in the center of the group Drake had been harassing. The wounds and the explosion together proved enough, and the ravagers fell to the ground, dead. However, I noticed the corpses of Drake’s slayers; it seemed they hadn’t adapted to the stratagem very well.

Verca watched the other groups uneasily, and asked, “Shouldn’t we help them?”

I blinked at her in confusion and asked, “What? Why would we help the competition? If they win, we lose.”

“But, they’re dying!”

“Well, yes, enemy deaths usually do help your team win. Are you new to this?”

“They aren’t our enemies, they’re fellow elementals roped into this stupid contest of yours! They’re dying because of you!”

“Hey! They’re not dying because of me, they’re dying because of the Council. If those stupid bigwigs would have just let me rule over the military as Champion, I wouldn’t have had to set up this stupid thing, with all these enhanced monsters and me lugging around useless soldiers. So blame them for this mess, not me!”

Her eyes widened. “Enhanced monsters? That’s why they’re doing so well? You specifically requested monsters that were too much for us to handle?”

“Well, duh. How else could I be sure to win the contest and remove my competition?”

“But that’s, that’s evil, that’s horrid, that’s monstrous!”

“Yes. Yes it is. Get to the point.”

She just stared at me, dumbstruck. I sighed and said, “If it makes you feel any better, I’m going to try and keep the three of you alive, so I get a better score.”

“Is that all we are to you? A score? How can you view your fellow elementals like that? How can you view any person like that?”

“Hmm. It helps that I don’t quite see the lot of you as people, really. Or at least, I see people in a different manner. You’re all tools, really. Servants, subjects, belongings, nuisances, or opponents. Never really people. I’m people. Person. You get the idea. Apparently, that makes me a bit of a monster. Oh well.”

“That’s just, that’s just wrong!”

“Hey, if it isn’t broken, don’t go fixing it. Being a villainous sociopath works for me. Maybe you should try it some time.”

“Well, I’m going to tell the Council! If they hear that, they’ll never let you be Champion.”

I sighed. “Verca, Verca, Verca. You really are new to this. Let me… educate you. Firstly, never, ever, ever, ever tell the person you know to be a self-professed amoral sociopath that you’re going to try and screw them over. They will kill you in a heartbeat, and not regret a moment of it. Seriously, the smart thing to do would have been to act like you begrudgingly accepted my nature as necessary, and then gone behind my back to alert the Council.”

She paled and stepped back, and I continued, “Of course, it doesn’t matter either way. See, the Council already knows this. They’ve known all along. Why do you think the Council, the oh-so-bloody-brilliant Council, doesn’t want the greatest potential to be the Champion? They know I’m an evil villain, and that’s why Fitzy doesn’t want me to be the Champion. He knows I’d sacrifice you all just to further my own ambitions. And he knows that nobody on this planet can kill me, so instead he tries to stop me politically. And as you can see, I know how to beat him even in that. I’m going to win, dear Verca. I’m going to rule. Fitzy knows this. The Council knows this. Now you know it. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me. So the question is, are you going to try and fight it, or are you going to help me win?”

Verca whimpered, and then sighed. She said, “I will help you, Shadow. I just hope it isn’t enough for you to succeed.”

“Atta girl! Well, I think break time is over, let’s get back to indiscriminately murdering creatures that are just trying to defend their homes!”

The three soldiers formed up behind me, and we entered the spire of the ravagers. It was roomier than I expected. The spire apparently was just for looks, because though I did see a small path leading up, there was nothing actually in the hollowed-out rock. Instead, it seemed all the ravagers had descended, via the massive cave in the middle of the spire.

I walked into the cave, finding it to be a gradual slope, and the soldiers followed me.

A moment later, we were ambushed.

Five ravagers popped out of the walls, likely hiding in hidden crevices. They seemed to have learned not to attack me, and instead focused on my allies, specifically the caster.

Verca barely managed to dodge their opening attacks, but it was enough for Jamis and Rak to move into position and grab the attention of one ravager each. Verca summoned tentacles to distract another, leaving only two to face her.

I killed those two with spikes to the head, and watched Jamis and Rak fight their opponents. It was fairly boring, really. Swipe, stab, slice, dodge, step, slice, stab, dodge. Lots of repetitions. Eventually all the ravagers were slain and we moved on.

We passed through dank tunnels, with walls of coarse stone brushing roughly against my hand. Every now and then I’d feel some strange crack, likely signaling a crevice. However, no more ravagers jumped out, likely scared off by the murder of their friends.

After a few more minutes, we reached an open area, a big cavern rather than a winding tunnel, and in the center I saw a weird little box, with runes on it. Before I could investigate further, ravagers poured out of the walls, surrounding the box.

This time, they had a leader. A tall ravager was wearing some cast-off cloths and leathers, and in two hands held a big rusty sword.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.” I said.

“Rah! I is leader of da tribe! You must fight me to be vi-vitor-victri… to be winner!”

“Clary, you’re getting fired for this. This was the best boss fight you could come up with? Really? And everything else was so promising… oh well. Right then, might as well kill this guy.”

“This be great battle! Many triu-triba-tribula- bad stuff!” he shouted.

In response, I pointed my sword at him, channeled energy through it, and disintegrated him with a single high-powered beam of darkness. Seriously. What an anticlimax.

The rest of the ravagers charged us immediately after, snarling and howling with rage. Jamis and Rak readied their blades, Verca her magic, and I just started blasting the ravagers with sword beams.

As the ravagers reached us, my allies exploded into action, swinging swords wildly and letting loose with bursts of magic. Blood flew, limbs were mangled, and ravagers died in droves. However, I was on a schedule, so I just ended up killing them all with a blast of darkness.

With the path cleared, I strode forth to the runed box, and investigated it magically. It was actually much simpler than it looked, essentially being one spell and a trigger for said spell.

And the spell was- I burst out laughing. The spell was an explosive, powerful enough to destroy the whole spire with a burst of volatile Dark energy. Wonderful!

“Uh, what are you laughing about?” asked Rak.

“I am laughing, because my wonderful friends have given me an explosive to play with!” I started tossing the box back and forth between my hands.

The others paled and stepped back, and Jamis stuttered out, “T-th-that’s an e-ex-p-plosive?!”

“Yep! High-quality, blow-up-your-socks, top-of-the-line magical explosive! Powerful enough to blow up this whole spire, and us with it! Well, you three, I’d just shield myself and be fine. Clever bit of work this thing, though I’m guessing Wabbit did most of the work on it.”

“Who?” asked Verca.

“He’s a magic rabbit. Been thinking of getting him a top hat, but I don’t think he knows that trick yet. Anyways, we should really set this off and get to running, don’t you think? Though I would love to watch the explosion from ground zero.”

“Uh, why don’t we watch it from ground three. Or, maybe from Raven’s Shade. That would be good.”

“Oh, don’t be such a pansy. Fine, we’ll watch from aboveground. Wimps.” I threw the box on the ground, activated it mentally, and said calmly, “Run.”

We raced out of the spire, emerging back into the canyon just as the spire was flooded with energy, and collapsed, torn apart by darkness.

I cheered, and yelled, “My compliments, Clary and/or Wabbit! Excellent work!”

Then I turned to the soldiers and said, “Alright! You three did your jobs well enough, so go ahead and report back to the Council.”

“Wait, what are you going to do?”

“I am going to investigate the other two spires. Have fun, good bye.” With that, I sent them on their way, and checked the other spires. Drake’s spire was destroyed, and Drake was waiting outside, all his soldiers dead. Kymien’s spire was still standing, but his soldiers were dead and he wasn’t in sight. I walked over to Drake (a reasonably long walk, to be honest) and asked, “Hey, what’s up with Kymien?”

“What, him? Eh, I saw him go inside the spire, hasn’t come out yet. I see you blew up yours. And kept your troops alive, wow.”

“Yeah, though that did take work. The little idiots are useless in a fight.”

“Agreed. Those slayers didn’t last past the first wave of ravagers. I had to handle all of these groups on my own. The caster ended dying on the final group, so I had to go down there and kill the big one by myself. Not that he was very impressive.”

“Yeah, I was a bit disappointed in my helpers about that. The box-bomb more than made up for it though.”

“Oh yeah, those things are awesome. The explosion was so cool!”

“I know, right? Anyways, we should probably head back now, see the final judging.”

“Yeah, I guess. Though, they’ll probably wait until they figure out if Kymien’s dead or alive.”

“Hmm. How about you and I go check that out?”

“Sure.”

We walked over to Kymien’s spire together, and investigated the carnage. Lots of dead ravagers, the three dead soldiers, and a trail of scuff marks leading down into the cave system.

We followed the trail to its source; Kymien Rathel, slumped against a wall.

“Huh. Well, I guess that’s less competition for us.” I said.

“Yeah, I guess. Never liked the guy, you know? Always too stodgy, too uptight, and too friendly with the Council. I mean, he did help me in a fight, but… meh.”

“I hate the Council. They just keep getting in the way of things. I’ve tangled with them before, it’s always so annoying to deal with it, especially with all the factions. Ugh.”

“It’s the worst. I can hardly ever understand Fitzdonald, he’s always being so secretive, with this ridiculous vocabulary and double-meanings. I hate subtlety, but it’s all her ever uses! I never know what’s going on in those meetings.”

“Oh, it’s easy once you figure out how they work. Fitzy used to be all cloak and dagger, but I’ve made the Council understand that I don’t care about subtlety, and I’m going to be rude and monstrous and get my way no matter what. Every day Fitzdonald gets less subtle and more bitter and sarcastic. At this point, Fitz has gotten so desperate to stop me that he doesn’t even try to impress me with his cunning.”

“Wow. I wish I had the power and influence you do.”

“Oh hey, speaking of that, do you have a sponsor of any kind on the Council? Renessa’s technically my backer, I know Fitz was behind Kymien, but the closest anyone can guess to your backer is Margiotha.”

“What? No, not at all. Actually, I don’t really have a backer. I’ve been approached a few times, but I don’t want to get involved in all that politics shit. I just want to do my part for Nyx, and Darkness, and maybe have a bit of fun.” He grinned.

“Nice. Well, I look forward to having you as… uh, I guess a general or strategist or something, when the time comes to rebuild the army.”

At that, I heard a bout of coughing, and darkness landed at my feet to quickly fade away. Kymien was still alive, and he spluttered out, “You’ll… never… win…”

“Okay, really? You’re still fucking alive? This is just great, just great. I set this whole thing up to get rid of the competition, and you’re still alive!?” I ranted at Kymien.

“Wow. He’s resilient. And wait… you set this up just to kill one of us?”

“Yeah, more him than you… say, would you be up for helping me out here? We both hate this guy, he’s so close to death… what do you say we help him along?”

Drake tapped his chin for a moment, and then shrugged and said, “Sure.”

“Thanks. You can do the honors.”

“My pleasure.”

Kymien looked up at him, his face hateful but also confused. “Why… why would you… betray me… betray us all… we fought together… we were… allies…”

Drake smiled. “Sorry, pal. But I’d rather stick with the winning side.” He brought out his rapier, lit it up with darkness, and stabbed it through Kymien’s head. Darkness poured from the wound, and then Kymien fell apart entirely, darkness flowing from him to leave a skeleton.

Drake nodded at me, and asked, “Shall we report back?”

“Let’s.”

We left the spire, and began walking in the direction of the Council. As we did, Drake asked, “So, what’s that sword you have there? It looks pretty cool.”

“I call it Whisperdeath. It’s a channeler, meaning I can easily send magic through it, cast spells with it, so on. What’s yours?”

“Gildenprick. Not a channeler, just a good sword. How’d you get a channeler anyways?”

“Raided a dungeon. Lots of traps and monsters, cool place. Fought a mirror version of myself, and a really powerful Light guy. I got Whisperdeath, an awesome scrying mirror that can do crazy stuff, and a book containing knowledge that doesn’t exist anywhere else on Nyx.”

He blinked a few times, then said, “Nice.”

We arrived at the cliff side, and joined the gathering. Fitzdonald furrowed his brow at us, and asked, “Where is Kymien Rathel? The judging cannot commence until he is here.” There was a note of worry in his voice.

“Bad news, Fitzy. Your minion’s dead. Died to the ravagers. Nasty beasties, aren’t they? Good work, Clary and Wabbit.” I said.

Clary curtsied, and Wabbit wiggled his ears from his perch on a table. Fitzdonald’s eyes widened, and he said, “He… old friend… he’s dead? Kymien is a veteran of wars, those were just mere… beasts.” He looked at me in horror. “What have you done?”

Verca spoke up. “Sir, Shadow admitted that her friends did something to the monsters to make them more powerful.”

Fitzdonald’s eyes filled with hate. “Is that so? It seems as if such an action would invalidate Kiana’s claim to the challenge.”

“Actually,” Clary interjected, “before the challenge began, I listed the rules of the contest, and you agreed to them. There were no rules that banned magical enhancements, and indeed Shadow herself did not do such things, we did. So, you can’t disqualify her for that. You can only judge her based on the criteria I stated at the start of this. And by those criteria, she wins.”

For a single instant, Fitzdonald’s mask of political savvy and charisma shattered, and he looked at me with the full force of his rage and hate, every last scrap of bitterness and resentment he felt towards me. And then, he smiled.

Fuck.

When you have just killed someone’s oldest friend, and they smile at you, it is not good.

He gestured to the Council, and called out, “They are right of course. Magically enhancing those creatures to make them too difficult for Kymien to kill was fully within their rights, and thus Kiana is the victor of this contest, as witnessed by the Council. She proved most adequate, and capable in all areas.”

He continued, “Indeed, she seems capable in areas beyond what the contest was about. She proved very capable of manipulating rules so that she could not be accused of cheating, while at the same time arranging for the downfall of her opposition, all part of a contest designed to elevate her status, though the contest seems to have been fixed from the start! Once more, and perhaps for the first time to many of you, Kiana shows that she is both the most powerful and the most snake-like of the potentials! We cannot trust her to lead out forces in battle, nor to be involved in politics, nor to do anything, as she is inherently deceitful. I move that we place an immediate vote on who to make Champion. I, and those who stand behind me, change our allegiance from Kymien to Drake.”

I stared in shock as every member of the Council not directly aligned with Renessa said, “Aye!”

Fitzdonald called out, “Drake,” and was answered by a chorus from most of the Council. Only Renessa and a few others said my name, and then it was over.

Fitzdonald turned to Drake and said, “Congratulations on your new place in our society. I look forward to working with you, Champion. Your army awaits.”

With that, he walked back through the portal, which I’d left open when I came through. The Council followed, and the soldiers, and lastly Drake, looking quite reluctant.

And then they were gone.

And nothing made sense.

“Shadow? Are you alright?” asked Clary.

Those words were the final catalyst, and without a sound, I fainted against the rocky earth, unconscious.

I woke the next morning in an alleyway. I’d been too lazy the past few nights to find a decent place to sleep, and I didn’t want to fly or portal to Widow’s Dusk. Checking that it was morning, and finding the luminescence from Warfield in the sky above to match a morning-ish intensity, I got out my scrying mirror and focused on Clary.

She appeared in the mirror, sitting on a rock, staring out into a box canyon and talking to Malk. “Malk, I just don’t see the point. It’d be two bases in a box canyon. If one side captures the other, all they have is two bases in a box canyon!”

“It’s the principle of the thing! They’d have our flag, you know? We have to get back because… because of orders.”

“Orders? What, like it would be some sort of official military base, as if the Dark army has some reason to put two bases in a box canyon and pit them against each other?”

“Well, it wouldn’t be the Dark army, it would be like… the Blacks and the Whites, or the Greens and the Purples! Two factions that are pitted against each other, eternally locked in battle.”

“Over a box canyon.”

“Look, it isn’t a perfect idea. It doesn’t need to be! Maybe, maybe it could be a game, or a comedy show or something. It was just an idea.”

I concentrated on the mirror, and focused my thoughts on creating a new rune. It appeared, and I held my finger on it, before saying, “Testing, testing, you two are silly, testing, is this thing on?”

Malk and Clary looked around in shock, and I grinned. “Hello, puny elementals. I am your new goddess. Wait, no, I’m already your goddess. Well, anyways, hi Clary, hi Malk. What are you talking about?”

Clary mumbled, “S-shadow? Is that you?”

“Yes, of course it’s me, you ninny. This mirror is fucking awesome, I can do anything with it. Anyways, what were you two talking about?”

Malk said, “Uh, I was telling her about this idea I had, using the canyon. Like, two teams playing some sort of capture-the-flag thing, but as if they were in an actual war instead of just a game. Possibly with jokes.”

“It’ll never catch on. Anyways, I’m going to be bringing the potentials and such to your location hopefully today, so I’d appreciate it if you got things ready. Is that the spot, where you’re at?”

“Yes. And don’t worry, we’ll work quickly.” said Clary.

“Okay, thanks, bye.” I said, and ended the spell. I stretched in place, put away the mirror, and began walking toward the headquarters. I arrived moments later, and was ushered into the building proper. I found myself once more facing the Council. “Well? You lot finish voting yet?” I asked.

Renessa said, “Actually, we were waiting for you to be here.”

Fitzdonald nodded. “Now that we are all gathered, the Council shall come to a vote. All in favor of Kiana’s contest, say ‘aye’.” There were a few who were silent, but for the most part it was a chorus of ‘aye’. Fitzdonald sighed. “Aye. The Council has voted. This… contest shall become a reality. Kiana, where is it, and when can it be arranged?”

I grinned wickedly. “It’s in a canyon I can show you to, and we can begin the moment you gather the other potentials and the soldiers.”

Fitzdonald frowned. “Very well. It will not take long to gather soldiers, and both potentials are in the city, outside this building. Meeting adjourned.”

I strolled out of the building and quickly sighted the other potentials, since I’d seen them before at the training place. The young one, Drake, was still looking a bit fancy with his outfit and rapier, while Kymien was wearing armor and using a sword and shield instead of the warhammer from before. As I walked towards them I called out, “Hello, competition.”

They turned to face me, and they were both affected by my appearance. Drake stared, his eyes wide and his jaw slightly open. Kymien simply drew his weapon and shield in a single movement, his face guarded and wary.

I laughed. “Well, I’m glad someone finally noticed my outfit. The whole bloody Council didn’t seem to notice or care that I was wearing a fucking skull on my shoulder, and armor adorned with spikes and looking all wicked and evil. Seriously, I don’t know what was up with that. I bet Fitzy got to them, warned them so they wouldn’t be intimidated. Bastard.”

Drake relaxed somewhat, while Kymien tightened his grip.

“Potential Kiana, do not mock Fitzdonald. He is a noble man, and a good friend,” spoke Kymien.

“Yes, yes, you two are BFFs or whatever. Lighten up. And seriously, what’s with the clutching of the shield and sword? You are aware I trained as a caster first, right? What is armor or a shield going to do when I can just stab you in the face from all the way over here with dark tentacles?”

Kymien scowled, but lowered his shield.

“Good boy! So, what’s up with the two of you?”

Drake said, “We were waiting for you to get out, so we could hear what’s going on. You’re Kiana Vessian, right?”

My eye twitched. “I’m Shadow. Fitzy McDouche calls me by my given name, which I despise because it’s boring. And the verdict’s in, we’re going to do the competition I devised. So is Drake your given name?”

“Yup! I got wicked lucky.”

“Nice. So, you two are the other potentials, huh? What’s your stories?”

“Well, I’m considered a bit of fighting prodigy, graduated top of my class in the Academy of War and managed to learn a bit of casting on the side. Although, that’s apparently nothing compared to what you’ve done.” I nodded my head in acknowledgement, and he continued, “This guy though, I’m not sure what his deal is. Apparently he’s fought in a few wars, which is cool, but he doesn’t talk much, and when he does it’s all formal and shit, like every day is a funeral or some big political thing. I don’t really care for all that, I just want to be awesome and help the Dark army.”

“I can respect that. I want to be Champion so I can slaughter anything that gets in my way, and carve a bloody swathe across the cosmos, until the very capital of Lux is nothing but rubble beneath my feet, and I rule on high as the goddess of all elementals.”

Kymien raised his sword again, glaring at me, while Drake just blinked and said, “Heavy.”

I smirked, and said, “Thanks. Perhaps, if you survive the coming days, you might be given a high place within my empire. Got any skills?”

“Well, according to the Academy I’m a strategic genius. I helped plan a few campaigns.”

“Nice. You could be a general or something.”

“Heh. Yeah. Are you really going to try and become, like, the ruler of all worlds or something? That’s a bit ambitious for a potential. What if you don’t become Champion, anyways?”

“Then I’ll destroy anything that gets in my way, and if I have to I’ll start a civil war, as long as I end up leading the armies of Darkness against the other elements. Nothing can stop me.”

Kymien growled again.

“Uh, wow. Well, I hope you don’t take it the wrong way, but I still would like to compete for the spot of Champion. If you win though, I’ll gladly help you out. And if I win, I, uh, probably won’t try and oppose you. I don’t much like the Council anyways.”

“Thanks. I’ll try not to kill you, if it comes to that.”

We waited in silence for a few minutes, until the soldiers arrived in a group.

They were in a formation of nine, three-by-three. The casters were in front, the slayers behind. Once they arrived, they introduced themselves, the casters speaking.

“I am Ahlen Vas, a caster. These are Jess and Rella, slayers. We are assigned to the potential known as Drake.” Drake raised his hand, and the first column moved to join him. They went off to the side to talk.

“I am Korria, a caster. These are Riley and Morgan, slayers. We are assigned to the potential known as Kymien Rathel.” Rathel nodded, and they joined him off to the side.

“I am Verca Moren, a caster. These are Jamis and Rak, slayers. We are assigned to the potential known as Kiana Vessian.”

I sighed, and said, “The name is Shadow. Now, what are your skills, training, experience in battle, so forth?”

Verca gulped. “I graduated with honors from the Academy of Magic, Shadow. I have fought in several practice skirmishes, and one ratlakka hunt.”

“Okay, that’s… a bit low. You’re going to be facing monsters more powerful than the average veteran. Can you do illusions, tentacles, what sort of Dark magic can you use?”

“I can, uh, create basic tentacles, or a brief flash of night, shrouding the area nearby for a few seconds in blackest darkness.”

“Hmm. I suppose I can use those. Right, slayers! What can you do?”

Jamis said, “Rak and I are trained in the basics from the Academy of War, and we’ve fought on several hunting patrols in the region nearby.”

“In other words, you have no experience with actual combat, only hunting rabbits, or the occasional monster that dies to twenty swords at once. Terrific.”

Rak said hesitantly, “Pardon my for asking, but aren’t you the potential who is supposed to be one of the most powerful elementals on Nyx, maybe all worlds?”

“Yes, and yes I could just slaughter all the enemy monsters, but Fitzy and the Council dorks need to see that I can lead, direct armies and squads, and do things the hard way. Bunch of self-righteous pricks.”

Verca’s eyes widened and she cried out, “But, they’re the Council! Those who lead us, who we look up to and take orders from! You can’t insult the Council!”

I smirked. “Actually I can. ‘Most powerful elemental on Nyx’, remember? I can do whatever I want.”

She paled and took a step back. I shook my head, sighed, and said, “Oh, relax. I’m not going to kill you, I need you alive to win this contest.”

Verca relaxed a little, and I continued, “Okay, here’s the basics; we’re going to be fighting ridiculously powerful enemies, so let me take the aggro. You three focus on dealing DPS, and we should be fine. From time to time I’ll give you orders, commands, and general advice to help you fight and use your abilities. Verca, you should stick to the tentacles in combat, only use the other abilities when I tell you to. Got all that?”

“Uh, yes, but what does ‘aggro’ and ‘DPS’ mean?”

I sighed. “I miss Clary. Okay, aggro means hostile attention, how much the enemy is focusing on you. DPS is an acronym for damage-per-second, meaning how much damage you’re dealing. They’re gaming terms, I guess.”

“Ah.”

A moment later, I saw the Council begin to stream out of the headquarters, coming towards us. When they had all arrived, Fitzdonald came forward and said, “Alright, tell us where the arena is, or what city it’s near, and we’ll head to the city portal.”

“That’ll take too long. How about I just make one right here?”

He blinked at me. “What are you talking about? Make one what?”

“One of these,” I said as I gestured with my hand. A meter away, a portal shimmered into existence, stretching out to make a large gateway. On the other side, I saw Malk and Clary standing at attention.

The Council, the soldiers, the potentials, and most of all Fitzdonald, were absolutely dumbstruck.

“You… you just created a portal.” Fitzdonald sounded shocked.

“Yep. Military applications are endless, aren’t they? Shame I’m not the Champion.” I said in response.

For a moment, for one glorious moment, there was doubt in Fitzdonald’s eyes. Then, they hardened, and he said, “Well, that’s very impressive, but we must focus on the task at hand. Through the portal, everyone. We have a contest to judge.”

Fitzdonald walked through, followed by the Council, Kymien, Drake, and finally me.

The next day, I came back to Renessa’s house and knocked on the door. No guards came to apprehend me while I waited and a few minutes later Renessa opened the door. She smiled and said, “I talked to as many people as I could, and I think a good sixth of the Common Council and a fourth of the High Council are behind you.”

“Oh, right, the Council’s divided up like that. I forgot all about it. You’re in the High Council, right?”

“Yes, I’m up there with Fitzdonald every meeting, you’d know that if you paid attention.”

“Paying attention is for combat, not boring politics.”

“Well, politics is all you have ahead of you for the next few days. I arranged a meeting with all the undecided in the Council, they’re about the same size as your allies, maybe a few less High Council members. You should speak to them today, while I arrange tomorrow’s meeting with the Council as a whole.”

“Thanks, Renny. Where do I meet the neutrals?”

“At the Council headquarters, one of the guards will show you to the chamber they’re using. I hope everything goes well.”

“I don’t hope. I simply act.” I smirked, and set out on my path, toward the Council’s headquarters. I arrived a few minutes later, slightly disappointed by a lack of challenges from passing guards. Word must have gotten out.

Which means Fitzdonald already knows I’m here in town, and here to challenge him, I thought to myself.

Well, it wouldn’t matter anyways. My plan was designed to defeat anything he might bring up. I entered the headquarters, and a guard noticed me. She said, “Right this way, Shadow.”

I followed her through empty halls, eventually coming to a stop at a fancy door. She opened it for me, and walked off. I entered to find a bunch of people sitting in chairs on little rows that rose in height, in a half-circle like in the main chamber. A quick breakdown of the Council: there are about twenty High Council members and about ninety Common Council members, many of whom are ex-soldiers. My allies numbered at about twenty people, though Renessa had around ten people loyal to her personally. The people in the room, the neutrals, seemed to number at twenty. Which meant, for those keeping score, that Fitzdonald had around sixty people directly opposed to me.

As I stepped in, one of the gathered, a woman named Margiotha said, “Ah, so she has arrived. Well, Kiana, why…” she stared at my armor in shock, and stammered her next words, “…d-d-did you want to m-meet with us?”

I sighed, and said very patiently, “Marge, shut the fuck up. You know my name is Shadow. You know I’m here to talk with you about being Champion. Stop acting so arrogant and high and mighty and just listen!”

Margiotha blinked in surprise, but remained silent.

“Thank you. Now, I’m going to try and go about this as simply as possible. Basically, I want another shot at becoming Champion. You know I’d be better, stronger, and more powerful than either of those other potentials.”

“And more arrogant, more bloodthirsty, and more likely to sacrifice your own soldiers than either of those potentials!” yelled a random member of the Council whose name I didn’t know, nor cared about.

“Shut up, now.” I said as I gestured with my hand. Darkness streamed out of it, and latched onto the man, wrapping him in shadows and covering his mouth.

“Shadow! Release him!” cried out Margiotha.

I sighed, but let the spell go. The man dropped to the floor on his hands and knees, gasping. Margiotha glared at me, and I rolled my eyes before continuing.

“Look, at the end of the day it doesn’t matter if I throw away soldiers. They’re going to die anyway. But if you send one of the other potentials out there, they’ll die with the soldiers, and you’ll lose. But me? I’ll kill anything in my path, anything that dares stand in my way, until nothing is left of Lux but a pile of rubble on a lifeless rock. You know that. So hear me out.”

Margiotha waved for me to continue.

“I’ve come up with a contest, a challenge, something to test the skill of myself and the other potentials. It will require power, skill, and leadership, which should be enough to prove I am capable of leading troops without killing them off or abandoning them. If I win, you lot have to seriously consider whether or not I should be the Champion. If I lose, you can freely give the title to someone else. I need you to stand behind me when I propose the idea to the Council, to sway enough votes in my favor that the motion will pass.”

“Shadow, though you may be more competent than the other potentials, the fact remains that siding with you is, at the moment, tantamount to political suicide unless you are part of that abominable VanClyse’s faction. Why would we help you directly, when it would be better to wait and see which decision is more profitable?”

“Do the others feel the same way, or do you speak for those that do not wish it?”

“They have all agreed to follow my decision. I ask again, why would we help you?”

I summoned the darkness about me and glared at them, eyes blazing with magic. My voice echoed, “Perhaps because you fear me, rightfully so. Disobey and you will face my wrath.”

Margioatha gulped, but said, “Shadow, we are many, and this the heart of Raven’s Shade. You can’t kill us without inviting the most powerful members of Dark to freely have at you. The other potentials will kill you if you try to fight us. So dispense with these idle threats, and leave us be.”

I sighed, and asked, “You truly will not be swayed by words or force?”

“No! You cannot be trusted.”

I grinned. “Awesome. I was hoping you’d do that.” They stared at me in surprise, and before they could ask, I thrust my hand forward and the darkness followed, flowing over the entire group.

They opened their mouths to scream and nothing came out. In second, they were all slumped over. I laughed, and said, “Wonderful. Now… rise.” Mechanically, they all stood up. They looked up, and their eyes were like swirling black pits, with a single spark of golden-brown at the center of each eye. “I love that book. Haha!” I pulled out The Book of Power and flipped the pages to the chapter on mind control.

Blah blah blah, power of mind control, blah blah blah, invading someone’s mind, blah blah blah, psychological manipulation… right, here we go.

The spell I’d cast was called ‘paralyzing the mind’. It overwhelmed everyone targeted and made them empty vessels waiting to be filled by commands. It also took a lot of power, and did not last long. Basically, it let me influence their minds, but I couldn’t make changes too big or the changes would be broken, and somebody would probably notice too. Honestly, the only good part was that it worked on groups.

“Right, you lot are going to have to reconsider your stance. I’m powerful, you aren’t. My plan works, and isn’t biased towards me. Supporting my plan is simply a matter of reconsidering the potential Champions, not a matter of voting for me. You will support my plan, because it just makes sense to.” There was no reaction from the docile group, but I figured they understood. I pulled the darkness in, and returned to the state I’d been in when I entered the room.

The group slowly began to awaken, groggy and confused. Margiotha spoke tentatively, “Well, Shadow, it is… interesting, what you have put forward. I do not like or trust you, but I must admit there is some logic that makes it more… acceptable. It… it shall be considered. Thank you for telling us, and we look forward to your presentation at the official meeting.”

I bowed with flair, and said, “My dear Margiotha, that is all I ask.”

Time to bring this before the Council proper and get this whole thing rolling.

The next day, I arrived at the door of the Council headquarters. The guards let me in, and I went straight for the Council chambers.

This time, I merely knocked on the doors, and a moment later they were opened from within by guards. I walked forward into the half-circle room, looking around at all the Council members gathered. Fitzdonald and his cronies were front-and-center, staring me down like I was some sick criminal (not that they were wrong). Renessa and her supporters were off to the left, appearing quite small. She gave me a quick smile and wink, and I gave a wink back. Margiotha and her group were over on the right side, and looking disturbed, their eyes constantly darting from me to Fitz to Ren and back. A few members from each group looked a bit frightened by my appearance, but it seemed that as a whole they’d been warned.

I cleared my throat and said, “Hello, esteemed members of the Council of Nyx. I have come before you to present my case. Do you stand ready to listen and judge?”

As a whole they mumbled, “We do.”

Fitzdonald sighed. When he spoke, he sounded weary, exhausted. “You may skip the honorifics, Kiana. You are here because you want to be Champion, though we have already passed judgment as a Council. If you must disrupt the process of deciding a Champion purely for selfish reasons, again, I would prefer if you did not pretend to be noble, and just got to the argument.”

I smirked. “Of course, Fitzy. Well, I’ll say that I do indeed hope to still obtain the role of Champion, and ask that this Council reconsider dismissing me out of hand. I have many qualities of use to this Council, and to all of Nyx. I am powerful, skilled, and capable of destroying our enemies. It would be wise to appoint me, or at the very least enter me back into the running.”

“And what new evidence do you have? What new arguments? Rule by virtue of power was already discussed and dismissed as a reason for you to be Champion. Your cruelty, ambition, and history of poor leadership stand against you.”

“Fitzdonald, at least consider the girl. Shadow is powerful, undoubtedly more so than the other potentials, and I don’t think she’d jeopardize a campaign simply so she could say ‘I won’. It’s logical to keep as many soldiers alive as possible to ensure victory, and Shadow is not truly illogical.” Renessa defended me.

“Yes, and once more you take her side. The two of you are as thick as thieves, which biases your view. You cannot be impartial, which devalues your words. And you are simply repeating her arguments.”

“Because they have merit.”

“Or perhaps because you wish to have her as your intimidation tactic, to exercise greater control over this Council. I know of your ambitions as well, Renessa.” Fitzdonald countered.

“Me? As if you’re any better. We all know that Kymien Rathel is an old friend of yours, and there is no doubt in my mind that you support him to achieve just such a monopoly as you have accused me of questing for!” cried Renessa.

“If that were the case, I would have simply pushed for a vote already and made him Champion. I only want what is best for Nyx, even if Kymien is an old friend.”

“The options are rather limited,” said Margiotha. “Kymien is friends with Fitzdonald, Shadow with Renessa, and no doubt Drake has some ally on this Council. If anything, that simply supports bringing Kiana back into the fold, to make it a more even debate.”

Fitzdonald frowned. “I had not expected you to take her side in this matter. Do you have some stake in this? You couldn’t possibly be backing her, so perhaps… Drake?”

“If I may interrupt,” I said.

They turned their attention back to me, curious.

“Well, it’s just that there actually are rules. I read about them. See, it turns out that there have been times before when the choosing of the Champion became bogged down in politics, and one group on the Council tried to remove one of the potentials from the game, prevent him from being able to be chosen, so it would only be between the potentials that groups supported. In response, the Council ruled that no potential may be removed from the debating, and in fact all potentials are considered legitimate up to the very moment the Champion is chosen. So, unless you’ve already chosen between Kymien and Drake, I’m still a potential.”

They stared at me for a moment, and Renessa began tapping her chin thoughtfully. “You know, I think I’ve actually heard of that case, I think I read about it at one point. It’s old, yes, but I believe the rule should still be in effect. If we could get a copy of the rules as most recently updated, we should be able to see for certain.”

Fitzdonald sighed. “Do not bother yourself with it, Renessa. The girl is right. I had forgotten that rule, but it is current. Very well, Kiana, you are officially a potential once more, or rather you were never not one. Are your complaints addressed, that this meeting may be adjourned?”

“Actually, no. I only opened with that because I needed to be officially recognized in order for my real point in being here to have any worth.”

“Oh, really? Well then, do continue. I am most excited to hear what wonderful idea you propose.”

“Thank you, even though that was sarcasm. Well, what I’m here to talk about is a better way to decide the Champion than simple political debating. I propose a contest, a challenge, something to test the characteristics of each potential, and show them side-by-side to see which potential would make the best Champion. This would allow the Council to make an informed decision, with less chance of politics corrupting the vote and causing the wrong potential to lead the armies of Nyx.”

“A contest? You would have us choose the fate of the entire Dark military, on a simple contest? Surely I am not alone in finding this asinine.” Remarked Fitzdonald.

“Fitzdonald, pay attention to what she said. She said clearly that the contest would allow the Council to make an informed decision, not that the contest would be that decision.” Said Renessa.

“And I bet you’d know, collaborating with her on this.” Fitzdonald sounded more defeated than accusatory.

“Yes, she did speak to me, and told me that the point of the contest is merely to show the Council what each potential Champion can do, so they better understand the choice they make. It is to show, not to decide.”

“Showing the Council the abilities of a potential is a good, important thing. That is why we have official channels for it. Drake and Kymien went on such a mission mere days ago. Kiana has consistently refused to take part in normal military activity, or comply with Council requests. A contest, a challenge? What is the value in such a farce when she will not consent to the trials already in place?”

“Actually,” said Margiotha, “I do see value in such a thing. A contest can take place in a more controlled environment than a fight with one of the other elements, while being more realistic than a practice scenario. We could see their real-world skills and combat ability.”

“Perhaps. Is there precedent for such a thing though? Have contests been used in this matter prior? I have not, I admit, studied Champions extensively,” admitted Fitzdonald.

“Quite a bit, yeah.” I said. “Part of the reading I did while I was waiting for this meeting to happen was about past circumstances, and in the past there have been duels for the place of Champion when both potentials were equally valuable, and there was a tournament when there were too many people wanting to be potentials. It’s far from unprecedented, even if something like it hasn’t happened in a number of centuries.”

“Well, Fitzdonald, it seems Kiana has done her research. Will you deny tradition?” asked Margiotha.

“When tradition proves folly, yes. But in this case, there is both precedent and some small amount of reason. However, I would prefer not to make a final decision until this Council has been informed properly just what exactly young Kiana deems this contest to be, what it will entail. I will not have something that is rigged in her favor.”

“How wise, Fitzy. And I am glad you asked.” I smirked at him.

“Well, you do love the sound of your own voice, I’m sure you’re glad for any excuse to use it.”

My smirk briefly dropped into a scowl, but I controlled myself. “It will be a contest of skill, power, and leadership. There is an arena that is being prepared, being filled with monsters that my associates are hard at work securing for this challenge. When it is ready, the three potentials, myself of course included, will each take a team of three soldiers, two of whom will be slayers and the third a caster, and attempt to hunt down as many of these monsters as possible while losing as few of their forces as they can. Whichever potential shows best skill of combat, power of magic, and leadership ability will be crowned victor, a purely ornamental title. In truth, the point is to expose the traits of each potential so that your Council may more properly decide who is to be Champion.”

Renessa laughed. “It seems she has you beaten, Fitzdonald.”

“Insults are unbecoming, but so natural to you, Renessa. Her contest is interesting, but there are flaws, and I am not keen on the potential loss of soldiers.”

“Fitz, she addressed the main issue you have with her, the nature of and lack of her leadership ability. This contest showcases traits you yourself said were required in a Champion. You really want to back down on your previous statements now?” taunted Renessa.

Before Fitzdonald could say something more and either dig himself deeper or get himself out of the hole he was in, I called out, “Fitzy!”

He turned to me in exasperation and asked, “What now?”

“I believe it would be in the best interests of us all if the Council retired now for debate and introspection, to make the final decision upon the morrow, when I will have the precise location of the contest.” The unspoken message was clear; I was giving him a chance to secede to my wishes without losing face in the Council.

He hesitated, then nodded and said, “This is amendable. The Council shall now debate internally. Kiana, if you would leave us to our musings.”

I bowed, and walked out, smiling internally. My plan had worked, and now it was certain that the contest would be held. And then I would win, and be crowned Champion, and I could finally get this show on the road.

I laughed as I exited the headquarters. I love it when a plan comes together.

I smiled, as Shadow left. I laughed. I was ecstatic. I dance about for a good few minutes before getting a hold of myself, still laughing.

After all this time, it’s finally coming together. Perhaps I should mark this down in my notes and memoirs. I’ve got to finish organizing my thoughts. At such a pivotal point in the history of Darkness, I really should include a short recap for those reading my memoirs, so they are prepared for what comes next.

I went over to my office, and my desk, where I had left my memoir book open to the most recent page: the day I met Shadow. I read aloud what I’d already written.

“The day I met Shadow was one of elation, and confusion, and awe, and of revelations. I remember that the most powerful thought in my mind, the one that dominated me for many days afterwards, was actually quite simple. ‘I believe in Shadow’. I was then, and still am, loyal to Shadow, and I knew I would follow her into a new age.”

“I had supported Shadow since I first read her school files, and I suspect that my greatest opponent, Fitzdonald, who I have mentioned previously, made his decision to oppose her based on those same files. The files themselves, records and transcripts, would not show much to the average reader, let alone anything to be concerned about. For if nothing else, Shadow was excellent at disguising her trail when she needed to. She has long since stopped caring for she know that none can stop her, but she did care then. Yet in those pages, and in the pages of other students, there was a faint pattern to the discerning eye.”

“Shadow’s personal files indicated a student of exemplary skill and knowledge, who managed to avoid any serious conflicts, and in all respects appeared to be a very well-adjusted student, one with many friends and few enemies. The other students, in their files could be seen the truth. When someone spoke out against Shadow, attempted to confront her, or defy her, all kinds of public spectacles that would be recorded, they were dealt with. Some dropped out a few weeks later. Some died in ‘careless accidents’. Others suddenly found themselves with no desire to confront her and apologized, publicly recanting their ways and praising her. Some students reported thefts only to later deny they had ever owned the items they had lost.”

“All of this can be linked to Shadow. While she was still in school, still in the Academy of Magic, she was weaving a web of deceit and destruction. By that fateful day when I first saw her, I’d already read in great detail about her malignance, her evil ways, her cunning manipulation, and her steady rise. But while Fitzdonald let honor blind him to her value, my ambition far outweighed my fears of her callousness. Here was not just someone who could destroy Nyx, here was someone who could lead us to a glorious new age. Here was a girl who could make us, make me… great.”

“And so I arranged for a meeting. Shadow had, a few days prior, had an argument with the Council. She wanted access to the Academy of War, and Fitzdonald was loathe to let her, even then fearing what she might become. So I sent a letter to her, inviting her to come to my house where we could discuss why she wanted to join it. I said in the letter that if I was satisfied with her reasoning, I would actively campaign to get her into it.”

“I had my suspicions, of course. I’d done my research and I knew there was a chance that if I let her into my home, if I let my guard down, something could happen to me. Whatever she’d done to the people at the Academy of Magic, she could just as easily do to me, bending my will to make me support her… but I already did support her. For all I know, something did happen that day, though I noticed nothing. Shadow’s clever like that, always weaving her web without letting you know… so much smarter than Fitzdonald has always assumed. If I had to give her a title, I might choose Lord of Lies. But titles are, for now, beside the point.”

“The point is that I let her in. I let her do whatever she might have done, and I accepted that everything might be different. I let her because I knew then already that Shadow was, and is, the next step for us. The next step for me. Shadow is the future. I knew then, just as I know now, that Shadow is the Dark Messiah. She is the prophet who will lead us out of the jungle and into a new age. She is a goddess.”

“With hope I said it then, and with the strength of conviction I say it now for all to read. Shadow will rise. She will rise high, higher than anyone, and when she does she will usher in a new age, a golden new age for Darkness! It will be an age of power. An age of control. An age where our enemies are slaughtered freely, and they fear us for they at last understand that we are the rightful rulers of all worlds.”

“Under Shadow, the elements will bow to Darkness and all will worship her as their goddess. And I will be at her side, her loyal servant, her faithful supporter. I will serve in her stead, and perhaps I shall rule Nyx, while she rules from on high. After all, she’s going to be a goddess… not a politician. Somebody will have to rule those worlds.”

I smiled at my words. They displayed perhaps a touch too much ambition, but it was important for my memoirs to have emotional depth to them, to show the real me. I contemplated for a moment on the title I’d given her.

The Dark Messiah.

It rang true. She was something unlike any other elemental, and if I had not seen her school records I would not have believed that she even was an elemental. She seemed like a pure incarnation of Darkness that had given itself mortal form to guide us on a new path.

I would stand by her, because I knew that she would rise.

The Dark Messiah cometh, and all worlds shall tremble.

“Right, time to stand against the Council and Fitzdonald and stop either Kymie-whatsit or Drakon from becoming Champion. Murder seems like a good starting point for the plan.”

I’d emerged from the portal into Malk and Clary’s house, and had immediately flung myself onto the couch, stretching and relaxing. The others took their places on the chairs, and Wabbit rested on my stomach. I continued, “We need to figure out this murder. Well, trap. Murder trap. Thing. Whatever it is. Obviously the goal is to kill off one or both of the other potential Champions of Darkness, to improve my chances of winning.    I now have the power to defeat pretty much any elemental on Nyx, so that will probably help a bit with whatever we plan. Now, let’s start plotting!”

Malk said, “Okay, well if we’re going to do the monster ambush then I guess the big thing to worry about is making sure we can get powerful enough monsters, and the two potentials in the right place to be killed by said monsters. The ravagers I found might do but… they might not be powerful enough.”

Clary said, “Actually, I’ve been thinking. Shadow, you’re really amazing, so why didn’t the Council choose you?”

“Meh. Some bullshit about me being a great warrior but a terrible leader, and that I wouldn’t make a good general or commander.”

“Okay… so shouldn’t we be trying to impress upon the Council that you are a good leader?”

“Well, I suppose so, but how- brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Clary, you’re getting a raise, a personalized painting of me of your choice, and a cookie! Malk, get her a cookie.”

Malk blinked in confusion, before shrugging and getting up and going over to the kitchen. Clary asked, “Uh, Shadow, how am I brilliant?”

“Because, my dear little caster, you’ve given me the perfect plan. See, you’re right. I do need to impress my leadership ability, in addition to removing the competition and reinforcing the mindset that I am really powerful and not to be fucked with. So, I’ve got the perfect plan.”

Malk came back with a colorful jar and set it on a stool, taking off the lid to reveal sugar cookies. I grinned at him, began munching on a cookie while Clary did the same, and talked through a mouthful of sugar and dough.

“Mmkay, so, first off these cookies are great, and secondly I know how to do this. It’s all about leadership, power, and removal of competition, right? So we need some event that has the three potentials lead some soldiers in a fight against powerful foes, with the game rigged so that the foes are way more powerful than they should be, and thus only I, who has ridiculous levels of power and about twenty new techniques the other jokers have never heard, will survive. I’m thinking a hunt of some kind. Each potential leads a few soldiers in a hunt at this canyon or cave or whatever, looking for this big pack of monsters. I think Malk mentioned ravagers or whatevs. Whoever gets the highest K/D ratio wins. That way the Council and commoners are forced to admit I’m the best.”

Malk interrupted me to ask, “Wait, what’s ‘K/D ratio’ mean?”

“It’s a gaming term meaning kill-death ratio, or how many enemies you’ve killed compared to how many times you’ve died or how many of your allies have died,” said Clary.

“Right. Anyways, I’m hoping the stress on leadership should sway any of my opponents in the Council, or at least force them to admit they might have been slightly off in their insults. Of course, I should probably try and make more allies anyway, before the contest.”

“So, what do you need us to do?” asked Clary.

“I need Malk to lead you and Wabbit to the monsters he found, so you two can buff them up and make them more powerful and deadly. Maybe set some traps too. Meanwhile, I’ll be in Raven’s Shade, trying to coerce members of the Council to side with me, and making sure they’re onboard with this whole contest thing. Maybe meet the other potentials.”

“Are you sure it’s possible to get the Council to agree?”

“Pretty sure. I’m going to be stressing all the points that Oldie McDouche used against me in his reasoning for why I shouldn’t be Champion, so if he backs down he’ll lose face, and thus strengthen my position anyway. It’s a better move, politically, for him to agree to the contest. If I win, he can show that he’s gracious and willing to adapt. If I lose, it proves him right without costing him anything.”

“I thought you didn’t like politics?”

“I don’t. But I do like manipulation, and as part of that I have to understand how people operate, what drives them and makes them act in certain ways.”

“So what happens if they do refuse, or you can’t get enough support and allies?”

I grinned wickedly. “If that happens, I test out some of the new techniques in my book. Specifically, the mind control chapter.”

Clary and Malk looked uneasy, but nodded and stood up.    Wabbit hopped off my stomach, and I said, “I’m going to nap for an hour, to try and recover more energy. When I wake up, I’m going to go to the city portal, use it to get to Raven’s Shade quickly.”

“Why not just open a portal of your own, like you did to get us here?” asked Malk.

“Because the Council doesn’t know I can do that yet, and I’d rather hold off showing my hand until I can do it in such a way to impress the entire Council, and more. The events about to go down are going to require planning, forethought, and careful consideration of every action for maximum impact and effectiveness. I will not let them keep me from my true place, as Champion of Darkness.”

Malk nodded, and left the house, Clary and Wabbit at his side.

I shifted on the couch, closed my eyes, and drifted to sleep.

I woke about an hour later and stood up, stretching my arms and legs. I popped another cookie into my mouth for the energy (and admittedly a bit for the flavor) and walked out the door.

As I walked through the stress of Widow’s Dusk, I snapped my fingers and the darkness enveloped me as before, melting into my clothes and altering them. When I’d first visited the Council I’d worn a regal outfit for flair, and when I’d traveled with Malk and Clary I’d worn simple clothes for maximum agility. This time my outfit was not designed for regality nor practicality.

Instead I wanted to scare the fuck out of the Council.

I was wearing armor, but not the practical kind of armor that is bulky and heavy and plain and masks the biology of the wearer. No, this armor was designed for intimidation value, and designed to clearly show that it was me wearing it.

Stygian black metal, sharp and pointed with purpled traceries that faintly glowed. Sleek boots and a dark belt, from which was slung Whisperdeath, the book, and the mirror. Gauntleted hands with clawed fingers. From my shoulders hung a cloak of shifting midnight that ended in tendrils that moved of their own volition as I walked, and the hood shadowed my face while letting my eyes shine through as piercing amethyst. On my left shoulder sat a skull, while on the right say a metal plate adorned with spikes.

I looked like the specter of death, or like the kind of Dark Lord who would have a burning crimson eye as their sigil and a ring of ultimate power as their artifact. A few citizens in the streets backed away in fear when as I walked to the city portal, grinning wickedly beneath my hood.

I stepped into the portal and through a web of ley-lines that formed a complete map of the cities of Nyx. I quickly located Raven’s Shade and willed myself towards it, emerging from its city portal a moment later.

The first thing I needed to do was contact my allies in the Council, and ensure I had their support. I didn’t have many allies, due to my rebellious nature, and the fact that I had the power to back up actual rebellions, but some people were afraid enough of me, or secretly sympathetic to my nature, and they supported me.

I went to the house of Renessa VonClyse, my greatest ally in the Council. She was a bit of a rebel, going against policy on multiple occasions because she thought something could be done better. As such, she empathized with me, and had assisted me once before, in ensuring I was allowed access to the Academy of War. Plus, I’d altered her mind in subtle ways to make her more likely to help me.

I knocked on her door, and waited a few minutes, standing in the street clad in armor and a cloak. As one would expect, I garnered a great amount of attention, but all the civilians turned away quickly, not wanting to get involved. I smirked a bit at the sheep scurrying away, until two guards spotted me and began walking towards me. I sighed, knowing I’d have to deal with them.

They both looked to be slayers, judging by their light armor and swords. They wore helmets, though not face-concealing ones, as those had been banned after a patrol of Fire warriors managed to sneak into Raven’s Shade and blow up the Council headquarters, a number of centuries ago. The left one seemed curious, her face not hostile but simply inquisitive. The right one was likely more experienced, since his face was grim, and his hand was resting on the hilt of his sword.

I brushed my cloak aside to reveal my own sword, and drummed my fingers across the hilt, smiling as the girl’s face paled and her hand inched towards her weapon.

“Evening, guard patrol. Lovely night, isn’t it? Perfect for talking, or a cup of coffee, or challenging a woman in better armor than yours who’s wielding a weapon better than yours and acting far more nonchalant than any civilian or spy should when faced by two guards of the city.” I said dryly.

The woman swallowed nervously, and said, “Miss, I’m sorry but you’re loitering outside the house of a member of the Council, and in that… outfit, you look a bit suspicious.”

“Indeed. And of course, the only reason someone would have to visit a Council member would be to murder them. Not that I look anything like an assassin, considering I show my armor openly and I happen to be a Darkness elemental, and elementals do not, as a rule, attack members of their own element. I couldn’t possibly be here to merely speak with whoever’s inside, now could I?”

The man scowled. “You. You’re Shadow, aren’t you?”

“What’s your point?”

“You’re right, normal elementals don’t attack their own people. But you aren’t normal.”

The woman glared at him and said, “It’s just, we’re required to investigate any possible breaches of security. If you could just present some identification of some kind, or if you could present some proof that the person who lives here is expecting you, then we would happily let you speak with her. I mean, for all we know you could be a warrior of Light, using an illusion to disguise yourself.”

The man grumbled, “We might let you speak with her, but I won’t be happy about it either way.”

“Hmm. Alas, woe is me, for I do not in fact have identification or proof. I’d check my pockets, but I’m wearing armor designed to protect against any form of attack, not jeans. I suppose this will result in conflict?”

“Not if you would be willing to simply come with us, miss. It isn’t a crime to own the items you display, we simply want to ensure there aren’t any… events. If you do not come with us though, we will be forced to make you come with us.” said the woman.

“Bah. I never do what I’m told. I guess we’ll have to fight then. Now, do either of you know how to cast? Because if not, I’m afraid this fight will be dreadfully short.”

The woman paled further, but unsheathed her sword and said, “By Nyx and the Council, I am placing you under arrest for resisting authority, and possible conspiracy to assassinate a member of the Council.”

I laughed and drew my own blade, at the same time the man did. “This will be fun.”

“I think not. Shadow, please stop antagonizing the guards. You already do it enough to the Council.” said Renessa, who had opened the door and witnessed the last few bits of our conversation.

I sighed, and said, “Oh, fine. I suppose I can’t afford to piss off more people on the Council, especially considering what I’ll be proposing next meeting.”

She shook her head. “You never know when to quit, do you?”

I laughed, “Never!”

The female guard said uneasily, “Miss VonClyse, you know this woman?”

“Yes. This is the ever-irksome Shadow, one of the potentials for the role of Champion. She’s very full of herself, and not prone to submitting to authority.”

The woman relaxed, but kept her sword drawn, and said, “Then I suppose we’ll let her go, but she does have a weapon. Are you sure you’re safe with her? She has a certain… reputation.”

“Safe isn’t exactly the word, but I’m certain she won’t try to kill me, if that’s what you’re asking. Run along now, and get back to your patrol.”

“Yes, miss.” The two guards sheathed their blades and walked back the direction they came.

“Now, what are you doing here? And why are you wearing that terrifying outfit?” asked Renessa.

“Long story. Got anything to eat, or drink? I’ve had a rough few days lately, could use some more energy.”

“There’s some tea, I just made it.”

“Excellent!”

We walked inside, and I sat down in a fancy recliner while I waited for her to fetch the tea. I looked around the living room, which was full of bookshelves lined with books upon books, and overall had a very antique scholar feel to it. A moment later Renessa came back and I began drinking my cup of tea.

“Mm, good tea.”

“Thank you. So, what have you been up to lately? I didn’t get a chance to talk to you at the meeting, what with you storming off after Fitzdonald made the announcement.”

“Sorry, I needed to work off my anger in a way that wouldn’t destroy parts of Raven’s Shade. I’ve mostly been training more, experimenting with new techniques, and hanging out with Malk, Clary, and Wabbit. They’re doing fine, by the way. Oh, and I got this new sword.”

I brought out Whisperdeath and showed it to Renessa, whose eyes darted back and forth across the blade. “Impressive. I can detect a faint aura to it, or at least it’s faint to my senses. Is it an artifact?”

“A conduit.”

“Fascinating. All I’ve been doing is working on my memoirs. I’m at the point where I first met you.”

“Well, here’s hoping you do me justice.”

“Indeed. Now, what was it you wanted to talk about? If it’s changing the Council’s mind, I’m afraid I can’t do that by myself, or even with your other allies on the Council. The decision’s been made.”

“Oh, I doubt I’d be able to change their minds with words alone. No, I’ve got a better plan. I’m going to propose a contest of power, skill, and leadership, a contest to help the Council make an informed decision. Hopefully, mentioning the leadership bit should negate any argument Fitzdonald tries to bring up.”

“Hmm. It could work. What’s the contest?”

“Basically, each potential takes three soldiers with them, two slayers and one caster, and enters some canyon or arena or whatever filled with monsters. We hunt down the monsters, and whoever leads best and fights best is declared the victor. The contest’s entire purpose is to give the Council information, so Fitzdonald can’t claim that I’m trying to get a free win. It still won’t be an instant victory for me, but it should help change the minds of a good portion of the Council, even my detractors.”

“Interesting. It’s a good plan, politically. Fitzdonald will have to accept or lose face, and if he does accept, either result of the contest, you losing or winning, could work out for him, if he says the right things. I assume you want me to make sure your other allies are supportive of this plan?”

“Yep. Also, if you could arrange a meeting with some of the neutral Council members, anybody who’s one the fence about me, I’d appreciate it. This plan has to work, it’s my best shot at making Champion.”

“I’ll see what I can do. Come back tomorrow, and I’ll give you what I can.”

“Thanks.” I drank the last of my tea, set the cup down, and got up. I walked over to the door and called back, “When I’m queen of the universe, I’ll make this up to you! Maybe give you a castle!”

Renessa laughed, and I exited her house, stepping out once more into the streets of Raven’s Shade.

That went well, I thought to myself. Getting closer to my goal every day.