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(picture above - Shadow's tattoo)
The ground beneath Magpie's feet crumbled and soon found herself facing a dark pit. She tried to claw with her bare hands into the wall of rubble near her to soften the fall, but it made no difference. Suddenly she hit hard on her side against a large torn open pipe. Magpie held on tight and waited for the pain to ebb away. She didn't hear a crack, but it was just as painful in every breath she drew. She grimaced in pain while sucking through her teeth to cope. Below Magpie saw only darkness and heard faint echoes of water splashing. Water? She squinted her eyes in the dark void but saw nothing.
Suddenly the ground shook violently that Magpie lost her grip and fell into the darkness. Not too long in her fall, she fell into cold water. Instinctively she swam up and gasped for air. In the black void, she heard the cavern-like walls echo the sound of running water but after a while, trying to accustom her eyes, she saw nothing. After what seems a long time in the darkness, her feet found solid ground and started to walk. The stream brushed against her legs and body as Magpie walked and slowly felt the level of the water falling. Soon her feet meet with dry rubble, and without thinking, she plummeted down to sit and rest. Her side still stung a bit as she did some back stretches but was able to breathe without pain. No ribs broken, it seems I got lucky there. She ran a hand over her short hair while gathering her thoughts about what has happened and what can she do next.
Her train of thoughts got interrupted as a few small pebbles fell and rolled against her boots. Magpie widened her eyes, hoping to catch an image, but it made no difference. Should I remain quiet and wait or give off a sound? Before she made up her mind, she called out. "Is anybody there?"
"Magpie, is that you?" Called out a familiar voice, Jayden.
"Aye, Jayden. Where are you? Can you see in this dark place?"
"I can't even see my own hands; it's so dark here. What about you?"
"The same, rely on your hearing and let the feet do the seeing."
"What?" Gave Jayden confused.
"Stay where you are, and keep talking. Is the ground solid where you stand?"
"Yeah, no rubble here and water is pretty close."
"Did you fall in the water too?" Wondered Magpie and stood up. "Stay where you are, I'll come to you."
"Okay." Jayden gave uneasily. "Aren't you scared?"
"I've been in worse places than this, so no. Are you?"
Jayden swallowed.
"It's alright. I'm here." Magpie spoke softly, trying to assure him.
"I didn't say I was scared."
Magpie couldn't help grinning for a brief moment to Jayden's reaction.
Shadow smirked at Caecius' words and watched him walking away. No matter how much fun is in store with him, I better stick with my little bird. There is an unfinished business that I need to attend to before it is too late. He paced off and flexed his hand with the tattoo while chanting the arcane words in a whisper to track Magpie. As he ended the spell, a red wisp flew in front of him and guided the way to her. The wisp's trail ended at a large hole, and it flew down into the dark void. Going down? He scoffed amused to the thought and jumped off. Not very long, he landed on something hard, and without thinking, he rolled to soften the landing. As Shadow came to a halt, he slowly stood up. Whatever made me do that? Was it that pathetic caster causing this or did the body respond itself to that? Never mind, I sense Magpie is near and hear voices. He smiled excitedly as he began to listen.
"Do you have anything to light up?" Asked Magpie as she found Jayden in the dark and held on to his shoulder that wasn't wounded.
Jayden searched with his hands through his pockets. "Nothing, what about you?"
"Nothing." Sighed Magpie. "We can try our luck wandering-" At the corner of Magpie's eye, she thought she spotted something glowing red for a second. As she turned to see, it was gone. She blinked and hoped it wasn't who she thought might be here.
"What is it?" Asked Jayden concerned.
"I fear we are not alone." She whispered. "Do you have a weapon at hand?"
"No."
"Take this." Magpie unstrapped her dagger at boot and placed it into Jayden's hand. "It's my dagger."
A deep chuckle echoed off the cavern-like walls. "Birdy is clever." Soon followed the sound of a sharp blade shrieking against the stone wall.
Magpie clenched her teeth to cope with the unnerving sound. She wanted to move, but when not knowing where Cordis is, which direction is safe? As sudden the shriek of the blade came it ended, soon followed a high pitched clink, hitting against stone. It was so loud Magpie only got a vague direction from where it came from and had to clasp her ears.
As silence filled the darkness, Magpie heard soft footsteps nearby as she unclasped her ears. Magpie wanted to draw her sword because the steps sounded as if he is approaching but she can't knowing when unsheathing her blade will give off a ringing sound and might hurt Jayden.
"Who'd ever thought a magpie would venture in the darkness blindly?" Whispered Cordis into Magpie's ear.
Suddenly there was a ring of a sword being unsheathed and a different voice spoke the arcane language to produce light. Soon followed a swift whistle of sharp blades moving and a red light glowed brightly above everyone like a flare.
Shadow had Magpie's long slim knife that she lost in his hands and faced Cordis with Magpie's dagger. Their blades crossed, and the two men glared, gold and red eyes glowed fiercely and squinted each other.
"You really do stick to Birdy as your name proceeds." Smirked Cordis.
Shadow gave an amused scoff, "among other things." He pushed Cordis and hopped back to win distance. He thrust the long knife into the ground, flexed his right hand with the tattoo and his lips moved, but nothing was heard. Magpie sensed dark magic collecting within him.
"It seems today is Christmas with all the fighting!" Laughed Cordis in crazed delight and flipped the dagger to a ready poise. "Or did I miss out on a birthday?"
Lightening fast Shadow had his hands below his chin to a fold as if praying and closed his eyes, his voice became audible, and Magpie couldn't follow what he was conjuring up, either a very complex spell or one she never heard of.
After a while in waiting Cordis grunted and charged at Shadow with a strong leap to attack from above and strike with a haymaker cut, aiming for the abdomen as a trick. Within a blink, a pair of grey hands clasped the blade while the round tattoo glowed brightly. Soon dark red smoke began to cover the dagger and soon reached Cordis' hands. Shadow opened his eyes and glared directly at Cordis. With one small move, the dagger suddenly hit into the stone wall far away from both of them. "Without the sythe or any other weapon, you aren't so dangerous as you claim to be. Pathetic." Shadow laughed and began to float. "Who are you? Still Cordis or a coward who desperately wants to go home and can't do it alone?"
Cordis' golden eyes flickered and, his lips formed a thin line. His hands ached from Shadow's swift grip and balled them into fists. Shadow cast a spell to lift Cordis and restrict his movement with a gesture of his hand. "You thought you were on top of your game. Well, the game has now turned against you, and not even your creatures can help you. So who are you really?" He pauses. "You are, without a doubt a part of Jayden aside the similar looks." Cordis remained silent but glared, and his lips trembled. Shadow smiled and scoffed. "Mhmm, I thought as much. No wonder you are here in this position against me. I never told you what I really am, well, you never asked." Shadow chuckled and moved his index finger to make his spell bring Cordis closer to him. "I was born out of betrayal and frustration, two powerful emotions, along with the ability of magic. I am a spirit and live off those emotions, but anger and fear will do nicely as well." He whispered. "Yet, my true quarrel lies elsewhere, so this is my only warning to you. Stay. Out. Of. My. Way." Shadow pronounced the last words sharply. Within a blink of an eye, Shadow grabbed Cordis by the throat and threw him firmly against the stone wall, to the side where the water flowed below. Cordis gasped for the air of the sudden force and soon grimaced in pain that burned through his entire body. "You'll stay there since you don't take orders from anyone and are stubborn, just like my sweetheart, Magpie." Shadow faced Magpie with a broad devilish smile.
Without thinking, Magpie took a step back and held a hand at the hilt of her sword.
Shadow sniggered softly. "You have every right to be afraid, but let's bring this to an end. I've played your game long enough." He offered his hand to her. "Let's seal the deal."
"When you know I am stubborn; then you should know my answer, never!" Hissed Magpie and drew out her sword. "End the pain you've caused on Jayden and Cordis and bring them to the others." She demanded.
"Not unless you accept."
"How about you do as I tell and I allow you to persuade me."
Shadow gave a short amused laugh. "What wit you have woman! Alright, it seems fair so far." With a single word and wave of his right hand, he removed the pain. Cordis gasped relieved, and the golden eyes shifted to green. "No, Magpie, don't." He gave weakly.
She looked up to him. "I'm sorry Jayden, for the other time what I said and appreciate your help. I hope you'll get out of all this as well as Nu, Vandal and Senshi. Some fights need to be faced alone, and then again, it mustn't be done alone. That's how my friend Ignatius became Shadow." Magpie swallowed to keep her emotions and tears at bay. "Together we came this far, Jayden. Take care."
"Wait! No-" Jayden found some strength to call, but it was too late.
Shadow did a turn of the wrist and snapped his fingers. Jayden and Cordis were gone without a trace. Shadow smiled as he turned to Magpie. Magpie stared down at her feet and took a deep breath to hold back her sorrow. Gently Shadow placed a finger below her chin to lift her head. His red eyes glowed with excitement as their glances met. "Allow me to persuade you." With a single arcane word and a turn of his hand, Magpie's sword was in its sheath instead in her left hand. Tenderly he took Magpie's right hand and placed it up to his cheek. "You love him, don't you?" Magpie remained silent and pulled free her hand. Shadow chuckled. "It is obvious, or you wouldn't be here alone. Me possessing his body and voice, not a bad one I must note."
Magpie stared at him wide-eyed. "You possess him? Ignatius is still alive?"
"After everything you've seen, you ask me that question?" Shadow sniggered. "Clever little Magpie is blinded with love." He teased. "Or should I say Elyza?"
Magpie shuddered to the name and Shadow's menacing smile.
"I know everything that you shared with that obnoxious caster. Along with your dark past as a child, what has made you so strong." He pauses and walks around her. "Or so it should appear? You're scared just by hearing the name. Yet you know it is your name. The name the slave traders called you. On bad days they will whip at you until knocked out from the pain or loss of blood and you still carry those scars where ever you go." He slowly slithered an arm around Magpie's waist.
The stinging pain from Magpie's previous fall pulled her out of her horrid trance and winced.
Shadow muttered the arcane language softly to heal, and his palm glowed red. "The wound is new, yet you pretended it wasn't there. Just like before as a slave, becoming numb from the pain."
"If you are trying to persuade me, then you're doing it wrong! Why healing me when I know you don't care?" Magpie pushed him and tried to hold back the tears, but her eyes welled, and her breathing trembled.
Shadow grinned and waited for a moment. "Isn't it obvious? The caster's memories are shared, and so are emotions that are connected. Apparently love has twisted its way through." Magpie shuddered in awe. "I could have simply possessed you from the moment I placed the tattoo upon your hand, but as love is fickle, it suggested me otherwise, and so did Ignatius." He approached her closer and tilted his head. "Hence the persuasion and waiting for you to say the words. Because when together with your brilliant magic, we can do great things such as ending it all. If you want to, I can bring back your dear Ignatius, safe and sound." Shadow held up Magpie's right hand with the tattoo and kissed it. "I can erase your past and fear. What say you, dearest?" He whispered with a broad grin.
Magpie remained speechless but took a few steps back to win some space. Shadow didn't let go of her hand and followed at arm's length. "If you think you can lead me to one of your weapons to end me, that won't end very nice. Since I have a connection to Ignatius and use his body, any wounds you inflict on me will be caused onto him too." Shadow smiled, spoke a spell and twirled his left wrist with slightly crossed fingers. Magpie's dagger in the wall vanished, and so did the single slim dagger.
Suddenly Shadow let's go of Magpie's hand, clasps his hands to his head and grunts angered. His dark appearance slowly began to shift to normal colours and the red eyes morphed in the end to dark brown. As the morphing ended, so did the grunting and struggle. His chest heaved regularly to his heavy breathing. "Magpie?" He asked softly. Magpie sensed his magic was tainted but their origin not. It was him. She couldn't say his name and wasn't sure if it's Shadow's doing or not. "Magpie it's me, Ignatius."
Magpie slowly begins to shake her head in disbelief. He walks over to her. "I don't know where Shadow went or how long I can be like this, but I can promise you this, I'm getting stronger and soon will be able to fight him off. I will still need your help to trap him-"
Magpie slapped him on both cheeks as tears rolled over her rosy cheeks.
Ignatius gave a surprised laugh while holding a hand to his reddened cheek. "Aye, I deserved that, lass."
Magpie blinked at him surprised and knew only Ignatius would say something like that. Without thinking, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him while digging her tears into his shoulder. Breathing in his familiar smell, she missed.
Ignatius hugged her without hesitation. After a long moment of silence holding in each other's embrace, Ignatius cut the silence. "I sense your magic has grown since the last time we saw. Are you having second thoughts of becoming a caster?" He opened the embrace and looked into her turquoise eyes.
"To become like you? Not even in your dreams and you're not the best example."
Ignatius laughed. "Point taken." It was a burst of musical laughter to Magpie's ears. Shadow can't mimic that although having the same voice.
She smiled and looked at him how happy and relieved he was, just like before. "I can bring back your dear Ignatius, safe and sound." Repeated Shadow's words in her mind like a broken disc.
Soon they stared into each other's eyes. Magpie smiled and cupped his head in her hands. Slowly their faces drew closer and passed a short kiss. More tears welled in Magpie's eyes as they looked at each other.
Ignatius' smile rapidly turned to concern. "What's wrong?" He asked softly.
Magpie sighed, but her breath trembled. "Nothing. I love you." She kissed him and rapidly made space from him. She lifted her right hand with the tattoo. "Shadow, if you hold your word about Ignatius then I accept your offer."
"So be it." Chuckled an icy inhuman voice and immediately, a wild wind blew in every direction. The tattoo on her hand began to glow bright red. Its red glowing ink slowly crawled across her skin along with the dark grey film.
"No!" Ignatius sprinted over to her and held her hands. "No! Don't! I love you! I want you safe! Shadow! Take me!" He shouted.
Only wild gusts of cool wind whistled at his ears while watching how Magpie becomes possessed by Shadow. He looks down at his hands, the tattoo on his right hand was still there in black ink and slowly dissolving bit by bit. That strong connection will take a few days to dissolve, but the same can be said with the possession to settle in-
"Here, take this! End it once and for all!" Shouted Magpie and with a wave of her hand appeared on a large stone, her dagger, sword and belt with her leather poach.
"Hold on, Magpie! I'll find a way to free you! Hold on!"
Magpie gave a content smile to him before the grey film, and red glowing ink crawled over her face. She closed her eyes and let out a gasp.
Ignatius waited for what happens next. He saw she was breathing regular and calm. "Magpie?" He dared to ask.
Suddenly her eyes opened, and they glowed red like Shadow's. "Well, well, well isn't it the obnoxious caster. I could kill you right here and now but Magpie is persistent along with holding her promise. Usually, they're meant to be broken, but I make this one an exception." He spoke with his icy inhuman voice. "Make sure you and I don't meet again, or it will be your last." He hissed and dissolved into dark smoke.
Ignatius
Energy/mana: 5/10440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfxbWXvavD
using spells (simple): 1-2440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3HQzMvFp3
using element and complex spells (from scratch): 4-6
Inventory: Magpie's belt, boot dagger, sword, magical plant, 2 bandages and 2 protein bars + 2 booklets about various spells (complex ones) and a hand full of trinkets for certain ritual spells or summonings and a hand full of throwing knieves
Note: Jayden/Cordis have been sent near where Nuallis, Vandal and Senshi are.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dYhSVNsU2
Ignatius knows what happened in rough detail, sometimes got blacked-out by Shadow, so may not know everything. Character note about him should be in the story plan or Discord. If questions about him just ask, he's a good guy/caster (wizard).
