Lost Truth

March 1875

It had been days since we last heard from Darko, not that it was much of a concern, she would occasionally disappear from the realm or somewhere similar to that. Satrena had voiced her concerns to me throughout the day, and I had tried to relieve her of her concerns, but to no avail.

Once nightfall came and we settled in our bed, she voiced her worries once more, "Nathan, you don't think she could have..." her voice wandered, a deep-rooted concern tainting her tone. I turned over onto my side, and I could see the anxiety bleeding into her eyes.

"No, my dear, she'll be alright. Darko is very much capable of survival, and she knows a lot more about the outer dimensions than you'd expect," I smiled, softly holding onto her hand. She pulled closer to me, and I wrapped my arms around her as I felt a sudden wave of drowzyness wash over me, pulling me into the darkness of sleep...

Silence...

I opened my eyes, feeling exhausted by my mere attempt at sitting up, but I pushed forth knowing that I had no other choice. I inspected my surroundings, seeing nothing but darkness. Sighing, I stumbled further into the darkness, blind to whatever surroundings could have been present.

As I stumbled through the blackness, I felt the air become cold. Dread sank into my chest as I walked through the darkness. My footsteps echoed through the emptiness as all else remained silent.

"Was this another dream?" I wondered, coming to a stop and only stared into the darkness.

"Hello again,"

I spun around in search of the owner of that voice and was quickly met with an unsettlingly familiar figure. "Oh, hello, Shibito," I said, watching as the darkness around us morphed into a forest. I could only stare in awe as the world had shifted from an empty abyss to a beautiful living forest, but my awe quickly turned to concern at the overwhelming feeling of deception that the forest anchored into itself. I turned my attention to the blossoming moonlit flowers, trying not to acknowledge the overburdening feeling of dread Shibito had been emanating, but he must have noticed.

"Life must be strange for you now, living in a world you are no longer familiar with," Shibito said as his voice morphed, "It has been thirteen, and you still think she is mortal," frowning, I turned all my attention to him.

"I don't understand. Who do you mean 'she'?" I questioned, not finding a name to whom he was referring. The dread started to sink into my mind and I felt a sudden urge to flee deeper into the forest when Shibito began to walk, continuing past me and I noticed the plants did not die at his hooves instead it was as if the plants were reaching out towards him. I quickly joined his side, sighing in frustration, and continued to follow him down a dirt path, passing through the thick forest.

I focused on the strange plants and trees that seemed a bit too alive. Ignoring where we went, I subconsciously followed Shibito through the dark forest.My mind began to question itself more, repeatedly imagining the start of my new life. The questions deepened, "Why was it me, Shibito? What is my significance in Darko's life?" I asked, seeking an answer from the being beside me. He continued forth without a word and then turned to me.

"That is not for me to answer." He stared at me, a crimson-red eye peering at me from within the void of his face before turning back and continued down the unseen path. I sighed, feeling the knot in my chest continue to twist but I pressed it down and followed after him.

We continued in silence once again, not speaking to one another. Then, Shibito stopped in his tracks, "Is there a reason for your calling to me?" He questioned, his voice breaking as it echoed through the forest. I frowned, confused by his question.

"Calling to you? I never reached out, or even know how..." I confirmed, looking at his unmoving figure.

Some sort of sigh came from Shibito as he anchored his staff into the soil. The ground cracked, splitting open into a hazy blue void. I backed myself against a tree, stepping over the broken ground. "This world is not worth the life it sprouts. The creatures that crawl on its surface will all meet the same fate, yet they cling to the life they lead so little of," he turned to me, "What makes your soul worth saving?" Shibito said, his voice had not morphed, and chills crept up my spine.

Suddenly, the ground beneath me shattered and I fell through. Then I woke up from that dream, Satrena still huddled up against me. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close but continued to question Shibito's words.

Later that morning, after Satrena left to attend to the garden, I remained in the study, looking through books for an answer.

"What makes my life worth saving..?" I muttered to myself. I sighed, standing up from my chair and staring down at the book before me. The words were foreign, not illegible but instead, it was written in Soultrian. The ancient language had died with its warriors centuries ago, yet I was trying to decipher it. Shibito had spoken in Soultrian before with Darko, and I had noted it. As I continued to stare down at the pale page, I felt lost, incapable of finding an answer. Then I closed my eyes, listening to the soft whistling of the morning birds.

Rustling bushes caught my attention when suddenly, "Nathan!" Satrena shrieked from the garden.

I swiftly ran out of the study, rushed down the stairs, and went outside to the garden. Satrena stood frozen, staring into the darkened shadows of the forest. I stood beside her, "Satrena, what's wrong?" I asked, taking her hand into mine. She said nothing but continued to stare at the shadows, fear imprinted on her face.

I turned my attention to the bushes, sensing some sort of danger...

"Why was your soul worth saving?" A female voice emerged from the shadows. Then the voice showed herself, she had a dark hide and a pearl-white crow-like skull but she had eye sockets. Empty...

I growled, feeling my body start to change. Within seconds I was back in the form of a Shadowhound and I stood before Satrena. I continued to watch this other Shadowhound carefully.

"Nathan Werlock, do not fear me, for I am one of you," she said, tilting her head and taking a step closer. "I have protected Darko since she was first abandoned by her human mother," she continued but remained at her place, not stepping any closer. "I am Maéra, Darko's guard, and her keeper to the living." She said, her voice humming in her chest.

"What do you want?" I asked, keeping my sight on her. She tilted her head, emitting a clicking sound when she tilted her head back. Then Maéra walked closer, stopping before me. I was taller than her, and she stared at me before speaking again.

"It is not what I what, but what has happened to Darko..." she stopped and turned to the shadows, "Jericho..." she said, her voice hissing ask she stepped away. My ears perked and I stood up straight.

"What do you mean 'Jericho'? What does she have to do with Darko?" I questioned, looking at her as she stopped in the dark. Silence had remained for a while before she spoke.

"Darko has been awoken..." she said before leaving deeper into the forest.

I turned back to look at Satrena and she stared at me, worry written over her face...