When the realization struck that he was a shadow, it felt as if his entire worldview had shattered.
The as if everything that had happened wasn't enough already, a translucent panel suddenly materialized in his mind.
________________________________________
| Name = Shade |
| Age = ∞∞∞∞ |
| Race = Dream Shadow |
| Title = |
| Affiliation = Unknown |
| Existence State = Semi-Manifested |
| Seals = |
| 1. Ending (Broken) |
| → Grants minor Authority over shadow | | and dreams | | |
| 2. (Sealed) |
| → ■■■■■■■■■■■ |
| 3. (Sealed) |
| → ■■■■■■■■■■■■ | | |
| 4. (Sealed) |
| →■■■■■■■■■■■■■ |
| 5. (Sealed) |
| → ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ |
| 6. (Sealed) |
| → ■■■■■■■■■■■■ |
| Accumulation = 0.01% | | |
| Condition = Awakening |
|_______________________________________|
After reading, it was as if his disbelief knew no bounds.
If he had a face it would've been in a O shape filled with surprise,disbelief and slight fear.
Then came denial. Maybe it was just a dream. Maybe none of this was real.
His heart started sink in despair.
Who could even complain his whole worldview had shattered in mere moments.
From about to losing his father to about not losing himself and rest of his family.
All in an instant.
After sinking into despair for a while he gradually calmed down and began thinking about how to use the advantages of being a shadow.
He returned to the tree's shadow and tried to sense others around him to determine where he was. Soon he became aware of different kinds of shadows like trees, bushes, grass.
As he focused he attempted to grab the tree's shadow.
It felt as absurd as trying to eat flames.
Yet surprisingly he succeeded.
He pulled.
After a moment of resistance the tree's shadow detached from its owner.
Instantly, he could no longer sense the tree's location.
Without its shadow it was as if it had vanished from his perception.
But the shadow itself remained.
For some reason it attached to him more precisely it merged into him, settling inside his being.
Another panel materialised in his mind.
[you have acquired a shadow of tree stage 0]
"Well, something is better than nothing. I need to figure out where I am… and find some way to go back" he thought.
Still unsettled he sensed another shadow.
This one was moving. Judging by its shape it was a rabbit.
He hurried toward it and reached for its shadow but an unfamiliar force blocked him.
He couldn't identify it only feel its resistance.
As he tried to understand the obstruction the shadow of an arrow pierced the rabbit's shadow meaning the real rabbit had been struck by a real arrow.
The moment it happened the force blocking him vanished.
But before he could react, another presence far more mysterious and powerful than the other descended to claim the rabbit's shadow.
"Oh no."He tried to say but no sound came out.
He grabbed the rabbit's shadow and pulled with all his might.
But his strength against that overwhelming force was like an ant trying to drag a mountain.
Then as if acknowledging him the mysterious power paused.
It released its hold.
And disappeared.
He pulled and the rabbit's shadow also got attached to him
[you have acquired a shadow of rabbit stage 0]
He was baffled but there was no time to dwell on it.
He sensed two more shadows.
He moved in the first and then in the second.
Their forms were like a model and an actor competing in a cosplay game to see who could look more mesmerizing in wildlife costumes—not that he was judging.
As for how he could tell while being nothing more than a shadow, it was because he was attached to their shadows.
He could sense their movements down to the smallest detail, even the twitch of their large, pointed ears.
First was clearly a female and the other a male.
Then the first one said, "@#÷×=÷=/+@."
And the other replied, "@##+×=×--#%."
'Yup, I can't hear shit,' he thought, since he didn't have ears to begin with—and it wasn't a joke.
Then another problem surfaced in his mind.
Even if he somehow managed to have ears how would he speak and understand their language that was clearly different.
Well that's a problem for another time he would need ears for that problem to even arise.
His plan was simple= follow them, collect information , find a way home and be with father at his last moments.
Easier said then done but he's gonna do it.
He was going to make it happen one way or another.
As he was making his decision the male lifted the rabbit's dead body and jumped towards a tree branch.
Which of course would've humanly impossible but his worldview had already shattered enough that it didn't even surprised anymore.
Then the female also followed.
Since he couldn't follow them from branch to branch he followed them from the ground always keeping their shadows in his perception range.
Now that he realized it, he was fast,very fast that if he didn't focused he would would travel kilometers in a blink of an eye.
'Am I a superhero or something' he thought trying to keep his dark thoughts away which didn't work.
After a while of following,he got a grasp of his speed not enough to fully know it's limits but enough to keep the two pointed ear people in his perception.
Although nothing compared to his speed the two other's also wasn't humanly possible.
Specially the female,for some reason she was faster than the male even though he looked more powerful.
After a while of following the two stopped and looked around to check if anyone was looking.
Taking his chance Shade hid in her shadow.
Then she entered a tree,there was nothing special about it.
Just any random tree that anyone would it.
As soon as he entered with the female.
The seen inside shocked him and not only that for some reason the female and the male that had entered later became tense.
Both of them were in high alert trying to find someone,they were ready for combat arrow on their bows
'Yup for some reason he was found out'