Shadow Slave: Possibilities Without Meaning

"Status"

Aldric said with the visualisation of a status screen in his mind.

Name: Aldric.

True Name: —

Rank: Aspirant

Soul Core: Dormant.

Memories: —

Echoes: —

Attributes: [Insight],[Clear Mind],[???].

Aspect:[Bounded Cavedweller].

Aspect Description:[A primitive being, ignorant of where he comes from and where he is headed. His connection to the darkness is faint but undeniable.]

"Okay"

Aldric stared into the mysterious runes. He started to make some connections vaguely. Firstly, his aspect seemed bland at first glance. He could see the potential his connection to darkness could have when his aspect evolves. He thought about how specifically he could have such a connection. As Aldric mentioned before in a previous train of thought, an aspect is a confluence of one's innate affinities and choices manifested as a magical specialization. Attributes often follow this path. Nephis' innate attribute [Dreamspawn] gave her a trait of duality. This could be the reason behind her receiving an aspect described as being a creature of duality—half profane and half-divine. 

'I can think about this later.' He thought.

He focussed on the description of the attributes.

[Insight] Attribute Description: "You have always had acute awareness and intuition. Guiding you with a subtle sense of the unseen."

Aldric could instinctively recognise this as his innate attribute. He always prided himself on his intuition. He would say it was one of his strongest assets if asked. He was happy that the nightmare spell acknowledged his ability. It also gave him something to look forward to with its possible evolution. Aldric was content.

He viewed the description of his second attribute.

[Clear mind] Attribute Description: "Your mind calms all the waves that threaten it." 

A rather simple description. Aldric did not recognise how he could have received this. He concluded it must belong to the original body. 

Finally, he viewed his last attribute.

[???].

"Huh?" exclaimed Aldric.

"Does that mean I can't understand it".

A lick of flame brushed further into his field of vision than usual. Reminding him of his imminent deadline. 

"I can strategise later"

The young teenager stepped cautiously through the open cavern. He kept the torch a short distance from himself by extending his hand. 

Like a crude labyrinth, Aldric could see multiple openings in the cavern wall 30 meters ahead. He counted 3. Analysing them on the surface, they seemed rather conspicuous. 

He set his sights on the left entrance. 

All of a sudden, he felt a warm pulse of discomfort spread from his gut. 

He compared it to what you feel when in the moment between tripping and finding something to catch your fall. 

It left as quickly as it came but the uneasiness was still present.

"What the hell was that?"

His focus shifted to the middle entrance and felt nothing.

Not a single feeling from his gut.

'Odd' he thought

Finally, he looked at the last entrance.

Immediately, panic spread through his body as a sharp feeling spread from his gut. Not a physical pain but something his body could still register. He couldn't think of anything to compare it to. 

After being given enough time to feel the panic, a cold and refreshing feeling washed over him like a gentle wave. Calming his mind. 

The aspirant knew that this was the work of his attributes [Insight] and [Clear mind].

'At least they have some synergy.' Aldric mused. 

 [Insight] seemed to be warning him of the first and last entrance with varying intensity. The middle one seemed to be completely safe.

It was a simple choice to make.

----------

"Tap"

"Tap"

Footsteps echoed through a small space. A hunter seemed to be in complete focus. Throwing away any errant thoughts, he made his way through the winding tunnel whilst on the lookout for any prey.

" I haven't seen anything capable of being my kill." He spoke to himself.

"Aside from the occasional insect of unknown origin, nothing has caught my attention. It makes me think why my intuition told me this was a dangerous path." He sighed.

Yes.

You see, Aldric recognised that the safest option was not always the correct one. The middle entrance while safe would not have given him a kill worthy of the man's standards. So he chose the entrance with the least but present danger. Something with enough challenge. 

Not regretting his choice just yet. He continued undisturbed. Hoping to find something. His torch seemed to burn with less life to it. 

Time was ticking.

Finally, he heard a scurry sound to his right. With a closer look. he noticed a large burrow hidden in the corner. It was large enough to fit 3 grown men with room to spare. 

It reminded him of the burrows made by soldiers back home for a more hidden vantage point. He focussed on where he heard the noise. There it was.

A horrid creature.

Looking like a crossbreed between a rat, hare, and a capybara, the creature had a rough brown hide that was matted in dirt, feces, and other revolting substances. The worst thing was its exaggerated size. It looked 6 feet long and had the same thickness a bear would have. More so, with a large hump on its back.

Its beady black eyes reflected the light right back as it stared at the source. With long stiff whiskers like cable, the beast's grotesque mouth had rotted teeth visible with two long sharp fang-like front teeth.

He looked around to see if it was just the both of them. They were alone. With his enhanced insight, he could tell at first glance that this creature was the one. 

With his heart racing, he reached for his dagger. Aldric noticed his arm trembling.

'NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE SCARED' he affirmed to himself with panic. 

But no matter what he said to himself, he just couldn't stop his body from reacting in fear. 

After all, this feeling is a primitive characteristic found in all humans. Fight or flight. The boxing champion would still be anxious for his 51st bout even after winning the last 50 right?

This was Aldric's first meeting with a nightmare creature.

He envisioned the attribute [Clear Mind] in his mind's eye. 

Inhale. 

Exhale.

With a wave of tranquility spreading through his body, a sharp look of resolve was etched on his face. Like a lighthouse in a storm, he was unwavering.

He gripped his dagger.