Shadow Slave: Possibilities Without Meaning

Dances. Music. Laughter. 

The sanctum was alive with the energy of a celebrating tribe. People were gathered around the large bonfire in the middle of the living space. Strange instruments were playing in the background. It was like the music in a tavern but more tribal. People were dancing around the bonfire unrecognisable to Aldric. It was made up of a lot of novel foot movement. Their bare feet swept along the flat ground, making the movements mesmerising from the outside.

The Burrow Fiend was the main focus of the feast. It was skewered on a pole held horizontally over a live flame after being prepped, with two men portioning the meat and handing it out on ceramic clay-like plates. With the beast weighing over 500 pounds, it was more than enough to feed a tribe of 200. He wondered what they did with the soul shard. 

Aldric was met with congratulations from people he had never seen before and was referred to by a name that was not his own. With enough social awareness, he adapted to the situation and played the role of a celebrating hunter who was proud of his achievements. 

'It seemed that Silo was not close with anyone in particular. No one has stayed to question or speak to me after a short congratulation.' He thought.

He had asked where he could get his arm checked out and was helped by an old lady in a large room at the back of the sanctum. It seemed this tribe had all sorts of groups and roles to survive.

Aldric joined in with the festivities as the mood of the party reached him. He enjoyed dancing and socialising with people.

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"Silo, I will show you where the hunter's quarters are. We have our section to sleep and rest". The man whose name Aldric still didn't know said.

Through one of the burrows that Aldric saw when he first arrived at the Sanctum, He was led through a pathway that led to a round space the size of a classroom. With open holes the size of doors, he presumed they were the rooms for each hunter. 

"This is the communal area for the hunters. We meet and strategise here. We commune every day when the first bell has been rung". He explained.

"Your room is the last opening on the left. Your belongings have been placed there by the helpers." 

"I'll be sure to. Thanks." Aldric said.

"No worries, you will be joining our meeting when the first bell rings. For now. Rest." He walked back the way they came.

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Aldric had a lot to think about.

Now resting on his makeshift bed, he was in complete darkness. He noticed that aside from the bonfire during the celebration, The only source of light in the tribe was the glimmering gemstones embedded in the lining of the cave. The natural rock shone a whitish blue and enveloped the whole space. However, It was not that bright. Similar to when you have the curtains open just after sunset. You can see but not with absolute clarity. It seemed everyone could see in the dark like he did. He noticed that the gemstone was gradually waning in intensity. When he was ready to sleep, the light was all but dead.

'Maybe these rocks had some connection to the sun. They could use it as a measurement of time.'

His focus went to the nightmare itself. 

'This first nightmare hasn't given me a lot of direction. What is the objective? To stop the worm from destroying the mountain and killing the tribe? Where is the worm?' Aldric was confused. 

From what Aldric knew, the first nightmare typically had the goal of killing or stopping something in some fashion. Sunny had to kill the tyrant for the nightmare to end. Or else it would have ended after escaping the Mountain King the first time and surviving. Nephis had to kill the terror to end the nightmare. The nightmare did not end after she escaped the terrors control. There seemed to be a criteria that needed to be met for the grading to start. 

'I need more information. My gut is telling me that the elder is my best way forward. I need to get close to him' He confirmed.

He now reflected on the first battle he had with a nightmare creature. 'My attributes helped me.' he thought.

'My lack of experience showed. I panicked and relied on a gamble to kill it. If it had ignored the fire or fought while still blinded, I don't know what would have happened. 'I need to learn how to efficiently fight a beast. Once I become a sleeper, I don't know where I will transported to. I need to be able to fight a nightmare creature without ending up in a worse situation than I started in. Just to be killed by another one right after. There is not much I can do now'.

 He kept his dagger ready if anything happened.

Aldric fell asleep.

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"RING"

"RING"

The sound of a bell awoke Aldric from his sleep.

A soft light entered his eyes, he noticed it lacked intensity. Like the morning sun just rising.

He did not feel well rested. The stresses from yesterday still weighed his body.

"YAWN"

Aldric stretched out after getting up. He made his way to the communal area where 4 people had gathered. To his left, the man he hunted with sat down on a stool. Speaking to him in a steady voice was a larger and bulkier man. Standing at a rough 6 foot 3, the man was the true definition of a hunter-gatherer. From the shape of his skull to his broad shoulders. He had a large spear in his hand.

In the corner was a man whose age he couldn't discern. With his extremely short stature, he looked like a pygmy. Perhaps he was 4 and a half feet tall, but Aldric didn't know his role in the group.

Finally, a pale androgynous person was exiting out of one of the entrances. Tall and skinny, they had white hair which had surprised him. A result of an illness or genetics, he didn't know. They had a large bow made of bones and a quiver attached to their back. With a taciturn expression, they sat 2 meters from the apparent leader.

"Everybody, Silo here has become a fully fledged member of our group. You all know him from when he joined our hunts."

"Anywho, today we are going to hunt a cave lizard. It is an awakened beast. Its hide is used as leather and its blood is used by the healing collective." the leader spoke.

"Sounds like an easy hunt!" the goliath shouted with confidence bordering arrogance.

" Did you forget the last time a cave lizard slapped you with its tongue?" the short man teased.

The large man came to Aldric.

" What do you think Silo, are you afraid of some overgrown geckos?".

Aldric did not know what to say in response.

"Silo. Now that you are an official member, you can voice your opinion" the archer spoke in a calm and flat voice.

'It seems they are familiar with me. It makes sense since the leader mentioned I was shadowing him during his hunts'. 

" I don't mind. If we have to hunt it then so be it". He responded

"Well said Silo. We hunters cannot refuse the call to a hunt. It would go against what we stand for and put the tribe in danger. We are the spear of the tribe." The leader said.

"We will leave when the 4th bell rings, be prepared." He finished saying.

The group dispersed to get ready and eat some breakfast. Then all of a sudden, Aldric felt a familiar feeling in his gut. He heard someone approach him.

"You're a lot less chatty than usual. And with that response." The short pygmy stated.

" Is everything alright Silo?". With an indescribable look on his face, the man stared at Aldric with a sharp gaze.