Chapter 3177: Parting

Shadow Slave

Time passed.

The world changed, but the shadow stayed the same.

Hidden in the depths of a dark cave, he rested and experienced the changes through his senses. The trees he remembered as young saplings had become towering giants, then withered and died; new beasts were born as others grew frail and were devoured.

People changed most of all.

Out there in the vast and terrifying expanse of the world, countless humans struggled to establish a foothold against the terrifying Creatures of Corruption across numerous realms. Their tribes were wiped out one after another, only for new ones to arrive in search of a home. Humanity had no advantage in this bloody war — in fact, it was hopelessly outmatched.

But humans persisted. They hid, they learned, they endured... but most of all, they changed.

Humans were a supremely adaptable species, after all. That was what made them so deadly.

In the lands where there was snow and vicious cold, humans learned how to stay warm. In the realms covered by water, they learned how to build rafts and canoes. Their flint weapons were replaced by copper blades; their gatherers had become farmers, while their hunters had become beast tamers.

Crafts, farming, animal husbandry... they were learning it all, desperately trying to survive in a world that had no place for them. In hostile, unknown and unfathomable lands, humans were surrounded by darkness on all sides. They had to sustain themselves and push the darkness back, lest it swallow them.

The people of Tatal's tribe had an easier time than most because of the shadow. While they still had to fight the Creatures of Corruption, no abomination powerful enough to destroy the tribe without giving it a fighting chance ever appeared in their lands. They were protected by a Shaper of considerable strength, as well — great shaman Tatal, who had slain the Basilisk and became Transcendent.

Because of that, the influence of the Shadow Tribe grew, and soon, the neighboring tribes came to rely on it. Even people from the faraway lands that lay beyond the shadow's senses sometimes came to pay Tatal respect and ask for her advice or assistance.

She gave both freely.

For a long while, life was good. Tatal enjoyed the golden years of her life surrounded by people who admired and loved her. Her tribe thrived, while her family grew.

Her children married one after another. The boys went to live with other tribes, while the girls welcomed their husbands home. Soon enough, Tatal became a grandmother — and before too long, there were a dozen or more of her grandchildren running around a handful of tribes.

Despite being such a prolific grandma, Tatal still looked quite young — she was a Transcendent, after all. If one did not know better, they would have thought that she and her daughters were sisters, while her husband was their father.

The young Wolf, now known as Stone Hand, was not so young anymore. His mighty figure was still straight and imposing, but his hair and beard had long turned grey. After losing an arm to the stone curse of the Basilisk, he had surrendered his position of chieftain and became a teacher for the youths of the tribe. Many of the adult members of the tribe had been his students once, so there were few elders more respected than him.

Despite how different they looked now, Tatal and her husband still lived in perfect harmony. It was just that many things were slowly becoming difficult for him, so she had to assist her aging husband in mundane tasks from time to time — other times, their grandchildren would assist him in her place.

Their home was always full of the sound of children laughing.

When Tatal visited the shadow, there was always a bright smile on her face.

“I am so happy, Shadow. I couldn't be any happier, I think. Life is so harsh, but it is also so impossibly wonderful..."

The shadow was content, as well. He was enjoying this measured, peaceful existence. However, time continued to pass, and things continued to change.

Nothing ever stayed the same.

Soon enough, Tatal's husband passed away from old age, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. The whole tribe mourned his death, and he was buried with the highest honors they knew how to give. Both as his wife and the shaman, Tatal performed the rituals to send his shadow off to the Realm of Death.

Standing above the grave in the ornate garment of the shaman, Tatal looked like a young woman as she buried her old husband. Her radiance was striking, and there was not a single grey hair on her head... she looked far younger than her daughters, even, as if time had no power over her.

The shadow thought that she handled the loss of her husband quite well. She still smiled warmly every time she visited, full of joy and hunger for life...

But he also noticed that her smile was never the same since that day.

There was always a tiny hint of melancholy hidden behind its radiant splendor, as if she couldn't help but feel a little sad even in her happiest moments.

In time, Tatal's village grew into a small town. The wooden and clay huts were replaced by homes built of stone. There was a watermill standing above a stream nearby, and a tall palisade with watchful sentries. Tatal's grandchildren had their own children now. Many of them married into distant tribes, so her bloodline spread far and wide, giving birth to exceptional individuals in many places. Some had even found their way to distant realms, carrying her legacy with them.

But Transcendents lived long lives. Having buried her husband, Tatal eventually buried her children as well. She had managed to maintain her composure when the old Wolf passed away... but even her stalwart heart bled when she heard the news of her firstborn son leaving for the Realm of Shadows, somewhere far away. When she lowered her daughters into the ground one after another, caressing their thin and grey hair.

One time, she cried in the shadow's embrace once again, her bitter wails echoing between the walls of the dark cave. The next time, she faced him with a faltering smile...

On that day, the shadow noticed that there were grey streaks in her own hair now, as well.

He comforted her as best he could. He did not know much about human emotions, but it seemed that his company — his mere existence — was of great comfort to Tatal, in and of itself.

But the shadow himself was uncomfortable. He was restless and worried, unable to find peace.

Time continued its merciless march. Many years passed, and in what felt like an instant, as the shadow watched, Tatal grew old. Her fiery hair had turned grey, and the lines on her face grew deeper.

One time, as she came to visit him, Tatal sat down, supporting her knees, and let out a sigh.

“Ha... climbing this mountain is not as easy as it used to be, Shadow."

Then, she flashed him a smile — the same unabashed, mischievous smile the little girl who had snuck into his cave once showed him. At that moment, the marks of old age covering her face seemed to disappear, and she looked just like that small, frustrating child once more. The two were indistinguishable from each other.

Despite her age, Tatal was still a Transcendent. So, no kind of mountain could strain her.

The shadow smiled in the darkness.

“Shall I make the mountain shorter? I can crush it to pieces, if you want."

Tatal laughed.

“No, no... please don't. I love this mountain. So many things have changed, but the mountain is still the same. We are old friends, she and I."

Tatal remained silent for a few moments, then smiled.

"The world is so different now, Shadow. Sometimes, I remember how it was when I was a little girl... it's almost unrecognizable. The forest where I used to search for berries is gone. The tent where my mother nurtured me only exists in my memory. Our tribe is so large now... and it's populated by strange people. They admire me, they love me... and I love them too. But — and please don't tell anyone — I have to put in some effort to remember all their names and faces."

Her voice was wistful.

The shadow scoffed.

“Whom would I tell? I only ever talk to you."

Tatal grinned.

“That's true."

Her smile seemed to dim a little then, and she looked away.

After remaining silent for a while, Tatal sighed.

“Everyone I knew is gone, Shadow. None of them had the decency to stay alive a little longer."

Then, she looked at the darkness and smiled.

“Only you remain. Am I not lucky, to have such a loyal friend?"

The shadow was not sure how to answer. Eventually, he shrugged mentally.

"I guess. As far as friends go, I am quite a catch."

He paused for a moment, hesitating, and then added in a voice that was quieter than his usual cold tone:

“And you, as well. I must have great luck myself to have a friend such as you."

Tatal laughed once again.

“Naturally! You must be the luckiest shadow in the world!"

Gradually, her laughter quieted down, and she continued to look into the darkness with a smile.

But then, a hint of wistfulness found its way into her shining eyes.

Tatal sighed and looked away, brushing her grey hair back.

She remained silent for a long while, and then said quietly, her voice full of a strange longing.

"I wish... I never became Transcendent, Shadow. Not always, but sometimes, I do."

It was then that the shadow realized that their time together was running short. Tatal did not succumb to age swiftly. But to the shadow, it seemed like everything happened in the blink of an eye. Before he even knew what to say, what to do, her back became bent, and the lines on her face turned into deep wrinkles. Her grey hair turned frail and white, and her startling radiance gave place to the look of a wizened elder.

The great shaman, Tatal, was old now. She was ancient. Having become a living legend to the people of her tribe — and all the tribes in the surrounding lands — she was treated with utmost reverence by all people. Her descendants were everywhere. Some of them were pillars of the Shadow Tribe, some had scattered across faraway lands and distant realms.

Some of them had even forged legends of their own.

During the day, she was surrounded by boisterous children and people who loved her. Everywhere she went, she was met with respect and admiration. Tatal seemed to have grown comfortable with old age, having nothing but warm smiles to share with people. It looked like she had fathomed some kind of arcane wisdom that the shadow couldn't quite discern.

Otherwise, how could she remain so content and peaceful?

The closer the end of her life drew, the less peaceful the shadow became. In fact, he had forgotten the meaning of peace, spending his days in turmoil.

‘Not yet. Not yet... it must not happen yet...’

But then, a day came when Old Tatal couldn't rise from her bed anymore. It was a great shock to the people of the tribe, and they gathered around her family home in a crowd, silently praying for her recovery. Those of her descendants who lived nearby rushed back to the lands of the Shadow Tribe, many of them harboring precious memories of being cared for by their kind, wise ancestor as a child.

Tatal was never alone, her dying bed surrounded by a crowd of friends and loved ones.

But it seemed that the spark of Flame that was the source of her life had waned too much. Now, it shimmered weakly, faltering, ready to be extinguished.

As the night fell, the shadow left his cave for the second time since the dawn of existence and made his way to the room where Tatal lay in the darkness, her small figure hidden by the blankets on the bed she had shared once with the young Wolf. Her eyes had grown weak with age, and yet, she still felt his presence.

Tatal smiled.

“Shadow... you came."

He manifested himself into a vaguely human shape at her bedside.

Looking down, the shadow spoke:

“Of course."

The old woman lying on the bed laughed quietly.

“All these years, all the times I visited your home... and this is the first time you came to mine. I'm happy."

Her breathing was weak and strained, but her smile was relaxed and joyful.

“I am so happy to see you, my friend. One last time."

The shadow looked around.

Tatal's descendants and disciples slept restlessly outside. Beyond the walls of her family home, the members of the tribe were holding a vigil. It seemed like all the people in the land had gathered to see her go... But he wasn't ready.

“It doesn't have to be the last time."

His voice, which had always been cold, suddenly sounded ragged.

The shadow hesitated.

“If you... if you want to... I can take your shadow into my soul. You can stay there forever. At peace, unchanging. With me."

Tatal studied him for a long time, her smile gentle.

Then, with a sigh, she looked away and shook her head.

"To exist forever? Never changing, never knowing anything but peace? That... sounds so terribly sad, Shadow. I don't want it. I wouldn't wish it on my enemy."

She paused for a moment, catching her breath, and chuckled.

“Thank you. But I am content with where I am... where I have been. I am already at peace. I'm happy."

Tatal turned to look at him, and even though there was contentment in her eyes... there was also a hint of regret. After staying silent for a while, she said quietly:

“I only worry about you, Shadow."

The shadow was bewildered.

Ever since she was a little girl, Tatal had always had a talent for leaving him confused and speechless.

Finally, he found the strength to speak:

“Me? You are about to die, and you worry about me?"

Tatal nodded.

“Of course. I worry... that you'll be all alone without me, Shadow.”

The shadow stared at her, expressionless. He had not even known the concept of loneliness before Tatal came to his cave. So, he had never been lonely.

...But he knew that he would be, once she was gone.

Met with his silence, Tatal sighed.

Her eyes were growing unfocused.

In a weak, faltering tone, she whispered.

“Take care of yourself, my friend. And thank you. Thank you for being my companion on this long, thorny path. For... being my friend. I would have been all alone without you, too."

Tatal's eyes closed slowly.

“It was a... long and wondrous... life. Wasn't it? But... I'm tired now. I'm ready."

The shadow knelt and held her hand.

He held it until dawn broke.

By then, Tatal's breath was gone, and her shadow had left, leaving him all alone in the darkness.

The shadow let go then and rose, looking around the unfamiliar room. He noticed something on a shelf by her bedside. An old, ancient... incredibly ugly doll.

He took it, his hand trembling.

A few moments later, the shadow was back in his cave.

The mountain shook slightly, and the sky was suddenly obscured by stormy clouds, a terrible rain descending on the earth from the heavens.

Hidden in the darkness, the shadow placed the doll near a silver bell that lay on a protruding stone.

Then, he dismissed his human form, hiding himself deeper.

‘Never, never...'

He never wanted to befriend a human again.

Humans were such fragile things. They appeared and vanished in the blink of an eye.

But his memories of them, his love for them, remained forever.

At that moment, he realized something.

It was that, perhaps, the affection of mortals was just as dangerous to the gods as divine benevolence was to mortals.

But he did not care.

All he knew was that there was no Tatal in this world anymore.

And without her, the world was colder.