The crowd shouted profanities and slurs at him. They wanted him dead, naturally. He was just a kid who stole, but the only thing that mattered was his affinity to Dark magic. It wasn't like the other affinities of magic. He was a blight that needed to be burned.

  Fire, water, earth, and air all stemmed from the natural Elements that could appear in this world. They combined together and created a world where the elements could easily be used with the people. Light was a holy element. Revered in the continent to the North, Light represented purity. Dark magic, on the other hand, occurred because of the light that shined. It was quickly associated with the bad happenings that the people did. It was a sign of evil in the people's eyes.

  Xylus knew all of this. Anyone could listen to the story of Creation and know Darkness was bad. Strange memories flooded his head. He remembered talking to Palia and talking to Nura. He remembered meeting with the gods of Light and Darkness. He remembered his mission.

  Xavier.

  He could hear a female voice calling his name. Flashes of a woman happily walking and holding his hand. Three children running around in the yard. Xylus gulped.

  'What is all of this?' He asked himself.

  [Conditions have been met. Xylus Silverfang is has met all the conditions in place and shall now gain the Nightshade System.]

  'The what?' He asked. His vision began to blur. He wasn't crying. He couldn't cry. If anything, he would feel shunned with the shouts and slurs but this was something else. The burning sensation in his left pec and shoulder flared. He screeched in pain causing everyone to watch Xylus drop to the floor.

  'What's… happening to me…?' He asked.

  A smirk appeared in his mind.

  "I guess I have to get involved. My dear sister needs you alive and I don't want you tarnishing my reputation now." The familiar voice spoke. He knew this voice. It was the god of darkness himself. It was Nura.

  Xylus' screams immediately stopped as soldiers climbed to check what was wrong with him. A strange aura poured out of him. His body slowly moved up, slumped over on his knees.

  "Well, well, well." Xylus' distorted voice spoke. He slowly rose his head up, a smile plastered over his face. "It feels strange to do this when I could be there myself, but this will have to do." Xylus stood up, the soldiers wary of the child.

  He turned his head to look at the soldiers. They shook as they clutched their swords. This wasn't Xylus, this was someone else. Before Tim could even say anything, the soldiers pulled their swords and swung at Xylus.

  Shadows flew up like fire and shattered the swords in an instant. Shadows circled around Xylus as the Magicite cuffs broke. He pulled his shirt off, revealing the mark of the crow.

  Everyone gasped.

  "What is that?"

  "Isn't that a Shade mark?"

  "But there's no god who would ever wield Darkness."

  "You're wrong!" Xylus' distorted voice rang. "Xylus is my Shade so I had to intervene and give a warm hello to you all."

  "He speaks in third person?"

  "Who are you?" Tim asked. Xylus' scarlet eyes hovered over to the soldier.

  "Who am I? Why would you want to know? Isn't it enough to know Xylus Silverfang is a Shade of Darkness?"

  "I have never heard of a Shade of Darkness. I've heard of Shade of Fire, Shade of Wind, but never Darkness."

  "Well, young man." Nura tapped his foot against the wood. "He's a Shade. My Shade to be exact. If I need to clear it up for you all, that would just be boring but it looks like I might actually have to." He chuckled. "My sister is the High goddess. The goddess of Light, Palia."

  "Sister?"

  "And I am her brother. Her other half. Without light, there is darkness and with light there will always be a sliver of it wherever you go. I am the Night. I am your Desire. I am the Trick you play as children. I am Nura."

  At the mention of his name, fear grew immediately on all their faces. "Liar! There cannot be such a god! They would be evil to claim Darkness as their own!" The woman next to Tim shouted. She brandished her sword and pointed it straight at Xylus. "You will die for your joke, Xylus Silverfang!" Light enveloped the sword and Xylus smirked.

  "Warrior of Light. Hmph, why does she tick me off? She sounds exactly like Palia." Nura watched as the woman jumped up towards him. Xylus sighed as Tim shouted at her.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  "No, don't!" Tim screamed. In an instant, a single dagger of Shadowbane appeared in his hand. Nura deflected the attack and quickly went in for the kill.

  "You little—" Xylus froze in place. The blade stopped just short of her neck by a mere inch as she instantly pulled back towards Tim.

  "No!" Xylus' normal voice shouted.

  "Child, I am trying to help you! Can't you see?" Nura shouted.

  "Don't hurt them!" Xylus shouted. The two struggled to fight for control. Nura was shocked Xylus had this much control.

  "Fine." Nura spoke. The dagger disappeared and Xylus moved backwards. "Know this, humans. Xylus Silverfang is my Shade and I will give you my mercy! If you dare execute or attempt am assassination on him, I will haunt your dreams and feast upon your soul myself!"

  With that Xylus dropped to the floor. He gasped for air as he felt the Shade mark disappear.

  "The prophecy has started, child!" Nura spoke into Xylus' ear. "Do well to survive. That's the last time I will try to help you, Shade!"

  Hours Later

  Xylus' eyes fluttered opened. Orange sunlight poured into the somewhat shaded area. He groaned as he pushed himself up. 'Why am I so sore?' He asked himself. He looked around. It was an unfamiliar place. It was nice and clean. 'Definitely not my house. Definitely not Uncle Tim's house either.'

  He removed the blankets covering him and set his feet onto the ground. Xylus noticed the new set of clothes on him. 'These are new…' Xylus looked up. Everything was clean and proper in the bland room. He couldn't hear the villagers, either, so he decided he would take a peek outside.

  "How long has he been sleeping?" A woman's voice asked.

  "I'm not sure, but we were told from the guards in Nessia that this child is a Shade." Another woman answered. The door opposite to where Xylus was struggling to stand, rattled. His attention went onto it. He watches the door open and two women step into the room.

  A red head with her hair in a bun and gold eyes stepped into the room first. She was wearing metal armor with white and gold accented clothing underneath it.

  "If you ever come across someone who is wearing white and gold, you must be on your best behavior!" Tim's voice echoed in his head.

  "Why, Uncle?" Xylus asked.

  "Those are members of the Temples. They're people who have strong influences in this world. They heal the weak, help towns and cities that were destroyed and most importantly, they've devoted their lives to the gods."

  The red head woman stepped aside and revealed a woman who was in plainer looking clothes. She was wearing a tan dress and didn't have as many decorations on her.

  "I see the child has woken." The red head lady spoke. The door closed behind the tan dress woman. "Hello, child. My name is Gwendolyn Farr. I'm with the Temple of Light. I've heard news of a new Shade showing up in Nessia and came as soon as I could. Could you tell me your name?"

  Xylus gulped as his knees buckled. He landed on the bed. The tan woman was afraid for the child’s health. She wanted to run over but she had strict rules told to her about this child. She couldn't help him until someone from the Temple ascertained who he was and why he had Dark magic.

  "Are you a-alright?" The tan dress woman asked. Xylus slowly nodded. He decided he would sit. It wasn't like he could do anything else.

  "L-Lady Gwendolyn… Y-you're with the Temple of Light?" Xylus asked. Gwendolyn nodded.

  "I am, child."

  "M-my name is X-Xylus. Xylus Silverfang. M-my Uncle told me to be respectful to those from the Temple. E-especially the ones with white and gold clothing." Xylus pointed at her clothing. Gwendolyn wasn't too surprised by this. Loads of people knew the Temple of Light and their white and gold colors.

  Gwendolyn gave the child a reassuring smile.

  "I come not to harm you, Xylus. I merely came because we were called to check if you are a Shade with Dark magic." Dark magic came out of her lips like Gwendolyn was speaking with poison in her mouth. Xylus gulped. He didn't want to upset a Lady from the Temple. Especially one from the Light. "Can you answer my questions, Xylus?"