《Earth Exodus》


 0 In the begining

    The world has been isekai''d. Initially of course nobody knew what was going on, because people were taken after death. At least most of them were. Then someone came back in modern times. Over time it was realized many had come back before, but just weren''t believed. The Pevensie children, Mrs. Liddell, and many others who''s stories had even made it into main stream media. The world changed.


    It just wasn''t overnight. Magic didn''t rush back. No system was installed. We didn''t get access to the multiverse. Most hadn''t even brought back a trinket let alone their full power. But, enough was leaked through to allow the smallest bit of proof and wiggle room. Magic only changed the world in tiny ways at first. Magical healing, rudimentary divination, and minor augmentation. Really it was all many needed as a hope, or a wish, for a better life. Multitudes committed suicide for a chance they''d be swept away. Others sold everything, even their souls for just an ounce of power. It was when the world fully gave over to magic that it really changed. This time it was overnight.


    Millions disappeared. Some deity or another had apparently decided to take advantage of the unclaimed recently awakened planet for their own. Sadly for us they were not alone. Gods walked among us again. New powers were granted to many, and taken from just as many others. The already devastated nations crumbled. Despotic roving bands arose ruled by Divinely backed warlords who converted or killed any who crossed their paths. More often than not the second option was chosen for the those unfortunate enough to have no power. In the end I found myself and what was left of my friends and family holed up in an abandoned mall. We had run as we knew without power we weren''t even worth a glance as we were mowed down. Now though we were watching as the place was surrounded. Apparently all those with power had been dealt with, and the cleanup crew had come for us.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Time seemed to slow as we watched them move in. As time crawled on and we looked between ourselves it dawned on us time really had slowed. Could one of them be some kind of time manipulator? No they were moving just as slow and were even slowing down. Eventually everything stopped and as It did the world rippled as if the stopping of time had rebounded off of some barrier. Everything went black and I awoke almost immediately. At least the impression was of a nearly imperceptible gap. One with seemingly no temporal depth, but spoke of an infinite expanse of nonexistence. I couldn''t focus too long on it though. Even as I blinked the grogginess from my eyes an announcement seeped into my consciousness. I couldn''t really tell you exactly how it came. It was as If I heard, felt the intent, and even saw the words before me all at once. Welcome challengers to the arena.

 1 New world, same old shit gods

    Welcome Challengers to the arena. I stood upright quickly, glaring left and right. I half expected to be attacked immediately by a gladiator, tiger, or worse. No such thing occurred and I was able to examine my surroundings. Arena is definitely not what I''d choose to call the small town I was apparently standing in the middle of. Most around me were going about their day as if I wasn''t even there. There were others though, loosely packed around me, who were looking around with confusion, and deep suspicion. Before I could take any action, or really even think I was again distracted. Words came to me as they had before. Words that were voiced to me as if I was singing myself the alphabet. They were not from me though. Earth, being overrun by rouge divines, has been deemed lost. All non corrupted individuals have been enrolled into the accelerated refuge program. Your benefactors will be choosing between you shortly.


    Focusing back on my surroundings I saw the surrounding group of confused individuals do the same. we all had the look of prey waiting for the predator to pounce. Tense silence hung around us like a cage of unknowns holding us back. A young woman was the first to break the silence. "What...." she started before she blinked out of existence. The rest of us jerked, and that silence returned, this time pregnant with infinite dangers. When the second person was swapped out with a hole of nothingness all hell broke loose. One man attacked the closest person as if they had somehow stolen the other two. Another screamed and ran down the street away from the group. Another simply slumped down. She hadn''t fainted. It seemed as if she''d just had too much and decided not to even bother holding herself up any longer. For my part I was frozen. Not without the ability to move, but the tense muscles of one ready for action.


    In hindsight we should have known exactly what was going on. We''d literally been told as much just a moment before. Of course as refuge''s of the wasteland of earth. Shaped by the divine wars for control over it''s most valuable resource, life itself. We were strung as tight as a cranked crossbow even before time was frozen, we were trans-located, and words were being put into our heads. Not to mention the sudden disappearance of portions of the group. None of our actions stopped the so called benefactors though. Even as that first man was being soundly beaten by the one he''d attacked he also slipped out of the world. One by one the others were also taken. Including the man I could still hear hollering as he ran off into the distance. His wails, and the sound of his footfalls cut off mid stride.


    Standing alone I checked, confirmed, and verified a third time. I was the only one left. As I cast my gaze around I noticed that the townspeople weren''t ignoring me any longer. It''d be hard for them not to. What with the riot that''d just occurred around me. One older woman who leaned against a door frame nearby lurched forward. starting a stroll in my direction she regarded me with a withering stare that screamed disdain . "For messengers of the divine ya''ll''ve got no decorum" she drolled now giving an almost disinterested glance over my appearance. I looked back at her with what I hoped was my own disinterested look, but I''m sure was simply the most confused I''d looked in my life, and responded "What..." and again the world went black on me.


    The darkness surrounding me wasn''t that of unconsciousness or some rift in existence. The eventual burning chest and ragged breath I drew in to alleviate it was what clued me in. whipping my head around I couldn''t see a single thing. My hands shot out but likewise gave me no further information as they touched nothing. cautiously I began inching my feet forward feeling not much more than the ground/floor was reasonably flat, but nothing else obvious called out to me. As I continued searching around with my feet I examined my breath, as it seemed to be the only thing left I could examine about my surroundings. The air didn''t taste stale, but was clearly not the outdoors, It also seemed to be too warm to be outdoors. Before I could draw any further conclusions though a new voice broke the silence. This time a normal everyday audible one. Not some internal announcement.


    "Oh yes, you can''t see in the dark" came from somewhere in front of me followed by a SNAP. A dim light popped into existence a few steps in front of and above me. Slowly it rose in brightness, initially barely distinguishable from the darkness to bright enough to see my new surroundings. A table and two chairs stood only a step away from me. Had I continued with my blind shuffling I would have found them in a moment, but I was glad to be able to see. Seeing nothing else worth examining I plopped down on the nearest chair. Realizing I hadn''t seen whoever had spoken before I checked the corners of the room. "Where are you?" I asked as I checked the shadows there that were still rather thick. "who are you?" I followed up after I found nothing.


    "It''s no use searching the shadows. The unknown is as powerful a fear for the divine as it is for mortals, and thus as powerful a tool. You''ll only see what I wish you to see.". Despite this I still whipped my head around searching again. Even as I was looking the voice seemed to move from one corner to another. "As to who I am, why, I''m your ''benefactor'' of course" The voice said with a scornful twinge on the word benefactor.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    I noticed that the voice sounded strange. As if it was both monotone and genderless, but I didn''t put too much stock into it as I was beyond annoyed at this point. "Isn''t a benefactor supposed to be helping their charges" I grumbled. I was increasingly realizing I''d had just about enough of gods, divines, or whatever else they wanted to call themselves, and their homicidal lackeys as well. "If you''re not here to help then I''m just going to take a minute to collect myself". Of course I wasn''t some tough as nails nihilist. Half of me was still pissing myself with what I was saying but If they were going to kill me there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. There was a strange empowerment you got when you were fully at someone else''s mercy. If you had no power to change your situation then it doesn''t matter what you do. At least half of me was hoping that.


    "Ha, HA!" The voice chuckled. This time from directly in front of me. Even squinting and looking at odd angles I still saw nothing "I''m glad to see I didn''t choose one without a spine. Although I have indeed been implied to be your benefactor, the choice of words may or may not be up to my own standards. Coddling is not my way. Backer, or investor would have been my choice. You chose you''re words well though. I won''t be giving you any time, but take as much as you can. It is the way of the divines after all". It was unsettling to continue seeing no-one as a voice from nowhere sung out at me. Strangely it was somehow more unsettling than the voice in my head earlier. This "investor" seemed to at least not be a hothead, so I just settled my head and arms down on the table and I got as comfortable as I could. I had intended to simply try settling my nerves and reorient myself to the rapid fire transportation, the apparent war among gods, and the fact that earth was seemingly entirely lost. Instead I fell asleep almost instantly. I would have thought before all this that sleeping in this situation would be impossible. The years of running from divinely backed beings who wanted your blood instilling the need and eventually the skill to sleep instantly and wake just as quickly as the situation demanded had changed that misconception. Not to mention the fact that the amount of sleep I got through all this was somewhere below 4 hrs a night meant I was essentially sleepwalking everywhere already.


    I woke with a start flipping my gaze around again. "Ah, the stalwart beneficiary returns to the living". Still I saw no source to attribute the voice to. "I can see you''re at least marginally rested now. And although I''m capable of waiting until this plane of existence itself winds down if required, that doesn''t mean the world waits for you. Opportunities pass you by while you sleep. So I''ll make this brief. What do you know?"


    Looking up again, I still found nothing to speak to directly so I let my gaze lazily oscillate around the room as I spoke, as if I was just speaking to someone on speakerphone. "What do I know? ... I know I''ve been swept up in some game or other, and I know I have less control of my life now. Other than that. I don''t think I really know anything at all.". Silence followed my words like an assassin in the night. It seems my responses were being weighed and measured with extreme care. Although it was likely they were not the only thing in the balance.


    "Yet again you show yourself a good choice. There are a few things to correct though. You''ve weren''t swept up in a game. You''ve always been in the game, and you''ve never been in control, not really. Everyone is, has been, and always will be trying to play you in one way or another regardless of what they tell you. Even the closest of lovers are at some level playing one another, even if it''s simply to determine who takes out the trash. And, control ... that''s just another word for power. If you have more of one you have more of the other.". As the "investor" continued speaking I was still looking about and with this last sentence I saw something in a corner to the left of my chair. What looked like a pair of eyes were slightly glinting in the light over the table. "Power comes in many forms and one of the most potent is knowledge. Yet knowledge comes from paying attention. You''ve invested your attention well, so you are in turn worth investing in." A pause ripe to the bursting followed those words, in which those eyes moved to the chair across from me. They moved to a seated position. Finally the "investor" spoke again. "Calling this a game was doubly intuitive. As you did catch that I was called your benefactor you were unlikely to have missed the ''welcome'' to ''the arena''." the investor paused for another moment.


    Long enough that I almost responded. "Though you''ve always been in the game, it has different stages. The stage you''ve entered is actually rather simple, this world is the stage. The reason it''s moniker is the arena is also simple. Like gladiators, you''ll be competing on behalf of your backers. You''ve seen what happens to a world where the divine become directly involved. The prize is often destroyed in the process. The divine would prefer to avoid that." The tone and the tiny parts of expressions I could pick up from the eyes of the investor said much. This wasn''t a benevolent entity, any more than the deities who had taken my world. Merely a more pragmatic one. Of course they''d told me as much flatly and honestly enough. I can''t say I was glad we were "saved" by these ''gods'', but they were somewhat better. Sadly it sounded like us earthlings were still being pitted against one another.


    "So, What is it I need to do to ''win''?" I asked and finger quoted the last word.

 2 The lesser of two evils

    The investor''s eyes stayed motionless for a moment as I awaited their response. while we stared at one another a greyish glow spread from the eyes flowing along the contours of a face. The rest of the body followed suit. Leaving what looked for the life of me to be a living charcoal drawing sitting in front of me. strangely still a genderless and monotone representation.


    "with your mindset and astuteness being pleasing to me you''ve earned some of the truth. Put simply there''s no way for you to win. Well technically sure there is a champion. That champion will of course be showered in praises and gifts from their investor, and possibly others if they were impressed enough. However, just as with the gladiators of your world, here the true winners are only ever those in power. Also like the gladiators you know and their backers it isn''t being the strongest or the fastest that matters. What matters is the crowd. Win the crowd, win your freedom. " The investor was apparently one that liked to gesture while they talked. Finishing the last sentence they struck what seemed to be a dignified, and self absorbed, pose. Looking to me they seemed to be expecting something. "Anyway", they continued, appearing to not get what they wanted from me, "I say that to say this. Just as you''ve earned some truths I would like to offer you a choice". Again they struck a pose, this time with either hand out to the side and slightly raised. "on the one hand there is the basic bitch ''System'' allowing you to grow in power quickly. Through defeating your enemies, skill increases, and even through special achievement you can directly alter your strengths and weaknesses. It has great limitations, but in as much as it limits it directs those losses, if they can be said to be such, into significant gains." They said having raised their left hand. "And, on the other" This time lifting their right. "you have my personal favorite" Pausing once more they stared at their empty raised hand as if admiring a work of art. "A singular skill capable of altering the course of events into our favor. There are no limits, other than those existence itself imposes upon you, but with enough time and experience even those can be bent or even broken. Of course as there are no limits as borders to build upon the growth is slower" With that they raised both their hands up as if offering their non existent contents to me.


    Looking back and forth between the hands I pondered the options. A third option was nagging at me. The one where I point out that my question hadn''t actually been answered, and of course asking the 100 follow-up questions. What crowd was I supposed to win over? Were the gods just bored children kicking anthills? Is there even a point? Though the look on their face, one of eager barely contained anticipation for my choice, combined with my own desire to move on, held my further questioning at bay. Who didn''t want to stomp down a few giant rats, or slash away at some monsters and ''level up''. I''d heard of the capabilities of such a ''system'' from from the rumors of those who''d gained one from those who called themselves gods back on earth. Even a single day''s romp in the woods clearing out the wildlife, or better yet defeating actual monsters, or even other people, could net you enough to double or even triple your power. At least at the start. There''s a reason so many turned to eradicating the ''unfortunates'' as we were called. The greater rewards vastly improved their advance in power. My loathsome feelings for those creatures almost made me snatch the right hand immediately. Taking a moment to collect myself I set my mind to the task of evaluating the next option logically instead. To be limitless was of course an immeasurable benefit. The slower growth could end up with me dead though. Much would depend on exactly what they meant by skill though. Speaking of, "What''s the skill? Or, what does it do?" I asked.


    The investor smiled. "I''d tell you if I could, I really would. Unfortunately the created skill is as much a part of you already as it is from my own skill in bringing it out." They shrugged their shoulders as they raised their hands back to the same offering positions.


    The frustration was getting back up there for me. I wanted to just be done with all the ''Divine'' bullshit and get back to some kind of normalcy. I wanted to ask for a rain check to sleep on it. At the same time I don''t think I could stand meeting back up with any more self proclaimed deities and their annoying methods of communication. Between the hands my eyes pinged once more. Choosing the left hand and a ''system'' would allow quick growth and great control over how I grew and what I focused on. Taking the red pill, er I mean the right hand, although likely greatly lowering my initial strength would allow limitless possibility. Depending on exactly what skill it was and how I could build my foundation, this could make up for the loss in initial strength. Slowly my hand snaked out, wavering as it did so. Slightly leaning toward the left hand. The superhuman abilities. The absolute knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses. The trust you could have in your choices when a system could tell you exactly what something was without question. All these were calling greatly to me.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Even before my hand crossed the halfway mark it was steadily locked onto the right hand. Relying on the strength and power of a system although a given for early growth was anathema to me now. Seeing what it''d done to us back on earth. Seeing that although fast it still took time to grow in power. Knowing it had limitations. Knowing that those with true power always won had made the decision for me before I truly knew myself what I was going to do. Grasping the investors right hand I looked up into their face and smiled. Shinning back at me was a beaming smile of true happiness. That''s when, with a strength far beyond what I was able to properly gauge, the investor flipped me up fully from my seated position and onto the table.


    Rolling onto my back I saw the whole room morph around me. The walls became pristine white painted drywall. Landing onto the ''table'' I felt it was now a bed. my head, though my body had stopped, continued with my momentum, ended up looking right at the investor again. Now dressed in scrubs. The smile was still there though. "OH, Finally!" They said. "you can''t believe how long I''ve waited to try this again".


    "Try this?..." I said as I watched the investor begin to strap me into what I''d now realized was a hospital gurney. "... um... do..."


    "Hush now child" the investor said distractedly. Far to busy with their excitement to deal with my nonsense. Finished strapping me in they covered me with a thin blanket, more of a sheet really, from the shoulders down. Wheeling the gurney about revealed a pair of double doors. Through which the gurney, and I riding upon it unwillingly, were thrust. The doors parting revealed an operating room decked out in tools I couldn''t identify. Not that a normal operating room had many tools I could identify. These though were clearly not scalpels, forceps, and scissors. I mean sure I did see those, but there were also clearly utensils of a magical nature mixed in. There was even an entire group of wheeled stands that held what at first glance appeared to be foggy shapes. Upon further inspection for a certainty each and every one was distinctly non Euclidean in nature. There were even a few Klein bottles in among them. Filled with what appeared to be superfluid''s creeping around the edge. I at least hoped it was a superfluid and not some living liquid trying to get out. Wait, I thought, Wasn''t a Klein bottle just a mobius strip in bottle form, how was that not spilling everywhere? Before I could puzzle out it''s inner workings I was swept past stopping with my head directly under the already lit operating lamp.


    From behind the gurney came who I was now wanting to rename nurse ratchet. Grabbing my wrist with one hand she slapped one of the Klein bottles onto it with the other. Onto it wasn''t exactly right. With a sickening feeling of vertigo I watched the glass slide straight through my wrist. At least this gave me a moment to examine the bottles closer. They seemed to be multiple nested bottles. Some complicated structure which allowed storage, but simultaneously access to the contents. Looking at the mess was making my head hurt. As if to keep me from looking back that exact moment is when I could feel that although I hadn''t been pricked, and though previously the liquids were contained, I could now feel them leaking out. Not onto my wrist or the gurney. They were leaking directly into my bloodstream. Through the fourth dimension or something. My eyes were bugging out as I sheepishly turned to the only other entity in the room for comfort. Comfort isn''t what I got.


    "Listen, I know you''re freaking out, but I''m about to perform pan dimensional surgery on you. You''ll be fine, but likely not remember this part anyway. Your existential crisis can wait till later". The investor gave a half assed pat on my shoulder as they moved back around behind me. Apparently that was magical, super fluidic, extradimensional, anesthesia or something cause I was already starting to fade out.


    "Now if only the head doesn''t blow up this time" the investor mumbled from behind me.


    "WHAT!" I said, or tried to say, came out a bit more like "whaaaa........ " as everything went black for the third time in less than an hour.

 3 Welcome to the new age

    In darkness, slumbering, awareness washed over me in waves. My furthest extremities, Fingers and toes, checked in first then followed down the line. My nose, eyelids, and mouth made themselves known. While twitching my limbs about my eyes also kicked in light detection and I squinted them as well. irises contracted as my eyes then fluttered open. above me I could see an expectant face I had been desperately wishing was a dream.


    "Now..." The Investor said as they watched me crawl my way up out of the steel grip of unconsciousness. "Tell me, how are you feeling?"


    Between bleary eyed blinks I leveled a look that I''d wager was worlds away from the deadliness that was intended. With the responding expression of mild amusement that was then replaced with the same expression of expectation, I knew that what I''d actually brought to bare was likely more of a groggy petition for just five more minutes. For their part The Investor did actually wait, and although they didn''t step back they lifted their head out of my face. Closing my eyes again I rubbed them aggressively. This wasn''t just normal sleep I was fighting off like in our earlier conversation. Instantaneous wakefulness was only possible if it was your own mind doing the initiation. Drugs, especially magical, multidimensional ones, had a way of throwing ''normal'' out the window. Eventually, and surprisingly quicker than I had anticipated, I felt aware enough to continue. Looking up I saw that quicker than anticipated probably wasn''t how Nurse Rachet over there saw it. The excited and expectant look had changed ever so slightly to an antsy, I''m gonna scream if you don''t tell me look. "Weeeeellll?" The Investor said again, dipping their head toward me.


    "um, I... feel fine. I don''t..." With the inventory that started playing through internally the sounding board was sending back resounding "nominal''s". Every square inch of my body seemed to be perfectly normal. My hands had already explored the back of my head where it seemed the whole operation was centered. No physical oddity had shown up. Glancing back up I half expected to be interrupted or prodded in some way to go faster. That not only didn''t happen, but The investor seemed to be appraising me like a test subject. I didn''t even want to try and puzzle out what that meant. Shutting down every external interference as much as possible I looked inward. Tried to intuit my state of being as a whole instead of asking specifics. Proprioception wasn''t showing any red flags. Deeper I dived, further closing down to ignore even my own physical body. The drone of my inner monologue faltered and died down as I laser focused on the last part I could think of to have any unexpected changes. Splutters of it would pop back up as my mind seemingly had to continue it''s ''captains log''. Odd disjointed phrases like ''it''s hard to think of nothing'' or images of seemingly random thoughts were also popping up. Again quicker than anticipated I felt... something. Going as far as to say a ''new limb'' would be quite the stretch. Calling it a finger or even a clump of muscle would still be boasting. Might have even been a single neuron that was lit up in my psyche like the cliche big red button. Snapping my eyes open before I could do anything stupid I asked "What''s that?".


    Apparently I''d been too slow to distract myself. Either I, or some part of my brain had instinctually pressed it. Absolutely nothing seemed to happen. Well, other than the strange bladder relieving feeling of something emptying. The feeling was visceral enough to check my pants to confirm I hadn''t actually let it go. "Hmmm, Interesting" The Investor stated while taking notes in a clipboard she''d pulled from somewhere. "alright! well, that''s all I need for now. Off you go" The last thing I saw was the investor waving their hand. In the square of the town from earlier I found myself horizontal a pace above the ground. Which didn''t last long as gravity is not a kind mistress.


    <hr>


    Back in the operating room the Investor looked past the bed I''d just disappeared from. Stunned I looked down at the strange duplicate of my body I''d somehow conjured . Undulating mists of darkness greeted my sight. Looking up I saw the investor was also inspecting this new form. "Now..." The Investor said lifting their clipboard as they watched me try to get a grasp on the situation. "Tell me, how are you feeling?"


    <hr>


    Groaning and scrambling up off my bruised backside I looked about again. Off hand I didn''t see any of the others from earth. Strange as I''d confirmed I was the last to go. Maybe they''d all come and gone. The ''pan dimensional surgery'' and recovery could have taken days. The old lady who''d talked to me before was back leaning on the door frame. As before she shoved off and headed my way. This time she had no snarky words or scathing glare for me. In fact she said nothing at all the entire way. Even coming to stand before me where I''d frozen like a deer in the headlights she still said nothing. "What!?" I said, half expecting another blackout or translocation of some kind. Neither of which came. She stood still though her face gained an accusatory glare.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Only after, in my opinion, an excessive number of moments did she finally speak. "Although talk is cheap there''s no sense wasting energy on a disrespectful upstart who''ll up and leave at the drop of a hat." She paused again bestowing on me another, slightly less, critical look. "If you''re quite done with your disappearing act maybe we could find you someplace, and maybe some proper clothing, to rest and regroup". I was finding this new world was increasingly testing my self control. I know I''d been on the run for nearly a year back home with almost no rest and the threat of death around every corner. Somehow the feeling of being led about by a leash the last few hours had brought was already beginning to make me nostalgic for my previous ''freedom''. At the same time looking at this senior I could tell that although their level of power was insignificant in comparison to the Investor I''d been flippant with, there was every indication I would regret taking such a tone with her. It also seemed that I might finally get a moment to myself if I just went along with her suggestion.


    "Yes, I believe, or at least I hope, I am done being thrown about" I said as carefully as I could, still worried my tone might have been too carefree. Simply nodding she turned right back to her preferred leaning threshold and lead me inside. Breathing a sigh of relief I followed. This gave me barely enough time to actually process rather than just look at the house and around town. The house in front of me wasn''t the best in town, not the worst either. At two stories it was definitely among a minority though. The quality, level of discord between parts and pieces, and the general lack of any indication of technology was screaming medieval to me. Although as I thought about it I''d remembered watching at least a few videos indicating that 500+ year old homes were not uncommon to still be habitated in many parts of earth. And of course there were groups like the Amish to consider. I''d need to get more info to confirm but so far didn''t look like the industrial revolution had taken off yet.


    Stopping just past the entry the senior turned and waved me in. As I passed she pointed to the stairs to the left. "First room on the left upstairs has a fresh pair of clothes and a washtub to clean up in." She turned to back to me "You could even take a nap if you''d like, may be a while before the rest come back." turning toward what appeared to be the dinning room and kitchen she pointed to a pot on the ''stove?'', "there''s soup on if you''re hungry". She turned back to her post at the door staring into the road. Part of me still wanted to stop her and demand answers. Initially I''d been full of questions, all screaming to be answered right away. The more I thought about a room to myself, without the threat of death, translocation, and constant interruption had started to grow on me though. Even now as I thought it through that''s the only thing in existence I wanted. Walking over to the stairs my mood shifted even further. My body began to feel stiff, worn, and empty. I''d effectively been in a perpetual state of fight or flight for what felt like eternity. Surprise filled me as my eyes started to water. I''d never broken down like this before. Always thought I was a tough guy. Surviving through the war for earth had apparently given me extensive trauma. I guess the offer of actual peace was the final straw. All my stress was letting loose. By the time I got upstairs I was nearly crawling. As I shut the door to the room behind me I collapsed on the ground.


    My mind roved through emotions like a vagrant with no place to call home. Stopping only briefly on any one. A moment of sadness felt for my lost family and friends. A quick break of happiness for the seemingly safe environment in which I was now hugging myself. Torrents of fear assaulted me at the horrific and violent visions replaying of what''d happened to those I loved. Hatred for those who chose to betray the rest of us for a little power. Melancholy came next, mocking my inability to change any of it. Round again it came. Different variations took the stage, acting out all my hopes, fears and dreams from different angles. Luckily the exhaustion I''d gotten no break from saved me, eventually, from the panic attack. The embrace of darkness took me gently.

 4 First impressions are important

    Lacing up my new linen shirt with my still slightly shaky hands I examined myself in the mirror. I was returning to a reasonably collected emotional state. Quite certain that wasn''t fully over. The likelihood was that I had some form of PTSD. I''d handle that when I could though. At the moment I had questions to ask and at least someone willing to spend time on me to which I could ask them. And of course I''d finally gotten a chance to let out some of the stress I''d been feeling. Turning to the door I glanced once more about the room before heading down. Some things looked almost modern. The mirror and windows were almost perfectly flat. While the tub and sink, or washbasin I guess, were not even plumbed, and seemed to be made of tin. Not to mention the bucket in the corner I didn''t want to think about. I know that flat glass was really just a factor of a technique called ''float glass'' back on earth. Which didn''t actually require any special technology. So it was definitely possible that someone had just come up with it early here. Or, maybe they just did it with magic. I hope this was just a rural town issue and not the norm.


    Walking down the stairs my mood brightened even further. Remembering I''d gained some kind of skill, ability, or whatever it was. Not that I knew what it did or how to use it really. I hoped the skill wasn''t the "feel like you pissed yourself" superpower. Luck had never really been on my side, but that would just be the worst, especially since I''d given up a chance at a ''system'' for it. Shaking my head I headed to the pot in the kitchen. I saw that three of the men and a young woman from our group were sitting at the table with bowls. Two of the men were facing me, one nodded, the other just continued to stare into his bowl with a blank look. I feel for you brother. The young woman turned and it was the one who''d spoken before being taken earlier. She smiled and waved but went back to eating. The other man turned but didn''t otherwise respond.


    I internally sighed as I walked past them and grabbed my own bowl. We were gonna need to really watch out or we''d all turn into the sad cases of the broken vets who''s lives were never quite the same. Returning to the table, with what appeared to be lintel soup, I tasted then started into it mechanically as it was decent, but not amazing fare. The other men didn''t seem too interested in talking, but the young woman seemed at least a bit excited. "did you meet a god too!?" She started, and a smile crept onto her lips. Thank goodness for the robustness of youth to protect some of us from the horrors we had escaped.


    Frowning a bit I debated the best way to answer. The two men who were barely present already leaned even closer to their bowls as if trying to hide in them. The one that''d at least nodded turned toward us a bit. Looked like he was ready to at least listen if not yet engage. "I don''t know if they even wanted to call themselves that, but I''m sure many would use that label. So, yeah I met a god". Her smile grew into something bright enough to ease the mood in the room. Although the two in their bowls didn''t seem to notice, the other man''s mouth quirked a bit.


    "Did they give you a system too?" She was positively beaming now. Her hands were clenching her bowl and spoon tightly as well. Apparently too excited to actually let me answer she continued, "They gave me one and I got to choose a rare class called [Shield Maiden]. Look!" Dropping her spoon she placed her hand face down on the table in front of me. With her other she reached below the table and bought it back now with a knife held tightly in her fist. Now three of the men were looking intently at her as she quickly brought the knife down toward her other hand.


    Quicker than I thought possible the hand of the man who''d been essentially catatonic up until now shot out and stopped her just before she nailed herself to the table. With wide eyes she looked up at him. "sorry..." he mumbled glancing around the table then back to his bowl before sheepishly glancing back up at her a few times.


    "Oh, It''s OK, I know it''s weird, but trust me it''s fine" She looked to him and after he nodded she proceeded to slam the knife down on her other hand. Strange undulations flowed around her hand as the knife neared it then stopped right above it. "Isn''t that awesome!" She beamed now holding up her hand to show no damage at all. All three of us were staring at her hand. "It''s not perfect, enough force can overcome it, and it''s pretty mana hungry right now, but I can use it on other people, and it will get better as I level, do you know when we can fight stuff?" She babbled excitedly.


    Stolen story; please report.


    We glanced at each other before looking back at her. I''d opened my mouth but it was Nodder that spoke first. "The village elder had said there''s supposed to be a meeting once the rest are back. Wouldn''t answer anything else I asked. Kept mumbling about ''that man'' asking her unending questions before he ran off". I felt a bit guilty having wanted to pester her to death once I''d gotten some food in me. Although I was now curious about who ''that man'' was. Even as I was thinking another voice rose to rattle the silence. It was Mr. Catatonic.


    "I saw a god too...." he said, again looking down at his bowl. This time his face wasn''t blank, but looked lost, in awe, and contained more than a bit of fear. "I''d rather not meet another..." He shivered and his eyes widened slightly before he grew still. He clearly had no interest in continuing that thought.


    Nodder, who seemed to be inclined to guide, defend, and encourage directed the conversation to lighter topics. The smallest wash of annoyance passed through me. I would have liked to get more info about what these other gods had said, done, or offered to them. As soon as it passed though it was completely gone. We were all shaken, tired, and likely traumatized enough already. Basic introductions went around followed by minor chitchat. Nodder was actually named Samuel. He was a husband and father. His wife had unfortunately passed, but luckily before all this insanity. His children were currently MIA, hopefully alive and well, but none of us tried to estimate how likely that was. He truly did seem hopeful.


    The [Shield Maiden] was named Avery. Her little brother was out there somewhere she knew. They''d been together right before we''d been brought here. Likely he was simply in another town with another group. Hopefully with their mother or father. Unfortunately they''d been out of town visiting friends when things went to shit.


    I introduced myself, Elliot, I was a partner and parent to no-one, but I was close to my parents, siblings, and their children. I had also not been near most of them at the start, although 2 of my siblings I''d met up with. Sadly both had met their end at the hands of someone I''ll never forget. Just as likely I''d never see them again though. Like the others I kept the details light, not wanting to bring the mood low again.


    Mr. Catatonic was Edward. He didn''t have any family left. His father died before he was born. His mother not long after. He was raised by his grandmother who''d passed in her sleep in his early 30s.


    It was as he was telling us about his job that the village elder brought two others in at the same time. I dismissed myself with the excuse of letting one of them have my seat at the table. Edward did the same. I wasn''t antisocial but also didn''t feel like talking any more right now. At least not about more dead, lost, or missing family members. walking over to the fireplace I found two comfy looking chairs and commandeered one. It wasn''t a La-z-boy but compared to the wooden chairs at the table it was cozy enough. Edward made a soft grumble as he sat in the other chair, but otherwise didn''t try to engage me in any way. I closed my eyes and focused inward again. I figured if I couldn''t ask questions I may as well look for answers the only other place I could. Slightly faster than before I was able to locate the ''button'' in my mind. Which was surprising as it was no longer ''lit up'' as before. I think what drew my attention was the second ''nodule'' now sitting next to it. curious I reached first out to this new one. It gave the impression of a window, but the glass, if that''s what it was made of, was completely opaque. Even pressing against it I got no reaction or further impressions of any kind. Hmm I thought, must be whatever happened when I ''used'' my skill the first time.


    Turning back to the ''skill node'' I felt it out. where before it was a lit up, ready to use, button, now it felt like a grayed out option on a web form. No amount of looking, touching, asking, or any other intent I threw at it caused a change. Easing up I spread my awareness out attempting to feel if there was any other change. Not expecting to find anything I was surprised when I did. The earlier feeling of a draining bladder hadn''t exactly came from anywhere in particular. Likewise this new feeling I''d found was just as ever-present. If before I felt like a cup that''d been completely emptied to a bone dry state, now I felt, while not full, like one with enough to get a few good pulls from. I didn''t want to assume since I''d forgone the system option but I was optimistic that I''d just found my mana.

 5 I have gone before you to prepare the way

    The next couple hours dragged on rather slowly. One or two other Earthlings showing up sporadically. I did end up engaging in conversations here and there again. Edward even joined in from time to time as well. I learned a few more names and backstories, but didn''t retain most of them. I did learn a little more here and there of others interactions with their benefactors. Almost all of them claimed to only have been gone for moments, or minutes at most. One did say they had a long conversation possibly lasting a few hours, but wasn''t sure. It didn''t make much sense unless these benefactors were playing around with time somehow.


    The village elder eventually brought what she said was the ''last'' of us, and left to get who she called the council. Returning with another woman and two men she introduced them, but I didn''t really listen to their names. I was too focused on when they started spilling the beans as to what was happening. Having given basic introductions the village elder walked to the fireplace and the chair I''d vacated to get a better view and saw her kick someone out then sit down and ignore everything. Turning back to the counselors I listened to their more detailed descriptions of themselves impatiently. I don''t care that you''ve led the town for the last 20 years Kendrick or that your father did before you, tell me what''s going on.


    "You have many questions. We ourselves have many unanswered questions. Due to this we will wholeheartedly tell you what we know in the hopes you will do the same for us." He paused looking around to us all, letting the murmuring that had been growing as they''d been introducing themselves die down. "The gods brought you here of their own volition. what we do know is that, you are not the first, nor will you be the last. There are some of you in town already" A new wave of murmurs swept through the room, but Kendrick continued on "Ages ago a single entity came to our world. many called him a man but most now call him The Herald, for with him he brought change." At this point the room was silent except for Kendrick as he told his tale. One regarding a world fraught with death and destruction from many sources. Rifts that could open suddenly and with great violence spewing forth vile creatures of all imaginations. Wild magics being wielded by untrained hands attempted to help but cast down friends as often as the enemies that were intended. Reading between the lines gave a hint of a world in upheaval. A hidden story of a time before the rifts, or at least before they were spewing out abominations. This was indicated by the mention of different types. Openings that were seemingly stable for generations. That one could enter and return from like a separate space. Something that in our world we might have called a portal or in certain circles a dungeon, as inside these stable spaces one would find these creatures in fewer numbers strewn about a labyrinthine maze of corridors.


    The other indications were kingdoms or empires that were sprawling and powerful before the rifts turned sour. The mentions of a time where they warred with one another instead of the waves of monsters. That was far and away though. The rifts had changed, the herald had come, and offered salvation. Turn to the gods and they will save you. He''d offered as he wiped rifts off the map. Many turned to the Herald and the Gods they touted. This is how the system came to this world. The wild unruly magics of the past became controlled definitive functions which operated as advertised. Attacks which hit foe not friend, and protections that didn''t hinder allies while tripping up your foes. They didn''t say it out loud, but it was clear they''d traded freedom for the power to save themselves. Unfortunately save themselves they couldn''t. They''d fallen too far back. From nations spanning continents to sparse populations in towns spread too far to help, cooperate, or trade with one another. Not when the hoards still came without warning, and too often to prepare or plan for expansion. The rare traveler that did make it through brought word of a stagnant world. One that held the line but barely. Of towns seceding territory rather than gaining it as time went on.


    The Herald who''d brought great hope and change had vanished at some point. Some said to warn and help other lands far off, but no-one knew for sure. The Herald left word that the gods would send more messengers, many more. That was long ago though. Until this week they hadn''t received their promised help. They seemed the lone soldier left after a battle watching the tanks roll in to save their battalion, but of course they were all that was left. Grateful for salvation but mourning those lost by it''s poor timing.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Samuel spoke up, of course he did, told them our world was lost as well. Only the dregs swept up and tossed here. Nobody said it but we all felt it. The gods had played us both. Maybe they had intended a better play here. Maybe those rogue gods were to blame, the one''s who''d ravaged earth and possibly held up our rescue mission. Survivors weren''t ones to dwell on such things though. Survivors moved on and did what they could. We''d help them, and they''d be right there with us helping themselves. Not because a group self centered enough to call themselves gods decided it would be so, and not just because we could or should, but we wanted to. Kendrick said they appreciated it and that the others earlier this week had said similar.


    And so we asked questions. Many questions, some reiterating things that seemed obvious. When the others had come, if they were all from earth, when we''d meet them. They said tomorrow. We asked more about Rifts, Lairs, Dungeons, Monster waves. All were supposedly the same source thing. The difference seemed more a matter of stability than anything else. Or at least that was the assumption. There wasn''t much room for investigation, examination, and especially not experimentation with the current state of affairs. Previous records were also scarce especially in such a cut off small town. So further questions on the topic, ''what are they really?'', ''are they alive?'', etc were all met with essentially shrugged shoulders. Well all but the one. The Herald had told them how to destroy them. Just as the rift allowed you to enter one end on the opposite end there was another that allowed you to exit. Directly below both entrance and exit was what the Herald called The Anchors. Destroying them could destroy the rift, or at least remove it from the world. This brought up even more questions but Kendrick and the others begged off more questions about rifts. None present and as far as they knew none in the town had ever actually entered one. They did hope that with our additional assistance we might be able to finally do so. Either way showing was better than telling so they''d leave it for later.


    The tone was somber as we were rounded up and split off into different buildings for the night. I was informed I''d be staying here tonight with, Marilla I was told the village elder was named. Turning to the chair by the fire I saw the bowed head and a wet streak following the curve of her cheek. I knew better than to ask any more right now. Taking one of the chairs that had been abandoned at the table I took a moment to examine myself again while others were still being sorted. Took significantly longer this time to shut everything out, but extreme emotions aren''t exactly conducive to a solid mental state. Once properly focused I did quickly find the two nubs and my mana. both nubs were in the same state as before but my mana felt nearly full. Can''t say exactly cause I hadn''t actually felt it full, just felt it emptying. Either way I couldn''t give it too much thought cause I felt a tap on my shoulder then. Marilla had collected herself and was now ready to host. Showing me and another upstairs she showed us two rooms and then went to hers, wishing us a good night.


    Although physically rather tired I found was currently unable to sleep. I had taken the two little ''naps'', and was out for the ''surgery'', but pretty sure it wasn''t the cause. Nerves, excitement, emotion, whatever it was I knew at least one way that could help me calm down. It couldn''t hurt to get more experience doing this either. Sitting on the rug I closed myself off again. I was excited to see that the skill node was now lit up, but it wasn''t the most surprising thing I saw. The opaque glass pane that made up the second node was no longer opaque but rather glowing dimly as if someone had unshuttered it and lit a candle inside. Instinctively I reached out and pressed myself up to the glass. Internal awareness shrunk from my grasp, and I opened my eyes. Only it wasn''t the pair of eyes in the head sitting on a rug in an upstairs bedroom. No these eyes were back in the meeting room. These eyes saw across from them the charcoal portrait form of The Investor. "Hello Elliot," They said with an amused smile."Welcome back."

 6 All Deals are final, no refunds!

    My sudden change in perspective was only mildly disconcerting. As at least this time it was simply opening my eyes, not a jarring change of location while my eyes were open. I glanced around the room, confirming it was indeed the same room I''d initially met the Investor in. As I did so something far more concerning than being taken again came to my attention. My upper body, all that I could see in my seated position, were made up of deeply black mists. Crossing my eyes I could see even my nose was as well. I almost started freaking out before memories floated to the surface. Memories from here, both in this room, and back in the operating room. Images and sounds of the Investor asking questions. Of odd tests of my reactions, physical attributes, and overall state of being. There wasn''t enough time to go through all of them in detail just a general idea, but one I watched through before looking up at the Investor full of doubt and inquisition. "Hello," I said now glaring "I didn''t catch your name, and I''m curious how you know mine, I''d never offered it"


    "Oh, come now elly, It''s not that difficult" They said grinning from ear to ear, clearly very amused "I did tell you that entertainment was a major part of this for those claiming godhood over this world. Obviously we''re able to watch you on it''s surface" They paused to watch my reaction, but as I simply glared back they eventually sighed "You''re no fun... you can call me..." they said as their visage gained color and detail, shifting into something more of an oil painting than a charcoal sketch "Caroline" they, well she apparently, said as raven locks framed her face and a pair of deep blue piercing eyes crystallized while continuing to stare at me.


    "And, you can call me Elliot, as you clearly know I''ve stated my name to be" I said letting my anger get the best of me. A wash of what almost appeared to be sadness, but clearly contained not so hidden veins of anger flashed momentarily over Caroline''s new more detailed expression. I''m sure mine mirrored hers, but with fear instead.


    "Frustration is understandable Elliot. I did watch your conversations after all, and know what you''re going through, but I''d strongly advise not biting the only hand that''s feeding you." Another wash swept across, this time somehow a mixture of icy glare and concerned apprehension. It screamed the mom look "I love you but I will kill you if you make me". Which gave me pause. I had no actual proof of anything we survivors had discussed. Neither the earthlings or the Vauthians had any first hand info. Guesses, educated ones true, but still guesses. Second hand descriptions and promises from an unavailable party. Traditions passed down from a time of war, upheaval, and great suffering. All of which was biased. I guess there was no reason to not at least be civil while we spoke. Reigning in my emotions and my expressions I tried again.


    "Hello Caroline, I''m Elliot, Pleased to make your acquaintance" extending my hand I shook the one she met it with. Seeing the hands of misty darkness and oil paint grasp I wondered if there was a joke to be made here. The feeling of our handshake distracted me though, It felt like two completely normal hands shaking. Pushing that out of mind I refocused on ''Caroline'', I hadn''t missed she''d said I could call her that not that it was her name, but I had more important things to deal with "Please offer me what help you can".


    She leaned back, giving me the smallest of once overs, then spoke "Much of what I can offer has already been given." Raising a hand she indicated the very body I was now inhabiting. "Of course that''s hopefully not all I''ve already given. Tell me, can you remember anything you didn''t do yourself?" I nodded not wanting to interrupt "Good, that''ll be very useful going forward. I had hoped but wasn''t certain, Some abilities like this allow memory transfer while connected, and some don''t. You can peruse those at a later time. We tested out that body extensively." Straining I managed to push down my inner Michael Scott, and refrained from spouting childish phrases. "I''m sure there are more pressing questions you have first"


    My mouth opened ready for the deluge of things that had been pooling in my head to flow forth. Nothing came out. Either my brain was not sure which to send first or my mouth was too mixed up with all the questions to even make a noise. Closing my mouth again I took a moment to think with what question to begin the tapestry that would depict the situation best. As I did so a question that had occurred to me but had always felt the least important came to the forefront. "How are you and I communicating? For that matter how are the Vauthians communicating with us? Are you messing with our heads? Am I even speaking the same language still?"


    "My you are a paranoid one" She smiled wistfully "Not that I blame you. You and I are speaking the same language you''ve always spoken. In fact so were the Vauthians, but for different reasons. I simply learned it, although simply isn''t exactly the right word, but compared to the process you''d normally go through to learn a new language it was much easier for me. While they, hmm... it''s a process which is significantly too complex to go into detail, lets just say it''s a perk of their ''system'' which isn''t so much messing with them as making life easier for the both of you"


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "I''d... actually thrown that out randomly as it just occurred to me but now you''ve piqued my interest" I frowned, my curiosity firing off at such a simple thing when there was a literal, or at least self proclaimed, god sitting in front of me actually annoyed me. "But, like you said too complex and there are more important things to worry about. You say you''re the only one feeding me as if you''re on my side. Sure you gave me my ability, but didn''t all the others get either a system or ability too? how are you any different?"


    "How am I any different?... Ooof" She shook her head with a look as if she''d bit something sour. "Well I know for a fact every single other earthling received the ''basic bitch system''. Sure each god may have their own special flair in their design. Some might seem more powerful or capable but whichever collar they prefer they are all collars have no doubt. You''ll see that soon enough for yourself. What you''ll see as well is that my gift is just that. It''s no bait, no fancy collar, no shackle to bind you. I was also the only god to even offer the option. You don''t need to listen to me or ever return here gain, but it would be your loss to do so"


    The validity of any of this would be hard to confirm, but all the conversations from the others seemed to indicate it was true as far as I could verify. Most had mentioned their ''systems'' or more often calling them ''interfaces'' which allowed them to directly effect themselves and their progression. Some even showed off their abilities like Avery did. None mentioned a single node in their head, well two now, that had no instruction or defined function. I didn''t suddenly trust her yet but there was no point in not asking what I could for now.


    Which reminded me. "So, like clones? I can see that being very useful, but the gist of my memories aren''t indicating much strength or capabilities. How in the world am I going to do anything with this? How can I compete with the others" To be honest I had already thought of lots of things, but with how weak this body felt I definitely wasn''t going to be running down monsters with a hoard of shadow clones leaving a path of destruction in their wake. It felt more difficult to lift these arms than my flesh and bone ones. I doubted I''d be suddenly overpowered any time soon or ever. Especially not compared to someone like Avery who could already block a knife strike with her mind without even flinching.


    "No..." Caroline sighed "I can tell you''ve already got solutions you''re brewing. I don''t need to answer that. You knew the option you picked was going to be a more difficult start, You were planning for the long run, don''t quit before you even start. Besides the Accords don''t allow further gifts once you''ve all been returned to the arena. Technically you being here is already a violation, but one you''re not actually here, and two the accords only allowed the others to watch me when you were here at first. Speaking of..." she said pulling two books from nowhere and placed them in front of me, "read these. That''s one thing you can do with this" She winked.


    I pulled the books toward me. I may like having no limits but having no baseline either was quite bothersome. Second guessing myself wasn''t helping though, especially when I couldn''t change it. Looking at the first book I saw English Enochian Translation as it''s title. "Really!?" I blurted out looking up to find Caroline cracking up silently behind her hand.


    "No not really, but you understood what it meant right?" Rolling my eyes I turned back to the books, pulling the second out to see it''s title. I couldn''t actually read it at all. I guess it was ''Enochian'' or whatever the name for the actual ''language of the gods'' was. Turning back to the translation guide I opened it and began to read. "No, not you, you go back, do what you can there." Caroline huffed as she waved her hand again.


    This time I expected the change as I opened my eyes back in my room. Shaking my head I closed my eyes again. More annoyed at myself for completely forgetting to utilize my gifts as best I can, than I was at Caroline rudely shoving me out. But, come on who wouldn''t be interested and distracted to learn the language of the gods. As I expected the second node was opaque again. I was reminded though as next to it was the figurative glowing red button of my skill node. Exerting pressure into it I felt the same draining feeling and then, well nothing else, but looking at my nodes I now saw a third. This one dimly lit from an internal light. Pressing against it as I had the other I now saw my own head from behind. Looking down I saw the expected misty blackness of my new body. stepping up and around I looked at my face instead. With my eyes closed and having freshly bathed and changed there strangely didn''t seem to be any indication I''d been through anything harrowing. Let alone a war that left earth desolate, burning, and empty of those who used to call it home. Shifting my focus back to my internal self I saw that there were still three nodes. At least it seemed another shadow didn''t dispel the first. Opening my eyes I lurched back and threw my arms up "FUCK!" I cried even as I realized I was literally jumping at my own shadow.

 7 Getting the Lay of the land

    Letting my arms lower I saw my shadow doing the same. Apparently it was possible to spook you''re own shadow, if you suddenly screech at it and throw your arms up that is. Listening intently I didn''t hear anybody clambering toward my door. Thankfully I hadn''t cried out that loudly. "This feels so strange" came a voice from right in front of me. This time I refrained from either jerking or crying. "That it is" I replied to myself. Looking back at my shadow I thought again, literally to myself. "How about you.." I started and realized the shadow had spoken as well "Head out to explore?" the completed my thought. I nodded but it quickly turned into shaking my head "Great minds think alike, I guess" I mumbled, and heard the echo of the same from the shadow heading toward the door. Which was also shaking it''s head. We both snickered a bit. I guess there was really no point in talking to myself if I already knew exactly what I was going to say. I wondered if separation would result in a larger divergence over time. Right now it seemed we weren''t just the same person but had the exact same thought processes going on at the same time. Just another question I''d apparently have to address on my own.


    Getting up and heading over to the bed I was glad to feel that I was slightly more open to sleep but still a bit to shaken up. Luckily I had some memories to parse through that might lull me into sleep. Lying down I perused through what my shadow had learned from Caroline. Before I''d gotten into it too far I heard a throat cleared from the door, and looking up saw my shadow sheepishly looking back at me. "I ... can''t actually open the door". Right, I had remembered the door was a bit stiff and difficult to open for me. Damn having such a weak summon was annoying. Frowning I thought through the options, but decided I needed more info first. "One sec" I said while closing my eyes. Realizing as I did that we had already diverged a bit. I guess even mildly different experiences already broke the seemingly identical thought processes.


    Sifting through the most poignant memories of what Caroline had called extensive testing I checked if there was anything obvious we could do. Most of the memories contained simple tasks like picking things up, jumping, and running. None really stood out per se. Although one gave me a thought. Caroline had punched my shadow in the chest which caused it to burst like a fog bank being hit with a gust of wind. It appeared at first to have been completely destroyed, but after a moment it simply coalesced back into it''s humanoid shape. Never one to give an order that I wouldn''t do myself I turned to the nodes in my mind. Opening my eyes in my shadow by the door I walked to the window, luckily this was not as stiff as the door had been and I was able to open it. Stepping through the small opening I slammed onto the ground 4 paces below. Even having the memories of being burst apart before It was incredibly odd to experience it firsthand. A bit like doing a somersault, but continually and in every direction at once as different wisps of myself roiled from the impact. While I slowly coalesced back into my normal shape I realized I wasn''t in pain, or nauseous. Although I was disoriented there didn''t seem to be any of the normal feedback loops of a flesh and blood body. I guess there were some upsides to this.


    After my shape stabilized I got back up then returned to my original body and closed the window, before going back to bed. For about an hour I sifted through more of the memories from the shadow trapped with Caroline. Extensive was probably an understatement for the testing. They''d tried seemingly random things. Squeezing things, pouring different liquids onto my misty hands, pressing different solids to my ''skin'', as well as numerous other things I personally wouldn''t have thought of. Another of the memories stood out. In fact it both gave me a headache and made me nauseous. Making me wish I was back in the shadow body. Caroline had lead my shadow back into the initial meeting room and presented a single one of the instruments from the operating room to it. There the shadow had closed it''s eyes and looked internally like I do. I was surprised to see it also had a ''skill node''. Couldn''t really call it a neuron if it was made of shadow could I? It gave the same feel as my connections to the shadow, that of a pane of glass. When it pressed itself to the glass though something completely different happened. It didn''t open it''s eyes in my body, but rather it fell through the glass. Violently bright colors, sharp tangential lines, and swirling mists of all kinds assaulted me. I''m sure the actual experience was slightly different and probably much worse than the memory. The image stabilized to show essentially the same scene from before. Caroline sitting on the other side of the table, the tool between them, and the shadow sitting as well. Now though things appeared as if through a filter. The ''shadow'' was now a glowing mist, the air looked hazy, the instrument in front of me glowed slightly with intricate patterns, Caroline however looked exactly as she did previously. Apparently she wasn''t kidding when she''d said I would see only what she wanted me to see. This ability was apparently very hard to control though as the vision wavered and changed. Not just the colors though. The shapes of the table, the instrument, and the shadow warped and undulated changing to spheres, morphing into lines that stretched to infinity and shook as if they were displays in a media player for an audio file. As well as many other shapes between and beyond comprehension. Luckily that portion of the memory ended there as the shadow jerked back to it''s body and refused to continue that portion of the testing.


    On and on my mind sifted through the memories. Usually just giving them a quick once over as I scrolled through. There were clearly many hours, possibly days worth of tests having been done here. I guess I wasn''t wrong that some kind of time warping was happening in that weird place. From all this I was repeatedly returning to one very bleak point. These shadows were very weak. Essentially powerless except for niche capabilities and uses. For a while I kept perusing the memories, But eventually their almost identical nature lulled me into a deep sleep. I was surprised to find myself waking up after dawn to a knock on my door. Edward, who''d been the other chosen to stay here for the night, let me know breakfast was ready. Informing him I''d be down shortly, I sat up slowly looking out the window. Doing so Recognition brought something to my attention. Every building I could see I knew, and had a reasonable understanding of where it was and what was around it. Assimilating information from my shadows was apparently a background process while asleep. I was hoping to continue finding little surprises like this as without them I think I may have royally screwed myself.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Dismissing the errant thought I turned back to my newly assimilated knowledge. I had a reasonably good mental map of the entire town. It seemed my initial guess was reasonably good. From the number of currently functional buildings it could easily house over 1000 people. Although if that many were left I didn''t yet know. That wasn''t one of the questions we''d thought to ask the town counsel last night. The excursion showed that the town had been much larger initially. It had sprawled across both sides of the abutted river in the past. The husks of broken, burnt, but mostly clearly intentionally deconstructed buildings showed as much.


    From the layout it looked like this had been a rather new section of the town that had been abandoned pulling back to this side of the river. There was a large section of the town on this side that appeared to have been walled for several generations due to the clear difference in age, and that the older portion circled what was likely the initially small village. The other side of the river still held the many fields of the town. The fields were surrounded by a much simpler rope fence. The purpose was clearly not direct defense, and after peeking into one of the small wooden outpost towers along it my shadow had confirmed those ropes connected to bells in the tower to alert if something crossed into the fields. These outposts had each housed a few guards up top, but as a being of literal shadow it wasn''t too hard to stay hidden at night. Although I didn''t expect I would be in trouble for exploring I was rather sure guards wouldn''t respond well to meeting an entity of shadow in the middle of the night.


    This knowledge resurfaced as I got up and pulled my cloths back on. For a half second I wondered where my shadow had run off to, but even as the thought came a realized I already knew. It was merged with the shadow of the very building I was standing in. This gave me even further hope of growth. Apparently this was something we could do now. "Hmm" I said out loud with a nod of surprised approval. This gave me an idea. Sitting back on the rug in the middle of the room I was glad to find my skill node was ready and soon another shadow was sitting behind me. As I stood and walked to the door the shadow merged with the natural one trailing behind me without being told, as I''d been thinking of doing so when it''d been created. Twisting my head about I saw absolutely nothing other than the natural shadow. "That''s pretty awesome" two voices said. I chuckled as I stepped out the door, but didn''t correct my shadow-self as I knew the other me would also realize doing that around others would make things weird. As I got to the stairs I paused once more realizing I hadn''t actually looked at the other point of view. Shifting inward again I looked through the eyes of this third shadow. The view was strange I could see myself as I expected but it was much more similar to a third person camera view than one of looking at someone while standing right behind them.


    Continuing down the stairs I realized I''d almost instantly looked inward, shifted my view to the shadow, and done all that while standing up. I was definitely improving with this. Strange how quickly you become familiar with such things. The moment I stepped onto the ground floor Marilla handed me what looked exactly like an egg and bacon sandwich from earth. She shuffled us out the door and pointed to the crowd of other earthlings telling us Kendrick, who I saw standing in front of them would hand out tasks. In front of the house, where the morning shadows were cast, the other shadow hoped from the buildings into my natural shadow. I was surprised that was even possible but a quick shift of focus showed me how. Apparently to a shadow different shadows, even one''s melded together, were as obviously different as, no pun intended, night and day. It was a bit like the vision Carolina''s trapped shadow saw while looking through it''s own internal node. Although calling the difference a color wasn''t right. But trying to discern or describe it was like trying to describe to someone what any color looked like. Without something to compare it too doing so was useless.


    Having the skill to slip two shadows in my shadow, say that ten times fast, was useful. Although it didn''t make any obvious difference to me. I hadn''t even felt a difference with one vs none. I followed Edward to the group of us Earthlings standing near Kendrick. Looking over the crowd I realized there were significantly more than had actually shown up yesterday. There were about 45-50 of us yesterday, but there were around 200 people milling about. It seemed these were the others who''d showed up earlier than us. It made me wonder about the exact mechanics of the translation, but I doubted anybody here knew how it worked. Should have asked Caroline about that. We were not the last to arrive but pretty close too it. Only a few others showed up before Kendrick gave some basic introductions to the others from earth. Despite what Marilla said it was them who began splitting those of us who were new into different guard, attack, and labor groups based on our ''system'' abilities.

 8 The New Normal

    We were quickly sorted as a 3 to 1 ratio of Earthlings that''d already been here for days to us meant discussions of capabilities, preferences, and previous experience were all held simultaneously and since we were all from earth also meant communication was a little smoother. Being able to speak the same language isn''t the same thing as having lived in the same culture and historical time frame and so having similar ideals. This even gave us a little one on one time to ask a few more questions and get a feel for the situation. We found that discussions of improving life in the city had been had, several times already. Those that got here earlier were surprised to learn, as were we that there were some buildings that actually had plumbing installed prior to our arrival, but something more along the lines of a water closet than any modern appliance. Resources were in short supply here, as well as time and manpower, so town wide modern sewage and plumbing systems weren''t going to be completed any time soon, but there were plans for implementation when time and resources allowed. Currently the only reasonable effort they''d agreed upon with the town was a separate channel being dug for sewage disposal that would have an offshoot of the river fed in to keep it flushed clean. Instead of dumping everything directly into the river.


    While discussing my capabilities I had a deep twinge of guilt. I know it''s a common thought to not want to share capabilities or shortcomings, but I still felt an extreme sense of guilt for it . In the end I shared that I could ''skry'' from another''s shadow I''d previously marked, so may be good at assisting with scouting but didn''t really have much in the way of defensive or attack capabilities. With further discussion we decided I''d stay with the group designated to guard the woodcutters in the same direction that the attack group was exploring in hopes to scope out a rift they knew to be in the direction. In case of any issue with the attack group I could warn those on guard duty to send aid or at least give warning of a need to retreat. Edward surprised me in taking a position among the attack group. It did make sense with his capabilities seemingly focusing on speed but I wasn''t expecting it due to his demeanor the night before. I had to remind myself that people are more complex than how they behave in one single scenario. People could surprise you, and in this case I was glad for it. Avery of course joined the Attack group as well. My shadows, who were obviously able to listen in and of course knew what I was thinking jumped into their shadows.


    We met up with the Vauthian contingent of the attack, labor, and guard groups that were heading out and started the march toward the treeline. The day became rather dull after that, but with an undertone of danger. We saw a few rift spawn on our way out, but with the fastidiously cleared area they weren''t able to ambush us and were dealt with quickly. The archers had pin-cushioned all but one of them before they''d even moved to attack. The other did move to attack and even got close but was still killed well beyond melee range. Which reminded me I should ask about some training.  I didn''t fancy myself a marksman by any stretch of the imagination. I''d never hunted with a bow, but I had some minor experience with a compound bow recreationally. I''d definitely need a refresher, and extensive training on hitting a moving target but it should be something I could at least do to contribute.


    Arriving at our temporary lumber camp others bustled to either set up a perimeter or got their tools and saw benches set up for both taking down trees and working the wood afterward. Meanwhile I got as comfortable as I could, taking a seat at the head of one of the wagons. I was hoping the day of shifting back and forth between looking through the two shadows I had access to was going to be uneventful. I''d rather that than the alternative. As it would mean something horrible had happened. By lunch I was thankfully correct. The attack party had run into many more rift spawn in the forest but had been thankfully unharmed. Mainly thanks to their rigorous discipline in keeping an eye out in every direction and maintaining communication between different sections of the group. It did make advancing slower but everyone was more interested in staying alive than finding the rift sooner.


    My shadows and I had actually made another minor discovery while we were keeping our vigilant watch. Throughout the day, when the attack group had stopped to discuss or survey the path ahead I''d been running little tests. For hours we had found nothing, but eventually one of the shadow clones had discovered a way to alert me. There wasn''t another ''node'' for this. The feeling was similar to how mana felt in my body, which I''d surprisingly found the shadow had as well. Although unsurprisingly it seemed, relatively, to be one hundredth the size of mine. The connection though was an omnipresent feeling throughout the shadows being, as if every direction lead back to me. For lack of a better term the shadow could ''yell'' out into this ''connection'' and I would feel a sense of alarm along with whatever the message was. It wasn''t huge but was a godsend to me as it meant I could focus on something else while they were scouting. Up until lunch I''d been holding off actually doing anything else. Still testing out the newly discovered capability to become familiar with it. From time to time I still directly connected just to confirm something wasn''t going awry. After lunch though I was confident that even focused on something else I''d be able to recognize and respond to such a message. The rest of the day I helped the labor group chop wood to keep myself busy.


    Evening rolled around and the attack group came back to the day camp having found nothing. They''d hadn''t yet searched half the area that the older records suggested the rift was in so it wasn''t surprising they hadn''t located it yet. My shadows merged back to my natural shadow which reminded me. It''d been nearly 8 hrs since I''d spawned a shadow last, or at least I was pretty sure it was. Looking inward I wasn''t too surprised to find that my mana wasn''t actually full again. Could have been something to do with the last two spawns having me actually sleeping between. Something we''d need to look into later as I didn''t really have a way to confirm the passing of time yet. Asking Avery apparently others had a clock in their system. She confirmed it hadn''t actually been 8 hrs yet. I''d just check once we got back.


    We saw nothing out of the norm on the trek back to town which made sense as we''d cleared it on the way out. That didn''t mean we were any less vigilant. There hadn''t been a swarm in days so tensions were higher expecting it could come at any time. Upon our arrival back to town I saw the guards around town switching for the next shift. This got me thinking back to how I''d initially wondered why it''d be so hard for 1000 people to fend off these attacks and expand. But If an attack could come at any time guards would need to be rotated. Those guarding would not be able to do much else. Any excursion outside of town would need double or triple the people you''d normally expect if any measure of safety was expected to be maintained. Much of the effort back in town would need to be focused onto defense as well, further stifling growth. And that wasn''t taking into account that despite their hyper vigilance they still lost people, materials, and effort if there was ever an attack that slipped through into town or a day camp. I was beginning to see why they''d been stuck at square one for so long.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Before heading back to Marilla''s I had one of the others lead me to Kendrick''s place. He apparently had a few old books He had let some of the others borrow before. They hadn''t read them through as three were fictions and the fourth was a dictionary, but to me it would be worth it as my shadows could read them at night and I''d get some idea of cultural norms and ideals locally. At least that was the idea before grabbing the books and realizing these were not in English. Of course they weren''t in English Caroline had plainly said they didn''t know English, just had some system perk capable of translating. Apparently the others from earth had something similar that allowed them to read them cause they didn''t mention that at all. Having run into this after watching some of those in the attack group level up today made me question myself all over gain. The fear of sharing weaknesses hit me though so I still took the books. Maybe I could work out some deal with Edward to help me understand the words or read it out loud to me. He seemed like a pretty trustworthy guy. When I got back to Marilla''s he wasn''t actually there yet. Must have hung out with somebody or gone off exploring. Marilla had some soup ready so I sat down and ate with her. Having set the books on the table she looked them over and pulled on out saying it''d been her favorite. Through some careful wording I convinced her to read it to me without implying I couldn''t actually understand it. While doing so I had the shadows merge with hers and ''read along''.


    Luckily as she was reading to me her system automatically translated everything and I was able to hear the story while my shadows did their best to assign meaning to the words on the page. I wasn''t surprised to find after heading upstairs that they''d only caught a few conjunctions, prepositions, and other basic building blocks of the language. But that might be enough to start with. After quickly dealing with the sweat and grime of the day I headed to my room. There I found what I was hoping for I could spawn another shadow. Unfortunately I''d been too distracted with the lost in translation issue to remember after getting back to town so I lost a couple hours. Not that big of a deal. Another shadow joined the other two in the room staring at the four books lying out in front of them. But, I didn''t go to sleep right away, it was still too early. I headed to the barracks instead, where I luckily found a few of the guards who provided me a bow to practice with and even gave me pointers for a couple hours. The next three days passed with this routine. There were of course some changes.


    There was the increase in shadows tailing me and others throughout the day. Tonight I would be able to spawn my 14th mini me. Although that was hours off yet. I''d also gained a much better grasp on Vauthian text. I''d gone through a few more books swapping out my little temporary library a few times. I''d sent the fiction books back to Kendrick, having read them to Marilla to confirm my understanding. I hung onto the dictionary though, after confirming that was fine with him. As well as asked about some others who I could borrow from. Unfortunately nearly every book was either some piece of fiction, an unimportant document regarding some local affair, or a description of the long past which was about as poetic as it was historic. leaving lost of uncertainty as to it''s validity. There was one book the master blacksmith let me borrow begrudgingly that described rune working but it was more of a diary of his progress rather than any kind of instruction manual or educational text. It did contain some rudimentary sketches of some runes though. Not just the physical engraving that would bind it to the piece either. There were 2 dimensional representative drawings of what he said his system helped him see while working it into the metal. They reminded me of the strange filter vision my shadows had. Which prompted me to do the testing I''d committed to today.


    While my shadows were following around Edward, Avery, and 11 of the other Attack group they were periodically looking at them in their shadow vision. Small bursts help not blow their little shadow minds. The imagery I was getting back was slowly getting clearer and more cohesive as the day went on. It seemed the spherical, line view, and multiple others in between and beyond were different angles or wavelength of viewing the same thing. I was hesitant to call it the soul or any such thing. But the imagery, especially the spherical one was heavily implying it. We''d been focusing on mainly trying to get to and keep a single wavelength focused as quickly and as long as possible. We''d found one by accident that looked like an ectoplasmic humanoid blob with strange protrusions that didn''t look too far off from what the blacksmith had documented as actual runes. It was during one of these points where the shadows were particularly focused on this that all hell broke loose.


    There had just been a small skirmish with a reasonably large group of rift spawn after which the attack group was regrouping. With a good perimeter set up the shadows had taken the opportunity to give the majority of their eyes to the task. The problem wasn''t even that nobody was paying attention. Warnings did come from those on watch and the fight had started. But it quickly became apparent that something was very wrong as the warning had come from every direction at once. Not only that but it was clear that there were larger groups in every direction than the previously fought group. The leadership did the best they could. Tightening the formation and pushing in a single direction, hoping to punch through one side fast enough to not be pinchered fully. I had of course informed the guard group who had immediately begun evacuating the labor group while sending a few of the fastest runners back to town so they could prepare. It wasn''t enough though. The Shadows were showing me the attack group wouldn''t be out in time. Somebody would need to act. As the expendable man on the team I would need to act. My shadows begrudgingly separated themselves from their rides drawing gasps all around.

 9 The big reveal

    While some did just gasp and stare, while my shadows jumped out of their hiding places, others were not so unpracticed. Three different shadows were immediately set upon by several members of the Attack group. "HEY!" my voice shouted out from the mouths of the nine other shadows as the first three dodged, "It''s me Elliot, keep running I''ll distract them". All but one of the attackers stopped in confusion while that last one landed a hit bursting that particular shadow into dispersed mist. Instead of wasting any further time the other 11 shadows ran in the opposite direction the Group was heading. Fanning out and hollering to gather as much attention from the attackers as possible.


    As the shadows ran as fast as they could out of the group and directly into the waiting jaws of the hound like rift spawn I realized something I''d been neglecting. Whatever extreme limitations my shadows had in the physical department it was luckily directly countered, at least in moving about, by the fact that shadows weighed essentially nothing. Well an actually shadow does in fact weigh nothing, but whatever misty darkness these were made out of did have a bit of weight. Either way it worked out to where running and jumping were actually slightly easier. I guess I should have been practicing some free running and gymnastics when I had the time. Either way it wasn''t that far off from my normal experience to actually hinder me. If I survived it would add a great training regimen to improve with.


    Or at least that''s what I was thinking in my completely safe body back at the lumber day camp as I rather sedately evaluated the situation. In comparison the thoughts of nearly every shadow was something more along the lines of "AAAAAAAAAHHH!", as they jumped over gnashing mouths and swiping claws. In fact it wasn''t just a thought. I''d seen as initially the scream had started to draw attention away from the rest of the group. That had quickly shifted into a full on scream of terror as they got up close and personal with the hounds. Surprisingly only one of the 11 who''d run headlong into the enemy had been bitten so far. Resulting in another billowy cloud of the black mist. The hounds had pounced into it uselessly biting, yapping, and growling. I was so lucky that whatever these shadows were made of wasn''t exactly physical, and of course the part where pain was essentially non existent I was infinitely grateful for. Though, that didn''t really do anything to help the visceral feeling of those things teeth and claws sliding through the shadows bodies, and of course the image of numerous mouths slobbering in your face with a hungry look of death.


    This was around the time that the first shadow to pop was starting to coalesce back into it''s proper shape. After which it caught up, and jumped over the literal doggy pile where the other had gone down and caused them to give chase. Off into the woods the shadows hopped and skipped. you might say that''s a little too light of a term, but in the forest you couldn''t just do a flat out run, not with the undergrowth, debris, and fallen logs to contend with. This wasn''t a regularly maintained trail that we were leading a ''hike'' down. I''d like to say it was planned but the first shadow to come back to the attack group was actually completely by chance. It was, just like all the others were, running as if their life depended on it and happened to circle back. It was also fortuitously after the Attack group had gotten a grip on the situation and were handily dispatching the group of rift hounds that had ignored the shadows.


    While the Attack group intercepted the chasing pack of rift hounds the shadow still kept running for a bit before collapsing down on the ground. Surprisingly actually tired out. I''d need to do some testing as to what made them tired, as it definitely wasn''t muscles tiring out. As the shadow panted and stared up in to the treetops Edward came running over. "The captain says to Tell the others to start leading the packs over one at a time." The shadow stopped panting to respond but paused before doing so. Apparently it didn''t actually need to pant, or really breathe at all, it was just a knee jerk reaction to the chase and feeling of exhaustion.


    Nodding it''s head the shadow responded with my voice "aye aye Captian" then threw a mock salute before flopping back down. It sent the message to me which I then relayed to the others. I''d been practicing with the way the shadows could reach out to me and found I could do the same with them. Sending a small message wasn''t the only part though. Instead of just pushing myself into the body I could do something along the lines of remote viewing instead. Which definitely helped in the case where I didn''t want to jump into a body mid stride causing it to stumble and be eaten by hounds while I was inside.


    As the shadows didn''t yet have the capability I spent the next hour coordinating staggered waves of shadow lead rift hounds back to the attack group. I would need to have the shadows attempt to communicate with each other as well at some point. It would definitely make communication smoother. Especially if I was asleep or unconscious for any other reason. I''d also had to work to swap out the shadows being chased as they were quickly running out of steam. Eventually even causing a mild pain to persist throughout their bodies. At first I''d tried just slipping another in front while the other jumped out of the way, but the groups just split. Luckily the worn out shadow panicked and jumped into the shadow of a tree. Which was a much easier method of swapping them out from thereon. Eventually the last of the shadows was leading in their pack of, surprisingly still aggressive, rift hounds.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Turning my attention back to the other shadows I picked up on a growing unease. Just as the shadows had been swapping out to conserve energy the rest of the Attack group had been as well. Currently a majority of them were standing back a few paces. Still keeping watch around but also shooting glances at the ever growing crowd of shadows standing in the middle. I couldn''t point to a single one who actually appeared upset. Curiosity seemed to be the major expression. However, internally I was still feeling that old habit of questioning what others were thinking of me burning strong. This time though it was multiplied by 11 as every shadow head not currently being chased by hounds was each providing their own internal commentary on just how much exactly they felt everyone hated them. Worried I might get myself worked up into a panic I suggested they jump back in to the shadows of those they were previously hitching a ride with, and maybe count to ten to help. I actually did the same back in my body while riding the wagon into town. Adding a few deep breaths that definitely improved my overall mood. That was until the last shadow actually finished leading their tailing pack in. As the last of them fell bleeding to the ground they heard the captain shout "You lot Grab a moment of rest, the rest of you grab up the hounds and lash them up for transport, no sense in wasting good leather." turning to the last shadow he continued "And, you... Elliot?" He said with a slight question in his voice "front and center"


    Every single one of the hundreds of fears the shadows and I had concocted flooded through our collective thoughts again. Stepping forward my shadow put out a sheepish "yes sir?".


    He stared at me for what I knew was only a moment but when you''ve got a bakers dozen of different heads fretting over things, any time span can feel like an eternity. "That was good work distracting the Rift spawn." He let that hang and I felt a little relieved but I could tell there was something else coming "However, surprising your allies in the middle of combat by jumping out at them is never suggested let alone advised. You will report to the barracks on return to town. We''ll need to discuss methods of utilizing your skillset that isn''t as much a detriment as it is useful" He paused looking around at Edward, Avery, and the others who''s shadows hosted mine. "That means each of your shadows" He said turning back to me "And your physical body too"


    "Yes sir.." the shadow that he''d been speaking to said. Standing there unsure what to do the shadow felt relieved as the captain moved on barking orders to whomever didn''t seem to be at the tasks he''d assigned. With everyone else focused on gathering up the hounds the last shadow slipped into the refuge of another''s natural shadow. In doing so embodying the wish that every single human that''d ever been publicly embarrassed before has had at least once. That to shrink into nothingness and disappear completely. Unfortunately that didn''t help too much but with an effort of will we managed to turn our thoughts to productive matters. If everyone already knew I had these weird shadow clones there was no point in hiding anymore. The shadows Popped back out, one after another this time as to not frighten my comrades. Heading to the Captain the group got his attention with another hesitant "Sir?.."


    "Yes Elliot" The captain said turning to us and looking expectantly. I was instinctually turning back to fretting over possible reactions he could have, as well as wondering how he might be feeling about me, but one thought helped me quiet those others. On a battlefield it wasn''t about what you felt or thought of someone, it was whether you survived to return home. If the captain seemed gruff, or unconcerned about my feelings it was not important, only returning was.


    With a little more confidence I provided my suggestion "I could set up an advanced perimeter for us while we march out." He gave a grunt and swept his view across the assembled group almost imperceptibly nodding at each one of us. It looked like he was counting us.


    "with two conditions" He started giving a look over us again. It seemed he expected a response so we nodded and he continued "You don''t seem to have much trouble taking hits, but it seems you likewise can''t dish any out is that accurate" Again we nodded and again he continued "Do not expect that just because this type of rift spawn couldn''t harm you that no others will be able to either. Some are as ethereal as you are, and some can still interact with such entities without being so themselves" All the shadows nodded again even though he hadn''t seemed to be looking at us let alone asking for confirmation "Any sign of trouble, and you alert us while retreating immediately, do not try to engage or even distract unless directed to do so" This time he looked again and we obediently nodded in response "As to the perimeter you will form two circles one within shouting distance but past our forward and rear guard formed by three of you spaced out. The other formed with 8 at closer to a mile out. Lastly one of you will remain next to me at all times to ensure good communication." We nodded one last time and began spreading out, the one closest to the captain actually saying "yes sir" and remaining beside him.

 10 To the principals office

    In the middle of the cliche war room was the cliche circular table with a map of the surrounding area. OK maybe they didn''t call it the war room, technically the table was rectangular, and the map was just rolled out on it. I was a little testy with having been sent to the principals office and then made to wait while they dealt with something else first. Granted that was reorganizing the defense of the town for the clearly approaching wave of rift spawn. That only slightly alleviated my consternation. I''d rather not be the reason that a hoard of monsters slipped past any defensive position that was overlooked. That didn''t mean I was fine sitting in the corner like a misbehaving child while the adults talked. I didn''t really have any input into the current conversation though, and they had asked me here to discuss ways to better assist not to reprimand me.


    You''d think a group that had to defend themselves on a weekly or sometimes even more regular basis, and who''d had to do so for generations would have this down pat. This discussion had corrected and edified me on just how mistaken that was. Different types of hoards required different responses. Specific attack patterns, types of enemies, quantities of enemies, and numerous other things were taken into account. Other things like the chances of related rift spawn types showing up, variants, or just a completely different hoard than expected were discussed. Things like reports of what types of spawns had been received, at what quantities and in which direction were all taken into account to give a good estimate of all of these. Apparently the types of hounds we''d seen were ones they''d seen several times before. Pulling out a set of books and going through them they confirmed that on at least three other occasions these hounds had been accompanied by Kobolds in the latter stages. I needed to borrow that set of books. Wish someone had mentioned those before. Although it was entirely possible they had. I wasn''t exactly known for paying much attention to things I''m not interested in. Fighting definitely wasn''t, at least currently, one of those things. What with my shadows being popped with a rather hard scratch, and myself being little better than I was upon arrival.


    I looked about the room again. Avery and Edward were already out getting whatever it was they''d been sent to do done. Samuel though was here. He''d been in the guard group that stayed back at the town most days, but even he''d found enough experience to grow into something that earth, the old one, might have actually classed as a weapon of mass destruction. Only a little exaggeration there. He was some mage variant specializing in fire. I couldn''t even scoff at the generic choice because the damage capabilities were nothing to... well scoff at, but also because I''d made the most banal choice for "true power" I wasn''t really one who could judge.


    Speaking of I realized I should be close to... yep shadow #14 here we come. The other shadows gathered around behind me. We''d decided earlier to use the ''extra-dimensional sight'' ability from every angle while I spawned the next shadow. It was strange having a conversation with yourself. Even weirder with 12 other versions of you. With all the time passing divergence was definitely becoming a thing. Not that we were no longer the same person but that different trains of thought were running in each of these heads. Meaning even though every one of these heads had access to the same pool of knowledge, they were all using and accessing it from different points of view giving a much better grasp of any topic. Still at least some of that conversation was lamenting holding off using the sight for so long.


    We''d had a chance to look at my physical body while waiting. Just as with the other Earthlings, and the Vauthians I had some of the runic formations sprouting on me. Focused entirely on the back of my head. At least in the one wavelength that seemed to show an ectoplasmic duplicate of my body. Most of the Shadows were looking in this wavelength while a couple were looking in others. One was using the spherical ''soul'' view. Another the view that showed a single line of ''amplitude'' vibrating constantly. With the shadows arrayed behind and to the sides of me, with one even standing on a chair to look from above, I triggered the creation of a new shadow spawn. Another version of me, this one like the others made of shadow and mist, appeared behind me.


    Of course just after this is when the attack group Captain, who''s name I''d recently learned was Riedel, called me over "We''re ready for you Elliot". It''s not like I could parse through all the memories of what just happened right now anyway. As I walked over the shadows behind me quickly started conversing with one another. Not bothering to wait like I had decided to. Apparently whatever they''d seen was surprising, interesting, and mind blowing as some of them described it. Approaching the table I said "Yes, captain?"


    The captain wasn''t the only one at the table. Kendrick, the other counselors, the other captains of the other groups, and a few key individuals from earth were present as well as some members of both the attack and guard groups. Not wasting any time Riedel began as soon as he had my attention. "We have come up with what we feel would be a good addition to the current defense plans utilizing your skill set. However, it would be unwise to implement without first confirming what those are." He didn''t pause for my input simply started firing away questions as to their observations of my abilities.


    "Firstly your shadows appear to be fully autonomous, yet you can also communicate between yourselves with non vocal means?" I nodded and he continued "We''ve already established your shadows are, although not entirely invulnerable to physical attack, at least able to recover from it quickly." This time no question per se but I still found myself nodding "Your shadows also seem capable of merging with a shadow to hide. We do not know, and we''re not sure if you do either, if this makes you fully undetectable or invulnerable in this state, are you open to testing this?" Knowing what little I did about Riedel I already knew he wasn''t one to care for exactly why I did or did not want something so I simply nodded rather than giving more. "Perfect, Please have them hide and you six try your best to locate them" He said indicating the group around the table that wasn''t in a leadership role. Hmm I thought, I guess they''d been here the whole time just for this test.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Turning around I found that the group of shadows was still chittering between themselves. I was a bit surprised, I guess whatever they saw was really quite interesting. Although being reduced to a checklist of capabilities we''d already discovered and utilized ages ago wasn''t really much to contend with. A mental ping of a throat clear pinged to each of them caused them to look up and then past me to the others stepping forward. The shadows then did another surprising thing. They unanimously looked slightly up and to the left as if thinking of something then immediately merged with the nearby shadows of chairs. Apparently I wasn''t the only one who could peruse the memories of the shadows. I had known they could do it as they always seemed to be aware of what I was, but it was interesting I hadn''t seen them do that specific motion before, even in a memory. Maybe it was an instinctual response now that we''d been practicing communicating mentally so much. Of course there was the fact that thy usually didn''t need to pull a prompt from me as either they already knew or had been paying attention. Either way, another question for later time.


    The group of six trackers, diviners, and one that I wasn''t sure what they were stopped and began to do .... nothing? At least not that I could see. A quick set of checks and pings got the few shadows who hadn''t already to start using the sight on the group. It was time to stop letting opportunities to learn slip me by. The trackers seemed to have a few different runic structures involved in what they were doing, or at least that seemed active. Surrounding, and inside of their eyes were some mildly glowing and flickering structures that were likely enhancing their vision. Further into their heads came a faint glow, it was difficult to make out what it was as seeing past the ''skin'' wasn''t easy, luckily it wasn''t fully opaque. The consensus was that it was likely a further enhancement of interpretation of the already empowered sight. We''d need to check the shadow''s ''sight'' and see what it looked like when they could see each other.


    The diviner''s abilities seemed to be focused on their hands. Structures pulled in ambient energies which guided them this way and that feeling where to go rather than seeing. The last had seemingly no directly involved structures whatsoever. Whatever he used must be internal. He did have runic structures on the surface, as they all did, but none that appeared to be doing anything related to this. There were some that were doing things but in what seemed a passive state. All of this was second hand information that was being sent by my shadows as they gained insight, but just the second hand information was quite enthralling. No wonder they''d been distracted earlier. I was definitely going to need to speak to the Master Blacksmith again. maybe watch him make some pieces. His runes were significantly less complex than these, but that might actually be a good stepping stone. As it was I couldn''t, and neither could my shadows, discern what exactly was happening or how. Yeah we were getting some Ideas, but it was one thing to have an idea of how something worked, and another entirely to actually know, then a third world spanning leap to actually be able to make the thing yourself. I needed to make strides here or I''d be left in the dust.


    The diviners distracted me from my internal train of thought which''d been derailed onto a tangential track. They had turned back to the captain shaking their heads. The Trackers were already standing back at the table. Apparently having almost immediately turned back realizing they could barely even see the steps the shadows made let alone follow them into the shadows. The diviners reported that they actually could detect the shadows, but couldn''t get a location or even a specific direction for them. The last tester still stood unmoving, eyes closed. After another moment they turned to the captain reporting that they likewise could detect the shadows but were also unable to directly find or interact with them. I was going to need to talk to this one eventually their abilities may be related to the sight the shadows had. In the meantime Riedel turned to me and continued as if we hadn''t just tested for a few minutes.


    "These six are our best trackers diviners and soul searchers" I noted that for later "That they couldn''t locate you is a good sign, and it is unlikely any rift spawn we''ll be facing will have any kind of shadow capabilities that might prove them wrong, but that doesn''t mean you should let your guard down. We''d like your shadows to head in the direction we''d been searching today. Hopefully finding the hoard and leading them back this way. Preferably without destroying any of your small legion in the process. This will of course mean we have a battle ahead of us, but we feel it would be better to address it head on, rather than waiting for what could be several more days for them to find us on their own. All the while on high alert" I nodded but didn''t yet speak, captain Riedel''s tone indicating he had more to say "If this goes as we hope we will also be discussing a change to the searches each day, capitalizing on your capabilities for that front as well" I nodded again, although inside of 14 different heads I was not liking the way I was becoming a central point of attention to everything.

 11 A stroll through the woods

    The forest around me set a good tone for what was the first time I had been able to spend alone for the last few chapters of my life. Sadly my reason for walking through it was not just to look out for, but to actively seek a hoard of monsters. That wasn''t even all, the goal was to actively get their attention and have them chase me. For now though I had some time to just appreciate the isolation and environment to think without needing to worry about what others were thinking or doing around, or about me.


    This was really only possible because regardless of the hoard I was seeking I was in no danger. At least the 13 of my bodies that were out here weren''t. My physical presence was still back in the barracks where, technically speaking, I was still surrounded by at least a dozen other people. My practice with syncing to my shadows gave me the blinders I needed to see just the trees around them and get the break I needed to think. Becoming the center of attention had woken me up from the reactionary life I''d been living the last few days here, and really back on earth for the last year or so. I don''t really like to call myself antisocial but I knew my tendencies were to separate myself further and further until I suddenly realized I was entirely alone, even while in the presence of a group of people. It wasn''t exactly that I didn''t like to talk to people, or at least I didn''t feel like that was the case. I definitely enjoyed when I actually wanted to spend time with others. Some had even called me a motor mouth when I was in the mood to talk, but when I wasn''t in the mood I was essentially mute.


    I''d never really understood why people felt being a loner was such a bad thing, especially if you do intermittently come out of your shell and interact from time to time. These recent changes had given me at least a few reasons why keeping in touch wasn''t just for social purposes. Getting input from others had already forced me to test out several things I hadn''t even thought of doing before. Granted some were my idea, but were prompted by situations involving others. Of course there were those that were others ideas, and it sounded like that would continue. If they did and went as well as they had so far, I might actually shore up some of the things I felt were holding me back from catching up with my fellow Earthlings. I needed to find a happy medium between doing my own thing and including others in my progression. Definitely didn''t want to become the towns next socialite, but also didn''t want to miss out on improvements I could be making simply because I wasn''t letting others even know what my capabilities, struggles, and plans were.


    Though I went back and forth on just how much or little I wanted others involved I couldn''t come to a definite answer. It wouldn''t hurt to leave a little wiggle room. I''m sure there would be times I''d want more interaction, although I know in general I''d prefer a minimum. This was definitely one of those times where I was surrounded by people but it was all just a little too much and I needed to escape, luckily I now had a perfect vehicle to shut off my senses and tune into somewhere a little less crowded. With the walk through the woods for the last hour, I had reached my fill and turned to other internal distractions as I still wasn''t feeling like engaging with anyone else in the room. Pulling back from the shadow I was currently using to appreciate the forest stroll I looked at the now impressive wall of what I''d started calling my security monitors. I could even get a gist of the images each shadow was seeing from this angle so the analogy worked quite well. Well all but the one that had stayed stubbornly opaque since the short return visit on my first night here. I was resentful not having access, more because I just wanted my shadow back than I was actually wanting to talk to Caroline right now. Although at this point one extra shadow wasn''t going to change things too much. Refocusing past the distraction of the blacked out ''screen'' I took a general view of them and started drawing up the memories of the newest shadows spawning.


    There wasn''t much to go over. The whole process took approximately a tenth of a second from start to finish. You''d think that creation of an autonomously thinking and acting being would take longer. The compensation was that although it happened incredibly fast it wasn''t because there was so little happening. Looking at others I could see a consistent spread of different runes throughout the surface of their ectoplasmic frequency. Some had discernible glows or fluctuations from under the surface indicating further structures. I had even detected some of these structures in the spherical frequency I''d been calling the ''soul'' on many individuals. The difference wasn''t that I had more structures, but that all of them were singularly focused into a monolithic structure on the back of my head. From a certain angle it looked like I had devil horns coming out. Although it was a bit more like an entire set of horns forming something like a rib cage, or what could possibly be called the most macabre crown ever designed. Meanwhile my soul showed a ring of structures and clear indication of sub surface activity as well.


    Playing back the memories reminded me of something although I wasn''t sure at first. They showed essentially the same thing in the different frequencies, but with a different detail, and at slightly different timing. The single line of amplitude showed initially what it always did. The image was essentially exactly what you''d see looking at a amplitude visualization while playing an audio file. The main differences would become obvious the longer you looked though. A normal audio file had patterns. Ones I hadn''t realized my brain were aware of and tracked, but that were there all the same. They had a weight of sorts to them, rising up with a sound then falling back to a baseline. The ''cosmic string'' view was a bit more like a living thing that moved about almost randomly but with patterns of it''s own. As I watched the memory play through it seemed like the entirety of the line warped back upon itself in something akin to whiplash and an entirely new line vibrated itself off. I hadn''t really thought about what I was expecting but it was about what I would think would happen if I''d actually tried to give it some thought.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    The soul frequency showed something similar. Initially the surface inside the ring of runic structures depressed into a deep pit then spun until the opening closed itself off leaving an inverted hole inside the soul which then shot out. It''d initially stopped just a hairs breadth from the rest of the sphere then shot off and looked like it actually broke off from the soul entirely. Looking the memory over several times gave the impression that a nearly imperceptible thread was still connecting the new chunk of soul and the primary. We''d need to examine this more to be certain I wasn''t imagining it. Finally there was the ectoplasmic frequency which gave a much more complex view of the entire experience. This is what really reminded me of something. The same small sphere pushed out from my head as in the soul frequency, but this time was surrounded by the horned crown which impressed upon it with a light show that was definitely too complex for me to garner any meaning. During which it shot down the ''tunnel'' made by the horns and by the time it collided with the floor it was formed into another ectoplasmic body, this one free of any immediately discernible runic structures. I wanted very much to keep combing through the memories for hours but I just didn''t have even the slightest idea what even the most basic functions and capability of runes were. I technically didn''t even know if these were runes or something else entirely. Watching the master smith work was definitely my next number one priority. Well after the current issue of trying to bring a wave of monsters down on our head so we could get this over with.


    My security monitors came back into focus then I opened my eyes back in the war room. Although I''d already confirmed they didn''t call it that I wasn''t going to stop myself from using the too well fitting name. I could spend my time focusing on what my shadows were doing but as they could alert me the moment something came up there was no need to. Instead I turned to the conversations at hand trying to glean as much as I could while asking questions or giving input where I felt it could help. Now that I''d had my time alone in my head I was recharged enough to deal with people. Much of the discussion was repeated info from earlier in the day. What the reports were from guard stations around the town, rehashing defensive plans, and postulating on the wave ad infinitum. Although I had been listening when this was discussed earlier I was just a little put out from everything which had prompted me to take a little stay cation in my head. This time around I actually internalized the guestimations we''d made about the coming hoard, where we''d focused our troops, and the way''s we''d armed ourselves and planned to use those arms in the coming battle.


    Continually I was being reminded my assumptions on how things worked were needing refinement. I''d once felt that tactics although helpful was nowhere near as nuanced as I was learning it could be. The slightest change in planning could result in the difference of losing half the town to not losing a single combatant let alone non combatant. This town had been perfecting their contingencies for generations. They had backup weapons for each possible outcome of the night. Guardsmen and attack groups were arrayed and scheduled to relieve one another throughout. The noncombatants were also trained in numerous support roles to ensure no combatant needed to fill those instead. Everyone but the children were directly involved in protecting the town, and even those still had roles they could fill to help from behind the walls. As far as the town had come in honing their understanding and implementing methods of their own protection they were still clearly a town who had originally been far from the centers of any conflict before the world changed on them. The haphazard organization of their barracks and what they called their guard and attack groups were one such clear indication. There was also the lack of any clear structure in said groups other than the captains. It was as if they''d just pulled a rank they''d heard before and used it for any role with authority in their ''military''. They''d apparently also had a general from time to time but didn''t like how centralized it let power become. Which wasn''t too surprising with how they seemed to prefer a village counsel instead of a mayor anyway. Well that and they didn''t actually have that large of a force to handle in the first place.


    I was really sinking my teeth into discussions of how best to defend the city when a warning came through my shadow comms. A quick check showed that three different shadows had come close to the enemy ''front''. this was alarming as they''d been arrayed nearly a mile apart. No wonder they called these hoards and had trouble making any progress if a group this size or larger came at least once a week. I alerted the captains and counselors while my shadows grouped up to begin the race back to town leading our next wave of attack. the earthlings would be facing their first real battle since arriving within the hour.

 12 The essence of the problem

    From the top of the eastern section of the wall we looked out to the treeline. From it we were soon expecting a hoard of rift spawn to rush. The battle hadn''t started yet but I already felt dead tired. It wasn''t my body sending these messages but rather my shadows. I didn''t blame them for the unintentional spam as they''ed been running flat out for nearly an hour. Even without a physical body whatever was fueling them was not infinite. They''d luckily been able to swap out of the least desirous position of the one being chased by jumping into or out of the shadows of the very beasts chasing them. This worked surprisingly well, and even kept all of the shadows right at hand when the swaps were needed. Though having to jump straight toward a pair of jaws nipping at you while pulling into it''s shadow just moments before being bitten wasn''t exactly the most sane thing to repeatedly do. One thought that permeated up from one of the shadows was instead to jump into the shadows that were running, but although that was an interesting, mind bending, and likely good solution this wasn''t the best time to be testing new features or capabilities. We were as liable to trip over ourselves and end up being snacked on as we were to actually figure anything out.


    My physical body was starting to enter a feedback loop with all the feelings of exhaustion was now itself claiming to be worn out which made me start to slump down on the wall. It was only after I was fully sitting on the rampart and leaning against the crenelations holding my head in my hands that the shadows and the chasing hoard burst through the edge of the forest and head straight for us. Nobody really needed to move or prepare though. We''d had decent time to prepare and then after every possible productive thing was done still had time to wait for what we knew was coming. There was definitely benefits to my shadows that I hadn''t been taking advantage of before. when they were more then halfway to the walls the few shadows currently acting as bait jumped into the shadows of the chasing rift spawn as well. There were a few hounds that became confused and slowed but the majority of the pack was already focused on the defenders arrayed ahead of them and didn''t even stumble as they continued running toward us. Though this was around the same time that the archers from our end loosed their first volley. With them the rest of those with ranged capability did the same, such as Samuel who sent a fireball out to meet them.


    As masses of the rift hounds limped onward with injuries or even fell whimpering or dead I found myself for a moment again wondering at how these simple minded hoards had kept this town, and apparently the whole world, from progressing for generations. The momentary thought was quickly quashed as the hoard continued to pour from the forest. Not only that but I remembered that usually they didn''t have hours of prep time and instead needed to be constantly on alert. Sometimes having only minutes of warning before a wave of monsters was set upon them. I quickly found myself instead marveling they hadn''t lost the town entirely. The endless planning and preparedness, which had seemed excessive did clearly have their benefits. With that another thought occurred to me, as powerless as my shadows had initially seemed it was clear they were directly responsible for what could be a major change to the status quo here. Maybe it was just an egotistical thought but it helped me feel a little more dignified as I physically sat on the wall doing nothing, and my shadows sat hiding in among the shadows of the hoard recuperating meanwhile my fellow Earthlings and the Vauthians fought directly with them risking their lives and limbs.


    Their bravery inspired me to do more. My shadows, as tired as they were, still had some energy left to work with. With a few suggestions from me they jumped shadow a few times over to our armies side. They then pulled up their sight and surveyed what they could. I felt impotent just watching the fray, but the entirety of my capabilities was currently focused on my ability to gather information. I wasn''t just going to sit panting while my fellows fought for their lives. Grabbing a general view of the battlefield the shadows tried to gather up what information they could. Hopeful for some hint to actual empowerment not just improving existing abilities we already knew of. Caroline had hinted that what she''d awakened in me was capable of limitless growth since we hadn''t seen that yet we''d keep searching. The shadows watched as our allies fired of multiple skills and abilities. They watched as enemies were hit and felled.


    The skills looked similar to what we had seen before. It did give some understanding of what was happening but not enough to actually replicate, imitate, or even be certain of how their capabilities operated yet. Many new things were still seen. The many small structures populating the surface of their ectoplasmic selves seemed to be gathering the ever present mists seen in this frequency. Similar structures were doing the same in the soul spectrum, but in a different manner. These only acted when an enemy was felled. Their souls seemed to burst apart sending out a different kind of mist which was collected by the runic structures into the allied souls. This wasn''t a perfect explanation but it looked like the two were collecting errant energy and turning it into mana or stamina, and the other collecting the essence of an enemy for what their systems called experience. This second assumption was all but confirmed when one person said they''d leveled up and the shadows saw a wave wash over both their ectoplasmic and soul spectrums. The wave took the form of another runic structure this one as complex as any I''d seen, even mine. It carried with it the previously seen essence and could be seen altering all the other structures it passed using this essence. Increasing their size and complexity as it moved along. After this alteration each smaller structure seemed not only to be stronger, but better. The feeling was that we were finally beginning to grasp enough of the basics to try something on our own.


    One of the shadows emerged and stayed as clear from the fighting as possible while still remaining within the radius of the death explosions seen in the soul spectrum. The constant fighting and death just paces away gave essentially a continuous stream of essence. So, the shadows were quickly able to gather lots of data. The essence seemed to be quite sticky. Once it impacted an entity it stayed there without even needing a runic structure. Without them though it simply stuck there on the surface for a time before slowly starting to sink in. Although the one dealing the killing blow definitely got the brunt of the essence others around still got some. Even those in the rows behind and the surrounding enemies were hit. Though the runic structures definitely altered this uncontrolled outburst. It seemed to form some kind of vacuum sucking in the errant essence, although not just leaving it at that. There was some process of exchange it seemed, between allies at least, as in some areas the suction was reversed and allowed essence to be sent to others. Though this wasn''t perfect. The single shadow soul''s surface was still peppered with small bits that were not captured by this proactive feature of their system. There was even some that hit the ground but it was quickly being sucked into any nearby souls by their system.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Though neither myself nor any of the shadows had any clue how to actually use this essence it seemed worthwhile to get as much as we could. The rest of the shadows stepped out of their hiding places and positioned and spaced themselves the best they could to stay out of everyone''s way, while staying as close as they could to gather what essence was available. As the battle wore on the non-combatant coordinators and the combat captains had started giving the shadows orders. Such as to hand out munitions, remove debris, or to aid those in need. Each order was quickly carried out. I''d rather not be sent packing because I wasn''t willing to help. I needed to have something to experiment with if I was ever going to improve, so I wasn''t going to miss any of this essence. Though even as they carried out the requests the shadows and I were noticing minor changes already. Those spears they were carrying out of the way. The one''s that had been integral in breaking the charge, but were now useless in the close quarters combat. They were far heavier than I thought the shadows could have carried before the fight. Granted they still struggled like a toddler would have if asked to carry it, but they were able to actually get it to move. Something that would have left them shamed and asking for help just a couple hours before. The Soul spectrum showed a related change. The initial softball sized ''souls'' of the shadows, which hadn''t changed in size since they were spawned, were now looking something more like a grapefruit. I hated to admit it but having played softball as a kid, and also having begrudgingly liked the sour fruit, I knew that although close in size the grapefruit was slightly larger.


    Quieting and calming the initial excitement each of the shadows kept at their given tasks while having the secondary focus on the essence intensified. It was through this increased focus that eventually it was noticed one of the shadows seemed to be exerting a field around themselves. Nothing quite so grand or powerful as what the system was apparently able to do for the others, but something all the same. Essence, as it flew by would instead spiral inward as if with a gravitational pull. Sadly as soon as it was noticed the phenomenon stopped. Likely due to shock and not understanding how it happened in the first place. This only seemed to spur a greater desire in the others though and soon another was seen with this field. Again it stopped after being noticed, but again, and sooner this time, another showed the same field. While around them the now hours long battle waged on a new battle started internally. The shadows fought to maintain their composure as a growing hunger grew in them for essence, for power, and for growth. I could feel it building as it was unintentionally sent to me. The desire for what others were handed freely. The power Samuel showed as they eviscerated enemies with a gesture. The Strength Edward showed as he hefted a sword without struggling. The endurance Avery showed as she blocked the persistent hounds that threatened her and our allies.


    Each of them felt, just as I did, exactly how powerless I''d been back on earth. This new ''power'' that had, granted turned out to be more capable than initially thought, had still forced me into sitting in the back cowering while my fellow earthlings stood up for themselves. I''d had enough, they''d had enough. Watching people we respected and trusted fight for their lives was not helping the internal struggle. As one of the shadows brought back another spear that had been discarded he hefted it, feeling how it''s weight had gone from impossible to lift down through a struggle and finally was getting to be just a minor inconvenience. The improvement was good but wasn''t enough to actually use it offensively. Setting it down he looked at the other weapons arrayed next to it. Grabbing a dagger he did a few experimental slashes. Surprise blossomed as it felt almost easy to wave it about. Looking up and turning he saw again the carnage of those who were injured and even a few that, although not dead yet, were unlikely to make it if the onslaught kept up like it had. Back in my physical body I felt, almost involuntarily, the desire to look out over the battlefield again. What we saw didn''t improve our collective thoughts. Although more sparsely now there were still rift spawn rushing out of the treeline and joining the attack. Shaking my head as what washed over me left I realized that shadow had just remotely viewed through me as I did through them. Slightly concerned I watched through his eyes as he started back toward the front line, and then picked up the pace to a dead sprint. Upon reaching the rear of the line he leaped. With the sudden increase in strength the near weightless misty shadow nearly flew over the line and started down in a arch toward the hounds, who seemingly confused looked up at the flying shadow. It must have looked like a single flying dagger from that angle.


    Our allies slowed as well as my other shadows and watched as this one held out its dagger and continued its decent straight into one of the hounds. The head of which was staked into the dirt after which the shadow immediately dissipated as it merged into a nearby shadow. Only for it to shoot out a moment later from below another hounds jaw, dagger pointed up penetrating it''s throat before being jerked out roughly. I realized suddenly it had somehow taken the dagger with it into the shadow which was amazing, but I was distracted from this display by another. Almost in sync every other shadow turned as one to the nearest stockpile, each grabbing a pair of daggers this time, then the group of shadows slipped out past the still slightly stunned front line. A wave of death was then seen flowing outward through the hounds. Like reapers the shadows would appear, a Rift spawn would die, and then they would slip away again into the shadows. Back on the wall where my body still stood I felt a rush of different emotions. I wasn''t exactly surprised at the turn of events. I''d been internally day dreaming for some way to improve my shadows strength and combine it with their other capabilities to gain some kind of effective fighting style. This was one such thought process, although I had only wished it would be as effective as it was turning out to be. The captains around me didn''t seem to be reacting poorly or positively to what had just happened although they did react by adjusting the structure of the line in response. Turning my attention back to my shadows I allowed an internal and silent shout of excitement to propagate out to them.

 13 The Mind, The greatest battlefield

    I giddily watched my shadows continue their wave of death into the hoard of rift spawn. For a moment I felt a bit guilty for being so happy watching the deaths of so many seemingly conscious entities. Though that was quickly quashed. Either they died or we died. There was no contest on who we all felt should be on the losing end of this conflict. There was also the slightest twinge of sadness for not being able to actually do anything myself. Sure I could see and feel through the shadows but it wasn''t quite the same as being out there yourself. Likewise this train of thought was quieted as I reconfirmed with myself the benefits of not actually needing to be up front and center to that carnage.


    As the excitement of the unique new experience wore off and I watched the death toll reach into the hundreds I turned to thinking of just what was happening on the metaphysical side. I could see from the shadows as they took pauses and examined their fellows that they were losing their equivalent of stamina, which we were pretty sure was mana. It seemed they were regaining it quicker now that their ''souls'' were larger but they didn''t have much to work with, and had started on empty tanks as it was. They hadn''t outright stopped but were taking longer breaks in shadow, which had allowed the examination. I could also tell that the pace with which their ''souls'' were growing hadn''t just slowed. It actually seemed to have stopped. They were still collecting the ''essence'', though that collection seemed to have slowed, and it was now just sitting on the surface. It seemed this wasn''t the ''life hack'' that was going to propel us into ''true power'', but it was at least another step. We''d need to do more examination and experimentation after this. I''d also need to look back at my own ''soul''. From the memories it didn''t seem quite as large as the shadow''s ''soul'' was now. Having some shadows look around it definitely looked like their new size matched up with that of the Earthlings and Vauthians. While the Rift spawn had tiny little ''souls'' about the same size as what the shadows initially had. Again something to examine further. Might be due to both the rift spawn and shadows being created entities. Though speculation only got you so far.


    Pulling my focus back inward I left the battle to the shadows, the captains, and the other Earthlings and Vauthians. Now back in my own head I could hear the captains further adjusting the line by the slowed front where the shadows were still dishing out mayhem though at a reduced rate. they pulled off more defenders to harder hit areas. My physical body wasn''t much use in this so I decided now may as well be the time to test some things out. I let the nodes in my head fade as I focused on the new connection I''d been using for the shadows. What I''d begun thinking of as my soul itself. That fathomless tunnel down which I could shout or hear shouts back. My touch was incredibly rudimentary compared to what the nodes could accomplish, but I''d still been able to see through the shadows simply using this though not direct them in any way. Now that I''d seen the shadows do it I could compare and contrast even more. They also had their own skill which I had as of yet been unable to replicate. This new data point had given decent insight into the way their skill operated. It was a bit like an old book describing a mathematical representation of a 2D universe with a 3D visitor. The book was named "Flat Land", and in it a 3 dimensional visitor comes and gives a resident of the 2 dimensional universe an ''out of body'' experience. Pulling them up, a direction which the flat lander had no experience or even notion for. The sight nearly broke the mind of the flat lander. Luckily I had the experiences of the shadows using their skill, my skill to connect to them, and the other interesting uses of the ''soul'' we''d experienced together to pull from as references.


    There is always that first period of time while trying something new in which you know it''s not going to be easy. In which you desperately try to convince yourself not to set unrealistic expectations. During which you inevitably fail and start to think you''re going to instantaneously ''get it'', whatever it is, and just snap your fingers to achieve some great resolution. Then of course the following annoyance when you must deal with the unrealized expectations that you couldn''t help but build up for yourself. Trying to pull your soul into a direction that nobody has conceived of before was like that times ten. Even having experienced the feeling before multiple times was so far no help. I found myself repeatedly doing what most would hate to admit they''d tried in the past. Where you attempt to move something with your mind, or to fly, or to do whatever other impractical thing we had attempted in our youth. However, upon straining as hard as they could the discovered they were only twitching their eyebrows, clenching their hands, or grinding their teeth together. To the point that the pain of the physical muscle cramps would bring you back to realize you were vainly moving some mundane part of yourself rather than a supernatural equivalent. With a wary eye I peeked out at those near me on the wall. Luckily nobody saw me straining in vain, or at least they didn''t care enough to keep watching me do so, and I hadn''t caught them at it. Instead of throwing my head at the wall I let my attention wander through the new paths I''d gained since coming here.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    The nodes to the shadows, or rather the ''soul'' connections to them. It was after I''d connected to a few that I realized I had never tried one of the nodes in this manner. The one that was connected to a shadow that was still cooped up in a tiny room with Caroline, or possibly just the books she''d provided. The node sure was blocked but what about the new method? Reaching out tentatively I slid my awareness across the connection lightly. It didn''t feel any different than the others. With a slow cautious approach I sent a small tendril of consciousness down that connection. The further it got the more it felt different, as if the connection was constricted. Although this could have been the method I was using. I stopped and tried the same with another shadow. No it definitely felt different. Back to the locked up node I sent my full awareness into the connection. The congestion got even worse this time. Very quickly bringing the connection to a dead stop. Pushing harder I could feel there was the tiniest of room available so from the midway point I extended another small tendril. Every measure of distance further it crept required an even finer tendril to go forward. It was at the point that I felt as if I was frayed down to nothingness that a shock then great sense of alarm swept back down the tendril to me. It was one of pure terror. Along with it came the impression of watching out for a predator at night and seeing the glinted reflection of the campfire off their eyes. This was quickly followed by a shove which completely removed me from the connection. My eyes opened in shock. That shove had been accompanied by a single phrase, just like the other shadows would, ''they are watching'' it said.


    I wasn''t entirely sure who or how but I was so far from even being able to hold my own here let alone ready to take on whoever it was that caused Caroline enough fright to enact blockage of the node and constriction of the soul connection. It was most likely the other ''gods'' who were watching, but nothing was certain. It could very well be some other entities that Caroline didn''t want us running into. There was also of course the chance that Caroline herself was the predator to be wary of. Not really enough info to go off. Better to wait until the node was open before trying again. Having failed to examine the world in the metadimensional way the the shadows could, been blocked from the connection I''d attempted to the shadow locked up with Caroline, and feeling the dejection of not being able to take part in the battle I found myself aimless and antsy to accomplish something. I latched onto that thought as it was at least somewhere to start. I technically was a part of the battle. The shadows were as much me as I was. They had my memories, I had theirs, I could jump into them, and apparently they could now jump into me. It was a strange and nuanced situation that I hadn''t really been wanting to think about but with most other avenues cut off I found myself focusing on it.


    There wasn''t a point that stuck out to me as to when I''d started referring to the shadows and myself as we. Yet at the same time I could easily feel, or control, each of them as well as I could my own body. Their memories filled me and each one rang as perfectly as if I''d personally taken any actions contained therein. likewise, as strange as it was, there were memories of them looking at my memories thinking the same. How healthy all these changes were was not immediately clear. I know I''m still a single person, and when thinking, or speaking to others, of just my actions I wasn''t using the plural but somehow that''s what made sense when talking about the shadows. I couldn''t detect any other oddities or changes with the way I''d been thinking. For a third time this hour It seemed as if I''d found yet another thing that I didn''t have enough information to really speculate on. Frustration was beginning to boil up out of me. Feelings of uselessness were hard to handle when it seemed that everything and everyone around you was progressing. Returning yet again to my body I this time kept my eyes closed, breathing slowly in and out. For as fantastical a realm as we Earthlings had found ourselves in simply being in the moment was still a powerful tool. Continuing to breath in and out I let my muscles relax and set my hands in my lap. I''d apparently had them held up slightly and was bunching them.


    Sighing barely above audibility I gently rubbed my own thighs. There had been quite some time since I''d last gotten so worked up. Although I think that had more to do with being forced to keep running for my life than actually having a handle on it. I''d never really narrowed down why exactly I had these, or what exactly they were in the first place. Panic attacks, outbursts, coping mechanisms, or something else entirely. I''d grown up in that era where some parents thought it was better to learn to manage your problems yourself rather than see a medical professional. I''d had some teachers in grade school calling to have me evaluated for behavioral reasons, but my mother had been staunchly against any such thing. Claiming that ADHD, Autism, and any other similar issue was simply a failure in parenting nothing more. Heaven forbid anyone question her skills. Instead she tried to teach me to better ''manage my mood'' and ''temper my mind''. For a long time I thought this had cured me of any ailment. Sadly before I could truly begin to question any of it though the world up and ended on us.