“I am Ereshkigal the Queen of Kur” she said while smiling proudly.
“The Queen huh?”… “So you’re also a god?” I said uninterestingly.
“A goddess, yes” she said with a bit of distaste like she was annoyed I didn’t use the right adjective.
“So what brings the goddess and Queen of Kur here?” I said trying to sound respectable.
“Well... I saw you use the shadow and” she paused for a bit and “I am not sure what Enkidu is teaching you but the shadow isn’t a creature you must earn the respect off or something like that!”.
“What do you mean?” I said this time with mild Interest.
“The shadow is A Realm by itself” she said rather dramatically.
I repeated “What do you mean”.
“Here look” she said as she was knelling down to pick a small rock that was near her leg…
Then she made a small hole of shadow near here and throw the rock it, then she closed it.
“See, it isn’t here anymore” she said while pointing on the empty ground near here after the shadow disappeared.
“I see… so where is it?” I said interestingly.
“Look above you!” she said while pointing on my face.
I lifted my head up and a shadow hole formed on top of me it was very similar to the one she dropped the rock in, and immediately the rock fell back on my head.
“How did it get here?” I said with some Excitement.
“You see dear Atlas, the shadow is a realm, one between realms” she paused then continued “It connects and divides all the realms”.
“Interesting!” … “So how do I control it in this way?” I said ready to take notes.
“That you must figure out yourself young champion… just remember, when you use the shadow you are the shadow” she said with a faint giggle.
“May we meet again, Atlas” Said the Queen as she was disappearing in her shadow.
I nodded at her just before she disappeared the turned around “Ash, let’s go back girl”
*Woof*
.
.
.
I walked back to camp, Enkidu was preparing food, and it was getting dark.
“You’re here, great eat before it gets cold” said Enkidu as he was handing me a bowl.
“Thank you” I replied.
“ahm” said Enkidu with a Full mouth.
“I meet the Queen, just now” I said after having a couple of spoons.
“Really?!” said Enkidu looking surprised.
“Why are you surprised?” I replied.
“She never meet’s champions, hell she rarely ever leaves her castle” said Enkidu before stuffing another piece of meat in his mouth.
“So that’s why nobody mentioned her before?” I said as I was eating.
“There just wasn’t a reason to mention her before” said Enkidu as he was grabbing more meat.
“So what did she say?” said Enkidu trying to look careless but failing.
“Not much to be honest, she just explained some stuff about the Shadow and disappeared” I said as I added the rest of my food to Ash’s after getting full.
“What did she explain?” said Enkidu after he also gave what’s left of his food to Ash.
“She said that the shadow is a realm that connects other realms” I said.
“And?” Said Enkidu.
“That’s it” I said as I was making my bed.
“Did she tell you how to use it?” said Enkidu looking underwhelmed.
“She did not” I said as I was laying down just after washing up.
“Well, that means nothing changed then, we continue our training tomorrow morning” said Enkidu walking back to his tree… “Sleep”.
.
.
.
The next morning we went to the new training spot but before we start I explained to Enkidu what the Queen had told and showed me about the shadow
“I never knew such information about the shadow, yet it makes sense as how they can travel this fast” said Enkidu referring to Nergal and Namtar.
“So…” can you teach me about it” I said clumsily.
“As I said I don’t know how it works” said Enkidu then hastily continued “But we’ll surly try?”
“Great!” I said as I was pulling my sword and facing the wooden golem of Enkidu then cutting my right arm with my wrist blade to enforce my blade with blood which I am controlling better than before.
Enkidu kept giving me instruction and tip alongside my battle with the golem which was (as usual) relentless...
.
.
.
After three week I could control my blood to a great level, even better that I could my shadow which surprised Enkidu…
He decided that it’s time we shift the focus on my shadow again trying to use it like the Queen showed me which I agreed with.
We started by Enkidu giving the Golem a sharp knife that he would throw at me and if it didn’t hit me they will bounce right back to his arm!
The intent is to teleport the Golem’s knife back at him with before it hits me or the ground.
“Ready?” asked Enkidu who was standing close by.
“Hit it!” I said while conjuring my shadow on my arm in an attempt to form it into a portal before the knife hits…
*ugh*
The Golem is fast!
The knife hit my arm before I could react I could barely shield my hand with my shadow as it was hitting me so a cut was made, a small one though…
“Again!” I said to Enkidu as I was collecting my blood back to my body.
*Whoosh*
*Ugh*
“Again” …
“Again” …
“Again” …
“Again” …
“Again” …
.
.
.
Many days and many tries later I still can’t use my shadow the way I want, but I won’t stop!
“Ready” said Enkidu who was standing a little closer to the Golem today.
“Yes!” I said while pulling my spear up as I thought that the sword was the problem…
I’ll get it this time…
“Damn!”
“It’s alright Atlas!” Said Enkidu with a firm tone.
“You will learn it in time, you need to relax. Why are you even this aggressive about this?” said Enkidu looking somewhat angry.
“I…” I wanted to give a reason but I really couldn’t.
“See! Now do you want to rest for the day?” said Enkidu sounding a lot calmer this time.
“No!” I shouted involuntarily.
“Sure” said Enkidu after exhaling a disappointed breath.
.
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.
The night came and I still couldn’t do it yet I was determent to do so, why?
“It’s getting late Atlas” Said Enkidu while yawning.
“Yeah, go ahead I’ll follow you in a sec” I said as the knife hit the ground and came back to the Golem.
“Alright” Said Enkidu as he was turning around.
“Wait!” I said.
“What?” said Enkidu as he was yawning yet again.
“Take Ash with you” I said while pointing at Ash who was already sleeping on the ground next to Enkidu.
“Don’t be late” Said Enkidu as he was lifting up Ash and walking away.
“I won’t” I said then turned towards the Golem.
.
.
.
Damn it! Why can’t I do this thing?
It’s really late, I should get back.
One more try won’t hurt…
I picked my sword back up after planting my spear in the ground in its place then took a new stance, two hand on the sword rotating it 220 degrees or so then extending my left foot in front of me while keeping the right one put but turned a bit to the side…
“I am ready Golem” I said as I conjured as much shadow as I could on both of my arms…
*Plop*
I did it!
“I DID IT!”
I was filled with joy, finally!
But in my joy I lost my focus, for some reason the shadow started moving by its own...
I tried to control it…
“Shit”
Some portal appeared bellow me, it was similar to the one Nergal and Namtar have…
It’s pulling me in!
“Damn it”
I kept on trying to pull myself out but to no avail, before I was completely consumed by it I yelled “Enkidu!”
*Plop*
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.
.
Where…
I can’t see…
It’s too dark…
I am not sure how long was I floating in that dark abbes…
There was nothing…
Just darkness…
Until a pair of huge red eyes just manifested in front of me!
“What the…” I said frightened by them.
“I have been waiting for you son of Marduk”
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