Shadow realms

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I was swallowed in shadow just as the blade struck down on the ground where I was standing. The entire world was void of color just gray. I was panting. ''That was too close for comfort, I should have left earlier'' I concluded while shaking my head.

 Somewhere far away I saw an explosion of color. I was alone for now. The world looked relatively the same where I used to be, with the exception of walls and structures in general. The temple was still there but there were no longer any walls. I've never quite figured out why this phenomena takes place, always without constructions. It looked as if everything static was no longer there. But only mechanically raised structures; the trees and the landscape remained untouched. I have yet to encounter animals in this plane, they simply no longer exist. Almost as if all living frequency was removed in the shadow realm.
 Another explosion of color interrupted my strain of thought, this time the event took place considerably closer to me, still far enough for me to actually see what's causing it. I wasn't planning to hang around. If there's one thing I've learned in the shadow realm, it is to never stay still for too long. With every passing minute I'm drying out, slowly losing my life as it gets sucked into nothingness of shadows.

My hand stung again, until I finally noticed that I'm still holding shadowstepper. ''oh right'' I unclenched my fist and removed the dagger from my palm with my other hand. It looked pretty bad, there were two small holes in my hand and the hilt was covered in blood with two small needles sticking out of it surrounded by  black text in a language I couldn't read.

I checked my pockets; ''recipe for Tangleglow'' 5 grams of ground eucalyptus tree bark, 2 tablespoons of liquid honey, Buffalo meat, some vinegar, 50 grams of water. ''No that's not it'' and I continued to go through my pockets: pocket knife, compass, tissues, paper and a pencil, chalk, iron powders, salt.
I checked my jacket pockets and I felt something round and faintly cold ''The stone. Good'' and kept going through the pockets talking to myself. ''Now where did I put the damned thing''

 I threw my backpack on the ground and starter rummaging through various vials and papers. ''Cmon bandages, I need you.'' An explosion took me off guard and threw me good 5 meters away, scattering all my belongings into the desert. ''SHIT!'' I was blinded, I couldn't see anything, my eyes were full of vivid images of color and the real world desert.

When I finally got to my senses, I was introduced to the first creature I've ever seen in this realm. Skin somehow white and pure, broad shoulders, his build resembling a tall human male. Color pouring through his eyes onto his skin, which was covered in weird symbols of various colors. His hair dark blue. His mouth somehow unearthly, though it looked like a human mouth, something just didn't feel right about it. He loomed over me as I was laying on the ground trying to get the last of color out of my eyes.


''Hiya, if you're looking for the Baghdad you just missed it by a few hundred miles or so. Just head back and turn left at the 18th cactus you see and keep going forward. You cant miss it, big lights and all. Lots of people'' I said, hoping I can buy enough time to figure how to get the hell out.

The creature stared at me, not so much as flinching. Just standing, and staring at me. He reached out his hand as if it wants me to give it something.

''Listen buddy, I don't know who or even what you are, I'm just passing by and would like to go on my way and out of your hair if you don't mind.''

The creature stood still, no movement, no sign of weariness or disinterest. Calm. I could see his aura starting to smoke from his body, slowly gaining into a cloud around him. He was gaining power.
What the hell; I thought. This can't be good.

He held out his arm, still calm, not a single twitch, he didn't even fucking blink.

''Look what do you want, just take it and leave me alone, I am simply passing by and don't plan to stay long in this realm''

He nodded and leaned closer to me with his arm still out reached. I started scuttering away from him, still on the floor, I knew I didn't have a chance at escaping him, but I just panicked. Trying to get up and run was my only idea.

The creature just looked at me trying to evade from him and flashed into thin air. I blinked, not believing what I saw. An actual teleportation, was it even possible? Is it only doable in shadow reals? I got up and went to collect my stuff. I need to get the hell out before that thing shows up again. Who was he anyway. What's with the tattoo, how the hell did he manage to teleport?

I got all my things together and finally found bandages, my wound was dirty from crawling in the sand and I didn't have anything to clean it with. I found a small vial labled ''Elderwood Sap''. ''This should do for now'' I dabbed my bandages with the milky sap and wrapped my hand in.

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Eye of Horus

''So there it is. The augmentation stone.'' I ran the small greenish yellow stone through my fingers as if it were a coin then held it up against sunlight. ''Just as the legends tell; When holding the stone at suns mercy, it surrenders its mantle and reveals its true form as the eye of Horus'' I held the now golden stone between me and the sun. Bedazzled by its glimmer I almost did not notice the shadow sneaking up from behind me. ''Keshafer tel husab!'' The environment turned fluent as if all the world had been woven in silk or water. I could see all the light rays passing through the old temple windows. The stone which I had been holding radiated color in extraordinary fashion. I couldn't even pinpoint where any of the colors were coming from, but I could see myself holding a small circular rainbow in my palms. This was one hell of an artifact, that's for sure.
 I tore my mind away from this magnificent array and noticed slight vibrations coming from the floor. I could almost feel the footsteps behind me, how they sunk into the shallow sand, creating miniature shock-waves blasting through the entire world, unnoticed by the unmindful. The world seemed as if it was going in slow motion, even though I knew it really wasn't. The spell I worked up it made my brain take in 4 times the amount of information I normally could thus creating an illusion of slow motion.

I knew someone was coming so I went for my dagger.

A flash of light dancing before my eyes, faintly blinding me to remind me of the power of the stars. Sunlight escaped my eyes and I could see again. I had managed to block my opponents blade barely, forcing his sword to miss me and get tangled briefly in my linen over-garments. I got a good look at my shadow before the spell wore off. 

''You're wicked fast'' The cloaked man said smiling.
''How did you know I was coming, nobody has ever detected my presence like this before?''

I decided to stay silent in hopes of him revealing who he is and how did he find me.

We stood there, both weapons ready facing each other.

''No last words to whisper into the wind? Not even a single remark before death?'' The man said smile fading from his face. He tightened the grip around his sword.

I still stood in silence, ready to defend. Whoever he was, he definitely knew how to manage a his weapon. Judging from his stance, I'd say at least 7-10 years worth of experience in battle. He was no pushover, and if I were to get out of this I'd have to play my cards right.

I decided to buy myself some time, hopefully to get him to lower his guard a little or reveal something about him. ''I have not seen you nor heard your voice before. Who are you and why are you shadowing me?''

He laughed, ''Who I am is of no concern for you, simply know that I am the undertaker and I've come to collect my prize''

''Prize? There is no such item here that you'd desire or need'' I said calmly.

''Item? Now you're getting me curious. I'm not here for an item, I'm here for you. There's a hefty penny in for the one who brings Chengzu ''The Raven''  and you happen to look just like him.''

Chengzu was a codename for one of the underground Chinese overlords back in Hong Kong. I've never really ran into him, but I've halted quite a few of his black market operations. Naturally he'd be very upset with someone who stole his precious Shadowstepper, also known as ''Little White-Hilt.'' However it seems, this guy is not here for the dagger, which would mean he might not know about it.
I might have a chance.

''I don't know who this Raven fellow is, but if he managed to piss Chengzu off, then I'm sure he would at very least piss you off as well''

He loosend his grip a little bit and laughed again ''For someone with nowhere to escape, you definitely find the right words to shorten your life expectancy'' About the time the sentence was finished he managed to already swing his sword in my direction, aiming at the arm in which I held the dagger. I managed to step aside and barely avoid getting my arm cut off. For such a light blade he used, it came down with a lot of force. This guy was strong.

Immediately as his blade came to a hault a leg came in contact with mine kicking me off balance. I staggered and barely had time to think when his blade came whistling down on me again.

A slight sting intruded my hand and the daggers handle soaked in blood.




I managed to escape just in time.
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