A Walk Amongst Shadows (Book 2)

I walked out of the apothecary just as the sun was beginning to set, the waning light making the surrounding buildings and streets glow orange. I immediately saw Aris waiting for me across the street. I spun around, bid Deja farewell, and bounced my way happily to where he stood. I gave him a quick hug before we began walking.

“So, I take it things went well today?” he guessed.

I nodded. “Mhm, they had me making medicine today. I also went with Deja to the market to get some supplies for the stockroom.”

“Feel good to be back at it again?” he asked.

“Most definitely,” I asserted. It was only medicine making, but it felt amazing. I really had missed the work of a healer.

“And this Deja, is she the one lingering behind you back there?” he inquired as he looked past me.

I whipped my head around and saw Deja peering at us from the doorway. “Yeah, that’s her,” I laughed in spite of myself. “Apparently, word that the new girl lives with a shadow walker has already traveled around the apothecary.”

Aris looked concerned. “Do you think you’ll be allowed to stay?”

“Deja told me that it shouldn’t be a problem. She said people tend to keep to themselves. She did warn me that there are a few who are more conservative and may not agree…” I trailed off.

“That’s one way to put it,” he laughed. We rounded a corner. Two kids that had been playing in the street froze at the sight of us and scampered off. I ignored them, intent on the conversation I was having with Aris.

“Yeah, so I’m sure not everyone is going to be as kind as Deja was to me, but as long as I can keep working, I don’t mind.”

“Mind you, all you need to do is show your healing abilities, and they’ll likely put you in charge of the whole place.”

I laughed. “Deja told me that they haven’t had mages in the apothecary in ages. I didn’t realize magic was so rare.”

He shrugged as he pondered my words. “Eh, magic like yours is rare. Magic, in general, is still quite present, just far less powerful than what it used to be.”

“Used to be?” I asked.

“Yeah, the further back you go in time the stronger you will see the influence of magic.”

“So, magic is getting weaker? Why?” We turned down another street. Fewer people here, good.

“Some think that it is due to years and years of mages and non-mages breeding and diluting the magic. Personally, I don’t know whether magical ability is hereditary or not.”

“What are some of the other theories?” I asked, curiosity piqued.

“Well, most people believe that magic is a gift from the gods. So, the more faith you have, the more magic you are blessed with. There are older theories that claim magic was gifted to mortals by gods, intermingling with mortals in the beginning of time. The closer to the original god-bloodline you are, the more powerful you are.”

“That would align with the idea that magic is hereditary then, wouldn’t it?” I asked.

He nodded. “That it would.”

“Which one do you believe?”

“Obviously, I have good reason to believe that service to a god equated more magic.”

I laughed. Of course he did.

“But before I became a shadow walker, I served no god and still had magical abilities. I have no idea if any of my relatives were mages though.”

“Hmm,” I thought out loud.

“There is another theory…” he trailed off.

“And that is?”

“The prophecy that brought me to you,” he answered.

“What does it say?” I asked. I felt my heart sink ever so slightly. Right or wrong, this prophecy carried a lot of significance, that much is clear.

“When stars fall and the wheel turns, when the righteous falter and mortals burn, when the lines blur, and white becomes gray, one shall rise and lead the way. Death becomes them, scorned as a plague. Darkness at long last will reign.” He recited the words by heart, as though he had heard them a hundred times. I wondered if that was indeed the case.

“That’s the prophecy that led you to me?” I asked, confused and a little unimpressed. “But how? It seems so vague.”

Aris laughed. “Yeah, for centuries there has been debate around what it could mean. Many have concluded that it tells of father taking back his place amongst the gods, and that you,” he paused, “are the one to bring this shift about.”

I raised my eyebrows. “No wonder he sent you after me,” I started, unsure of what to make of it. “I still don’t see how it relates to the origin of magic though.”

“It suggests a more cyclical nature of magical presence,” he explained, “when certain gods reign, theirs will be more powerful magic.”

“But that would mean that some magic would be prevalent right now, wouldn’t it?”

He grinned sarcastically, “Yes, but given that the last goddess to truly reign in this way was Loeva…” he trailed off leaving me to piece together the rest.

“There’s no way to know then…” I sighed. I stumbled on a loose cobblestone as we made our way down yet another street. This city is an endless labyrinth.

“Reika and Riza have gained popularity in recent decades, but they have yet to ascend to the level of reverence that Loeva once had.”

“So, what happens if this prophecy comes true then?” I asked.

“Well, father would ascend back into the realm of the gods. He’d be restored to his former glory.”

“What would that mean for you guys?” I asked. If there was no more realm of shadows, would that mean no more shadow walkers?”

Aris laughed. “We’re not going to die, if that’s what you’re thinking. The others seem to think we would ascend as well, but only here on earth.”

I furrowed my brow.

“Basically, we would go from the scourge of the earth to a sort of god on earth”

“Seriously? Like a demi-god?”

“More or less,” he grinned.

“So, it’s possible for one god to become stronger than others if this particular theory is accurate” I surmised.

He nodded.

“The dark god must believe it’s true then if he’s putting this much stock into the prophecy.”

Aris didn’t say anything.

“Do you think it’s true?”

His brows furrowed in thought. “To be honest, I’m not completely sure.” He thought for a moment longer. “I’m not even sure I completely understand my own existence, let alone the existence of the gods.”

I considered his words for a moment. “If magic is tied directly to the gods, then my magical ability means what exactly to the gods? Power? Control?”

“It would all depend on the god or goddess in question.” He looked uneasy. “I imagine some might view you as a threat, like Loeva did, and try to have you killed. Others might want you for influence or yes, power.”

“Which one do you think your father is after?” I asked.

“I would wager power, knowing him the way that I do.”

I nodded, unsurprised, but still unsure of what exactly that meant for me. I exhaled anxiously and wrung my hands. This conversation had taken a turn I wasn’t expecting.

“Hey,” he put his hand on my shoulder, “everything is going to be just fine, no need to get so worried.”

I sighed. I wanted to protest. How could he possibly know that?

“Are you hungry?” he asked. No doubt a last-ditch effort to change the subject. It worked.

“Very!” I answered, realizing I had eaten anything all day.

“Come, let’s fix that then.” He led me off to a small pub, leaving all talk of prophecy, magic, and gods behind.

I let the weight of our conversation sink in as we finished walking home that evening. I kept running through possible theories in my head. Depending on which was true I may very well have a significant role to play in this prophecy. One thing I knew for sure was that I was a target. No doubt there would be others who would try to interfere, be they god or mortal. I found myself grappling with the nature of gods and goddesses. I had always been told that I was the result of a divine plan by an all knowing and all powerful goddess. She alone knew the content of my character and the nature of my heart. If I proved myself worthy, I was to spend an eternity in her presence. But all of that was all different now. Loeva is not the supreme being, but one of many. But surely they weren’t all powerful if they have to actively vie for support from mortals. I remembered what Aris had first told me about his father and his value of free will. Does he actually value free will? Or is that just how he gains supporters. Aris had seemed happy enough to make the dark god his patron deity, but then, his only other choice had been death. I wondered if other gods relied on ultimatums upon the death beds of mortals. Above all of that, I wondered why the gods even bother interacting with us at all. What could such powerful and all-knowing beings possibly need from mortals in the first place? These thoughts ran rampant through my mind and I went to bed with the looming thought that I was about to find out the truth whether I wanted to or not.