I shivered under the covers while cold air whispered into my ears and bit my body. While my teeth were chattering, I twisted and turned in bed, yet I couldn’t shake the familiar sound of my mother’s snoring— since she was already asleep.

  And I wasn’t such a terrible son that I would wake her up.

  Sighing, I lay my arms and legs flat against the bed, hoping it would help to no avail. The same chills ran up and down my spine as I felt tears in my eyes, unbecoming of my confidence. The window lay open, and the blinds weren’t closed, so I could see the moonlight pouring in clearly.

  The night sky was dark, and filled with stars.

  There weren’t any lamps to block it.

  My body froze as I heard a low knocking sound coming from the door. Who could it be this late? Could it be father? No, he would be outside by now, hunting the monsters… Millie and Sara should be asleep as well.

  That left… only Cidris.

  his presence was still intimidating to me, much more so than my father. But he was well… my father. Cidris was a different being entirely. I felt like I could still vividly recollect the pain his hands brought to my neck.

  Shit, I’m going to have to open it!

  Carefully and gradually lifting the silk covers off of myself, I patted my mom, smiling as I draped them over her. Slinging myself off of my bed, I felt my feet touch the floor. Tiptoeing over to the door, I tried to hold my breath.

  Just thirty seconds later, I let out a giant exhale.

  I’ve alerted him already, haven’t I?

  Straining to reach the door, I grunted, grabbing the handle and twisting it all in one motion. My body hung from the knob as it turned. I was strangely aware of the grooves that dug into the wood of the door.

  As the door opened slowly, it did not creak.

  Or squeak.

  In fact, it didn’t make a single sound.

  Looming over me was a giant shadow, almost three meters tall, with large scythe-like horns pointing out at the sides. I couldn’t see his face, but I was sure he was wearing a gloomy, dark expression like he did when he was alone.

  Reaching his hand out from under his dark purple robes, he grabbed my wrist, lifting me into the air. I tried to shout, but waves of Am quickly wrapped themselves around my mouth, rendering me unable to speak.

  I could now the Am in the air.

  It had been over a month since Cidris had warned me in that corridor.

  Six hours of my day were now spent on training.

  To me, Cidris’ Am looked dark and forebearing, like the fog of terror.

  It was… horrifying.

  “Don’t speak. You’re coming with me.” Cidris said in a gruff voice. As tears of pain dribbled from my eyes, I quietly nodded— hell, it wasn’t like I could do anything else! At least I knew Cidris wouldn’t hurt me.

  Not when I was his best friend’s son.

  Walking down the stairs, I noticed that Cidris’ footsteps were muffled, almost imperceptible to the ear. How did he do it? I had learned decently fast that Am could be used for many basic things. It was a type of energy, so it affected other energies— only it could take on any form.

  We neared the front door.

  Was this bastard taking me outside?

  “Hey, where are we going?” I couldn’t hide the nervousness in my voice.

  Pausing to look down at me, Cidris mouth opened into a thin smile.

  “You’ll see. Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you.”

  And he wasn’t lying.

  Apart from holding me in the air, Cidris didn’t lay another finger on me, nor did he change the pressure on my body. It almost felt like I was levitating in the air, forgetting that it was his doing entirely.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Blotting Cidris out of my mind for a moment, I stared wistfully down the pathway that led to the Sherwood. Faintly, I saw what could be a flash of golden light searing and burning through the atmosphere. Whether it was a trick of the light, or really my father, I didn’t know.

  But it wasn’t that way which we were going.

  “Not to your father.” Cidris shook his head.

  Ah… so he did know.

  We made our way around the back of the cottage, pushing steadily through overgrown brush and tall grasses that towered over even Cidris himself. I watched Cidris’ shadow and presence begin to flicker and dance around, but I kept it to myself. While the waves of Am around me were unpleasant…

  I could sense that they were meant to protect me.

  I shouldn’t ask too many prying questions.

  I should look at the silver lining of all things.

  These policies kept me going, even now.

  Who are you?

  That girl in my memories.

  A familiar sound penetrated my ears as I clenched my throat in response. Narrowing my eyes, I focused minute amounts of Am into them, trying to look through the darkness.

  There… there!

  Threads of light circled around an outline… an outline of a creature… of a

  It was a monster.

  Here, just like every other night.

  “What are you going to do about that?” I asked, pointing.

  Cidris raised an eyebrow, looking at me suspiciously.

  “You can see it?” He asked, unfazed as the creature began to prowl around us, crouching down into a pouncing stance. I blinked, turning my head to look at the monster, and then at Cidris.

  The in the air tensed.

  “Yes.” I responded simply.

  I didn’t want to give anything away to this man.

  The monster leapt in the air, baring its fangs, drooling as its crimson eyes bored into my skull. I vaguely detected its shining, serrated claws about to rip me apart through my heart, but I did not close my eyes. Clasping my hands, I felt…

  Am? No. This was…

  Crushing silence overtook the world as the wolf lay suspended in the air, unmoving, unbreathing. Then, it began to tremble and shudder as streaks of blood were painted on its skin. Inflating, it whimpered uselessly, growing large, like a balloon. A balloon that was about to pop.

  A sharp sound rang out as Cidris snapped his fingers, glancing at the cottage.

  And the wolf… it

  With one seamless motion, its body folded in on itself, bulging, just a disgusting mass of flesh in the air, and then— it like a needle had been brought to its skin. Blood spurted in all directions, spraying towards me like a fountain, and bits of its guts and organs flew along with a storm of flesh chunks that had been grinded into mincemeat, eyes bursting like grapes and tainting the sky.

  Yet the remnants of that terrifying explosion never touched my body.

  Like there was an invisible shield between me and the creature’s corpse, chunks of meat and waves of blood smashed against the barrier— but I didn’t sense any at all from the barrier. What… What kind of power was Cidris using?

  In a way, it was similar to Cuswoth’s power he displayed.

  I heard Cidris breathe a sigh of relief.

  “As you can see, there’s a lot more to this world than you know of. So… Amir. There’s a reason I brought you out here today. And that’s to answer your questions.” Cidris’ eyes gleamed with some kind of disappointment, making me feel like his words were not genuine.

  But… Why would he lie?

  Hell, it didn’t matter.

  Better safe than sorry.

  “Why tell me anything at all?” I asked.

  “Ah c’mon, damnit! Do you really need to question everything? It isn’t like you’re a goddamn adult, right? Or maybe… Did the ‘Mark’ do something to you? Are you even the real Amir?” Cidris’ words pierced my heart as I stared at him sadly, shaking my head and chuckling.

  “Unfortunately, I’m the real Amir.” I responded bitterly.

  Cidris’ laughter rang out, breaking the silence of the night.

  “Don’t worry. I’m not your enemy. I’m just protective of my wife. And my child, you hear. I won’t stand for anything against my wife and child, and I’d do anything in my power to make sure I uphold their values.”

  “That’s why I didn’t let you see what was behind that door.” He winced.

  “But I know you’re curious. And it’s good to learn early!” Laughing, I watched his eyes dart around the trees with haste, then return back to me.

  It was then I noticed, we were very hidden.

  Close to the trees, in the dark, under the brush.

  Hah… a safe space.

  “Then, what was that? That energy from your ‘Mark’? And how did you kill that wolf?” I truly wanted to rapidly fire questions at him, but I didn’t think that he would respond very kindly to it, now would he?

  Pondering for a moment, he opened his mouth.

  “Hmm, that’s an easy one. Apart from there is an energy called It is a negative and opposing energy that few can control. As for what it think of it like a While it is it cannot exist without it; it is the to a ” Almost smiling, he patted my back, raising his hand and ruffling my hair.

  Well damn…

  He really answered, didn’t he?

  Still, this situation was unusual. If he wanted to speak to me, he could have just done so back in the house, in his room, very quietly. Why did he bring me all the way out here, even going as far to kill that monster? I knew it was already going toward my father’s location.

  He gave off that much of a presence.

  But now, it was still time for questions.

  Another thing…

  “What are…” I started with care, watching his placid expression.

  Utter silence.

  My words hung in the air, unanswered as Cidris bent down, taking my head, and turning it to face towards me. Whispering something under his breath, I saw droves of and that mysterious energy, coming off his body as his eyes began to tunnel. Bringing me in close, he stared deep into my pupils. Somewhere in my body, I felt tugs of energy beginning to leave me—

  “Fuck!” Sparks of light shimmered between me and Cidris as he was blown backwards. I stood as he lay on the ground, wiping blood from his mouth while he lifted himself up, smiling.

  “You’re an interesting specimen, aren’t you?” His question was precarious.

  “I really only brought you here to show you some things.”

  “But I guess… What’s the worry?” He glanced up.

  Tucking me into the grass, he took a deep breath, cracking his knuckles.

  “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know— ”