Eternal
As much as you want to, speaking about your own thoughts on this situation would be folly. Cyrus and Talia have obviously been brainwashed and you’re deep in a fortress that contains traitors that would undoubtedly overwhelm you even if did try to escape. No, your time will be better spent waiting until you are at least able to get out of the fortress and report to someone of importance in the Empire.
It’s about the only thing you can do. In the meantime you’re going to have to do your best to fit in and learn. Instead of engaging in the practicing of your shadow powers (Which you’re still too worried about using to be honest) you take one of the books in a nearby shelf and begin reading about the laws and scripture of the Shadow Guard seeing as you didn’t experience the immediate knowledge of all this stuff during your encounter with Dendrin.
You fall asleep reading, but you don’t exactly have a restful sleep. The next morning you are awakened and the three of you are taken to the training room as discussed the day before. Talia and Cyrus seem to master their new powers relatively quickly; you on the other hand have some problems. Your trainer, Brother Shade doesn’t understand why you are, but is somewhat frustrated that he has to spend more time with you. He never threatens you with any sort of physical punishment though, which is a relief.
After a few weeks Talia and Cyrus have been sent on various assignments, meanwhile you’re still confined to the fortress due to your sub-par shadow magic (Though not your fighting skills) Brother Shade insists that you stay another few months before being sent on any mission. This gives you more cause for some anxiousness since you really want to leave in order to tell someone about this place. Instead you continue to try to learn as much as you can through reading.
You don’t mix too much with the other Shadow Guards and mostly keep to yourself. You just don’t feel any connection with any of them even after studying more of the history and beliefs. You just look at them and see traitors to the Empire. The eeriest thing is how the Shadow Guard occasionally makes passing treasonous remarks and will mention how the Empire will fall soon, like it’s a foregone conclusion.
Even Cyrus and Talia, are sort of distant now. The only time they really speak is to taunt you about your magic training. You have to wonder if they is a little revenge going on there as you were always a better close combat fighter than either of them. They of course are fitting in very well with the rest. Cyrus especially seems close to another Shadow Guard by the name of Draven.
You try to remain positive though that you’ll eventually get the chance to leave this place. While to most people in your situation feeling fear and nervousness would be pretty natural, but for you it is definitely something that isn’t natural and you don’t like it at all.
Eventually that day comes and you are summoned to Brother Gray’s office.
“Okay, I believe you’re ready. I don’t understand why it took you so long though, you showed such promise during our initial training exercises.”
“I suppose I’m just not magically inclined Brother Gray.”
“Perhaps, but the power and knowledge that Dendrin infused into you, should’ve circumvented any of that…no matter I’ve been told by Brother Shade that your skill is good enough now. Still, I’m also trouble by the reports that you’ve been distant to your fellow Shadows. This is your family now, you shouldn’t be stand offish to them, you need to embrace them as your brothers and sisters because that’s what they are.”
“I’m sorry Brother Gray, I guess I’ve just felt self-conscious about my lack of magic skills. Everyone else picked it up so easy compared to me and I didn’t feel like I belonged.”
“Hmm, well I suppose you probably received some taunts, but family members do that too. You shouldn’t have taken it too personal, and I think if you would’ve asked, one of them would’ve helped you. Surely Brother Cyrus or Sister Talia would’ve helped given that you have the most in common with them.”
“Maybe…I dunno. They fit in better.”
“(Sigh) This won’t do at all. Here I am thinking that you were ready, but apparently you have some deeper issues. I swear you are the first to have such a problem. I mean you know that we are all on the same side here right? You know that we will stick together no matter what correct? We all have a duty to Dendrin and we are going to see to it that his glory be restored and that means teamwork, community and family.”
“…yes I suppose you’re right.”
“Well I’m not right about everything. I think you need to be involved in some more socializing around here, before we send you out.”
“What? But I’m ready! I want to leave!” you say with a loud tone.
“And I don’t think that’s a good idea. You obviously don’t feel welcomed by your fellow Shadows, and that’s not a good mindset to have out in the field if you don’t trust your own family.”
“But…”
“No buts! I know you’re probably anxious to start serving Dendrin in a meaningful way, but I still think you need to stay a little longer. There will be no more debate about this. Dendrin demands that his worshippers trust one another, for it is our unity that will ensure our struggle will succeed. I think you’ll need to stay in here for the remainder of the year, then I think you should be ready. You are dismissed, brother.”
The remainder of the year, your heart sinks into further hopelessness. You don’t know if you can stand this place much longer, let alone have to make “friends” with the people here.
Yet you must if you want to survive. And that’s what you did when you met Dendrin isn’t it? You did what you had to, to survive. You leave Brother Gray’s office.
“By the Emperor, give me the strength to exist in this lair of traitors that seek to do you harm. May I be strong enough to survive and warn you in time.” You quietly say to yourself.
As you head back to your room to attempt to make friends. You wonder why Dendrin let you live when he knew you would seek to destroy his followers. Is it some sort of sick game that a being like him finds amusing?
It must be, because it’s the only rational explanation at this point.
It’s about the only thing you can do. In the meantime you’re going to have to do your best to fit in and learn. Instead of engaging in the practicing of your shadow powers (Which you’re still too worried about using to be honest) you take one of the books in a nearby shelf and begin reading about the laws and scripture of the Shadow Guard seeing as you didn’t experience the immediate knowledge of all this stuff during your encounter with Dendrin.
You fall asleep reading, but you don’t exactly have a restful sleep. The next morning you are awakened and the three of you are taken to the training room as discussed the day before. Talia and Cyrus seem to master their new powers relatively quickly; you on the other hand have some problems. Your trainer, Brother Shade doesn’t understand why you are, but is somewhat frustrated that he has to spend more time with you. He never threatens you with any sort of physical punishment though, which is a relief.
After a few weeks Talia and Cyrus have been sent on various assignments, meanwhile you’re still confined to the fortress due to your sub-par shadow magic (Though not your fighting skills) Brother Shade insists that you stay another few months before being sent on any mission. This gives you more cause for some anxiousness since you really want to leave in order to tell someone about this place. Instead you continue to try to learn as much as you can through reading.
You don’t mix too much with the other Shadow Guards and mostly keep to yourself. You just don’t feel any connection with any of them even after studying more of the history and beliefs. You just look at them and see traitors to the Empire. The eeriest thing is how the Shadow Guard occasionally makes passing treasonous remarks and will mention how the Empire will fall soon, like it’s a foregone conclusion.
Even Cyrus and Talia, are sort of distant now. The only time they really speak is to taunt you about your magic training. You have to wonder if they is a little revenge going on there as you were always a better close combat fighter than either of them. They of course are fitting in very well with the rest. Cyrus especially seems close to another Shadow Guard by the name of Draven.
You try to remain positive though that you’ll eventually get the chance to leave this place. While to most people in your situation feeling fear and nervousness would be pretty natural, but for you it is definitely something that isn’t natural and you don’t like it at all.
Eventually that day comes and you are summoned to Brother Gray’s office.
“Okay, I believe you’re ready. I don’t understand why it took you so long though, you showed such promise during our initial training exercises.”
“I suppose I’m just not magically inclined Brother Gray.”
“Perhaps, but the power and knowledge that Dendrin infused into you, should’ve circumvented any of that…no matter I’ve been told by Brother Shade that your skill is good enough now. Still, I’m also trouble by the reports that you’ve been distant to your fellow Shadows. This is your family now, you shouldn’t be stand offish to them, you need to embrace them as your brothers and sisters because that’s what they are.”
“I’m sorry Brother Gray, I guess I’ve just felt self-conscious about my lack of magic skills. Everyone else picked it up so easy compared to me and I didn’t feel like I belonged.”
“Hmm, well I suppose you probably received some taunts, but family members do that too. You shouldn’t have taken it too personal, and I think if you would’ve asked, one of them would’ve helped you. Surely Brother Cyrus or Sister Talia would’ve helped given that you have the most in common with them.”
“Maybe…I dunno. They fit in better.”
“(Sigh) This won’t do at all. Here I am thinking that you were ready, but apparently you have some deeper issues. I swear you are the first to have such a problem. I mean you know that we are all on the same side here right? You know that we will stick together no matter what correct? We all have a duty to Dendrin and we are going to see to it that his glory be restored and that means teamwork, community and family.”
“…yes I suppose you’re right.”
“Well I’m not right about everything. I think you need to be involved in some more socializing around here, before we send you out.”
“What? But I’m ready! I want to leave!” you say with a loud tone.
“And I don’t think that’s a good idea. You obviously don’t feel welcomed by your fellow Shadows, and that’s not a good mindset to have out in the field if you don’t trust your own family.”
“But…”
“No buts! I know you’re probably anxious to start serving Dendrin in a meaningful way, but I still think you need to stay a little longer. There will be no more debate about this. Dendrin demands that his worshippers trust one another, for it is our unity that will ensure our struggle will succeed. I think you’ll need to stay in here for the remainder of the year, then I think you should be ready. You are dismissed, brother.”
The remainder of the year, your heart sinks into further hopelessness. You don’t know if you can stand this place much longer, let alone have to make “friends” with the people here.
Yet you must if you want to survive. And that’s what you did when you met Dendrin isn’t it? You did what you had to, to survive. You leave Brother Gray’s office.
“By the Emperor, give me the strength to exist in this lair of traitors that seek to do you harm. May I be strong enough to survive and warn you in time.” You quietly say to yourself.
As you head back to your room to attempt to make friends. You wonder why Dendrin let you live when he knew you would seek to destroy his followers. Is it some sort of sick game that a being like him finds amusing?
It must be, because it’s the only rational explanation at this point.