Chương 258: Goodbye of a Shadow

Vale remained seated on the edge of his bed for some time, his gaze fixed on the floor as though the answers he sought might somehow be hidden in the faint patterns of the wooden floor. His mind existed in a strange equilibrium, quiet on the surface, yet dense with unresolved thought beneath it. Nothing formed cleanly, nothing reached a conclusion, and yet everything lingered persistently.

His pale eyes softened, then slowly closed as he drew in a long, steady breath, holding it for a moment before releasing it just as carefully. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and controlled.

"Shade… manifest." The spear resting beside him responded at once. Darkness coiled around it like living smoke, thickening as it rose, unfolding into a tall, shadowed figure. Crimson eyes flickered to life within the form as it solidified beside him. Shade stood in silence, looking down at Vale with a deep, almost analytical gaze, as if trying to discern something unfamiliar within him. Vale lifted his head, meeting those eyes. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then he exhaled softly.

"I think your original form…" he began, his tone measured, "… was my uncle." A Sudden quiet tension followed. Shade didn't react immediately. He remained still, as though processing the implication, weighing it against something buried deep within his own fragmented existence. Seconds passed, long enough to feel intentional, before his eyes widened slightly. His head tilted, and one hand rose to his chin in a gesture that felt almost… human. Thoughtful.

Vale let out a quiet chuckle despite himself, a faint smile touching his lips.

"Yeah," he murmured.

"Even you're surprised." Shade glanced down at him, then gave a slow nod. That was enough for now. Vale's expression softened slightly, quietly accepting it as it was.

"I'm not completely sure yet," he admitted as he pushed himself to his feet, stretching his arms with a low groan, "but it feels closer to the truth than anything else I've got." Shade responded with an exaggerated roll of his eyes before his form collapsed inward, dissolving back into shadow. The darkness folded in on itself, compressing until it returned to the shape of the spear. Vale reached back without looking and secured it across his spine in a practiced motion.

He moved next to his blades, fastening them at his waist and tightening the straps with quiet precision. By the time he finished, the uncertainty he had earlier had settled, not resolved completely, but steadied into something he could carry for the moment. He stepped toward the door, opened it, and began to walk out.

"Hé." The voice stopped him before he could move further. Vale turned slightly, observing its source. Silfur leaned against the wall just outside, one shoulder resting lazily against the stone, her arms loosely crossed. But her posture didn't match the usual ease, her gaze was fixed on him, carrying a seriousness that immediately stood out compared to her usual playful attitude. Vale blinked once, caught off guard.

"…Hey," he replied, a trace of awkwardness slipping into his tone. She didn't respond to his greeting. The silence stretched for some moments. Vale stepped out fully, closing the door behind him with a quiet click, and began to walk, slowly at first, not sure if she intended to say more. But he could feel it: her gaze still on him, unwavering, almost pressing against his back. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

'Why is she looking at me like that…?' He turned his head slightly, unease beginning to settle in.

"Hey. I wasn't finished." He stopped immediately. Turning back, he faced her properly this time, a subtle tension creeping into his posture.

"Is something wrong?" he asked. Silfur pushed herself off the wall with a quiet exhale and stepped closer, stopping just short of him. The usual playfulness in her expression was gone entirely, replaced by something he couldn't quite guess.

"Everything Maximus told you yesterday," she said evenly, her eyes locking onto his, "forget it." Vale's brows lifted slightly, a faint curiosity rising within him. Silfur didn't blink.

"He wasn't allowed to share any of that with anyone except Drago," she continued, her tone firm but controlled.

"Do you understand?" For a moment, Vale just stared at her. It didn't fit, it felt strange. Maximus, of all people, breaking a rule like that? For him? The same man who carried himself with rigid discipline, who barely tolerated Vale's presence? The contradiction sat heavy in his mind, refusing to settle into anything that made proper sense. It didn't make sense in the slightest. But the weight in Silfur's voice left no room to challenge it. Vale swallowed, then gave a short, almost reflexive salute.

"Yeah… got it," he said, the response automatic. Silfur held his gaze for another second, as if deciding whether he truly understood, then gave nothing further. No explanation, nor reassurance. Just silence. Vale turned and walked away. This time, though, a faint sheen of sweat had already begun to form along his temple.

'Great… secret knowledge first thing in the morning,' he thought dryly.

'What a start.' He moved through the library's winding halls, descending steadily until he reached the exit. The air shifted as he stepped outside onto the long bridge connecting the structure to the mainland of Irea. Below, the ocean stretched endlessly, dark and restless, waves breaking in a steady rhythm that grounded his steps as he walked. For a while, his thoughts drifted, back to the dream, to the woman's voice, to the name that still echoed faintly in his mind.

But as often happened, his focus shifted, drawn toward something more immediate.

"…Ah, shit," he muttered under his breath. Nym. He was going to see her today. Two months had passed since they'd last spoken, and that last encounter had gone poorly. Worse than poorly. Awkward didn't come close to describing it. He exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face as if that might reset the situation.

"I really picked the perfect day for this," he muttered. Still, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the map of Irea, scanning it as he walked. The colosseum meeting was set for noon. He had roughly an hour and a half. Enough time.

'Hopefully.' Crossing into the city proper, he passed first through the slums. The buildings here leaned with age, some partially abandoned, their stone cracked and weathered from years of neglect. And yet, despite their flaws, there was life within them. Children ran through the narrow streets, laughing, shouting, weaving between broken paths with careless energy. Vale slowed. A faint smile touched his lips. Then recognition struck him. The children noticed him at the same time.

Their laughter faltered as their attention snapped toward him, curiosity overtaking momentum. For a brief moment, they simply stared at one another. Vale's eyes widened slightly. Then, without hesitation, he reached back and pulled the spear from his shoulder, holding it loosely in front of him.

"He, Shade," he said, his tone lighter now, "you wanted to stay here, right?" The spear darkened, shadows shifting across its surface before forming a single response.''Yes.'' Vale's grin widened.

"Then go on," he said, giving it a small nod.

"I'll come get you if I need you." There was a pause, longer than expected. Then,''Thanks.'' The weapon dissolved, shadows rising and reshaping into Shade's towering form. The children lit up instantly, recognition replacing hesitation as they rushed forward, laughter breaking out again as they gathered around him. Shade looked down at them. And for once, his expression softened beneath the dark mist. Vale watched quietly, something warm settling in his chest as the moment unfolded.

"…Guess this is goodbye," he murmured, almost to himself.

"For now." Shade turned toward him. Then, without a word, he kneeled. Vale blinked. Then burst out laughing.

"Whoa, hey, since when do you do that?" he said, clutching his side as the laughter slipped out. Shade straightened slowly, clearly unimpressed, his eyes narrowing. Vale raised a hand quickly.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry," he said, still grinning. Then he extended his fist, his expression settling into something more genuine.

"But seriously… take care of them." Shade studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod. He raised his own hand and met Vale's fist in a quiet, solid tap. No more needed to be said. Vale lowered his hand, his smile lingering as he turned away. And just like that, He left. For the first time since arriving in Irea, Vale walked forward without Shade at his side. Alone, but not quite the same as when he first arrived here. For now, That was exactly what he needed.