Chapter 22: Remnant Shadow

Chapter 22: Remnant Shadow

Chapter 22

Remnant Shadow

Sylas wasnt quite certain where exactly to start, or, rather, which tangent to begin with. Logically, he should be hunting down a way to subjugate Farseew since that would also subjugate the Baron, but there existed a tiny issue of the hint meaning absolutely nothing to him. What was Farseew made of? As far as Sylas was concerned, he could have been made either from moonshine or fae dust, it was irrelevant to him.

Without that, however, hed have to proceed forward with the Baron, playing the fine line between guilting the man hard enough to bend over, but not too hard so he doesnt summon the spirit within him. Then there was also training the swordhed hit a plateau already, actually, on how much he can improve. From here on out, the one thing that he actually needed to progress was a better body, the very thing he couldnt obtain within the loop itself.

He ransacked his brain with the options within the chambers, nearly howling out in frustration quite a few times. None of the choices he could make were technically wronghe could, in fact, just completely ignore the Baron and have Valen execute him. Or, on the off chance that the spirit might emerge, they could just imprison the man indefinitely.

After, Sylas could just not restart the loop and continue training his body, praying all the while that the next save isnt dependent on him saving the day against a hellish invasion.

Going the other routes wasn't wrong either; he could just begin asking everyone under the sun what the hint could possibly mean. If anything goes wrong, he would just reset it and start over. The problem with this route was that it was like going into a dark room and then just randomly grabbing around in vain hopes of reaching the exit on the other side without ever learning where exactly it stands.

Sure, you could reach the exit within a few minutes if you're lucky, but if you're not you'd die before ever reaching it, and die believing there wasn't an exit, to begin with, and it was all an elaborate Cube-like trap.

And then there was the third route, the one in which he somehow manages to convince the Baron to ally with him without waking up that demon, all the while keeping the Baron and his secret from Valen, and continuing to train his body.

This route was lucrative as, unlike just asking everyone under the sun what the hint could mean, there was a tangible goal, something he could latch onto and test, no matter how many tries it took. Furthermore, hed gain a powerful and smart ally rather than just locking the man up in the chains to rot away in silence.

There was an issue in that plan, however: whether it was even possible to convince the Baron within that fine framework that Sylas had to work in. Sylas firmly believed that no man or a woman was infallible; everyone, strong or weak, had their breaking point. The issue with the Baron, however, is if that breaking point existed past, well, the breaking point. The infinite number of attempts Sylas had at his disposal became pointless, then, as the outcome could not be altered.

Loop, though magic, was not magicit could not work against the nature of things, just restart them. If something wasnt doable without the loop, then it wasnt doable within it.

Is something wrong? Valen had long since noticed the shifting expression on the Prophets face, though didnt dare ask until now. He stiffened, expecting a rebuttal that never came.

Everything, young Prince, Sylas cracked open his fuming heart. Everything. No, Im just being a drama queen. Do you know what spirits are made of? like every other time, though Sylas asked the question in the tone of a mentor quizzing his pupil, he was genuinely asking the question and hopingnay, praying that Valen knew the answer.

The the spirits? N-no no, I dont. What what are they made of? Shit, seeing that his farce had backfired, Sylas stared at Valen for a moment before replying.

A ghoul?

Do I look like one?

An assassin?

Are you being assassinated?

then what the heck are you?! Sylas cried out in frustration. The frustration wasnt at the figures answersit was that the figure answered seriously. It was like he didnt pick up on Sylas playful undertones, and replied to every question a matter-of-factly.

I I am a shadow. A lingerer in the walls. That which no eye sees and that which the sun illuminates not. I am Sylas stare turned blank. He confirmed one fact, at least: whoever the figure was, Sylas decided to call it Edgelord. Since, for all intents and purposes, that was exactly what it was. By the time the soliloquy was over, one built upon the corpse of subtlety, Sylas wanted to scream at the figure in frustration but decided against it.

I see, instead, he nodded thoughtfully. So, uhm, youre a shadow. That must be tough.

It has its pains.

Im all ears. Sylas picked up on the expectant tone, even with the inhumane voice, and gritted his teeth before replying.

Nobody knows my name, for I have no namenor have I a face. Merely my shadow lingers, a whisper here and there, a remnant of the fire in my wake. I Sylas blanked againthis time in both the expression and in thought. Did did he just start reciting fucking poetry? Jesus Christ, who the fuck did I get myself involved with?

You have completed a quest: A Touch of Darkness

Having learned that the Spirits are made of Remnant Shadows and that the Remnant Shadows are used to subjugate them, you are now truly ready to subjugate Regent Lord Farseew the Horrible.

A pending reward: Spirit Consolidating talisman

New Quest: Spiritmancer

Use the newfound knowledge to subjugate Farseew the Horrible

.FUCKING WHAT?!