Irwin's Journey 429: Shadow Realm Sliver

"Sure, it's the first time we did it all in a few days," Greldo grunted in agreement. "But its for a good cause!"

Besides, he thought, looking at his left hand, now filled with three cards, beautiful lines moving from one to the other, connecting the entire set. These are going to be really helpful where we are going.

"Now, give me a moment to get used to these," he said, giving Coal a final scratch. 

The massive hound snorted but stepped back and lay down in the center of the room, its burning eyes locked on him.

I wonder if Irwin is done filling Endil and Dahlia's soullakes yet, he thought as he walked to the small table and slumped down on the card.

"So, let's see what you can do."

He raised his hands, letting his gaze drift across the new cards. He'd had only two cards a week ago, Sleep in the Burning Shadows and Enhanced Shadow Flow, with only a faint idea of what to slot besides those. Now, his hands were flush with the rares and most powerful shadow cards Irwin and the Volcano Academy had. 

"So, two diamond rank cards and four ruby-ranked ones for the boy who had to steal his first quartz card," he said, allowing himself a smile before focusing on the right hand. 

He'd taken Ambraz's advice and focused on the central card when combining them. It was one of the rarest two he had been given, and it would increase the effect of the adjacent cards. Irwin apparently had one like those, and he'd said it had greatly increased his entire heartcard's ability.

"Let's see if it actually did anything," he muttered.

He stretched his awareness into the shadows, something greatly enhanced by a multiple of his new cards, and a moment later, he appeared inside his shadow pocket.  

Still can't get over these changes, he thought, glancing at a shadowy mansion nestled like a tiny castle in the center of the shadowy landmass. A path led to what, at a glance, looked like a shadowy dock meant for one ship. The Nocturna lay there, not moored yet unmoving, held by a tiny partition of his control over anything within his shadow pocket. 

Shadowy life moved all around the area, darting in and out of the dark and swirling shadows that surrounded it like a thunderstorm. They would likely frighten most people, but to him, it felt like being in the warm embrace of something he had nothing to fear. He had no idea if that was just an empty feeling or thought, but it didn't make him less careful. 

A lot more fishes, he thought as he saw an arm-length, sleek fish sail through a small school of finger-sized bulbous ones. It snapped one up before it could flee, causing the rest of the school to scatter away before regrouping a slight distance away. Tiny specs drifted everywhere.

Greldo looked at it for a while before moving towards the mansion. As he landed on the ground, he took a deep breath and triggered his new fourth card's ability - Sculpt the Shadows. Instantly, he got a faint awareness of all of the shadowy matter that now comprised his shadow pocket. 

Oh, that's a lot easier, he thought as he smoothed out a few tiny inconsistencies in the building that he'd been unable to a day earlier. 

When he finished, he walked into the building, moving through the shadowy hallways. Tiny, flickering flames created a warm and cozy feeling, like being inside while the fireplace crackled while it was cold and dark outside.

He reached the center room, and as he did, he felt his soulscape's presence almost leak into the room. 

"I wonder if my soulscape and shadow pocket will eventually become the same," he muttered, moving into his soulscape. Compared to Irwin's, it was tiny, but compared to what it had been, it had become far larger. Now, it was a shadowy place, very reminiscent of the shadow realm, and with each shadow card he slotted, it became even more so. 

Hovering above his empty soullake, empty safe for a few bright blue droplets that almost jumped out from the surrounding shadows, he looked around. With the last batch of cards, the borders around his soulscape had changed again. Unlike Irwin's foggy walls that hid the energy-dense, blue barriers, his were dark like a starless sky. Behind them, he sensed the shadowrealm.

They were also slightly further out, showing that his soulscape had grown again, if only marginally. It was a process that had started happening as he slotted more and more shadow-type cards.

He was about to move around and check for any change when he felt someone outside the room. Instinctively he stepped out of his soulscape through the shadowrealm, and he reappeared on the chair, looking up at the door as it creaked open.

Dahlia walked in, looking around worriedly. As soon as she saw him, relief filled her beautiful brown eyes. Greldo hadn't seen them in a long time, almost fully used to the silver they had been.

"Did you finish?" 

"Of course. How are you feeling?" he replied as he walked over to hug her. 

"I'm fine! But… this isn't how things should be," Dahlia said, her voice carrying the hint of anger it had held for days now.

"Perhaps, but Irwin is right," he answered. "We will be leaving with only five people, including you and me. Any trouble we come across, we will have to deal with ourselves."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean slotting four cards, combining them, creating a heartcard, and forcefully filling your soullake within two weeks is healthy," Dahlia muttered before pushing him awake and inspecting him.

Greldo didn't bother to argue with her, instead raising an eyebrow. "Any changes? Let me guess, I'm even more handsome now?"

Dahlia rolled her eyes before giving him a quick kiss. "It's like there's shadows clinging to your hair, moving in a wind that doesn't exist."

Greldo pulled his hand through his hair, which had grown to touch his jawline again. 

"Sounds great! Perhaps I should grow it out more."

Dahlia put a finger on her lips as she examined him, humming thoroughly as if she was actually considering it. 

"I like it like this," she finally said, moving a few strands from his forehead. "Though you still haven't shown me what your full transformation looks like now."

"Right, so, how does it feel having your soullake filled this fast," Greldo said, ignoring the question.

Dahlia watched him for a moment before sniffing.  "Intoxicating to say the truth, which scares me. It's going to feel bad to fill my next one with cards and see barely any progress even after a year."

"Perhaps you shouldn't even do that," Greldo said. "You will probably be able to do this yourself in the future. Saving those cards for reforging practice, the Academy, or eventually bartering might be more efficient."

Dahlia hesitated, then nodded. "You are right. I hadn't even thought of that. Anyway, how stable are they now?" 

Greldo raised his right hand, scanning the cards in them. They felt calm and easy to connect to, far more than he had expected, having forcefully filled his hands this fast.

"Good. I have the feeling that as I slot more shadow-typed cards, each next one gets easier. It's almost as if they are opening paths already there… if that makes sense?"

Dahlia nodded slowly, seemingly hesitating.

"What is it?"

"I've been wondering if I shouldn't slot shadow-type cards myself," she finally said.

Greldo felt a shiver run through him, but before he could complain, she raised a hand.

"I know you are afraid it would make me susceptible to your influence, but I've been thinking. If I do what you just did and slot all six at the same time… we can wait till we are back here, and Irwin can help me with my heartcard. It will give us time to find shadow cards that are powerful enough to allow me to resist your influence. It will also mean that, if I manage, I'll be able to forge shadowcards in the future."

Greldo closed his mouth, slowly thinking about what she'd said. She was right that the entire idea made him highly unhappy. If she failed to resist his influence, their relationship would suddenly take a turn to something he was not happy with. Still, she was right. If they could find strong enough cards, perhaps cards specifically for resisting other shadow influences?

"If…" he began slowly. "If we can find resistance cards, and they are powerful enough, I guess we could. But what do we do if you get influenced anyway? Will you remove them again?"

"If that happens, I will," Dahlia said. "Though, if I'm only slightly influenced, I'll have Irwin reforge them to a heartcard. A slight influence with only handcards is probably to be expected and with the increase in power from a heartcard and later a soulcard, that will be gone."

Hopefully, Greldo thought. 

He shrugged. "Well, let's just see what happens later."

Dahlia nodded, but as their eyes met, he could see she'd probably be stubborn about it.

"Did Gloom return?" he asked, deciding to just change the subject for now.

"He did. He's talking with that healer we are taking," Dahlia said, her lip curling up in a smirk. "I think he is trying to charm her, not realizing she is too old to have children."

"Is he still trying that?" Greldo asked, his eyes widening. 

"He is. From what I've heard, he even managed to charm a few women back in the world. He was both confused and worried when none of them got pregnant."

Greldo stumbled before looking up at Dahlia, who was grinning.

"Seriously… he bedded them?" he whispered.

"Well, he is tall, dark, and not ugly," Dahlia said, her grin widening. "He is also powerful and well connected."

Greldo shuddered before shaking himself.

"Well, I'm not sure if I should be happy or sad that Gloom failed to get offspring," he muttered. 

"That's exactly what Lysbeth said."

A short while later, they walked into the small inn near their house, the only one that had people working in it. All other places in the Eluathar Harbor were still closed, though he'd heard there would be more being opened soon. The amount of soldiers had been increased to the maximum they could miss on the world. 

Gloom sat at the table, watching an older woman with steel gray hair tied in a bun. She was looking back at him with dark red eyes surrounded by thicker-than-normal eyelashes. The thin wrinkles around her mouth and eyes were crinkled in a smile.

"I am afraid I'll have to decline, no matter how convincing you try to be," she said before turning to Greldo.

"Captain, it is good to see you."

Greldo nodded, watching her carefully to check for any signs of overtly subservient behavior. He found none. Her eyes remained calm, and after a nod, she turned to Dahlia.

"Cardsmith Dahlia, congratulations on completing your second soulcard."

"Thank you, Healer Delacheur," Dahlia said, bowing slightly.

"Please call me Koudi," the older woman said. "Healer Delacheur was my father, and hearing it like that makes me feel somewhat awkward."

Dahlia nodded quickly. "Of course, Koudi."

Greldo saw a twinkle in the older woman's red eyes as she looked away, and he wiped his lips to hide a smile. 

I wonder if her father even was a healer, he thought, sitting down beside Gloom.

"Gloom?"

"My Lor-" Gloom's thin lips snapped shut as he grimaced. "Yes, Captain?"

"Better," Greldo said, wondering how many times he'd ignore people calling him that because he thought they meant Irwin. "While we are traveling around, I need you to leave Koudi and the other women alone. I understand you want to save your race, but besides the issues this could cause aboard, I don't want any pregnancy. Alright?"

He held Gloom's gaze but tried not to put out any force through the shadow realm. 

Gloom looked back, and for a moment, sadness crossed his face. Then his jaw tensed, and he nodded.

"As you command, My L- Captain."

Good enough, Greldo decided, nodding back. 

When he turned to the women, he saw that Koudi was examining him carefully.

"Interesting. I had heard from the other shadow walkers that some were having issues around you, captain. I'm glad to see I don't seem to have those."

"That makes two of us," Greldo agreed. "Though I do wonder why. What do you feel?"

Koudi crossed her arms, cocking her head as she examined him calmly. Shadowy clouds seemed to drift across her red eyes. "I think the best way to describe it is that I'm being in the same room as a domesticated predator."

Greldo's eyebrows shot up when he heard a strangled laugh from Dahlia.

"You give me the feeling you could kill me with zero effort," Koudi continued, ignoring the reactions. "But at the same time, I know you won't as long as I don't do anything… wrong isn't the right word. I just don't feel like you will harm me."

Greldo observed her for a moment, wondering if that was how the others felt and if the reason some couldn't be around him was because they did feel like doing things he'd not approve of. If that was true, he was going to have to keep an even closer eye on Gloom.

"Good to know," he said, smiling at Koudi to show he was fine with her description of him. "Did Irwin tell you when he was going to create your heartcard?"

"He needed to reforge something, then he would do your heartcard, Captain."

Greldo cocked his head, focusing on his hearing. He heard a soft rustling going on multiple stories up at the top floor, but no hammering. Either Irwin was done or doing it in his soulscape. Probably the latter.

"Well, let's just wait for now. Irwin will be back soon."

"While we wait, can you tell us a bit about yourself, Koudi?" Dahlia asked, looking at the older woman with curious eyes. "What made you accept the mission to come with us, knowing it might be years or longer till we return?"

Koudi looked at her for a moment before smiling.

"My family died back on Giard," she said, sighing softly. "When I arrived here, I… had to make a choice. Wallow in self-pity, or find something else to live for. So, I decided to travel around, see new places, and meet new people. When the healers asked for people willing to join missions to the other adjacent worlds, I jumped at the chance."

Greldo watched her quietly, noticing Dahlia grimace and start to mutter an apology. Greldo knew it wasn't needed. Koudi's story was the same as that of many, many people from Eluathar. He even knew a few Shade Walkers with similar stories. 

"It is fine," Koudi said, waving Dahlia's worry away. "That was many years ago now, and although I still miss them, the pain is distant. Perhaps you could share a bit about yourself?"

Dahlia jumped at the request, and Greldo quietly listened to the stories he already knew of how she'd been raised by her grandfather on Granvox.

He was saved from having to share his own story, as halfway through a part, he heard Irwin walk down the stairs. 

As his friend walked into the room, Greldo was surprised at the heavily lidded eyes, slash face, and overall weariness he showed. He'd seen him less weary after fighting for days or traveling through the storm and piloting ships for a week in the soulforce absent frozen wastes.

"Are you alright?"

Irwin just nodded as he walked to the table and slumped down on a chair that creaked dangerously from his massive bulk. Everyone had fallen quiet, watching him.

"I need a short rest before we start," he said, looking around.

"I'll get you a drink," Greldo said, looking at a nearby carafe almost fully filled with water. He extended his hand and used one of his new cards to draw it through the shadow and to his hand, handing it to Irwin.

"Nice trick," his friend rumbled. "Those cards have already been fully integrated?"

"They have," Greldo said, watching Irwin quickly down the entire contents of the carafe.

"We can wait another few days if you want…?"

"No, we need to hurry," Irwin said. "Every day we wait, more people will die. As soon as you reach the nearest world with a Central Registrar, you can start sharing the remedy."

"That's true," Greldo said, leaning forward. "But if you are too tired to create my heartcard, we are all in more trouble."

Irwin blinked, then let out a weary sigh. "You are right, but I'll be fine in an hour or so. My otherself is sleeping, and with Rachias back out, things will regenerate quickly."

Greldo hesitated before shaking his head. "No. How about I use my sleep card on you and let you rest in my shadow pocket? That way, I can show you the changes?"

Irwin stared at the table, and for a moment, Greldo thought he'd have to try harder. Then Irwin sighed.

"Fine, but don't let me sleep longer than a few hours."

"I won't," Greldo said as he looked at the others. "I'll be back in a bit."

"Go, we will continue to get acquainted," Dahlia said.

Greldo reached out and pulled Irwin into the shadows. It was easier than normal, though he knew that if his friend would resist, he'd have no chance of succeeding. Just Irwin's passive soulforce pressure was already enough to make him slightly uncomfortable.

A few moments later, they appeared outside of the mansion.

"Gelwin's Beard," Irwin hissed, looking around. "For a moment, I thought you brought me into your soulscape! This place got a lot bigger!"

"That's the Void Foundation card you gave me," he said.

"Thank Daubutim," Irwin said, looking around.

"It's grown, but it also feels more… alive," he said.

"It is," Greldo agreed, waving at the large amount of shadowy fish that moved around.

Irwin hummed in surprise. "It's nice and warm here."

Greldo shrugged. "Coal's influence. Now, let me show you your room."

Instead of taking the long tour, he pulled Irwin forward, shadowstepping into one of the guest rooms he'd not expected to already need. Everything seemed to be made of either a black, wood-like material or a grayish stone. The cloth was gleaming dark, and the only color came from the small, hazy torches and a fireplace.

"Cozy," Irwin grunted.

"Well, if we are going to be here for a few years, it has to be," Greldo said. "Besides, I had a good example."

Irwin hesitated, then turned to him. "I'm going to miss you."

The words were calm and steady, but Greldo felt the emotions hidden behind them. He'd never had a brother, but he'd started to think of Irwin as one. Or at least as close to one as he could picture.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine," he said. "It's why you are forcing another soulcard on me, right?"

Irwin snorted, shaking his head. "You make it sound like something horrible. There are many people who'd kill for this opportunity."

"True, and I'm grateful," Greldo said. "I'm even more grateful if you go and sleep now so you won't ruin my next heartcard."

Irwin rolled his eyes and moved to the dark slab of a bed. It had no sheets, but Greldo was pretty sure his friend wouldn't care. 

"I'll wake you in a few hours," he said before shadow stepping away.

--

Irwin watched Greldo vanish, and he spread his senses around the shadowrealm around him. It was filled with mostly shadow-typed soulforce, but to his surprise, there were also some others that seemed similar but not completely.

He lay down and, as soon as his head touched the pillow, fell asleep.

It was dreamless, and when he finally woke up, he felt like only moments had passed. Greldo stood next to him, and he was pretty sure his friend had just kicked his leg.

"That was close to three hours," Greldo said.

Irwin nodded, stretching his arms above his head. He still felt slightly weary from the last few days but nowhere near as tired as before.

"Alright, let's go and make your next heartcard," he said.

"Do you realize I'll be one ahead of you with this?" Greldo asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That's fine," Irwin said. "You only have one left, so I'll catch up."

"That's a low blow," Greldo said, faking a pained expression. "Besides, didn't you promise to look into those mysterious world cards?"

"I will," Irwin said. "But I'm sure you're too hairy for one."

Greldo let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Let's get to it."

Irwin felt the world around him swirl, and a moment later, he was in his temporary smithing room at the top of Scintilla's house. It was the place she and his children had lived while waiting for him.

I'm going to have to make it up to them when I return, he thought, knowing they had not seen him for weeks now.

"So, what do you want the card to focus on?" he asked.

"What you suggested," Greldo said. "Try and make it so I can shadow step to those markers my third card gives?"

Irwin nodded.

'We are starting,' he sent to Ambraz, who was chatting with Silv'am.

He'd barely sent the message when Ambraz and Silv'am appeared beside him, fluttering in the air.

"About time," Ambraz said, landing on the ground in his working form. "Silv'am, pay close attention, alright?"

"I will," the young Ganvil said, her calmness unable to hide her excitement. 

Irwin watched her fly up to a small nook in the wall.

"Alright," he said, turning to Greldo. "I'll try my best, but changing teleportation cards is hard and not my specialty."

"It's fine," Greldo said. "If you can't do it, I'm pretty sure nobody can."

"Better not let Dahlia hear that," Irwin retorted.

"Those were her words," Greldo said. 

Of course they were, Irwin thought.

He motioned for Greldo to put his hand on Ambraz, and a moment later, six cards hovered before him. He knew them each, but four of them more than the other two as he'd reforged them sideways and up over the last week. They were one of the reasons he was as tired as he was. Well, that and the other cards and filling two soullakes, one for Koudi Delacheur and the other for Dahlia.

Four at ruby, two at Diamond, he thought as he focused on the six cards.

He hesitated to reforge this card in his soulscape but, in the end, decided against it. He had zero overlapping types with Greldo's next heartcard, and he had no idea if he could even get it to diamond rank. Then again, Greldo's first card was Ruby, and having this heartcard at Diamond would be as much a risk as a benefit. If he drained his soulscape unexpectedly, it could get him killed in the wrong situation.

Irwin took a deep breath before summoning his hammer.

"Ready," he whispered.

Ambraz began softly humming, a deep and dark tune, slow and crawling.

Irwin waited for a bit, then joined, and after a while, his otherself also joined, the sound of a soulstrum guitar rippling through the room softly.

He struck down, and the cards rippled as they began to split apart.

Let's see how far we can push this!