Why the Light Cries in the Dark

  Paul Simms leaned back in his high-backed black leather and gold chair. It was his most uncomfortable, yet he wore it like a throne—a symbol of the effortless authority he wielded over the Shi underworld. When he learned Yana was an anomalous shadow, he instantly knew she was the key to his new project. But Ka, his most powerful and loyal Wao shadow operative, couldn't even deliver the offer. She had dismissed Ka, held him, and controlled him—his man—without asking the job, the pay, or the terms. The sheer, audacious slight made Simms desire her all the more.

  Simms sat perplexed. He would have her one way or another. He looked to another subordinate, a wolf beastkin. "Go talk to her. Maybe she just does not trust shadows."

  "She wouldn't be the only one, boss."

  "She is a shadow, idiot."

  The wolf beastkin aggressively turned to the Wao shadow, Ka.

  "You two calm down. What did I tell you about that? You two are the leaders of my men. If you can’t control yourselves, how will you control the men?"

  "Yes, boss!" they spoke in unison.

  Word quickly spread about how Yana helped the family for free and instantly killed the Draco Shadow beast. Many had been afraid to leave their homes. The boy had presented the beast’s enormous head to the prison guards, who stared in horror and wonderment, and his parents were released. Soon after, the Spitter (the former landowner) was in court trying to reclaim his property.

  Yana had planned to leave that day, but when she heard about the Spitter's audacity, she stayed. This delay is why Simms' beastkin leader was able to find her.

  She sat in the same bar, waiting for the Spitter, realizing someone must have warned him. As she debated whether to begin her search or order another drink, the wolf beastkin approached her table. She immediately knew what it was about.

  "Tell your boss I am not interested. I do not need to know terms or hows or whys. I do not usually hire out, and that is the only reason for my no. If your boss cannot handle that, tell him to do as he needs to. My answer will not change."

  The beastkin stood there, feeling the immovable certainty radiating from her. He shrugged. "My boss is an extreme person, and he does not like the word 'no'." He turned and left.

  Yana watched him, feeling satisfied and guilt-free about declining a job offered by the underground element of Shi. Her goals had nothing to do with money or clout, and she would not be bullied into anything. She stood and went to look for the Spitter.

  A woman dressed in the blue and silver garb of a believer of the Sparkling Light rose right after Yana left and went to report to her superior.

  The Spitter proved hard to track down. Every time she had him, he was tipped off, leaving just as she arrived. Frustrated, Yana decided on a new strategy.

  She picked a random church of The Sparkling Light. Their emblem—five stars in a pentagram with a crescent moon atop a beam from the highest star—was prominently displayed. She entered, gave a donation, and sat in the back.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  A robed clergyman approached her, his blue and silver robes tinkling like fine bells. "Miss, can you please come with me?"

  She followed him, un-phased, and was taken to the office of the local order's lead teacher.

  "Hello, Miss. I am hoping that I could acquire your services. I have heard that you do not work for just anyone, so I hope you will hear me out before you say no." When she remained silent, he continued. "Shi is in peril of falling into darkness. We of the Sparkling Light," he raised his hands above his head reverently, "are the keepers of the light and of the way. Six light artifacts have either been stolen, lost, or sold over the eons as they were deemed unimportant. Now Shi is falling into darkness and shadow. Please help us find them. We know they have been in both Lem and Orb. We need at least three of them returned, but all six would be greatly appreciated."

  Yana went to stand up.

  "Please. Go here and see for yourself. I know you will want to help, and I know you are our last hope." A map coalesced between them. She memorized it with a single nod and left.

  The individual who had watched her in the bar stepped into the room. "A waste of time, Sir."

  "No. She will go see the truth and decide to help us."

  And she did just that. The map led her to a large cave. As soon as she entered, she knew the teacher spoke the truth. She felt the density of the darkness here; its quality was on par with true shadow dimensions and did not belong in Shi. She felt the wrongness of it.

  Then she saw the murals. The people of the Sparkling Light could not see or read them. The murals, etched using an ancient shadow technique that required specialized sight to read, detailed the history. They spoke of Shi's brilliance and the Forbidden Dark's envious assault. When the dark almost won, twelve sparkling artifacts were born to protect Shi, and Shadow clans aided in confining the Forbidden Darkness.

  Her familiars and pets were examining the murals intently. DD stood next to her, seemingly impassive, but when he spoke, Yana smiled at his care.

  "You’re going to Lem anyway, and eventually you have to go to Orb. I imagine we will be visiting Qual at some point. This side mission does not take us out of our way. At least, I don’t think it does."

  By the time he finished, Yana was smiling broadly and in full agreement. The artifacts were going to be collected.

  Simms, of course, heard about Yana taking on some mysterious task for the church of The Sparkling Light and he was furious.

  "Ka!"

  "Boss." The shadow rose from the darkened floor in front of Simms’ seat.

  "If this female won’t work for me, then she won’t work for anyone. Put six million on her head, dead or alive."

  "Yes, boss." Ka planned to tell his kin that six million may not be enough to take on such a risk.

  SECRET MISSION UNLOCKED!

  SECRET MISSION UNLOCKED!

  SECRET MISSION UNLOCKED!

  Shi underworld boss Paul Simms has targeted you and placed a bounty on your head, dead or alive.

  Mission parameters:

  1. Kill all bounty hunters that come to kill you. Bonus points if the heart can be returned to Simms.

  2. Begin collecting shadows of the bounty hunters that come for you. Each shadow collected is worth one Secret item location, but you have to be strong enough to retrieve the item yourself.

  3. Kill Paul Simms and take over the Shi underground.

  If you achieve all three parameters, you will receive two thousand soul points and your magics will all be increased by one level.

  If you only meet two of the parameters, you will receive one thousand soul points and one punishment.

  If you meet only one of the parameters, you will receive five hundred soul points, two punishments, and my contempt and disdain.

  You can decline this mission without punishment.

  Do you accept: Y N

  Yana was perplexed. The System was definitely defective, and certainly petty—a trait Yana shared. Soul points? She didn't know what they were, but a full level up across all magics was worth any risk. She smiled and selected 'Y'.

  UNLOCKED SECRET MISSION ACCEPTED

  UNLOCKED SECRET MISSION ACCEPTED

  UNLOCKED SECRET MISSION ACCEPTED

  There is no time limit for this mission.

  Yana reached the area where Shi overlapped with Lem. She pulled help from Jasmine and Tasha and opened a dimensional door to Lem, ready for the darkness.