CHAPTER FOUR -> SHADOW REALM

 

As Selena is training in an open space I fly out through Seth’s portal landing with my face first, eating the Realm’s dirt.  

“Welcome to the Realm kid” he said with an evil smirk on his face “Meet your nephew, Selena” 

I get angry, ready to fight him ignoring Selena’s presence 

“Why the heck did you kick me into the portal?” 

“It felt like the right thing to do and I must say it felt good” 

“You must be Liam, ni—”  

“Not now kid” I ruddily caught her off and turned my attention back to Seth “I hurt my nose you old fart” 

“I will kick you harder next time till you learn how to open one” 

“Hey!” Selena holds me by the shirt collar and draws me close to her “Who are you calling kid?” 

“You are annoying. I hate your type” I said looking at her with disgust  

“Learn some respect” she slaps me hard on the face 

The force of the slap pushes me down, I angrily get up and try to pounce on her but Seth counters holding me 

“Calm down smart mouth. You brought this on yourself” 

“Let me go dammit” I try to break free but his strength overwhelms me 

“You have a foul mouth” he said 

Henri who has been watching from a distance and have grown bored of the show decides to step in to stop the madness  

“Enough!” he yells and everyone stays quiet… well except me 

“Another old retard” I said under my breath 

“I have been called worse” he said with a smile on his face as he gently hits me with his staff 

"Why is this old fart, nice to me?"

“Do you know where you are, boy?” he ask 

“I don’t care. I hate all of you” 

"He's as stubborn as his mother"

“Take me home old man” I said looking at Seth 

“Make your own portal” he said yawning  

“You are home, son. Look around you” 

I reluctantly do as he said and I am stunned. I was distracted by Seth and the girl that I forgot to see what the Realm is like.  

Since it’s called Shadow Realm I have always thought the Realm will be a dark place with primitive people but it is the prettiest place I have ever been to—I haven’t been to too many places though but still Shadow Realm is a sight to behold. I watch kids playing in a field of roses, some were sitting under a tree meditating I think. 

“Come with me Liam” Henri ask and without arguing I followed him. 

He takes me to a very tall mountain with a flat base. With a puzzled look, I ask 

“What’s so special about this mountain?” 

“If you think the Realm is beautiful wait till you see it from this mountain” he said with a proud smile on his face. 

“Are we going to climb it?” 

“Climb?” he gives me a crazy stare. He forms a thick black platform just out of nothing—the platform looks like it was made out of a shadow. To my amazement, he climbs on it and it lifts him up 

He ask me to try making mine. I brought forth my hand but nothing forms. Mom has always taught me, to control shadows I need to become one with it. I got her part down and now the weird old man says the Realm is full of shadow and I don’t need to use mine to do what he did 

To achieve this feat I need to visualize taking a part of that shadow around me, rolling it up like a ball and flatten its surface— I made it happen but the density of the platform I made is weak, hella weak. Instead of wasting his time I got on his shadow platform and it slowly got up to the mountain  

Our climb to the mountain was amazing, felt like I was floating. Shadow Manipulation is something else. We got to the top of the mountain and it’s flat. I find out there are a few people there and the top has chairs and shelters for people. 

"Wow"

“You can see all of the Realm from here” he said leading me close to the edge of the mountain  

“Awesome” I subconsciously exclaim  

“This is your home, Liam. Welcome home” 

I fell in love with the Realm. I could see Seth and the annoying girl. I can also see a place that looks like old ruins. Within the green planes and beautiful scenery in the Realm is a dark Wasteland. The region looks like a barren land, the clouds are thick black, fogs everywhere and gas emitting from the ground to the surface. It has no signs of life. 

“Why is that place different from the rest of the Realm?” I ask 

“No one knows. We have always called it The Wasteland” 

“Why?” 

“The Wasteland has breathable air and the gas you see isn’t poisonous” 

“Then why is it called The Wasteland ?” 

“Did Shayla tell you about the Realm’s protective mechanism against outsiders?” 

“No, she didn’t but Seth told me” 

“Just like every outsider who comes to the Realm gets their shadow absorbed by our soil so does the Wasteland absorb our shadow” 

“So inside the Realm is a place dangerous to all?” 

“Yea and now you know why we call it the Wasteland” 

“The Realm isn’t all that nice after all” I said 

“You will begin your training to learn how to use your ability. Seth has agreed to teach you” 

“Okay. Who’s the girl with him?” I said feeling the part she slapped me 

“Oh that’s Selena Remmick, she packs a punch doesn’t she?”

“Remmick as in she’s my sister?” 

“No. She is Seth’s daughter. Remmick is your family name, you do know that right?” 

“Yea mum told me. Do you know who my father is?” 

“Yea, you look a lot like him” 

“Mum didn’t tell me anything about him. Is he from the Realm?” 

“Yes, he is. She didn’t tell you because he abandoned her after she got pregnant with you” 

“What’s his name?” I ask clenching my fist 

“Steve Nazar. He’s Seth’s best friend and your mother’s lover. She loved him deeply. He’s also responsible for her death” 

“Why didn’t Seth avenge his sister?” 

“Calm down Liam, vengeance is a dark path to follow. Seth knows better than that” 

“It just became my path” I said and jump down the mountain, mid-air I formed a strong shadow platform which took me down—I have always been able to get things done when I’m mad so it’s not a surprise for me to achieve the shadow platform which seemed impossible an hour ago  

         

                                .......................... ✍🏾

“Father, why didn’t Liam have his shadow absorbed when you brought him here?” 

“Because his mother is my Elder Sister” 

“You mean Aunt Shayla, mom’s best friend?” she ask surprised  

“Yeah” 

“How come I never met her?” 

“When she came with baby Liam you and your mother were away” 

“Mom told me she’s stronger than you and that she’s the nicest person in the world” 

“Yea she was” 

“I wish I met her” 

“I need you to try your best to get along with Liam” 

“He seems like trouble, why should I risk my neck for him?” 

“Because he is family and family stands by each other no matter what” 

“But Papa. ..” 

“He has been alone since he was ten. Living in a cave, you can only imagine how hard it has been for him. Please Cupcake” 

“I hate it when you call me that” she pouts blushingly

“What? I could remember when you loved it” he said laughing and she joins in laughing with him “So will you try?” 

“Of course. I got him” 

                                       ......................... ✍🏾

“How am I doing, Lucy?” 

“Your injuries have fully healed. You are good to move around” 

“Awesome. Anything to report?” 

“Seth The Kovo has taken your son to the Shadow Realm” 

“Just this once I will let this mistake slide—I don’t have a son” 

“I’m sorry My Lord” 

“So that rat didn’t die with his whore mother and now my best friend has taken in that bastard. Disgraceful Seth but I am not surprised” 

“Should I send Shane after him?” 

“Seth will destroy Shane. Let them enjoy the moment for now” 

                                       ....................... ✍🏾

This week will make it a month I have stayed in the Realm. I have been training very hard with the help of Seth supervising my training. I need to get strong if I'm going to kill my father 

Seth isn’t taking it easy on me—not that I want him to. I am able to control my shadow and surrounding shadows with ease now but I'm still not able to open a portal—stupid thing 

According to Seth I am a genius when it comes to Shadow Manipulation and I could surpass him and mum one day—I don’t know if he meant that but it made me damn happy 

I haven’t seen him today. He’s probably sneaking around the women’s hot spring—most of the time I wish one of the women he peeps on will kill him in the most brutal way

“How’s his training going?” 

“Surprisingly well. The boy has a knack for Shadow Manipulation” 

“Well he is her son” 

“Yea but he is still finding it hard to open a portal” 

“That should have been the easiest thing for him” 

“Yea but for some reason, it is the hardest. He’s so stupid” he said laughing 

“A minute ago you called him a genius” 

“Yea well Liam is many things” he said staring at the roof 

“Why don’t we have Selena teach him for a change?” 

“You know they don’t get along” 

“Something tells me Liam will listen to her” 

“Well you will be the one to tell her, not me and I don’t see Liam obeying her instructions” 

As if she knew they were about to see her she comes out of her portal—she had initially gone to stay with her mother in her school

“Just the girl we were talking about. How’s Helen?” 

“She’s fine. Mama said she will kill you next time she sees you” she said looking at Seth 

“Oh damn” he said sweating  

“What did he do?” Henri ask 

“He forgot their date night. Oh yea and Mama said she would love to meet Liam” 

“About him, there’s something I need you to do for me” 

“No” she answers with a straight face

“But I haven’t said what it is” 

“Whatever it is as long as it involves him, I want nothing to do with it” 

“Come on Selena I need you to teach him how to open portals” 

“Didn’t Papa teach him that?” she ask  

“I tried my best. The Sage thinks you can pull this off”

“I will not do it, I’m sorry Papa”

“Remember your promise to me” 

Fine. What makes you think he could learn it from me since you failed to teach him?"

"I didn't fail. He's having a hard time concentrating. We think you could handle it"

"Alright, but I will kill him if he doesn’t obey me” 

“Use every means necessary” 

“Okay. Later Papa” 

“Where are you going?” 

“He’s at the old training arena right?” 

“Yea that’s where I left him—” 

“I’m going to meet him there” a portal forms under her feet and swallows her 

“Any news about Steve?” 

“No... I doubt he’s ever coming back here” 

“I see” 

******