Author's Preface
The next morning, Ryan sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his system screen.
[Mana Reserves: 125/∞]
[Shadows Available]
[Bubba - Orc King - 6 Star]
[Fido - Shadow Assassin - 5 Star]
[Meatloaf - Heavy Knight - 4 Star]
[Thimble - Fairy Priest - 5 Star]
[Veyra - Dark Elf Ranger - 6 Star]
[Abilities: Tendrils(10)
Shadow Magic(basic)
Dual swordsmanship(basic)
Shadow Armor(basic)]
[Soul-Bound: 0/0]
Through the system screen, Thirty-Seven's face appeared and made Ryan jump back on his bed. "Seriously, can we put a bell on your neck? I can never hear your footsteps or sense you at all."
"Your outfits for the summit are ready, Mr. Kade. Please have a safe trip." Thirty-Seven turned and walked out.
Ryan leaned back against the wall. "I guess I can meditate before I need to leave. Hopefully this time my reserves can reach one thousand. Bubba going to 6 star drained me of like 200 mana. If the others evolve, I won't have enough."
Ryan meditated for the next few hours. He reached out to every Shadow available. One by one, black smoke rose from the shadows and entered Ryan's body until they melted into his core. Ryan opened his eyes.
[Mana Reserves: 975/∞]
"Perfect, now I can start finding shadows that aren't necessarily strong but can fill in numbers. Bubba and the rest can have their own squads. I can start running them like fire teams. Actually, I wonder." Ryan snapped his fingers and Bubba appeared in the center of his room.
"You called, master? This doesn't look much like a dungeon." Bubba looked around Ryan's room.
"It's not a dungeon. I do have a question for you, though."
"Okay, master."
"When you go into my Shadow, what is it like? Is it just darkness or what?"
Bubba brought a finger to his chin and raised his head. "It is like another world. The world you built for us, it's dark and beautiful. There are others there too, though we can barely see them. There is a huge wall that is thick black smoke and we can't cross it. But master gave me a whole building to myself."
"Wait, wait, wait." Ryan waved his hands in the air. "Time the fuck out. What do you mean a world I built?"
"In master's Shadow lies another world, with buildings, and training grounds."
"Okay, this makes no sense. What do you mean others?"
"Others are scary, master. Even through the black smoke, we can tell how strong they are."
Ryan stared at Bubba for a moment. "Well, that's enough questions for today. I'm more confused now, but thank you Bubba." Then he snapped his fingers and Bubba returned to his Shadow.
"Okay, is Bubba isn't stupid or lying right? But what the hell is he talking about." Ryan opened up his system. "You got any answers for me?" The system screen didn't answer "No, of course not. Why would you make it easy." Ryan stood and started looking at the new attire he was supposed to wear for the summit. Clothes fit for the guard of a noble, but also flexible enough, should he have to fight. Then a knock came at the door. "Come in."
Prince Samuel and his guard opened the door and walked in. "Oh, umm, Prince." Ryan gave a half bow. The guard clenched her fist as Samuel put his arm in front of her. "Mr. Kade, it's wonderful to see you again. I just wanted to say hi, and let you know we are ready to depart."
"Sure, just let me grab these clothes. And a few other things."
"No need." Samuel clapped his hands twice and Thirty-Seven appeared from behind him and collected Ryan's clothes and bags he had packed. "Nyx has insisted Thirty-Seven accompany us on this trip as my servant."
Ryan stared at Samuel and then at Thirty-Seven. He sighed. "Wonderful."
Ryan followed Samuel downstairs and out of the guild. In front, a procession of carriages, knights on horses, waited on the street. "There's like 10 carriages." Ryan stopped and stared as Samuel got in the second-to-last carriage. "Oh, I get it. The enemy won't know which carriage he's in. Smart." Ryan smiled and stepped onto the carriage and sat across from Samuel and his guard. Thirty-Seven joined them and took a seat next to Ryan.
The interior of the carriage was what you would expect. Expensive drapes covered the windows. Gold lined the floor and the seats. Thr seats themselves were made with the most expensive linen. The carriage was bigger than Ryan's room at the guild.
As Ryan admired the interior, Samuel's guard spoke. "I didn't ask for you two to be here. Honestly, you two are a waste of resources. We are going to the Summit of Kingdoms. You will behave as though you are nobility. You do not speak unless spoken to, and you listen to my orders. Is that understood?"
Ryan tilted his head toward the guard. "Yeah... No. I was told to guard the prince and that's what I will do. I will judge how that is done on my own. As for the speaking, I have no desire to speak to nobles and those who sit on their thrones while their citizens starve and struggle to live." Ryan crossed his arms.
Samuel was staring out the window with his chin rested on his fist. "I feel the same way, Mr. Kade."
"Third Prince, you can't."
"Oh, relax, Auntie, we aren't at the summit. But he's right. Feel free to speak whenever you want and about whatever you want, Mr. Kade."
"Well, then please don't call me Mr. I am a lot younger than you, Prince, and I haven't earned a lick of respect from you yet."
"Well, that's fair, but Nyx has told me an awful lot of things you've done since you've come to Elyndor. And not just clearing dungeons, but helping starving children, giving money back to villagers. You convinced Nyx to fund an orphanage for those children without parents and a home. So you have my respect... Kade. I just wish I could do the things you've done."
Ryan stared at the prince for a moment. "Prince, if I take my mask off, can you promise me to keep my identity a secret?"
"How dare you ask something like that of the prince!" Samuel's guard lifted her sword toward Ryan. Samuel put a finger on her sword and forced her to lower it.
"I would be honored to know the real identity of a man I admire."
Ryan reached to the top of the mask and released the enchantment that kept the mask from falling off. He grabbed the mask with one hand and placed it on his knee. Samuel stared at Ryan. The guard stared at him. Thirty-Seven stared at the ground.
"Oh my goodness. You're a child!"
Ryan's eyebrow twitched. "I am fifteen."
"Yes, that's still a child."
"Technically, in Isvale, where I am from, 15 is an adult. You're what... 25?"
"Twenty-three, I swear I told you this before in Nyx's office." the prince said.
"Ha. You probably did. But what you're really saying is that you're an ancient being. Got it."
Ryan smiled and chuckled as Samuel burst out laughing.
"Oh, this is going to be a fun trip," Samuel exclaimed as his guard smacked her teeth and crossed her arms.
Ryan leaned back and looked out the window. "It seems that way, Prince."