CHAPTER ONE -> ENCOUNTER

 

I came back from hunting in the forest—it was the only way I use to get by. These days it’s hard to get a successful hunt.  

After a harsh day of getting nothing, I went back home—to my cave. As I get close to the cave I hear a dull thud inside. At first, I am filled with smiles because I thought a bear or some animal was inside resting—they do it sometimes.  

I tiptoe to the entrance not to scare the animal and that’s when I see the sound was made by something that has a human figure, standing at the entrance with a disappointed look, I shouted 

“Who’s there!?” 

I waited for a reply but nothing came. The shadowy figure is sitting inside the cave with unsteady breathing—you could tell whoever the breath is coming from is injured 

“From your breathing, I can tell you are injured...” I said as I walk into the cave 

“This is not a hospital... Leave or I will speed up your death” 

“Y-you talk as if you have any strength in you to end the likes of me...” the figure manages to speak while coughing out blood 

“You are already at death’s door killing you will be easy” I pull out a knife with dull edges strapped around my waist and run at the man to slice open his throat but I am overpowered with ease.  

Before I could blink the knife I am holding is already on the ground and I am flying out of the cave. I landed head first on the ground groaning loudly. Still, on the ground I look up to see the unknown figure standing above my head—he now looks like a slender man with spiky hair, dark brown eyes and he has a square beard. He introduces himself 

“My name is Seth Remmick” he collapses shortly after introducing himself.  

I get up and stare at his unconscious body—this is the right time to kill him but looking at him takes away my intent to kill him so I drag him inside my cave to clean his wound 

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

Two days later he regains consciousness. His eyes slowly open as he grunts trying to sit up 

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you” 

“You patched me up, why?” 

“I don’t know. I did it on a whim” 

Seth forces himself to sit up 

“If you move around you will open your wound and I don’t intend to patch you up again” I said with my back facing him 

“I need to get back to my Realm...” he said 

“You won’t last two minutes with that injury. Stay and regain back your strength” 

“I didn’t know you care about me” 

“I patched you up cause I figured you wouldn’t leave and no one likes to have a corpse on his front porch” 

Seth laughs hysterically with tears rolling down his cheek 

“Funny how you used porch for a cave” he pulls up his shirt to see the stitches I did on him “Wow! You are very good with your hands ain’t you?” 

“One of the perks of living alone” I serve him a bowl of soup with rotten meat 

“Thanks but that will kill me” he rejected 

I poured some for myself and started eating. He uses his eyes to inspect the cave 

“This is the only cave around here without bats nesting...” 

“I killed them all” I said with my face focused on my food 

“You are joking right?” he asks

I raise my head to give him a flinty stare 

“Ugh... Okay... He’s not joking. Can I at least have some water?” 

“No water” I said getting back on my food 

“You are not a conversationalist, are you?” 

“What’s that?” 

“Never mind” he sighs “What’s your name boy?” 

“I don’t have a name...” 

“Come on everyone has one” 

“If I had one I can’t remember what it is” 

“Then I have to give you one...” 

“I am not your pet” 

“No one would want you as a pet anyways. I will still give you a name though. Let me think of a fine name” he said feeling his jaw  

I stare at him with distrust 

"What's with this man? Haven't I seen this face before?"

“Don’t give me that look, Limbo” he said smiling at me

"Who the fuck in his right mind would agree to answer such foolish name?" I sigh 

“I see you don’t fancy the name. What about Quattro, Benjamin, or Amino?” he laughs “Amino is a pretty name and suits you just fine” 

“Are you trying to annoy me?” I ask glaring at him  

“At least I got your attention, Liam” 

"I will always love you, Liam. Live for me" memory of my last moment with my mother flash through my head at the moment he said the name, Liam 

"Who the hell is this man?"

“I will take your silence as a yes. From now on your name is Liam” 

“Who are you?” I ask confused 

“I’m Seth. I told you before didn’t I?”   “You look a lot like him. Poor Shayla” he stares sadly at me

“You look like you are saying something in your head, what’s that?” I ask 

“It’s nothing important” he answered with a smile 

“Do you kn—” 

“What’s that?” 

“It’s nothing. Forget it” I said looking away 

“Okay. Thanks for looking after me, Liam” black particles start forming in front of him,  within minutes it takes the shape of something that looks like a portal

“What’s that?” I ask

“It’s a transportation mechanism, a portal”

“Are you leaving already?” 

“Yea. Adios” He gives me a wave before going through the portal. It disappears seconds after he ambled into 

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

Somewhere in the Shadow Realm; Shadow Realm is a place full of beauty and dangerous planes. It is the home of Shadow—they are people born in the Realm. The Realm is accessible to outsiders through portals. 

But if an ordinary man or a non-Shadow steps foot on the soil of the Realm, his shadow will be instantly drained from him causing immediate death. It is a protective mechanism set up by the first Guardian of the Realm; Alphonso Remmick.  

A short old man with a Bandholz style beard is peeping through the hole on the wall outside the women’s hot spring bath. He is watching young women with voluptuous boobs take their bath 

He giggles silently shaking his butt with excitement and unknown to him is Selena, Seth’s daughter standing behind him with a hateful gaze ready to pounce on him 

“What do you think you are doing?” she grits her teeth with her fists clenched  

“Selena?” Henri ask with his body shaking with fear 

“Stupid old man!” she strikes him repeatedly to her content “I can’t believe you are a Sage” she said looking at him with resentment 

“This is not how to take care of an old man. Don’t you know my body is fragile? Handle me with care” he said pouting 

“Then stop being a pervert” 

"I'm not a pervert"

“You are the worst!” She said, frowning  

Henri with his bruised face ignores her and ask about her father 

“Has he returned from his battle with Steve?” 

“He hasn’t. What if he doesn’t come back this time?” she looks away seemingly worried

He hits her gently with his staff 

“Don’t doubt the powers of the Kovo in the Realm. He will be back” 

“Yeah!” with a satisfied look she stares at the sky.

*****