In Shadows [Searching for the Kakos Gem]

The steel of knives felt chill under the huntsman's fingers as he stalked his prey. He was downwind of the hare watching it nibble peacefully on some clover, his loyal canine companion laying by his side. Meat had been hard to come by these days, and rabbits were particularly hard to catch. What they lacked in size and danger they more than made up for in speed. . . and taste. Xyrik could not mess this shot up. Slowly, steadily, he raised his throwing knife. . . the rabbit suspected nothing. . .

And suddenly, the wind shifted. The scent of danger had the rabbit perk up its ears. With not even a glance, it darted in the opposite direction, but Xyrik was in hot pursuit. He panted to catch up with the hare, his knife replaced in his hands by a long, deadly spear. His dog matched him stride for stride, its eyes wild with the excitement of the hunt. Thanks to their speed, they were catching up, and the hare was losing any hope for survival. That is, until it saw something. Something big. Something dark. Something safe. Fur bristling with terror but willing to risk braving the unknown dangers of the cavern, the rabbit barreled in, and, without a second thought, Xyrik followed it. Only a few more paces and the hare would have been his, but a few more paces was all it took for darkness to surround him at all sides. Alarmed, he stopped in his tracks. His dog stopped with him. It was so dark, he could not see his own hand in front of his face. And yet. . .

His stomach growled, and the huntsman let out a voiceless groan. He clicked his tongue, and his dog's nose was on the floor, sniffing furiously for the trail of the hare. Xyrik kept one hand nestled deep within its fur to guide him, but he kept his senses alert for anything else.

As Xyrik entered the cave, he would find a darkness like nothing he’d experienced before. If he looked back, the opening would seem to dim as if it was already 100 ft away. A chill hung in the air. While the rabbit might be somewhere in the cave, it would be almost impossible to tell right now. The dogs might have picked up on other smells though, deeper into the darkness of the strange cave. Deeper into the darkness.

And deeper into the darkness Xyrik Dax descended, his hand constantly in the mane of his dog. The dog, though determined, was giving tiny whimpers of fear. The huntsman caressed her fur gently, humming in his throat for encouragement. Little by little, the two went deeper into the cavern. Xyrik tested each step, anxious of a potential bluff. His spear was in his hand, poised for any danger. . . or prey.

As Xyrik continued, he and his canine companions would soon find themselves hitting a wall of the cave. it was still dark as ever, but now at least there was something he could use as a bit of a guide to travel though the darkness of the cave.

The stone was cool to the touch. The dog reared her head back in surprise and gave a whimper of uncertainty. Xyrik hesitated. It would be better for him to have one hand on the wall and one on his dog for optimal guidance, but he was reluctant to have his weapon leave his palm. On one hand, if there were enemies here, it's not like he could see them, so aiming would be pointless. He didn't like the idea of abandoning the idea of self-defense despite that, though. His dog was here to protect him, and even though his dogs were bred for defense, Xyrik was reluctant to have them risk their lives. Now, he was anxious. What if he lost his way? He turned around to see if the cave entrance was still visible.

As Xyrik looked back, he would only see more darkness within the cave. As if something was actually blocking any attempt to light what was inside. If he would continue through the dark, it would be possible he'd find it way to something rising up from the floor.

Xyrik sighed through his mask. The dog, picking up on his anxiety, whimpered. Was there any need to go further, really? There was the rabbit, but was the risk of becoming trapped worth it? If he continued, he might find food and maybe some other loot that had been covered here long ago. Yet, if he left, he would have nothing but his life. Life was pleasing. Xyrik certainly didn't want to die. But. . .

His face turned away from the way he came. Now that he was here, there was part of him that was curious. If he left, he might never find this cave again. Xyrik took a shuddering breath. He relinquished his spear to its sheath, and he pressed his palm against the chilly wall. He pressed on, guided by his dog, as they made it steadily up the slope. Perhaps there was another opening through here?

As he continued, Xyrik might have noticed that he could feel something that felt carved into the wall. Of course it wasn't visible, but something was there. He might have also picked up on some warm. It was still dark, but he may have found something.

As he felt the carvings, Xyrik stopped. He ran his fingers over it a few times, curious. Maybe. . . a button? Some loot? A rune? Most pressingly, it was warm. He pressed his fingers against the carvings to see if it could be pulled out. If that did not work, he would push it as if it were a button.

As Xyrik felt the carving and pulled, he would feel the carving he grabbed moving. As he pulled it out, a surge of energy would flow into him, and shadows seemed to disperse, and some torchlight just seemed to appear. What Xyrik would see in his hand now was a cut onyx gem, shaped like a serpent.

Light at last. Why? How? Xyrik stared at the stone in his hand, pondering. Was it special? Could it be- dare he think it - magical? There was some talk of a magical college, but relics were few and far between, believed to be incredibly rare. He turned the gem over in his hand. The hound by his side whined curiously, tilting her head at her master.

As Xyrik would ponder what the gem was, a cave wall nearby seemed to open, and a slight flash would happen within before a hooded woman with red hair walked out, looking the man up and down. She would smirk slightly before speaking up.

So, you’re the first to find one of the gems?” She leaned against one of the walls, crossing her arms a bit as she did. ”You seem to be an odd one. So I guess I’ll ask first if you know who I am… somehow.”

The dog went crazy at the sudden light, barking in a frenzy at the woman. Xyrik, too, startled and automatically drew his spear. Yet she seemed calm, somehow. There was nothing about her that communicated aggression, which calmed him.
If they were to fight, he would be out of his element. Xyrik whistled, and the dog went silent. Its glowing eyes never left the woman, and its fangs remained bared.

An odd one? Xyrik straightened at the assumption as if he took offense, but as he opened his mouth, nothing came out. He deflated. Well, she wasn't wrong. His muteness was only the beginning. After all, he was raised in Kakos, and as a whole that place was strange. No matter, though. This woman- who was she? Xyrik's mind returned to the magical college. Was this the headmaster? Some powerful mage from there? Regardless, he shook his head, remaining in his forever silence.

Soshi stayed calm, looking at the dog before it was calmed how, and she listened to Xyrik’s…. Well not really listened. She looked a bit worried about what she said before. “Sorry, didn’t realize you were…. Didn’t mean it as a bad thing. But, I am Soshi. Goddess of the Elements. I know it sounds crazy, but all this cave here, that gem in your hand that made the shadows retreat. That’s me.” She then slowly came forward, looking at the gem.

“What you have there is a very powerful object. Something I made that I just call an Elemental Gem. The Serpent specifically.”

At the woman's apology, Xyrik just shook his head calmly. He rose his palm and made a batting motion with it, as if he were shooing away a fly. It was okay. She didn't mean it rudely. He was sensitive to people calling him weird, mainly due to his inability to speak, but it's not like she knew. Behind his skull mask, Xyrik's eyes lit up in surprise. So he had stumbled upon a relic. He looked at Soshi, quizzical, as if to question why.

Soshi looked at Xyrik, giving a similar quizzical look before thinking. “Why?” she semi-asked before look at the ground. That might help. She tapped her foot, and the stone would seem to crumble to dirt.

“Well, you see I’ve only now been ready to really… show up. Might also be hard to believe, but… human gods aren’t exactly plentiful…. It’s just me as far as I know. Which made me worried to be more upfront. That gem there contains a bit of my power, specifically, shadows.” She’d then open her palm to create a ball of light, adding some more light to another wall with some writing.

“My hope, is that those who find or are given a gem will help protect others. And… maybe be able yo hand a dragon or two should it come to that.”

Any doubt that Xyrik might have had in his mind about this woman being a goddess was extinguished when she turned the stone to dirt as if it was nothing. He doubted even the person who opened the magic college would be able to do that. Xyrik plopped to his knees, running his coarse palms through the dirt as if he was grateful for it. He had lovely handwriting that became clear as he wrote. . . Though, he seemed to be a poor writer in general. 

Soshi want to protect. Soshi good, he wrote, Will protect. Kakos needs protect. Xyrik's hands stilled. He did not have much to say. What could you say, when someone just popped in front of you claiming to be a goddess? It was all so sudden, and he felt like he needed time to think. For a few moments, the dirt was not graced by his writing fingers, before a question struck him. Stone protect how? Use it how?

Soshi looked at the writing, a little smile coming to her face as he wrote his thoughts. She nodded, glad that Xyrik seemed to understand what she was asking of him, but he soon asked what the gem would do.

"That stone there is an Onyx gem, one that has a small bit of my power imbued to it. Shadow magic specifically. It'll take training, but once you start to learn you can use it to fade into the black and be unseen." As she said this, she'd step into the shadows, not particularly dark ones either, and just seemed to fade. She step back out from another shadowy area, waving a bit. "And control shadows." She'd look to her own shadow, which soon began to move, and slide towards the man. She smirked a bit, letting it seem to grab his wrist for a second before it faded back to where it should be. Soshi then realized something. "What's your name by the way. Sorry I didn't ask soon. Have to get better with... well this kind of stuff."

So now, Xyrik Dax had the power of a goddess in his hands. He stared down at the dark stone, passing it over between his fingers. How could this help Kakos? He already had a few ideas of how it could help his hunting, but that was for him- not for the hundreds of people milling about in the city above them right now. He pondered. Many who passed through had ill fates befall them. Perhaps he could use the cover of shadow to help them enter and leave the city safely. Like an escort. But what else. . . ? There had to be more possibilities, Xyrik knew. He had always been pushed aside, bullied like everyone else was in Kakos. Maybe he could become something for once. With this stone, the Serpent, he could transform the city into a better place. 

Xyrik Dax, he wrote into the dirt. Hunter. Train dogs. Speshul dogs. He patted the canine by his side. Train stone, will do. Xyrik looked up. His eyes wandered behind his mask. He saw something small, brown, huddling in a nook. In a flash, he grabbed a knife from his belt and threw it at the hare. It pierced and killed the thing with surprising accuracy. With a huff, he stood up to grab the rabbit, but hesitated. Spear in hand, he used the tip to write, Want hot meal? Fresh.

Soshi smiled a bit, though it wasn't really a name it was something. She was about to say something before the man threw his knife, finishing off the rabbit that had led him there. He then asked if she wanted a hot meal, and Soshi would give a nod as she looked around, starting a little fire.

"Thanks. It might sake some time to figure how everything, I know it took me a while."

That made Xyrik happy. Though a hot meal was all Soshi wanted, it was only polite for him to do something for her. After all, she was doing something for all of humankind by allowing the Serpent to be found. Plus not everyone can say that they've cooked for a goddess. Xyrik was determined to serve up a good meal, even if he was without seasoning and salt. As quickly as he could- that is, without rushing and ruining it -he skinned the rabbit. He worked like a master, and it was clear by the way he severed the head and feet that he had done this his whole life. In a few minutes of silence, he removed the innards of the hare, cleaning it out wholly. The liver was red- that was good. It meant that the rabbit was healthy and safe to eat. Well. . . Almost. . .

Xyrik removed the wolf pelt from his shoulders, and a chill reached him. He shuddered, but he laid it down so he could have something to set the rabbit on. Then, he resumed writing in the dirt: Water need, clean rabbit. Can Soshi do? As a sudden idea, he asked, Seasoning. Salt. Soshi can? He was asking if she could summon water or perhaps make edible plants come from the ground. Was that in her power? Xyrik looked up, head bowed humbly, his eyes tentative behind his mask.

Soshi watched with interest as Xyrik prepped the rabbit. Nothing she hand had to do before, but he was definitely a lot cleaner than her. It was soon that he asked if she could make some water, then added the idea of salt. While Soshi made the water easy enough, including an rock bowl that held it, she had to think a moment on the salt. She’d never really tried it before, but… she made a little motor and pestle, since she wasn’t sure about making a ground version, and tried to take some of the dirt, forming it into what she hoped was salt. She then looked, slowly putting it in the grinding bowl before testing it, pounding a piece off and putting it in her…. Yep that was it! She quickly spat the piece out and finished grinding some salt for the Hunter.

Though his expression was concealed, Xyrik Dax's eyebrows shot up in surprise when Soshi did just as he requested. Immediately, he picked up the rabbit and placed it in the water, cleaning the meat before spearing it with his weapon. His head was turned towards the goddess, watching her every move with wide eyes, kind of hoping that she would do another cool trick. Needless to say, he was colored impressed. Would it be weird for him to say that? Probably. A goddess wouldn't need the words of a mortal to know how neat and powerful she was. He did write one thing in the dirt though: Thank you.

Soshi smiled, handing over the pestle to Xyrik.

"Your welcome. Stuff like this is how I practiced. How I started to learn just what I could do." She looked around, getting what looked a plate formed soon for whenever the rabbit was done.