Those who fear the shadow of death

  Know not what cast

  The light

  “So how much for one of the dull ones?” Said Zen.

  Calypso reached out attempting to grab a sword. Her tiny hands dragging her long braids along to the blade.

  “Calypso, don’t touch that.” Said Zen grabbing Calypso’s tiny hand.

  Calypso grunted and continued to reach for the blade once Zen looked away.

  “Well,” Said the woman leaning on the table “How about twenty and you put a good word in for me? With the higher ups if you would be so kind.” Zen nodded handed the woman twenty bronze coins.

  Zen snached Calypso into her arms and walked away.

  “Why did that lady think you knew rich people?” Asked Calypso playing with her red hair.

  “Because I'm taking care of you” Said Zen.

  Zen kept her left hand on her new sword and her right hand held Calypso. Zen shifted her backpack and glanced at Calypso.

  “Mind getting the map for me?” Calypso nodded and reached into the massive clump of stuff.

  Calypso's tiny hands pushed aside bags of food and water. She felt around and grabbed a roll of paper. Calypso pulled the map out and handed it to Zen.

  “Well, let's see” Zen looked at the map and knew they would need a knew one soon. They had reached the edge of their map.

  “We should arrive at the next town in about two days” Calypso looked up at the stars and frowned.

  Zen grabbed her hand “Let's go”

  They walked in-between the massive trees and over abundant shrubs.

  “I'm hungry, are you?” Asked Zen. Calypso nodded and glanced at the backpack.

  “Grab something sweet too”

  Calypso pulled out two bags and handed Zen a large chunk of dried meat. They chewed on whatever they could to pass the time. The moons above began to rule the sky. The sun fell behind the trees and out of view.

  “I'll set up the tent, just don't run off anywhere” Said Zen as she stood up. She set down the backpack and began to set up the tent. Out of the corner of her eye she saw her black sword wrapped in chains. Zen placed her left hand on the case and shivered. She took a deep breath and moved it aside. She grabbed a few sticks and finished setting up the small square tent.

  Suddenly she heard Calypso scream and terror ran down her spine. She ran as fast as her legs could take her. She arrived to see Calypso crying over the shattered body of a woman in armor. She shouldn’t have snuck up on her. Zen hugged Calypso knowing she must have been terrified. The woman had mostly likely survived the first impact but the armor she wore had most likely kept her chest in the shape it was.

  The sun was gone and what little light that remained was just enough for animals. Zen walked back with Calypso in her arms. She set Calypso down and kissed her cheek.

  “I'll be right back” Zen walked back to the mangled body.

  She got out her hunting knife and began to cut the armor off her body. She took the sword the woman had strapped to her side. It was snapped in half.

  Maybe I can fix it later.

  She took everything she could find that might be useful.

  “That's some nice boots you got there it would be ashamed if someone took them” Zen had a smirk on her smug little face. Her jet black braid bounced as she cut the armor off. She grabbed the boots and walked back to Calypso. “Bunbun?”

  Calypso was sniffling and holding her teddy bear. Zen knew she was upset. Zen scooped her up and held her.

  “Why did daddy hurt her?” Asked Calypso.

  “He just wants to protect us. Remember that it's not your fault. Just hold teddy and think about your mom”. She knew Calypso couldn't remember her. But the picture they had was more than enough.

  “Zen” whispered Calypso.

  “Yeah?”

  “Do you think Gilgamesh is still following us?”

  “No baby” I know he is

  “But if he is, dad will just kick his butt again” Zen began to tickle her niece. Zen wanted to keep Calypso’s mind off of all the bad things. Once Calypso fell asleep Zen sparked a small fire.

  “You awake?” Asked Zen.

  “I don't sleep” Spoke the shadow.

  It's still strange to think you're my brother…

  “Is she asleep?” Asked the shadow.

  “Really, how is it you can't tell?” Two dark spheres of corrupted light began to edge their way closer. A abyss of light formed as it's mouth. It's mouth ate the flames.

  “So you done eating?” Asked Zen.

  “That was not very much energy.” Replied the shadow.

  “You know what-”

  “So my question is why do this, you know I could wipe every living thing off this planet.”

  “Stop bragging, you know you can't take them all on. And you know that stupid Prince would wipe the floor with you” Zen snorted.

  “You don't know till you've tried” Said the shadow.

  “He made Gilgamesh his bitch, you had a hard time with Gilgamesh so I don't really think you have a chance”

  “So what did you really have in mind” Said the shadow.

  “How sick is she…” Zen didn't want to think about it.

  “At the rate she's is going...” the shadow fell silent

  “Can we have this conversation away from her? I just can't” The shadow began to choke on his words. They moved away from her and his words cried.

  “Ten years at best. At that point her body will begin to shut down and she will die. But if we can get her home the human race has technology that can save her”

  “So how exactly are we going to get passed the Prince and all his soldiers?”

  “We can use the gods as a distraction. And if it works we can take the forge and use it to get you two home” Said the shadow.

  “So, what do we do about the genocide?” Said Zen.

  “Nothing, if we get involved, he will find us again. And the last thing we need is for her to get mad” Said the shadow.

  “That's too bad,” Said Zen.

  “Because we're gonna do something better than using Gods. Let's starts a war”. She was too smart for her own good but to sadistic as well.

  “How you gonna do that?”

  “Easy, tell everyone Calypso is the child of the God Eater. We can get enough people if we go and promise everyone that once we overthrow the Prince they’ll all have freedom. And we don't even have to ask the boys. All Calypso has to do is tell them”

  The shadow was silent before effectively ending their conversation “You should get some rest, I'll keep watch”

  Zen found a place beside Calypso and fell asleep. Zen dreamt that night. She dreamt of a beast, one that held Calypso. It's eyes looked down at a world devoid of life. It's divine might knowing no mercy, but a flicker of hope. The body of a God half eaten lay at its feet. A god blade forced through its heart.

  “Wake up” It was Calypso. Zen turned to look at her best friend

  “Ready to take over the world?”

  “Yeah but don't be mean to anyone. It hurts their feelings”

  “Don't worry baby doll, I'll try my best to be nice” Zen picked everything up and they continued their campaign. They marched through the woods knowing the shadow had most likely eaten everything near by.

  Calypso tugged on Zen’s fingers “We should get a puppy”

  “We can barely feed ourselves. Maybe once we get a bit more power so we can actually defend ourselves” replied Zen. They walked at a fast pace and spotted another woman in armor.

  “Shit” Said Zen. Why do those idiots keep following us, why don't they learn.

  Zen turned towards Calypso “Wait here”

  She dropped the backpack and held tight to her newly purchased sword.

  “Hey, I don't want any trouble” Said Zen.

  The woman said nothing to her. She merely stood still and kept facing Zen.

  “Just let me go and we won't have a problem” Zen knew that others were hidden about so their was no point in avoiding them.

  The woman had a dark armor. She knew that she would have three layers of armor. The regular chest plait, chain mail and hide.

  “Come on back, it won't be that bad. Being priests won't hurt.” The women held out her hand.

  Zen knew this was a lie. They knew this as well. If they got their hands on Calypso it would be the beginning of the end. She was all they needed to create weapons that once were used to slay demigods and gods alike.

  “Leave us alone for a while and we might consider it” Said Zen.

  The woman lifted her helmet to show where her eyes once stood “Remember, we will be watching”

  She had been unworthy of the gifts the bloodline had to offer. She was forced to remove her own eyes. Those unworthy always did. The woman walked slowly but steadily. They were a monstrous people. But nothing near the worst.

  Zen walked back to Calypso and grabbed her. They continued to march. As they walked Calypso noticed it was oddly silent.

  “I can't hear any animals” Said Calypso.

  “Don't worry about it” Said Zen.

  What's up with this place… maybe shadow cleaned the place up. No, he can't reach this far. Something's wrong.

  “Sweety, we are going to go around the woods okay?” Calypso nodded and they took a right. They knew their should be a clearing. They walked for a few hours and arrived.

  “What the…” it looked as if something had given the world an edge. Possibly thousands of miles down. But that wasn't the thing that caught Zen off guard. She didn't believe it existed until that moment.

  “Zen, what is that?” Calypso was tugging at her own fire red hair with one hand and on Zen's black hair with the other.

  “Well, that is Mother Tera” Zen felt the words come out of her mouth slowly. She didn't believe something so strange could be real. It's body was probably three thousand miles tall. The farm lands of the Prince. His nation received over fifty percent of their crops from this tiny area. She knew at most it was forty thousand miles across.

  “Why are those people jumping?” Calypso had her eyes fixed on tiny dots in the distance.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Zen knew what was actually happening. They were pushing old slaves off the cliff. Those old men fell to their deaths.

  “Let's keep going” Zen picked Calypso up again. They kept glancing at the far off specter. She had once been an aggressive creation of the God Eater or so the legends went. But thousands of years had rounded her sharp fangs but only because she chose to let them dull. She almost looked normal besides the oddly pale skin.

  “She kinda looks like us” Calypso had her hand up comparing the color of her own hand to Mother Tera.

  As far as they knew, no one else on the planet had skin as pale as they did. The Noah noted this every time they encountered them. But Calypso’s red hair was what gave most people a sense of awe.

  “You're right” Said Zen.

  Zen had taken every book she could get her hands to know this world.

  And she knew what Mother Tera was made of a material that had once been used to create the Elder blades. Zen also knew that the Prince had been ruling over his kingdom for the past fifty thousand years. Some speculated that he was immortal. But none had seen him since the first fifteen years of his rain. Zen suspected he had died at a young age and they used his name to uphold the kingdom.

  “Let's keep going” Said Zen.

  Night came and passed without any particular events. Zen looked up at the trees and saw that she was hoping for. The city had been carved into the trees. Zen could see a guard standing in rusted armor. His blade was worn and his face was missing hope.

  “Stop where you stand in the honor of her Majesty, Queen Akana. State your business” His voice seemed to carry through the motions with every sound.

  “Nice to meet you, my title is Akla. I am here to see a friend of mine” Zen looked at his mind and began to read his past.

  “I am sorry but I can't let you up without payment and authorization from the Queen that payment was sufficient” Said the rusted man.

  “How old were you when they took you away?” Zen's voice had taken a lighter motherly tone.

  Despite only being seven she did this well.

  “Five” Said the rusted man. He knew even if he was a guard he had to replied to her.

  “Do you miss your home?” Asked Zen taking a step forward.

  “Everyday” his eyes were pulled down by the weight of those word.

  “How old are you?” Zen knew his age but wanted him to recall that he didn't remember anymore.

  “I don't know” His voice wavering.

  “I'll make you a promise, when I leave, you will be coming with us.”

  “I mean no disrespect but you won't be able to uphold it” Said the rusted man.

  “Let me up there and I'll prove it to you” Said Zen.

  “I still must follow the orders given” Zen nodded and tossed him a small pouch.

  He placed the money in a box and tugged on a rope. A half hour passed before a note arrived.

  “You have been allowed passage. All I can offer is my apologizes for the long wait”

  “No need, thanks you” his new smile sat beneath blood red eyes.

  It was the first time anyone had ever thanked him. They reached the top of the rope system that lifted them. When they reached the top Zen could see the vast city in the trees.

  “Thank you” Said Zen.

  She walked away and headed to find someone she desperately needed. As they walked away Calypso glanced out from under her mask, her eyes of flaming gold and crimson. The man looked into her eyes and knew.

  “Praised be Anoxion” spoke his lips.

  Zen walked about the city and took in her surroundings. Hundreds of people were running about like bugs looking for food. Zen could smell the millions of flowers that were being bought and sold. She looked at the auction block and turned away. She didn't want Calypso to see. Zen reached a wall made of mangled thorns. Five guards stood at the gate. They were in fine armor that shined like the sun.

  “Hello, I'm Akla” Said Zen.

  They remained silent. Zen never liked to use the marks to get my but she had to from time to time. Zen removed her gloves and pulled up her sleeve. Her right arm had a mark only Royal could have. They kneeled and two of the larger men moved the door. They were young. Fresh out of training, they would never talk back to a woman, much less royalty.

  “Thank you” Said Zen. They seemed shocked and looked on at her as if she were a God of sorts. Zen walked about and could see women with their servants alongside them. She knew they were all slaves. She eventually found a massive building and walked in. She could feel the heat. The massive steel cage was suspended by cables.

  “Hello, welcome to my shop” Said a woman covered in jewels.

  Her eyes holding a sliver of fiery gold. Just enough to be seen from a short distance. Despite looking as poor as dirt the fact that she was inside the upper class section told the woman there was money to be made.

  “Hi, I'm looking for a Master blacksmith” Said Zen.

  “Well, title’s before business dear” The woman had her hand out.

  She had no intention of shaking hands. That was meant for equals. Her hand was bent palm facing down.

  “Akla” the woman attempted to hide her disgraceful gesture by placing her hand on the counter. She awkwardly leaned on the counter attempting to seem natural. She placed her free left hand over her heart.

  “I am honored” the woman was shaking slightly.

  “Did you just assume your setpriority?” Zen felt like a moron saying it but knew it would help her in the long run.

  “I apologize, please forgive my actions” Said the woman.

  Eww I can't believe I have to do this. Zen spit at the floor

  “You think you can just apologize and have such a great crime looked over!?”

  I sound so stupid. She dropped to her hands and knees.

  “I offer you any item here, at half value” Said the woman.

  “What is your title?” Asked Zen.

  “Norasa” Said the woman.

  “Well, I told you I wanted a Master blacksmith didn't I” Said Zen.

  The woman squeaked with fear.

  “Where is it” Why do I have to drop to their level. I need a good shower after this.

  “We have far more valuable items here” Said Norasa.

  “Are you questioning me?”

  “N-no…” She stood up and walked to massive cage.

  She pulled on a gold chain and a few seconds later a large man walked out. His skin was covered in ash giving it a sickly pale color like Zen’s.

  “This is my blacksmith” Said the woman.

  He kneeled and looked down. Zen placed Calypso down and walked over to him. Zen reached out to shake his hand. His massive hands were covered in black coal. He seemed confused and slowly reached out.

  “Nice to meet you.” Zen felt his hands and could feel the years of flames trapped within. He didn't speak, it was disgraceful for someone like him to speak to someone like her.

  “How much for him?” Asked Zen.

  The woman gasped knowing she had to place a price on her tool.

  “He's very expensive, I had him imported from a far away land. He is from a family of blacksmiths.”

  “How much” Repeated Zen.

  “At the very least three sunstones” Said the woman.

  "Well, good things I just so happen to be rich” Zen smiled knowing she would.have to cut the price.

  Her mouth dropped and she murmured.

  “I can't just give him up you know”

  “You aren't going to, I'm gonna buy him. And you did say anything half price so I'll be taking him. For one sunstone and five hundred platinum coins” Said Zen.

  Zen had robbed a bandit camp and several War Lords for all they had. The woman seemed almost angry.

  “Well… I'll give you everything on the shelves just leave my tool here, he's not that good at crafting anyway.”

  “Them maybe I'm paying too much.”

  “Just give me the money and take him” Said the woman in defeat.

  Zen smiled and reached into her backpack.

  “Here you go” Said Zen with a sly smile.

  Zen grabbed the blacksmith's hand “Let's go see the Queen”.

  Zen grabbed Calypso and marched to the palace of the Queen.

  “You ready baby face?” Calypso nodded.

  Zen walked right up to the guards and said “Hi, Gilgamesh is coming and I really hope you have some God slayer blades because he's pissed. He should be here in about a week and unless I get to talk to your Queen. Well you know what he will do”

  Zen knew they were terrified. Of all the people that walked the world he was the most arrogant. He couldn't keep himself from starting a fight. It had to be him against the world. It wouldn't be fair otherwise. They stepped aside and let the massive door open. They wouldn't dare take a threat like Gilgamesh lightly. According to legend he was a natural born killer. Many thousands of years ago he had been one of thousands. But his lust for power had been more than his race could stand for. The rest is lost in whispers.

  Zen walked through the grand halls and the moment that she stepped into the throne room she yelled “Gilgamesh!”

  The people that stood around a large table looked over at her. A massive chandelier hung overhead in the air.

  “I know you all know the name and more importantly you know he's been on quite the adventure. He wants to kill the most powerful person on the planet. With the exception of the Prince, well maybe him too but we all know that's not happening. Anyway I'm here to challenge the Queen of Vaston.”

  They looked at Zen and began to chuckle.

  “Call the Queen here” Said one of the speakers.

  “How would you know Gilgamesh is attempting to find an adversary.” Said one of the speaker.

  “Well, as you all know the City of Totil fell two months ago. He was looking for someone to fight him. He wiped the entire city off the face of the world. And he's going to come here next so I have an offer to make you”

  The sound of heavy feet along with the creaking of a door passed through the room. The guards bowed and the Queen had arrived. Her dark skin looked like a flawless creation of the gods. Her light gray hair sat loosely at her side. But her eyes held two spikes of gold in each. “What is that peasant doing her” Scowled the Queen.

  “Better watch that pretty mouth of yours before I break it”

  “What did you just say?”

  “Wow, deaf, stupid and arrogant. What a combination. And just so you can know I said better watch that pretty mouth of yours before I break it”

  Zen watcher her walk over and tries her best to show her power. Her eyes were locked on Zen’s.

  “I was here to challenge you but now I'm here to beat the life out of…” Zen felt a slight tug on her backpack.

  “Right, anyway I challenge you and your best warrior's”

  “You don't have the right” Said the Queen.

  “But she does” Said Zen.

  Calypso removed her mask and blinked her eyes of flames. The queen’s eyes became wide and filled with fear.

  “Now then. I'll have a word with my friend before we get started” Said Zen.

  She walked over to the blacksmith. A few moments passed and Zen set her backpack on the floor.

  “You ready” Zen was taking a moment to stretch.

  The so called Queen called forth her strongest warrior. The person was hidden behind a wall of armor. Zen began to break down the armor in her mind. What did the armor have that she could use against it. Zen looked closely and smiled to herself. The massive body that was facing her stepped forward.

  “And begin!” Yelled the Queen.

  Zen held her sword tight and knew full well she didn't need to use it. The person charged at Zen and Zen tossed a small blade missing her target horribly. Zen rushed at her target and stopped just a few feet short. A massive chandelier fell on the warrior and Zen knew it could be nowhere near enough to stop the warrior. Zen ran over and slammed her blade next to the ears of the warrior. She knew it would make her enemy deaf for a short time. And throw off their balance. The person began to lift the chandelier and with rage began to thrash about. Zen looked at the gap in the armor just under the armpit. She rejected the plan in her mind knowing she would kill her adversary. Zen could hear the heavy breathing of her adversary and knew it was just about time. Zen took a deep breath and unsheathed her dark blade. A rapid wind began to flow passed everyone falling into Zen's blades. Her advisory was attempting to take a breath but only managed to clasp for the air.

  Zen placed her sword back in its place “So, now that I won give me all your sunstones and all your most expensive artifacts.” Zen knew they had to.

  “The Queen must still face off against, what is your title?”

  “Calypso” her little hands were by her side.

  “Just remember you don’t have to let him fight” Said Zen.

  Calypso nodded and walked over to the backpack. She grabbed two large balls that looked like they just might be gloves. She walked over to the Queen and Zen cleared her throat.

  “Oh!” Calypso ran over to Zen and waited. Zen grabbed a piece of string and placed Calypso's hair in a bun.

  “Have fun” Zen whispered to Calypso as she ran back over and the Queen that seemed to be offended.

  “A child? I'm going to challenge a child. Do you really think I would go so low as to fight a child?”

  “Well, yeah. You seem the type. But you should really keep an eye on her” Zen looked over at Calypso who just so happened to be freaking out.

  “What you scared to fight a child?” Zen smirked, the Queen donned her own blade and looked dead at Calypso.

  Zen covered her ears and stood behind the blacksmith. When the Queen lifted her blade the ground beneath her feet shattered like glass. Calypso was still freaking out. A deep black smoke was oozing from the sword. The smoke began to surround Calypso and the Queen vanished in it. Zen saw it. Her shadow was awake again. It's eyes made from corrupted light pulsed and seemed to be looking at everything at the exact same moment. The Queen shot out of the smoke and was aiming for the back of Calypso's head. Calypso's hand shot back braking the world around her. The Queen screamed, clasping her shattered arm. The blade had shot through a wall and managed to wipe out a wall. Zen knew it was long gone. It was probably flying out into the middle of nowhere.

  “Well, so sorry for the trouble but we will be taking all your expensive stuff. And don't worry we will try to keep Gilgamesh from dropping by. But if he does. Tell him we will be heading to see the Prince” Zen waited until they received all that they wanted and left soon after.

  Zen didn't care for such a tiny city. But she had to have her way. Zen walked about the town and found exactly who she was looking for.

  “Hey old friend” Said Zen.

  “Calypso go look for some flowers with our new friend” the woman was frozen with fear.

  She had hoped that Zen would be locked up in some places of worship in some far off land or dead. Zen waited till Calypso was gone and grabbed the woman.

  “Please!” Screamed the woman.

  Zen pulled her down and clasped the woman's throat with enough force to nearly kill her then and there. They began to get odd glances from the other women.

  “You tried to sell me” Said Zen.

  “I wasn't my choice they told me I had to. Or they'd kill me”

  “Oh! I'm so sorry I didn't know. You should have told me sooner” Zen's voice held a deep tone of sarcasm.

  “You could have saved them a lot of trouble” Zen snapped her neck and tossed her through a wall.

  Everyone had a blade out and was aiming it at Zen.

  “Put those toys down. You ain't gonna do shit” Zen walked out and found Calypso in an armoury.

  “Did you guys find anything?” Asked Zen with a sweet kind voice.

  “I have an idea” Said Calypso looking at a large cape.

  Zen got herself a souvenir. A small blade with a bone handle. Zen walked to the auction block with her friend. Calypso was sitting on the blacksmith’s shoulders. His title just so happened to be Tanner.

  “And now last but not least” yelled the slave trader.

  “All the way from the fallen god lands, captured within the city of the lost. The Arnokian” Several children were lined up.

  This was strange to say the least. People never wanted children because they weren't big enough for hard work. Some were but costed quite a bit to raise. They tended to eat more and be more rebellious.

  “I will be starting the auction with this young boy, he's a bit thin but no need to worry. It will get plump quickly. Fifty thousand bronze” Said the Woman.

  One after another the price rose.

  “Fifty five thousand” Said another woman.

  “Ninety thousand” yet another

  “One thousand silver” Said Zen reserving a fake signal from Calypso.

  “Going once going twice sold!” One after another Zen bought slave after slave.

  Zen had a total of four.

  “Let's go” Said Zen after handing the woman her silver.

  They walked to the lift and Zen reached the bottom.

  “Hey old man” Zen's eyes gave him a deep seeded fear but a hope that far surpassed it.

  “How may I assist you?”

  “Well, the thing is I need a funny Grandpa for my team so you look like a good candidate” his face smiled again.

  “She's the Queen now” Said Zen.

  The four boys looked at Calypso who was still hiding under the cloak.

  “I’d be honored” Zen walked at the front of the pack. Zen knew what she had to do next. And this battle would be something she knew just might ended her life.