Shadow Slave: Arcadius of the Forgotten

"Alright..." Maya continued, her voice steady. "Enough of this small talk. I think it's time to address the real issue." Her demeanor shifted, becoming more serious. "What do we do from here on out?"

Cade acknowledged the tense air between them. He shifted his body slightly as if to prepare himself for whatever came next. He exhaled a quiet sigh before responding. His tone carried a trace of weariness.

"I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to team up. For reasons I can't fully explain, my Flaw seems to vanish completely when I'm around you. And honestly, I've never wanted anything more than to be rid of it."

Maya's eyes widened just a fraction, though the surprise didn't linger. She tried to maintain a neutral expression, but Cade could tell that she seemed... happy? Or was she simply processing the confession?

I see... he thought, growing slightly more confident that maybe her own Flaw was perhaps connected to him in a similar way.

After a brief pause, Maya gave a small, acknowledging nod.

"Likewise..." she said. "I took a look at my runes while you were gone. My Flaw appears to have gone through a similar shift."

Cade, now fully processing the unexpected development, nodded thoughtfully.

"So, uh, it's official then? We're a team now?" he asked, as if seeking confirmation.

Maya shrugged nonchalantly, though a flicker of something more lingered in her gaze.

"I suppose so," she confirmed. "It's obviously the most sensible choice we have right now."

Cade didn't let his excitement show on the surface, but inside, he was practically buzzing. The past few weeks had been a never-ending spiral of murder, monotony and depression, trapped in the Dream Realm with only his own thoughts for company.

But now, with Maya by his side, he could already tell that things were about to change— and he welcomed it with open arms.

He rose from his position at the bottom of the small tree and made his way toward Maya, his movements swift and deliberate. Maya tracked his approach with narrowed eyes. Her posture seemed to stiffen with quiet suspicion. When he reached her, he stopped just a few inches away.

"What are you—?" she started to ask, her voice tinged with irritation. But she was abruptly cut off when Cade reached out and grabbed her hand without warning.

"Hey! What do you th—" Maya's attempt to pull her hand free was interrupted by the jolt of something akin to a spark of electricity which travelled through Cade's body and surged into hers.

She froze, her hand still gripped in his. Her eyes widened at the sudden, inexplicable sensation. Cade quickly released her hand and stepped back, putting a bit of distance between them.

He had just given her the Skerrian Aegis. The Awakened armor was useless to him, but it was exactly what Maya needed, and from the look on her face, she could definitely use something more fitting.

Maya, still processing the strange sensation, immediately began studying her runes with focus. Once she finished, she turned back to him and spoke dryly.

"A warning would've been nice, you know..." she said. "But, why the sudden generosity? You're not expecting something in return, are you?"

Cade flashed her a wide, playful grin.

"No, of course not. Consider it a signing bonus." He gave a dramatic bow, a flourish to the gesture. "Welcome to Shroudkeeper's cohort. I'm looking forward to our time together."

Maya's lips curled into a smirk. Her eyes glinted with amusement at his theatrical behavior. Then, with a shrug, she stood up and summoned the Aegis.

The armor seemed to come alive. It weaved itself seamlessly around her body, materializing from the same glimmer of frost Cade had seen earlier, settling into place with eerie precision.

The Aegis was crafted out of interlocking plates much like his own Ebonveil Plate. However, unlike the Plate which had many gaps and crevices, each piece of the Aegis fitted together seamlessly like shards of ice fused with one another by frost. It clung closely to Maya's slender frame, accentuating her lithe build without appearing cumbersome.

A lightweight cloak, dyed a deep blue-grey, hung from her shoulders. Its hem trailed faint traces of cold mist.

The faint shimmer of frost on the pale blue plates gave her a cold, distant elegance— like a figure sculpted from winter itself.

Cade's eyes lingered for a moment, not out of admiration but out of wariness. The way the frost-bound armor hugged her form didn't make her look too appealing; rather, it made her seem unapproachable, like a being crafted for battle rather than human connection.

Ha, fitting, I guess, he thought grimly, for someone seemingly born out of winter's harshest breath.

Maya was wearing a faint smile, the kind that spoke volumes without needing words. It was clear that she had been wishing for a proper set of clothing for quite some time, and now that wish had been fulfilled.

She glanced at Cade and spoke, her tone light but tinged with mild reproach.

"Thanks..." she said. "But you should've given it to me earlier. Would've been chivalrous."

Cade shrugged casually, as though the timing was of little consequence.

"We weren't teammates back then," he replied, his smirk almost creeping into his voice. "And besides, I didn't really mind the view. It was rather... pleasing to the eye."

Maya's eyes narrowed as she shook her head, clearly not the type of girl who'd blush at such comments. She let out a long, exasperated sigh, her right hand lifting to her forehead in mock despair.

"Of all the people in the world..." she muttered, shaking her head. "I just had to get stuck with someone who's not only a bloodthirsty maniac but also a perverted creep."

Cade chuckled at her reaction, clearly entertained.

"Haha, sorry about that," he said, wiping an exaggerated tear from the corner of his eye. "I just wanted to see how you'd react. You pass, though. I think you'll survive traveling with me."

"Yeah, yeah..." Maya muttered, her expression unreadable, though a trace of amusement still danced in her eyes. "I'm not too sure about you, though. Keep this up and I might just strangle you in your sleep."

Cade froze, his laugh cut short. His eyes met hers, a flicker of tension passing between them.

"Uh, yeah, let's definitely not do that," he said with a nervous chuckle, a strained smile still tugging at the corners of his lips.

Maya's gaze softened just a touch as she nodded.

"Good," she said. "Glad we could come to an understanding." 

She glanced around the area, her eyes narrowing as she assessed their surroundings before looking back at Cade.

"So, what's our next move?" she asked.

Cade gave a thoughtful nod, his gaze shifting toward the horizon as he answered.

"The three of them are probably gonna return to the Bone Ridge today," he said. "So, we don't have much to do in the meantime. Once they settle in at the Ashen Barrow, we'll head over to the Bone Ridge ourselves. That's gonna keep us occupied for a while, considering that they'll be stranded there for about a month."

Maya seemed to be confused by what he'd just said. She considered him for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Uh, what?" Cade asked, growing uncomfortable under her gaze.

"I know you want the story to progress along the original route," Maya said. "But wouldn't saving them from that tree be the best way to go about this? They'll be bound to trust us, then. I have some pretty solid ideas as to how we can do that. They're foolproof, as well."

Cade's eyes widened. Is she crazy or something? he thought in disbelief.

He looked at her and spoke, his disbelief almost creeping into his voice.

"No, we are not going to do that. Not under any circumstances whatsoever. Don't you remember how important it is for Sunny to be the one to save them? That's the only reason Changing Star started trusting him. If we save them instead, we can risk fracturing their relationship. That's more than just stupid. That's downright cruel, considering what they mean to each other in the future."

Maya considered his words for a moment. Then, she nodded, seemingly convinced.

"I see..." she said. "I guess that makes sense. I was gonna save them from the tree, so that I don't have to travel alone anymore. But I guess I've got a teammate now, so I don't need to bother."

Cade sighed. Thank the gods she's not a stubborn one... He looked at her and spoke, smiling lightly.

"Well, good thing that you chose to finally reveal yourself. You really could've damned the entire storyline, you know...?"

Maya shrugged nonchalantly. "Meh... it is what it is."

Cade's unease grew a little more. She's definitely unpredictable, but she doesn't seem too hell-bent on changing the story. I guess I can work with that.

"If you're trying to get into their good graces, why didn't you simply come to the Academy and try to befriend them there?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"I don't wanna 'get into their good graces,'" Maya replied. "Honestly, I want nothing to do with them at all. But since I was sent here, I thought sticking with them would be the best way to survive. Because that's what I want to do. Survive."

Well, that's one way of thinking... Cade thought.

"Also, since you don't wanna mess with them," Maya continued. "Why don't we just leave them alone and go to the Dark City? Just the two of us. They'll be there a month later, anyway. We can also mix in with the people that are already there."

Cade raised an eyebrow.

"And what makes you think we can get to the Dark City so easily?" he asked. "You do remember that there's a colossal crater separating this part of the labyrinth from it, right?"

Maya nodded.

"Of course, I do," she said. "Still, wouldn't it be best to just make our own way there? We know this place better than them, and you're insanely strong. We can definitely get there before them."

Cade lingered for a moment. She does have a point but...

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," he said. "I may be strong, but that's the only thing I am capable of. Murder. And judging by the fact that you're calling me a lunatic, I'm guessing you already know that I have a tendency to do reckless stuff. Having a healer like Nephis nearby is a boon. For you, I mean. I can heal myself using my Ability, can you?"

Maya shook her head.

"So, if you get severely injured during our solo journey, you'll die," Cade continued. "Besides, it'll take us several months to go around the crater to the Dark City. I'm no boat-builder like Nephis, are you?"

Maya shook her head again.

"I thought as much," Cade returned. "The best way to go about this would be to observe them for the month that they're stranded there and then, when they build the boat, you can spy on them— which you seem to be great at doing— and learn some basic stuff about boat-building as well. Then, we'll build one for ourselves and follow."

Maya looked at him for some time. Then, she smirked.

"Damn, I guess you are capable of rational thought, after all..." she said. "Still, what makes you think we'll survive here in the labyrinth for a whole month?"

Cade shrugged.

"Leave that part to me," he said, smiling. "You're my partner now. Rest assured, I won't let you die easily. I'm persistent as hell, and I'll teach you to be so, too."

Maya thought for a bit, but then she, too, shrugged. "Alright, I guess. So long as we survive, anything goes..."

Cade nodded. He hesitated for a moment, but then, asked. "Uh, I get it if you're not comfortable sharing so early, but since we're a team now... can I ask how you were able to tail me? I couldn't tell at all."

Maya thought for a bit before shrugging again. Then, with a slight tilt of her head, she said, "Right. You don't know too much about me. Guess I should tell you about my Aspect and what I can do?" 

Cade's expression shifted, now a mix of curiosity and mock indifference. He hadn't expected her to be so open about it. But this worked in his favor, so he didn't complain.

"Yeah, that'd be great," he replied, his smirk reappearing. "I would start by telling you about mine, but seeing as you've been stalking me for Gods know how long, I'm guessing you already know what I can do."

Maya shot him a sharp look, her eyes glinting with amusement and mild annoyance.

"Don't flatter yourself, creep," she retorted. "I was just gathering intel. You don't exactly come across as approachable from a distance, you know? Bloodthirsty lunatic, running around, slaying monsters left and right. Even the most gullible person would think twice about getting close to you."

Cade shrugged casually, the corners of his lips tugging upward in a lazy smile.

"A guy's gotta live," he said lightly. "And, besides, it's not like I had anything better to do. Strength's the key to survival, and forming the Monster core is my priority right now."

Maya gave him a look, one eyebrow raised in mild disbelief.

"So, you do have a Divine... I mean, Unholy Aspect! I figured as much. How far ahead are you, anyway?" she asked, genuinely curious. "Honestly, with how many monsters you kill on a daily basis, I'm surprised you haven't formed one already."

Cade scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin pulling at his lips.

"More than half of the way there," he admitted. "But with the two of us working together, and no Flaws to hold us back anymore, I'm guessing we'll both make progress a lot faster now."

Maya averted her gaze from Cade, her eyes drifting to the ground. For the first time since they'd started talking, she looked almost embarrassed to face him.

She muttered, still avoiding his gaze, her voice hesitant, "I'm... uh, I'm not much of a fighter, y'know...? So, I might just end up slowing your progress."

Cade's frown deepened as he processed her words.

Not much of a fighter? he thought, confusion flickering in his mind. She literally held a sword to my throat. And that kick? I thought my armor might've shattered from the impact. She's been surviving out here alone for three weeks, not to mention she managed to stop me when I wasn't myself... Is she hiding her abilities or simply being modest?

"What do you mean, you're not a fighter?" he asked, inspecting her more closely, his tone laced with skepticism. "You were pretty confident when you snuck up on me earlier. And let's not forget, you've been living out here for the past few weeks, surviving all on your own."

Maya shook her head slightly, her expression stiffening as she responded quickly.

"Well, I'm not helpless, if that's what you think," she insisted, as if defending herself. "It's just... my Aspect makes me really stealthy; easy to stay hidden. But when it comes to swordsmanship and actual fighting skills, I'm lacking. I don't really know the first thing about proper combat."

Cade considered her words for a moment before raising an eyebrow.

"Huh," he said, his tone neutral but still probing. "So, you don't have the Battle Master Attribute?" 

Maya's eyes widened in surprise, her mouth slightly agape. She looked at him as though she had just heard something incomprehensible.

"The Battle Master Attribute?" she repeated, her voice rising in astonishment. "You have the Battle Master Attribute? Like Saint? That's... that's not fair!"

Cade chuckled, shaking his head.

"Everybody seems to think the same," he said, his laughter light and carefree. "Lucky me, I guess. Anyway, yeah... I have the Battle Master Attribute. How else did you think I managed to learn such intricate swordsmanship and keep my head in the middle of so many battles?"

Maya stared at him, her expression one of disbelief.

"I simply thought that you came into this world much earlier," she said slowly. "Maybe you had time to practice quite a bit before entering the Dream Realm. I didn't realize it was because of an actual Attribute."

"Oh, please..." Cade scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "I found myself in the NQSC about two and a half months ago. I completed my Nightmare the same day as Sunny did— it lasted for over a month. After that, I took Wilderness Survival in the Academy, and that's where I spent most of my time, getting close to Sunny and Cassie."

Maya moved back to her spot by the boulder, her hands brushing against the rough stone as she settled down. Cade followed her, taking a seat across from her. 

"I think we were sent here around the same time, then," she said. "I completed my Nightmare only a few weeks ago. Barely had two weeks to prepare after that. I tried to focus on survival skills for the short time I had. Combat isn't something you can master in such a short time, so I didn't practice much."

Cade nodded, absorbing the information.

"I see..." he said thoughtfully. "That's okay, though. I can train you here. Once we get to the Bone Ridge, we'll have plenty of free time. We can spend that time training you up."

Maya gave him a grateful but reluctant smile.

"Yeah, that'd be great," she replied.

Cade's expression shifted as he leaned forward, his curiosity piqued once again.

"So, your abilities? What can you do?" he asked, eyes gleaming with interest.

What followed was a long conversation between them. Surprisingly, Maya shared everything— her Aspect, her Innate Ability, even her Flaw.

Cade was a little shocked by the fact that her Aspect wasn't Unholy, and that her Flaw was the exact same as his. But he quickly shrugged it off. He had seen his fair share of strange events that followed the Otherwalkers wherever they went, so he gave up trying to make sense of everything.

The two soulless Dreamers continued their conversation, sharing their past experiences, and even their theories on why they had been sent to this strange world. Cade found that there was no particular reason for either of them to hold anything back; after all, they weren't enemies. If anything, they were oddly compatible with each other.

By the time they were done, the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the landscape. The evening sky darkened, signaling the end of their conversation.

As the Dark Sea returned, they decided to have some dinner. The roasted monster meat, which would have tasted mundane on its own, felt richer with someone else to share it with.

Afterward, the night settled in, and the two of them lapsed into silence. Cade, feeling the weariness from a long day, made his way to the ground, some distance away from Maya and prepared for sleep. Maya, however, remained seated, gazing into the distance with an unreadable expression.

"I don't think I'm gonna sleep tonight," she said quietly, not looking at him.

Cade, sensing no need to press further, simply nodded.

"Alright," he said. "Guess I'll see you in the morning, then."

With that, he closed his eyes, drifting into a deep slumber. Tomorrow, they would push forward to the Bone Ridge.