The shadow leapt out of the back of the spinerling after its host had burned in the fireplace. It was not concerned with its host’s death. Watching this area had been its assignment for countless years and now it could return to its owner with vital information. A person had dared to disturb the ruin of the Six Eyes and its owner needed to know.

The shadow drifted by will alone out of the window and across the expansive forest. It was not fast, but without a body, it did not tire. At night it traveled past trees, lakes, and small villages, only slowing to jump from shadow to shadow when the sun came up. In a few short days, the shadow arrived at its destination, but it had forgotten the name of this place. It only knew the home of its owner was a massive sprawling stone city that had been empty of residents since it could remember. Only one being still remained here.

The shadow floated across the stone streets and cracked stairs before arriving at an elaborately chiseled building. The shadow only gave the carvings a brief thought before entering. It could not remember where it had seen them before. This shadow often felt confused. It was ancient and had completely forgotten who it was. It was a hollowed out husk that only caught brief memories of its past life before forgetting them again.

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The shadow saw its owner on their knees, gloved hands clasped too hard to be in prayer. Wordlessly other shadows floated into the room and then left again after reporting. This shadow floated closer and waited for a sign to approach. It felt a sudden compulsion and it gently reached out to its owner. Its owner tensed at the touch, and the shadow felt an emotion that was not its own. Maybe it was regret or sadness, but soon the shadow forgot it felt anything.

The shadow remained within arms reach as it awaited its owner’s command. The shadow felt shocked when its owner suddenly grabbed it, pulling it closer. The shadow felt an unfamiliar emotion then and it remembered. This was happiness. It had been hundreds of years since it had been touched. But the feeling did not last long when its owner spoke. “Find her.”