Laplas used her transform space spell to gain distance. A shadow appeared out of nowhere, said ‘hi’, and she ran. Of the amount of spells she could use, that one kept her alive, and was the spell she was almost forced to use to escape from Juno in the lord’s castle. She couldn’t let people see it, it’s bad enough the saints know!

“Oh no, I only have the ursine with me… should I head back? Maybe that shadow will go away on it’s own. Why in a mansion?”

Laplas knew Shadow Demons couldn’t travel in shadows. That didn’t make sense. She lived among them for a time, so she should know!

“Wait, it can’t be…” Her purple eyes widened as the wind flapped her hair and ears around. A shadow appeared in the dark forest and took form. Laplas could see a lot of skin, white and shining against the moon. Was she showing herself on purpose? The humanoid was crouched and kneeling with a hand to the ground, a long wispy ponytail blowing in the wind.

“Sorry. Bad at conversation. Master wants to know who you are.”

Laplas felt a shiverl hearing her voice. She steadied herself, readying her ursine plushie, a humanoid bear in her hand. She pointed it at the form, menacing her adversary with it.

“Don’t make me use it! I’m a… I can make this thing grow big and fight!”

Laplas was at a loss. Her first time threatening someone in her life was useless. How was she supposed to explain golem theory to someone? Her other hand rubbed through her hair, keeping her eyes trained on the form.

“Tell me who you are. I will not eat you.” The form said. Laplas shivered again. Her spine would tingle all over from that voice, it was distracting.

“How about you tell me who you are!”

“No. Tell me who you are. Cannot eat you. This time. Master said.”

Laplas threw down the ursine plushie, and it exploded in growth becoming larger than her.

“I won’t go all out! Leave me alone, Shadow Demon!”

The form twitched all over, the ponytail straightening. It stood up, revealing a girl shape.

“Shadow Demon?”

“You’re a Shadow Demon, aren’t you?”

“Shadow Demon?”

“Are you asking what a Shadow Demon is? You don’t know?”

“Shadow Demon.”

Laplas’s eyes glazed over. She couldn’t attack, couldn’t run, couldn’t give up information so-

Default mode set in.

“Shadow Demons are big pools of black formed into a giant, they have these long antlers and white eyes. They’re very pretty. Most of them eat people. You can travel through shadows. They can’t do that. I just assumed you were a derivative creature of them.”

“I’m a Shadow Demon?”

Laplas sighed.

“Can you leave me alone? I’m trying to sleep.”

“No. Tell me-”

“I’m not going to.”

The form stayed still a moment.

“Genje. My name is Genje. That is ‘who you are’.”

“You mean, who I am.”

“Your question, I report, ‘who you are’.”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Laplas stared at her. She grinned.

“Roosevelt! Destroy her!” Laplas pointed at Genje. That was enough of that.

The humanoid bear tripled in size, then reached into the heavens as Laplas used transform space to mount the head. Large patches of the forest were uprooted, Genje wasn’t even visible at this range.

“Crush the whole area!”

The humanoid bear plushie rampaged for a bit under the moon. Kicking up huge patches of ground and trees it continued while Laplas watched the ground with idle interest.

“She’s gotta be dead by now…”

“No. Tell me who you are.”

Laplas looked to the left on the bears head, noticing Genje there. Laplas transformed space.

She wandered around trying to calm down on a mountain trail catching her breath. She looked out over the vast forest as Roosevelt tore up the ground sending geysers of dirt and trees into the air. Laplas sat down on a rock, enjoying the spectacle. Surely, now, that shadow would-

“Ugh.”

Laplas complained as she saw the from still kneeling with one fist to the ground in front of her. Laplas’s eyes narrowed as she laid down on the rock, sure that she could get away in the next moment.

“How’d you get here so fast? How’d you even find me? If you want information that bad, tell me everything about you in exchange!”

“Raised by pirate Qurbur. Saved me from mages. I can smell all creatures. I can travel through shadows. I eat people with shadows to attack. I love fire.” Genje reports.

“What…”

That was all Laplas could say. She asked Genje to repeat it, and Genje did a few times. Laplas asked her questions. Her curiosity got the best of her, even if Genje’s voice made her shiver.

“So, what are you then?”

“I don’t know. Qurbur named me Genje.”

“Why do you talk like that?”

“Talk like what.”

“Why do you want to know about me?”

Meanwhile, Roosevelt continued to destroy the countryside.

“Qurbur said to get information. About you.”

“Where is Qurbur? Doesn’t he usually stay at the docks doing merchant work?”

“Mansion.”

“What? Why?”

Laplas heard the reason why.

“So, then-”

She didn’t know about the relationship between D and Qurbur at all, and lost interest.

“Well, I’m not telling you anything?”

“But! I told you everything!” Genje reports.

Laplas looked at the girl’s face, and ordered her giant ursine to stop. She transformed space bringing the ursine back to her.

“So?”

“Not fair.”

“Too bad.”

“Qurbur will be mad. I- don’t want to disappoint him. He’s done a lot for me.” Genje said.

Laplas studied Genje’s face.

“You could tell him I just ran away with magic or something.”

“That’s not true! I don’t lie!”

“Oh, come on, I’ll make it true then. What are you going to do? Chase me until morning? I can run really far. You’ll get tired.”

Genje’s eyes wavered. They were black pools surrounded by white. She lowered herself to the ground like a shadow.

“Please tell me. I’ll do anything.”

Laplas stood up and brandished her arm out. It’s the most fun thing she thought to say.

“Serve under me!”

“Okay. Master, can I tell Qurbur I’m resigning?”

Laplas was stunned and fell back off of the rock. Genje melted into the shadows, catching Laplas head on from the ground.

“Careful! Master.”

“Are you serious…”

“Can I-”

“Yes! Yes you can. I’m going back to sleep. Don’t bother me again- Tonight.”

Laplas felt a sense of danger in saying only ‘don’t bother me again’. Would she take that literally?

“Master. I look forward to serving under you. Now please tell me about you.”

“You can’t tell Qurbur about what I tell you!”

“Understood. Can I tell him that you order me not to tell him?”

“Sure.”

Laplas explained her history to Genje.

“Wow. Master is amazing. Qurbur is amazing, but Master is more amazing.” Genje reported as she gave a golf clap.

“Don’t tell anyone okay? I don’t want anyone to know, no matter what!”

“It’s such an amazing story it touched my heart I feel closer to you. Other people should feel that way. But, I will not disobey. I’ll miss Qurbur.”

Laplas looked at Genje’s face.

“Call me Laplas, from now on.”

“Yes, Ma- Laplas. See you tomorrow.” Genje said.

Laplas sighed to herself as the girl melted into the ground, leaving her alone with her ursine.

“Are you serious… She’s way too much like me. Given what she said, she must be-”

The moon was in full view that night as Laplas quietly switched to another room out of fear.