I was tired.

Not from absorbing darkness. I had gotten used to the inner machinations of how my body absorbed it.

Dark particles seeped into my skin and got absorbed by something deep within my chest.

I assumed it was my soul, but I didn’t really want to think about it.

Not that I had the mental energy to think about anything that existential.

Tal had led me to the gigantic hole that allowed the water from the stream to enter Eimval.

I completely cleansed it relatively quickly.

The elders then led me to Eimval’s secret entrance where we inspected the surrounding area.

“How big do you want me to make the wall?” I asked.

“Err… we were hoping that you would make that decision,” Olen said, but I shook my head.

“Nope. You two are still the leaders of the Ia. I will simply provide what aid I can.” I said while resting in Yna’s arms.

Olen and Tal looked at each other before looking at Anda whose eyes were half-open.

“What do you think?” Olen asked.

Anda gasped as Olen’s words seemingly snapped him out of his trance like state.

“I’m sorry, could you repeat what you said?” He asked.

“Katsíki is asking us how big to make the wall. What do you think?” Olen asked.

Anda glanced at me with a tired expression before looking around.

He then looked at a certain mesa and pointed at it.

“Surround all the land going around that mesa. Create entrances in key directions and… create some sort of building on top of the hill. It doesn’t have to be detailed. A simple room will do-“

The world trembled as I closed my eyes.

I could feel it.

The Dark Expanse.

Part of me wanted to swallow it whole.

[That wouldn’t be wise.]

I know.

I opened my eyes before raising a hoof and as I did, an enormous wall rose from the ground.

As it formed itself I pointed my hoof at the mesa and a building based on my old apartment building appeared.

I made sure to reinforce everything as it formed, meaning I wouldn’t have to do it later.

I raised the wall by several meters before finally lowering my hand and even as my head lowered in exhaustion, the wall continued to form.

“Is… is he asleep?” Anda asked.

“No. Don’t worry about me. Actually, while I’m here-“

A strong gust of wind blew around us as swirls of darkness rose from the ground.

They then poured into me, revealing that all the land within the perimeter of the wall had been cleansed.

“Oh?” Yna sounded.

I looked down to find that the fur above my hooves had turned black.

I ignored them before pointing at Eimval’s secret entrance.

“Commence the cremation and gather every Ia who has control over the Aspect of Life,” I instructed.

“Yes!” The Ia said simultaneously as I floated Karish’s coffin towards them.

They then took it and placed it down a few meters away from the secret entrance.

I returned my focus to strengthening the wall.

Yna eventually placed me down so that she could test the wall’s durability.

A bright flash bathed the space that would become New Eimval and I watched as Yna tore across the land at a blinding speed.

She then struck the wall and I actually felt the impact as though she had hit a part of me except with far less force.

Another flash temporarily blinded me and Yna appeared by my side where she picked me up again.

“It’s really good. I’m actually quite surprised. You’ve gotten a lot better.”

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Yeah.” I sighed as the secret entrance opened once more.

Several Rendaro emerged and some of them were dressed in dark cloaks.

Cloaks with grey highlights and sewn into their centres was a burning perfect circle.

The cloak clad Rendaro surrounded Karish’s coffin and Olen shot me a particular glance.

I nodded and unsealed the coffin, revealing Karish’s body.

The cloak clad Rendaro all raised their hands and just as they did, sparks started appearing above Karish’s body.

The air grew noticeably colder while more sparks appeared above Karish’s body.

Those sparks then turned into a bright flame which quickly spread across Karish’s body.

Nothing was said as Karish’s body burnt.

The only thing that changed was the air which continuously grew colder, prompting Yna to hold me slightly tighter.

I then began thinking.

Was Karish’s death my fault-

No.

This wasn’t the time for that.

The Ia had just lost their leader and even though he and I didn’t always see eye to eye, I had to give the Ia the space and time to grieve.

.

..

Anda, Olen, Tal and a few other Foph walked toward me.

“Here are our few doctors and a few Rendaro who just happen to have control over the Aspect of Life,” Olen said.

I looked at the group of Rendaro who varied in age and appearance.

But they all had one thing in common.

They were all dirty and looked beyond exhausted.

“The Dark Marks, have you found a way to heal them? Because none of the Foph I encountered have them.” I said, making Anda flinch slightly, but I brushed that aside.

“N- no. The dark marks are often far too deep and widespread in the body. We have to equivalent to give in exchange for all that damage. We’ve tried extracting the life from various animals and plants, but it’s never enough to heal even a single person.” One of the Rendaro said prompting me to look up at Yna.

“Slow down. I too have a limited amount of life in me. Just like everyone else. The only reason why I gave Calëb what I did is because we needed to show Foph how serious you were. Although now that I think about it, the Foph are said to have a certain technique that can help a magician quickly increase how much control they have over their Aspect. I was actually gonna ask Calëb to teach it to me once we got back.” Yna said.

“I see. Well, while we’re on the topic of the dojo, will you be willing to take new students right away?”

“Sure!”

I nodded and faced the Rendaro.

“If any of you are interested in increasing your control over your aspect, I suggest that you come with us back to Coh. We’ll accommodate you appropriately while you hone your skills.” I said.

The Rendaro all looked at each other and it was the Rendaro from before who spoke up.

“We doctors cannot leave, but I highly encourage the others to follow you. They’ll teach us what they can when they get back.” He said.

“Well?” I asked while looking at the other Rendaro.

“I’ll have to tell my parents.”

“I have children to take care of!”

“Are we really being bossed around by a talking goat?”

“Isn’t he the vessel for some dark lord or something?”

“Weren’t all those other people killed on the surface? I don’t think it’s so safe up here.”

Such things were said, but I simply raised my hoof in response.

“It’s fine. You don’t have to come, but if you’re interested, I’ll allow you the time you need to say your goodbyes and whatnot. You could even bring your families.” I said.

The Rendaro were then accompanied back into Eimval.

Olen, Tal and Anda walked you to Yna and I while the cloak wearing cloaks returned to Eimval.

“What now?” Olen asked.

“Now, you go down there and offer help to whoever needs it. The water is clean now. Feed the hungry and prepare for all the work that needs to be done on the surface. Don’t force anyone and start small. Build houses for those who want to live in the open, train your scouts and guards-“

“Oh- could you-“ Anda tried saying, but I knew exactly what he wanted.

I nodded before creating a large open dojo similar to the one in Coh, much to everyone’s amazement.

Yes.

Praise me more!

Huehuehue!

“Yna and I will eventually return with capable healers or a suitable life source and we will rid the Ia of their Dark Marks,” I said.

We then waited for the healers to return but they never did and it had gotten pretty late.

“Perhaps they are spending some time with their families before they return,” Tal said, but I shook my head.

“It’s OK. I understand why they wouldn’t wanna come. Anyway, take care and if you ever need help, just send someone for Yna or I.” I said before watching as Olen and company returned to Eimval.

Yna and I then made our way back north.

I wanted to sleep, but I couldn’t.

Not until my work was done.

.

..

“What the-?” I muttered as we approached Coh.

A large group of Foph could be seen beneath my dark wall and they wielded various weapons all while being clad in dark, heavy armour.

I spotted Calëb standing in front of the group and although I couldn’t hear what she was saying, the Foph didn’t seem too pleased by it.

Yna and I got closer and the Foph all noticed us.

One of them dashed out from the ground and although I couldn’t tell who it was because of his helmet, he looked rather familiar.

Kinda like the Rendaro who saved me all the way back when I appeared in this world.

“Release whatever hold you have on Calëb now, you monster!” The Rendaro yelled as he steadily approached Yna.

“Well?” Yna asked.

“Stop him. Don’t hurt him.” I said while Yna placed me on the ground.

It was pretty early in the morning and so the sky was a dark grey.

This also meant that Yna’s figure was like a grey haze.

The Rendaro raised his axe to attack, but Yna grabbed his arms and gave him a head-butt.

This shattered the Rendaro’s scaly helmet revealing that it was Gid.

“Unhand me!” He spat while blood from the wound on his forehead covered his face.

Yna remained silent as she and I approached the other Rendaro, all who raised their weapons except Calëb.

“Lower your damn weapons!” Calëb yelled, but all the Rendaro seemed hesitant.

They wanted to listen to her, but something was off.

“Hah!”

My attention turned to Gid who violently kicked Yna, but his attacks barely moved her.

I then noticed that both Yna and Gid’s arms were covered in a layer of frost.

The layer seemingly thickened all while Gid continuously struggled.

“If you don’t stop that, you’ll freeze your hands off,” Yna said calmly, but Gid didn’t relent.

I needed to stop him before he hurt himself.

I wondered what the short term effects of breathing in too much darkness were.

Mmm.

A plume of black smoke rose my body and I sent it rushing towards Gid’s body.

I then forced it into his nose and mouth where I let it accumulate in his lungs.

Gid violently writhed and convulsed as his eyes rolled backwards.

“Drop him,” I instructed and Yna did so.

Gid fell to the ground before tightly clutching his neck with hands that trembled.

I then recalled all the darkness before using it to bind him in a mesh of dark wires.

All this happened while Calëb cautiously approached us.

I turned an eye towards her, making her flinch slightly.

“Did they hurt anyone in Coh?” I asked. My voice a low hum.

“No! They didn’t even get in.” Caleb said while frantically waving her hands.

I nodded before deeply sighing.

“So… why are they here? If they can’t accept the fact that I own their entire tribe, they have two choices: Leave, stay and comply or resist, but… we already know how that goes, right?” I asked.

Calëb nodded several times while I approached the Foph in tow.

“Hear me well, I am not an evil being. Life under my wing will be as peaceful as you are willing to make it.”