Many will now question my ability as a historian, demanding to know what had happened on this fateful day. In truth, nobody knows, for there were no witnesses, creating many rumors and legends, and this day brought forth the "Selfless-kin" holiday. In addition, it is believed that this day started the Soul-revolution, though only the hero-king Dinothom named it this in an old diary. Still, I think there is a trustworthy source that displays the closest truth, and I will share this with you before closing this volume of the "Hero's Journey."

Excerpt from "The Hero's Journey Vol.2", researched and put to pen by Nalomel Amazonik.

***

Mor and his friends boarded the fateful glider, expecting something to happen and the Shadow-kin to appear, but it seemed their fears were without reason. The glider took off and was on its way to the long journey toward Diamond Isle. After they had left Amethyst Isle behind them, everyone let out a relieved breath and then laughed at each other's jumpiness. Still, now that they were in the air, they were safe from the Shadow-kin, and on Diamond Isle, there would be Dino waiting. Meaning Mor's mission was a grand success.

Mor was nervous for a few more days because he couldn't believe the Shadow-kin had given up so quickly, but he also couldn't explain how it would kidnap the princess while they were traveling through the air. This meant the worst Mor had to deal with was to spend the time in the limited space with the two girls, though Orth helped by out challenging Mor to game after game of "king-capture" until they got bored of it, and the human explained to them another game, called "checkers".

It was similar to "Kings Capture" but different enough to provide additional entertainment. "Checkers was also more popular with the girls. They would challenge each other and make bets, like getting the seat next to Mor for a defined time, where they would snuggle up to the boy, disregarding his protests. Normally, the human would endlessly make fun of Mor's embarrassed squirming, but slowly, the girls went too far. Mor would need some alone time as soon as they reached "home."

Then it happened. Tiara had just won the last round against Saphine and had her arms around an uncomfortable Mor. There was a strained crack, and the glider made a hard drop before the pilots regained control and pumped in more power to stay afloat. Mor instantly braced himself and also held on to Tiara. While the pilots strained to stay in the air, panic was building among the passengers, and it soon became apparent that they would go down.

The pilots did their best, but they came down hard, the glider skidding on the ground for a moment before coming to a stop. Mor felt Tiara shivering from fear, but at least it seemed they made it down intact. Suddenly, Tiara slumped down in his embrace, and Mor smelled something strange.

°Hold your breath!° The human warned, but it was already too late.

Mor first got lightheaded, and then everything went black.

After a few moments, the glider's storage compartment broke open, and a dark figure clambered out, stretching for a second, then putting away the knock-out gas container. The Shadow-kin looked around and nodded. Everything had gone just as planned. The glider crashed precisely where it had wanted. This spot was carefully chosen a clearing in the forest where the activity of monstrosities was low.

The Shadow-kin turned around and got ready to extract its prize when the glider's travel compartment door crashed open, and a passenger crawled out.

"Fuck this shit! Why do I always have to save his fucking skin." The one deemed honorable enemy complained.

The Shadow-kin looked in shock at this unexpected development. This was not planned. The gas should have knocked everyone out. It had even calculated a more potent dose for the unnatural physique of this group of Soul-kin. It watched as the Soul-kin slapped himself while cursing and then notice it.

"What are you doing here?! Don't tell me you're responsible for this bullshit?" The Soul-kin asked.

"Indeed. This situation is not optimal." The Shadow-kin answered.

"Ya guess? You're the bright one, right?" The Soul-boy grumbled.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The Shadow-kin wondered about the change in attitude. The honorable enemy wasn't that audacious whenever it spied on him, and in addition, he used strange words. Still, this was also a chance.

"I would like to make an offer." The Shadow-kin said.

"Are you shitting me? Why did you need to crash the plane for that?!" The Soul-kin asked.

"I would like to offer you training in Shadow-kin ability's. "abilities," it said, ignoring the questions.

This seemed to surprise the Soul-kin, "Why?"

"I see, shadow within you, and see potential." The Shadow-kin answered.

"I see. That ninja shit you're pulling off looks great… Well, if you're letting the princess go, I'll decide to come with." The Soul-kin decided.

"That is impossible. I'll allow you to live and be my new student, but the mission will be completed," the Shadow-kin stated.

"Then that's not gonna fly. My buddy would resent me for this, even if the girls are hella clingy right now." The Soul-kin denied the offer.

"Who are you? You're not the Soul-kin," the Shadow-kin asked, unable to suppress its curiosity anymore.

The Soul-kin thought for a second before smiling, "Fuck. You." he answered.

"Too bad." The shadow kin stated and drew its short sword and a dagger.

°Let's go! You awake buddy?° The human asked, then regretted antagonizing the Shadow-kin when no answer came back.

The human quickly pulled Mor's baton and got ready, cursing internally.

The Shadow-kin grabbed the initiative, rushing the boy and opening up with a thrust of its sword, inflicting a shallow cut on the evading Soul-kin's arm. It was surprised at the nimble dodge but easily evaded the baton's incoming strike.

The Shadow-kin followed up with a strike of its dagger, inflicting another cut on the cheek of its opponent, and in return, got kicked in the stomach. It grunted in pain and retreated outside the reach of the Soul-kin. However, the human had no intention of letting the target get away. The human forced Mor's body closer, making a big overhead strike against the backfooted Shadow-kin and missing.

The Shadow-kin had drawn him in, and swiped away his legs, with a low kick, dropping down dagger first. The human scrambled quickly out of the way and out of reach.

°Buddy, I need you! A bit of magic would be great!° The human pleaded, just as a piercing pain flowed through Mor's arm.

The Shadow-kin had thrown its dagger, piercing Mor's upper arm and forcing a grunt of pain from his lips. The human pulled out the dagger with a pained scream, but this gave Mor's body back its mobility and the human two weapons.

The Shadow-kin nodded in respect and then made its second error. It knew the gas would not keep the target unconscious forever and, therefore, needed to end this disruption now. It gathered its magic power for a final big strike.

°Buddy! Right now would be great!° The human pleaded in panic.

The Shadow-kin gave a last nod in approval of the Soul-kin, but something crashed out of the forest before it could attack.

"This is bullshit." The human complained as the giant snake creature opened its maw, showing unnumbered teeth arranged in a circle.

Its black carapace shimmered in the daylight as its shadow fell over the magically powered Shadow-kin and crunched down. In an instant, the Shadow-kin was gobbled up, its blood splashing on the ground in a big puddle. Everything was over so fast that the Shadow-kin could not even react.

The human was frozen in fear. Meeting a monstrosity in a nightmare where the human was untouchable was one thing, but this was something completely different. The dread pumped adrenalin through Mor's body, and the human wanted to scream but couldn't.

After opening up two holes on the front of its snout, the monstrosity took multiple sniffs. It turned its giant head towards the glider, a hungry glitter in its reptilian eyes, and the human understood its intention.

°Sorry buddy, I would like a better idea. But knowing you, I can't just run.° The human said, hoping for an answer and getting none.

The monstrosity nudged the glider, and the human shouted, trying to get the thing's attention. However, it wasn't very interested in the low-magic shouty thing. It could smell the far more enticing food inside the strange box. In a bout of madness, the human rushed the thing, hitting it first with the baton and then with the dagger.

The baton did jack shit, bouncing off its strong hide, but the dagger pierced, making the monstrosity squirm in pain. The human released the baton and held onto the dagger with all of Mor's strength. With an ear-shattering cry, the monstrosity thrashed around, throwing the human away, and then fixated them with pure hatred.

"Guess, I got its attention… And it looks pissed." The human grumbled, then turned around and ran.

The giant snake/leach thought for a second and decided to get rid of the hurty thing first. Following the fleeing figure into the forest…