"We're going to find an Umbra Spirit," Morrigan finished. "And with it, you'll take your next step forward."

Vas threw on a pair of disheveled pants and a large black t-shirt, the oversized look something he gravitated towards, though the reason still eluded him. It was a habit by now—dressing all in black helped him blend in, something he especially wanted while heading into the Undercity. When he left the Hek mansion, it was still empty, a ghost of its usual activity. After securing a vehicle, he sent quick texts to Anya, Madeline, and Lily to check in. Their responses came almost immediately, each assuring him they were fine, though Lily reminded him about the looming community service required for school graduation. It had slipped his mind completely, but that would have to wait. There were more pressing matters.

The moment Vas descended into the Undercity, he was struck by its stark difference from the rest of Viridian. The air was thick with the smell of oil and electricity, the flicker of neon lights casting jagged shadows on the cracked streets. Despite its chaotic appearance, there was a strange allure here. The grittiness of it appealed to him in a way that felt almost primal. As he moved deeper into its maze of narrow alleys and underground tunnels, he passed by stalls manned by shadowy figures, their wares ranging from cybernetic parts to relics of forgotten technologies. It was a world removed from the elite Canopy far above, a place where survival meant adaptation and where technology and mysticism intertwined in unexpected ways.

After renting a bike with physical cash to avoid his grandfather's watchful eye, Morrigan guided him to a forgotten alleyway far from the bustling streets. The farther he ventured, the more the light seemed to fade. Eventually, Vas found himself standing in near-total darkness, the only illumination coming from flickering neon signs far off in the distance. It was a place of shadows and silence, the perfect home for what he sought. At the far end of the alley, a wisp-like form floated—small, unassuming, barely visible in the dim light. It was more a sensation than a sight, a flicker of movement in the corner of his vision, accompanied by a faint chill in the air.

Morrigan confirmed it: this was the spirit he was looking for. The wisp's name was Tenebra. It was not a grand spirit but a lesser shade from the Umbra, a small entity that existed in the cracks between light and shadow. Unlike the more powerful entities of its kind, Tenebra had no desire for dominion or conquest. It simply wanted to exist, to survive, unnoticed. There was something in that simplicity that resonated deeply with Vas. He approached it slowly, and though the spirit initially recoiled in fear, it had nowhere to run. When his hand closed around the ethereal form, Vas felt a connection—a glimpse of Tenebra's story. He asked if it would allow him to forge it into something more, something that could transcend its current form. Tenebra, understanding its limitations, agreed.

Morrigan explained how Vas could access his personal forge—different from the one the Archivist had lent him. The forge existed in a sub-space, separated from reality, a place where only he could enter. To access it, Vas needed to perform a series of intricate mudras in the correct sequence after drawing a sigil on the ground. Once the sigil was complete, he felt a shift in the air, and suddenly, the world around him faded away.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

He now stood in his forge—a dimly lit chamber with walls that pulsed faintly, like the inside of a living organism. Tools and materials floated in the air, weightless, waiting for his command. The atmosphere was dense with potential, a place where creation could take any form. On a nearby table lay a piece of forgotten metal, discarded by someone long ago but resonating with Tenebra. As he picked it up, the spirit whispered its intentions to him, guiding his mind.

The vision of the weapon began to crystallize in Vas' mind, shaped by both his will and Tenebra's shadowy essence. As the image solidified, it wasn't just one weapon but a pair of sleek, modern knives that took form—sharp, precise, and deadly in their simplicity.

Each knife had a polished silver blade, reflecting a cold gleam in the dim light of the forge. The blades were long and slender, tapering to razor-sharp points, perfectly balanced for swift, agile movements. Near the base of each blade was a distinctive circular cutout, an elegant yet functional design choice, giving the weapons a unique look while enhancing their maneuverability.

The handles were made of glossy black material, smooth and ergonomic, crafted for a comfortable and firm grip during even the most intense combat. The slight curve in the handles ensured balance and control, allowing Vas to switch seamlessly between defensive stances and rapid, offensive strikes.

What made these knives extraordinary was the connection between them—a thin, unyielding wire that extended from the pommel of each blade. The wire, pulsating faintly with green energy, was not just a simple tether. It was alive with Tenebra's shadowy essence, a manifestation of the Geospirit's power. It glowed subtly, casting an eerie light in the forge, seeming to hum with latent energy.

The wire allowed for dynamic versatility. Vas could wield one knife for close combat, delivering quick, lethal strikes, while the other could be thrown at a distant target. The wire would pull it back instantly, enabling fluid attacks that shifted between close and ranged combat. The connection between the knives wasn't merely physical—it was alive, bending and stretching as though an extension of Vas' own Anima, capable of wrapping around enemies to ensnare them before delivering a finishing blow.

As Vas channeled his soul's energy into the knives, the green wire coiled and uncoiled like a serpent, imbued with Tenebra's essence. The metal and the spirit fused under the intense heat of the forge, making the knives far more than simple weapons—they were an extension of Tenebra itself. Shadows rippled along the blades, dark energy radiating from them, filling the air with an almost palpable tension.

When the forging process was complete, Vas took a step back and admired his work. The knives pulsed with quiet menace, their gleaming blades tempered by the darkness that flickered along their edges. They were predatory in their beauty, sleek and minimal, yet carrying the weight of something far more dangerous beneath their surface.

He held them up to the dim light of the forge, watching as the shadows danced along their sharp edges. These weapons, bound to him and Tenebra, were now symbiotic extensions of his power, perfectly suited for the battles that lay ahead. Vas knew that these blades would become key to his future conflicts—a fusion of shadow and steel, precision and power, waiting for the moment to be unleashed.

As he sheathed the knives, feeling the energy still pulsing within them, Vas could sense that this was just the beginning. Tenebra had found its new form, and with these knives, Vas had gained a weapon that would adapt to his evolving abilities. They were more than just tools for combat; they were a statement of what he was becoming—a force capable of cutting through any obstacle, physical or otherwise, with lethal efficiency.