Chapter 23: Hello Darkness, My Old Friend

The air was still—thick with tension, the distant whispers of Aether swirling along the edges of Daniel's awareness. He stood over the lifeless body of Faelar, his heart pounding louder than his own footsteps had been moments before.

His hands, stained with the elf’s blood, clenched involuntarily at his sides. A wave of emotions threatened to drown him—relief, regret, and a heavy undertow of guilt.

The disturbance Daniel had sensed earlier materialised before him. A figure, draped in robes as black as night’s heart, glided into view from the depths of the cavern.

He seemed more a part of the darkness than separate from it, the fabric of his cloak trailing behind him like smoke caught on a breeze.

The figure stopped just at the edge of Daniel's vision, tilting his head slightly in curiosity.

“You’re telling me,” the stranger began, his voice smooth and laced with amusement, “the disturbance of my meticulous plans... is a level four? Well, colour me surprised.”

Daniel tensed, fingers flexing as he felt naked without his spear, which lay on the floor beside him. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded, wary of the man's strange aura—like a pressure building behind storm clouds.

The stranger grinned beneath his hood, though his face remained hidden. “I go by many names,” he said, with a dramatic bow that was too graceful to be sincere. "And you, my new friend, are quite the unexpected development."

Daniel shifted his stance, instinctively readying himself. "Well, can I have one of those names?"

The shadowy being shuffled uncomfortably. “I was getting to that! No respect for dramatic flair…”

He cleared his throat and clearly relished his own dramatics. “Some call me ‘The Herald of the End’, others call me ‘The Midnight Barber’, some call me ‘Shatoon, bringer of c—”

Daniel rolled his eyes and turned on his heel. “Bye."

He had no intention of leaving, but the stranger's self-indulgence was the last thing he wanted to endure right now.

“Okay, okay. The Umbral, you may address me as The Umbral,” he said petulantly.

“Was that so hard? I have no idea why you’re here, but I’ve got a lot on my plate and don’t really appreciate your games right now.” Daniel picked his spear up from the floor, placing the tip between him and the stranger.

It was clear that this Umbral guy wasn’t just a passing adventurer; everything pointed to him being the puppet master behind this debacle.

The Umbral chuckled, a sound that was both light-hearted and unnervingly cold. “No need for bravado. I’m not here to fight you.” He waved his hand dismissively, as though swatting away an invisible fly. "Well, not today, at least."

Before Daniel could reply, the robed figure drifted over to Faelar’s corpse, studying it with mild disinterest. “What a waste of potential. Elves usually last longer than this.”

Black tendrils of smoke curled from The Umbral’s hands, creeping over Faelar’s body like vines seeking prey.

“Wait—” Daniel’s protest died in his throat as the tendrils constricted and Faelar’s body disintegrated, vanishing with a soft hiss.

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His stomach twisted as Faelar's body crumbled into nothing, the scent of raw aether still lingering. He swallowed hard, as if it might keep the guilt from choking him.

The Umbral gave Daniel a wry smile. “Oh, don’t mention it. Just my way of taking out the trash.”

Daniel stared at the empty space where Faelar had been, guilt curling in his chest like a knife twisting. "This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not like this..."

The Umbral’s grin sharpened. “Ah. The remorse of a reluctant killer.” He clasped his hands behind his back, the very picture of smug nonchalance. “This world isn’t kind to heroes. Life here is cheap—no more valuable than a bug scurrying underfoot.”

Daniel’s fists clenched. “He wasn’t just some bug.”

"Wasn't he, though?" The Umbral’s grin faded for just a second—his gaze sharpening like a predator sizing up prey. But the moment passed, and his playful mask snapped back in place. “These people, this world—they all exist on borrowed time. It’s going to change soon, whether you like it or not.” He leaned in slightly, his presence oppressive, like a shadow cast over Daniel’s soul. "You see, Death is a mere inconvenience for some of us."

Daniel inhaled sharply, trying to rein in the whirlwind of emotions surging through him. “If that’s true, what do you want? Why are you even here?”

The Umbral’s grin widened beneath his hood, glinting like a sliver of moonlight through storm clouds. “What do I want?” He tapped his chin theatrically. “Well... I’m a fan of being where the action is. And you seem to be at the centre of it.”

Daniel’s mind raced, trying to piece together fragments of this encounter. This Umbral didn’t seem hostile—at least, not yet. But he knew too much.

“So what is the grand plan?” Daniel snapped, the words biting and raw. “Generic evil guy wants to end all life because he is a bored murder hobo?”

The Umbral laughed, the sound low and velvety, but it carried a sinister resonance. “Oh, Daniel. I do enjoy your spirit.”

Daniel stiffened. "How does he know my name?"

“What is this, then? You’re here to enjoy the show?” Daniel demanded.

The Umbral shrugged lazily. “Something like that. I heard the noise and thought I’d see who crashed my party.” He smirked. “It’s not every day someone barges in uninvited, waving spears around.”

“We came to stop a cult.” Daniel glared at him. “Didn’t think we’d run into a Phantom of the Opera reject.”

The Umbral paused, his grin broadening. “Phantom of the Opera... I like that. Consider it added to my list.” He executed a flawless pirouette, mockingly regal.

“Since you’ve gifted me such a wonderful title, I’ll forgive your intrusion.” His voice dropped, becoming a low growl that reverberated through the cavern. “Just this once.”

The air thickened with darkness, and Daniel felt its weight pressing down on him. But, as quickly as it came, the menace dissipated, replaced by The Umbral’s carefree facade.

The shift was brief, his warm, jovial facade returning in an instant.

“Well then.” The Umbral clapped his hands, the sound echoing like a gunshot in the silence. “This has been delightful. But I do believe we’ll meet again soon, Daniel.” He gave a mock salute. “Until then, try not to die too quickly. That would be... inconvenient.”

Without another word, shadows coiled around The Umbral, consuming him whole. He vanished, leaving the cavern in oppressive silence.

Daniel stood there, his spear trembling slightly in his grip. Faelar was gone. The Umbral had vanished. And Daniel?

He was alone—with the crushing realisation that he was just a pawn in a game far beyond his understanding.

He exhaled slowly, glancing toward where his companions lay. His mind churned with doubts, questions swirling like leaves in a storm.

What the actual fuck?” Daniel whispered, wiping a hand across his face. The cavern felt colder now—emptier. He needed to get stronger, fast. The gap between him and The Umbral was a chasm, and right now, he was teetering on the edge.

But Daniel had a gut feeling—they were connected in ways he couldn’t yet fathom.

With one last glance into the shadows, Daniel turned and began the long walk back to his companions.

The cavern whispered in his wake, shadows swirling, as if the very world knew that something had shifted—and not for the better.