Shadow Slave: A visionary's guide

The sudden drop left Cassie feeling hollow inside, as though her very being had been yanked downward. Every instinct screamed at her to cry out, but she knew better. One of the most important lessons drilled into her at the academy was simple: If a fight is avoidable, avoid it at all costs. Do not fight when it's unnecessary. Screaming would only invite the nightmare creatures.

Instead of succumbing to fear, she buried her face against Ivan's back, gripping him with all her strength. Her arms clung tightly around his neck, and her legs locked around his torso. She didn't know if her hold was bothering him, but she had no time to worry about that.

The descent began to slow, the wild rush of air around them easing. Still, she clung to Ivan as if her life depended on it. A faint tap on her arm registered at the edge of her awareness, but she ignored it, lost in her frantic focus.

The tapping grew more insistent, accompanied by Ivan's strained voice. "Cass… yo-your arm…"

She froze, realizing with a pang of guilt that her grip had tightened too much. Lifting her head, she loosened her hold abruptly, causing her to slip slightly in the harness. Panic shot through her, and she instinctively clutched at him again.

"S-sorry!" she stammered.

Ivan let out a heavy breath, his voice strained but good-natured. "It's fine. We're already down. We should get moving."

Underneath the lace blindfold, Cassie furrowed her brows. She could sense his attempt to brush it off, but she wasn't going to let it slide entirely. Without warning, she reached out, her fingers brushing along his neck before trailing to his face. Ivan stiffened at the unexpected contact, a question forming on his lips.

"Cass, what are you—"

Before he could finish, she grabbed his cheeks with both hands and pinched them as hard as she could.

"OW! Cass, ow, ow, ow! What's the big dea—"

She let go of his cheeks only to grab his ears, tugging them with enough force to make him yelp again.

"Cass! Okay, okay, I'm sorry! I promise I won't pull another stunt like that again," Ivan pleaded.

She finally let go of his ears, which were now red as a tomato. Even though she couldn't see anymore, the heat radiating from them told her enough.

Cassie smiled smugly, satisfaction swelling in her chest as though she'd just accomplished a grand victory. Of course, she didn't let Ivan see it. Instead, she let out a soft hmph, puffed her cheeks in mock indignation, and turned her head away, feigning disinterest.

"Cass, come on. Don't ignore me!" Ivan pleaded.

His voice followed her like an unrelenting shadow as he maneuvered them through the crimson labyrinth. The maze's eerie glow bathed everything in a dim, ominous red light.

"Cass, seriously, I'm sorry! I won't—"

Without warning, she poked his cheek with her finger, effectively silencing him. "You won't ever do that again, promise?"

Ivan quickly nodded, the movement so rapid she felt the jerk of it through her hands. "I promise!" he replied, eager to reassure her.

Content with his response, Cassie relaxed against his back, her earlier irritation melting into quiet amusement. "Good," she murmured, letting herself settle comfortably.

They were about to continue forward when a sudden shift in the atmosphere made her stiffen. A looming shadow stretched across them, and the air seemed to warp—colder, hotter—she couldn't tell, only that it felt wrong. Cassie's breath hitched as she instinctively turned her head. Despite her blindfold, glowing runes appeared in the black void of her vision, their radiant symbols searing themselves into her consciousness.

~~~~~~~~~

Name: Carapace Scavenger

[Awakened Beast]

. . .

~~~~~~~~

Cassie's blood turned to ice at the sight of the words Awakened Beast. Panic seized her just as Ivan cursed under his breath.

"You've got to be kidding me. Already?"

Before she could process his words, Ivan launched them backward, narrowly dodging an attack. The air around them stirred violently, and the sound of something massive scraping against the muddy ground sent shivers down her spine.

"Cass, cover your ears! It's about to get loud."

She didn't hesitate. Loosening her arms from his shoulders, she let the straps secure her in place and pressed her hands over her ears as tightly as she could.

Behind him, she felt something shift on Ivan's back—an unnatural writhing that made her stomach churn. She didn't have time to ponder what it was before he turned his body at an angle, bracing himself.

And then it came.

A deafening roar, like a cannon's blast, erupted, shaking the air and rattling her bones. Cassie clenched her teeth, the sound reverberating even through her covered ears. Whatever Ivan had unleashed, it was powerful—and it wasn't done yet.

Right after their counterattack, Ivan broke into a run. He reached back, guiding her hands to wrap securely around his shoulders. As he did, Cassie felt the straps holding her tightly to him start to dissolve, one by one, until none remained. Ivan's voice cut through the chaos, firm and urgent. "Hold on tight!"

Moments later, she heard faint scratching sounds in the distance.

"Damn it, why did I have to go and shoot those oversized crabs?" Ivan cursed under his breath, tightening his grip on Cassie's legs, which were wrapped around his hips.

Cassie was worried. She couldn't see what was going on, and the situation didn't allow her to ask too much. All she knew was that they were being pursued by an Awakened Beast. Despite her fear, she couldn't help but ask.

"Ivan, what's chasing us?" Panic laced her voice.

After a few moments, Ivan replied, "Oh, just a bunch of oversized crustaceans." He tried to sound nonchalant, but the worry in his voice betrayed him.

Crustaceans? Crabs? We're being chased by Awakened oversized crabs?

Despite the dire situation, Cassie found the thought strangely comical. Shaking off the distraction, she leaned closer, intending to ask another question.

Before she could, Ivan veered sharply to the side. The sudden shift nearly threw her off his back, but Ivan caught her just in time.

She barely had time to yelp before Ivan's arm wrapped around her, pulling her into his embrace. One hand covered her mouth as he softly shushed her.

After a tense moment, a sharp screech pierced the air.

Cassie shuddered, squeezing her eyes shut as if trying to block out the sound.

In the distance, she could hear movements, but she didn't dare make a noise. Slowly, the tension in Ivan's body eased.

"They're gone," he murmured, his voice barely audible. He released her and leaned back as she did the same, resting against his chest. The entire ordeal had sapped her strength.

"We'll rest for a bit before moving again, before nightfall."

Cassie nodded weakly and let herself doze off. Just before she fell asleep, she felt a hand pat her head gently.