The country side comes into view, the sun shinning and the sky is as blue as could be. A child with pale skin and long messy black hair and vivid gold eyes runs down the main road on the way home from his usual adventures out in the woods. He was in a hurry as he promised his mother he would help with the daily chores before the sun started to set. His leather boots stomped the ground as he tried to get him with all his might. His clothing clung to his form, making his movements easy when he ran.

"Oh gods, I am going to be late if I don't pick up the pace. Mother is going to never let me here the end of it, that's  for sure..."

He said as he kept on running down the road. Eventually he made it to the crossroads that lead to his village, after he had made the right turn and came over the hill top, through the small wooded area he used as a shortcut. He came to the next hill that lead him into his village, but something was off. There was sound  of screaming, and thick black smoke rising from the whole village. He ran over the hill and stood at the top of it.

(End music here and que the next)

His eyes widened in horror at what he saw. Homes burning and people being slaughter by invading bandits with swords and spears. A large group of them on the other hill raining arrows with fire on them on the village below.

"Mother, father..my friends!"

He exclaimed in panic as he ran down the hill and into the town, running passed the bandits avoiding their attempts at trying to catch him. He ran and ran until he made it to his home, it was burning badly. He ran inside as came to find both his mother and father lying on the floor bleeding profusely from stab and cut wounds. tears flowing from the boy's eyes at what he saw when he ran in. He runs to their side and begins to shake them, trying to get them to move.

"Mother...father, wake up please! We have to get out of here. Their are a lot of bandits here. Please we need to go!"

Both of his parents looked to him with half opened eyes, they smiled weakly and coughed up a bit of blood.

"Ah..Zikel...you made it back...you kept your promise to mommy..."

She coughs up more blood and shakily reaches over to him,placing her cold hand on his

"Zikel...you need to get out of here. It's too late for us dear. Leave this place before they get you to..."

"I can't! I can't leave you two here to die. Please...I need you both!"

He screamed as more tears seemed to pour from his eyes. The house was burning more and more, the structure threatening to come crushing down on all of them

"Listen to your mother my son. It is more important that you live and continue with my legacy as one of the few shadowmancers here in this world. Take the secret pathway I have told you about in the main room. Go in the room and grab the books I have set out for you...and take the shadow dagger with you. You will need it my boy..."

The father coughed up more blood as well. They both looked to Zikel with weak smiles, both of their cold hands on his now

"We love you Zikel...don't ever forget that. We will be watching over you. Now go.."

"But I-"

"GO!"

They both shouted at him. He closes his eyes hard and reluctantly leaves them. He makes it to the fireplace and pulls on a hidden lever pushing the fireplace aside a bit and then closing it, he heard the house collapse from behind it and begins to run down the long halfway with tears still streaming down his face, he lets out screams of emotional pain and sadness as he runs. he falls to the ground as he gets to where his father had told him to go. Laying there and sobbing for a few moments before shaking it away and beginning to grab the needed items for him to flee with. He grabbed the near by satchel, stuffed the books and items needed into it. he looks over to the dagger that proudly sat on a display under bright torchlight. A sheathed dagger that was created in pure black steel,and had a black fiery aura flowing from it. He takes it and looks at the blade with hatred for the people who took his family from him. He takes it and sheaths it into his belt as he runs out of the room and out the secret exit which lead to a riverside outside the village.

"Goodbye mother and father....may goddess of life take you into her loving arms..."

He said as he began to run towards the kingdom, he knew that would be the safest place for him now, even though he had no where else or no other family to run to.

(end music here)

--Nine Years Later, Castle Town Market--

There was a crowd gathered in the middle of one of the squares of the city. A young man stood in the middle of the crowd, cheers and screams were going off around the unknown hooded man. He was tall, sort of athletic build and wore a scarf that covered the lower partof his face. He wore a black frayed robe that was tight up top, but got baggy and flowed freely at the bottom. And black clothe gloves and last but not least, dark leather boots with straps. He puts his hands out to his sides and smiles to the crowd

"You all ready for the show then?! Keep your eyes open!"

The crowd cheered for him again. both children and adults alike. He knew he only had a certain amount of time before the city guards could pinpoint his location though. So he had to entertain his crowd quickly. He holds his hand one above the other, soon two copies of himself would split from him left to right in the same pose. Then the would run in different directions as well as he would, a plum of black smoke covering the area. After the smoke cleared, everyone looked around, wondering where he had gone, They then looked up as they heard a whistle. He and his copies were on each side of the square, standing on the decorative ropes that ran across the area. They all started clapping with amazed looks on their faces. Even a few fangirl screams in there as well. He and his copies would bow deeply as they balanced themselves on the rope perfectly. Suddenly they began to run across the ropes as high speed, black streaks flowing behind them as they ran in a circle around the crowd, jumping to and from different ropes. Finally they all jumped and landed in the middle on their feet. him and his copies took another bow and the crowd clapped again. Tossing small pouches of money to him at his feet.

"Thank you all for watching my shows and supporting me the way you do. Without your patronage, I would honestly be starving. I really do appreciate all the money you give me.."

Just then,he sees a few children run up to him, the copies collecting the money as he kneels down in front of them the only thing that could be seen fromunder the hood and behind the scarf was his golden eyes. Though he was smiling brightly to them. There was a sickness going around the town. And he was doing everything he can to bring a smile to the young ones who were afflicted with it. It seemed that his shows made them smile at least. And that made him happy he could ease their pain.

"We love you Living Shadow. All of us. The way you move and the way you create your illusions...its really amazing!"

"Yeah..I wanna be like you when I get older. Will you teach us how to use shadowmancy?"

Zikel smiled and rubbed his chin a bit

"Only if you kids get better soon. You need to be strong to use shadowmancy. But I have no doubt, that when you are well. You will become good at it in no time."

He said reassuringly. The children gave him a big smile and clapped. Suddenly a random woman called out to him

"Living Shadow, the guards are closing in quickly. You need to go while you can!"

"Thank you for the warning! Alright everyone, time for the encore!"

He said as he finished gathering up the coins that were so generously giving to him. As the guards came and quickly surrounded him, weapons drawn and pointed directly at him, they shouted.

"Alright Living Shadow, your stealing and performing days are over. Come with us now or we will use lethal force!"

Zikel lowered his head for a moment, he was counting down in his head as the sun lowered down,the shadows grew around the square, the crowd knew exactly what was about to happen, their eyes on the guards

"You aren't going to catch him now boys...when its night time. You are in his world now."

An elderly woman spoke to them as they kept him surrounded

"Listen to her men. Save yourself the trouble and go back home to your families and call it a night!"

Shouted another man in the crowd

"Be quiet citizen! Your 'entertainer' is nothing but a thief and a lair! he is going to pay for his crimes and rot in the jails!"

"He isn't a thief! Sure he takes food from the market stalls, but he always returns the money eventually and gives us these shows!"

Shouted one of the merchants he frequently goes to

"Take him men!"

Shouted the commanding officer. And just like that, the sun was out of sight. Zikel chuckled, and just like that, he sinks into the ground and vanishes into the black shadows of the night, the guards closing in just a little too late as he shadow crawls with great speed and out of sight. They crowd cheers loudly again after his escape. And slowly begins to disperse, talking about the event and the show as usual.

Later that night, as Zikel was in his hideout. He couldn't notice a familiar feeling of dread coming over him, sending shivers up his back. And his feeling was correct, he suddenly her loud booms,seeing smoke rise from below the city from his high perched hideout, he makes his way to the corner of the roof top and looks out over the city. Smoke, fire and screams of panic flooded the streets. His eyes widen in horror as he whispers to himself.

"No...please not again...not this again!"

He grabbed his satchel and put what little belongs he had in it, grabbing his dagger and making his way down the roofs by wrapping a piece of roped around another and began to slide down it the ground level. As he does this, he sees a guard trying to fight off two other invade soldiers. As he slids down, he kicks one of them in the head and thrusts his dagger in the other's neck. The guard looks at Zikel with a glare for a moment, then shakes his head

"Thanks Living Shadow...I owe you one for that."

"Then tell me what in the seven hells is going on here?!"

"We are being invaded by the neighboring kingdom. We weren't expecting them so early though, this threw our plans right out the window, Especially with the plague having taken its toll on most of our soldiers!"

"Get to your squad then. You need to be with at least one other guard. Stay with them at all times!"

Zikel disappeared before the guard could protest, As he used the shadows to travel around the city quickly, killing off any invaders he could.He came across those very same children he had seen earlier....dead with arrows in their backs and the adults who had tried to defend him. He stood there with wide eyes, slowly walking towards them and falling on his knees before them. People who he had grown to care for and love. Gone from him again. Why was so much tragedy being brought to this man? He didn't do anything wrong...anything he took, he eventually gave back with the money he earned.

"My friends... I am sorry I wasn't here to help you. This plague that was killing you already was enough...but now this..."

He suddenly slammed his fist into the ground and looks up into the heavens, screaming.

"Tell me gods! What have I done? What have any of these people done to deserve such pain?! Do you get sick kicks out of watching innocent people die?! Do you enjoy loved ones being taken away from others so brutally?! You aren't true gods, you are monsters!"

Just then, large black clouds form directly over him and the city, thunder and lightning strike fiercely and wnd begin to pick up

"Come on then, strike me down you sons of bitches. I am right here! You have taken everyone away from me! Why don't you take my life then you monsters! Smite me down like the almighty beings you are!"

He screamed with his arms wide open, but it wasn't lightning that struck him, A beam of light came straight for him. he figured it was one of the gods answering his taunt and gave him what he wanted. he closes his eyes and smiles lightly

"Mother...father, my friends. I will be joining you soon.."

Suddenly there was nothing left, the light swallowed him up and took him where it was going to take him. Next Chapter: Act 1: A New Land And A New...Form? Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 18 Minutes