Chapter 446: Shadows (1/2)
—Several Hours before, shortly after as Aiden and Number 3 vanished through the [Gateway] to Haven—
Just as the dark, black portal closed behind the Masked Mistress, a figure emerged from one of the inconspicuous corners of the surprisingly busy back alley.
There were no flashy effects, nor any signs or releases of magic, the figure appeared without any visible warning. It was as if the dark tendrils of the shadows themselves were protecting its figure.
The entity had a thin humanoid shape, vaguely resembling a man, though none of its features were visible. Its body was covered and shrouded in a thin layer of eternally black unnatural shadow.
The entity had no presence or any aura, none of the hidden masters in the city would have been able to spot him.
He watched the spot where the Masked Mistress just vanished standing still, unmoving.
”Interesting…” The shadowy silhouette muttered after a short while, his face seemingly turning towards the direction of the north of the city, more precisely, towards a large obelisk-looking tower, the tallest building of the Academy. ”Things have finally started taking an interesting turn…”
Then, although the constant, unnatural darkness that seemingly either covered or maybe made this strange entity entirely, turned his head only slightly towards the west.
”…Still, there are some deviations from the intended course…” He muttered with a slightly displeased tone. ”…I wonder what would those two say if I were to do a little bit of fixing? After all, it is slightly my fault that events have diverged to such a degree…”
The figure heaved a long sigh as he kept his attention fixated on the same direction for a while longer, before eventually coming to a decision.
He shrugged his shoulders, as he muttered once again.
”I guess, they wouldn't mind it too much…” He sighed, flicking his right hand casually.
Upon his action the dark looking portal opened in the next moment, its destination unknown.
The figure slowly, casually walked towards the gate, however, before stepping through, he spanned with his fingers, then stepped through without saying a word.
As the strange creature vanished, dark, shadowy tendrils shot up from the ground around the lifeless body that was left, hungrily devouring, swallowing it up in mere seconds. As the body was completely shrouded, the dark tendrils pulled it back beneath the ground, causing it to simply vanish, just like the strange entity, leaving absolutely no traces behind.
It was as if the body of the man was never there, to begin with.
—
Standing at the edge of a ridge, a tattered, ragged clothed figure was gazing over the distant horizon.
Her wrinkled old face, which usually held a gentle warm smile, was now looking solemn, somber as she gazed towards the distance. The dried-up, parched vast lands, devoid of life stretched all where her glowing golden, exotic-looking eyes could take her.
Unlike her usual demeanor, Granny's body was trembling, filled with a vast cavalcade of emotions. Amongst the many, however, sorrow and grief were the most dominant, causing her elderly hands to twist into balls of tightly clenched fists. As her emotions were starting to overtake her, her body began to release a strange, yet familiar-looking pressure.
The air sizzled under its might, creating a blurry haze around her as she continued silently gazing at the distance.
Minutes passed swiftly as the elderly Granny didn't seem to move, nor do anything other than basking in the storm of her own emotions and most likely, painful memories…
Eventually, she heaved a sigh as she slowly eased up on the pressure and reigned herself back to relative normalcy.