Let it Shine

"This is what you wanted, isn't it?"

The voice came to Alex in the same high, melodic sound as before, but he felt severity in the undertone, like a teacher staring him down.

Wasn't it what he wanted? He and Nari--a tiny, white creature with crystal-like wings--had stumbled into each other one night in the woods when Alex thought he was the most alone. The Shade, ever seeping further into the land, threatened to catch him that night, and Nari, the very embodiment of light, had come to his rescue. She held the Shade back long enough for him to escape.

Since then, they had studied and fought the Shade together many times, here and there poking holes in its presence, saving others like himself from the powerful envelopment that could turn even the best creature into a beast and create a savage monster from any human.

At last, the embodiment of the Shade, the Lord of Vengeance, confronted Nari in the woods. Alex left her alone for this encounter, claiming that his human will would be too weak to counter the Shade's influence. Yes, this is what he had wanted, so why did he feel a chill now at the harshness of Nari's words?

He pictured her in his mind, her tender, flickering form facing down darkness itself, and grabbed the crystal he used to teleport to her. Hold on, he thought, hoping she could still hear him. I'm coming.