I. Andromadus: The Prodigy (Chapter Two)

I had become a monster inside my mind. I could’ve used this power for good, but what’s the point if the good only turned around to punish you in the end? Maybe I was a monster, inside and out. The thought of being near other whiskers only made my blood boil. The weight of all the losses and guilt seemed to exaggerate with every step. With the shadow as my guide, I’d be able to defeat all the evil in The Great Pond.

I began the long walk back toward the mountainous caves. The storm had subsided and snow was falling gently, covering my footprints as I walked. It was only a day's march to my favorite hole in the ground, but the mountains were unforgiving. If I were the whisker I used to be, I wouldn’t be able to survive these conditions. Since my affinity for strength came to fruition, I’d been able to conquer any physical task. Unfortunately, I was still bound by my shame.

He was right. The Old Wizard was blind to have spread his magic between all of the whiskers and yet left other creatures to find their way. The Great Pond was meant for something more, something greater than ourselves. Whiskers were too busy trying to become kings and queens when they never deserved the throne in the first place.

The further I walked, the more anger rushed through my body. The strength the shadow had imbued my body with had begun to charge my emotions. I had to remain vigilant or I’d risk the power controlling me. The last time I had climbed this mountain ridge, I thought I was powerful. Now, I understand real power. I understand what it takes to become immortal. I can use this for the good of The Great Pond.

I continued along the mountain side waiting for any creature to expose itself, eager to test my new abilities. That was when I heard singing. It was a female whisker in the distance. She was dressed in furs and had a long cape dragging behind her, erasing her steps.

Gently, I snuck behind trees closing the distance between us. They were alone. Perfect for target practice. Perfect for testing my new powers the beast had granted me.

No! What are you thinking? Your job is to protect whiskers, not to destroy them! Get a hold of yourself, Andromadus!

I closed my eyes and began to breathe deeply.

This is not who you are. This is not the reason for your strength, your immortality.

I turned around, facing the direction from where I came, only to be blinded by intrusive thoughts. I fell to my knees, holding my head. Flashes of blue eyes burned in my mind. It was here. The beast was here with me, even now. My eyes were closed, but I could see myself standing in the Settlement of the Dead facing the shadow. Its eyes danced in the night until they began to descend to the ground before slowly fading away. A whisker appeared where the shadow had been.

“Do you feel it?” it asked.

“Yes!” I shouted in pain, holding my chest.

“Relax, Andromadus. Let go.”

“I can’t. It hurts.”

“Release your arms. Feel the energy flow.”

I let my arms fall from my chest. Instantly a silver stream of mist seeped through my chest and flowed toward the whisker. The pain began to subside as my body gave in to the tendril connecting me to it.

“You’re not alone, Andromadus. I am with you. You are safe with me, forever,” the whisker said.

The whisker walked back into the storm and disappeared in the distance. I got up to follow it further into the storm, before noticing it left no tracks behind. I looked up to the sky for an answer until I felt a hand on my back.

I snapped out of my dream state only to find the singing whisker, covered in her furs, looking at me with worry.

“Get away!” I shouted.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Get away!”

“That’s no way to talk to someone worried about your health.”

“I’m fine. Now leave me alone!”

She remained standing there looking at me, puzzled. I breathed hard as if I had just woken up from a bad dream.

“Please,” I said, out of breath. “Please, go.”

She looked down at the snow and turned around, walking in the direction from which she came. There was no hurry in her step, only a confident stride.

“What have I done?”

The shadow of the beast lay within my soul, influencing every thought and movement.