Cafra and Faricah came out in an alleyway at a wet market. rows of stalls, hanging tarps dripping with rain, and the mixed scents of spices, fish, meat, and food. Cafra looked around. He couldn't find Faricah anywhere.
Cafra: *whispers "Huh...? Where did she go? She was just walking right beside me."
He heard a voice in his head.
Faricah: "I'm right here. Right next to you."
Cafra looked left and right but there is nobody beside him. He looked below and he saw a cat following him.
Cafra: "..F-Faricah..? Is that you?"
Faricah: "Why do you look shocked? Never seen a cat before?"
Cafra: "Never seen a talking cat. What happened to you? Why did you turn into a cat?"
Faricah: "It's easier for me to travel around when I'm in this form."
They continued forward, weaving through vendors calling out their daily deals. Until, a stall owner sprinted past them, shouting, terror on is face.
Vendor: "Run!! Everyone, get out of here.!"
Another person followed, tripping over crates of fruit. Then another, and another. Panic rippled through the market like a wave, stalls toppling as people shoved past each other to escape.
Cafra: "What the hell is going on?"
Faricah: "...Something.. is here.."
A loud crash was heard through the market. Cafra turned toward where the sound came from. And there, at the center of the chaos, stood a man. His body was wrapped in a black, fluid like shadow, darkess shaped like armor moving like water. Air warped around him, heavy with malice. The man grabbed a wooden stall and crushed it with one hand. People screamed and scattered in fear. Cafra stepped back. His voice trembled.
Cafra: "Is that a..?"
Faricah: "Yes. I don't know how a human can transform into something like that. It's my first time seeing one."
Cafra: "It looks very strong..."
Faricah: "This is a good opportunity to test out your powers."
His heart hammered against his ribs. knees trembling.
Cafra: "Wait... Now??"
Faricah: "Are you gonna wait until someone dies? I don't think anyone here is capable of going against that thing besides you. You're the only one who can help them."
The shadowed man suddenly turned towards them. His head snapped to the side with an unnatural jerk, as if pulled by invisible string like a puppet. His eyes were hollow, drowning in blackness. The ground trembled as he took one heavy step towards Cafra. The shadows on his body surged, forming jagged tendrils that slithered around him like serpents ready to strike. Cafra starts breathing heavily.
Faricah: "Cafra. Listen. Sandipa's light is inside you. Trust it. Let it answer your resolve."
He clenched his fists, Inhaled deeply.
Cafra: "Alright. I'll fight."
The shadowed man roared a distorted, monstrous sound that shattered hanging lamps and sent ripples through the air. The shadowed man lunged with inhuman speed, his body twisting. Cafra's fingers moved before fear could freeze him. Golden sparks crawled up Cafra's arm as he drew his blade. In one motion, he unsheathed it. Clad in electricity, a sharp metallic sound cut through the air. The shadowed man's arm transformed into a massive claw, smashed him down. Cafra slashed upward, deflecting the attack. The impact threw him backwards, skidding across the wet stone floor.
Cafra: "tch.. That's heavy."
The shadowed man screeched, shadows flaring around him like flapping wings. He charged again, leaving cracks in the ground with every step. Cafra tightened his grip on his blade. The man swung a big shadow claw at him. Cafra dodged, lightning sparked across his body, he swings his blade and slashed upward. A streak of light tore through the shadow armor. The man stumbled, ink like darkness dripping from the wound like blood. The shadowed man roared again, his arm turned into a shadow spiraling into a long, spear like shape. He thrusts it towards Cafra with lethal speed. Cafra raised his blade to parry, the force sent him sliding back, his feet carving lines into the ground.
Cafra: "Whoa.. That was close! How am I gonna defeat this guy?"
The shadowed man thrusts again. Cafra sidestepped, Slashing with his katana down in a clean arc, cutting through the shadow spear. The man roared angrily and slammed his fists into the ground. Tendrils of darkness erupted upward, towards Cafra like living spears. Cafra sprinted forward, weaving in between the spears. A tendril extended from the spears, grazed his cheek, burning cold. And another tangled around his arms and wrists.
Cafra: "Arrrggghh.. Let me go!!"
Cafra planted his feet on the ground, preparing to dash. Electric sparks formed around his feet. He dashed in lightning speed, setting himself free from the shadows that bind him. The tendrils disappeared instantly. Cafra leaped forward, light gathered along his blade, unsteady, flickering with electric sparks. He slashed across the man's chest. A shock wave sent the man crashing through empty stalls before collapsing. Steam like wisps of darkness rose from the wound. His corrupted armor cracked like brittle glass. Cafra steadied his stance, blade pointed forward.
Cafra: "Did I get him?"
He walks slowly towards the shadowed man. Checking if its still alive. All of a sudden the man quickly jumped at him with its sharp shadow claws. Cafra reacted fast and swings his blade. He cut through the shadow armor. The darkness from the man starts ripping away, dissolving into fragments that faded like ash. The man collapsed on the ground, no armor, no shadow, just unconscious. Breathing hard, Cafra lowered his blade.
Cafra: "Did I win?"
Faricah: "You did a good job defeating that monster. But how was he able to obtain that form? A human, using the power of darkness."
Cafra: "I don't know. Maybe he got bitten by an aswang?"
Faricah: "I don't think that's possible. An aswang always kills, and eats its victim."
Cafra: "Yeah, But anyways, we need to move this man somewhere safe. We can't just leave him here."
As Cafra approached the man to pick him up and carry him somewhere safe, then, a dark portal like circle emerged from the ground. Shadows grabbed the man and starts dragging him inside the portal. Cafra jumped back. He heard a voice from a distance. It was the mysterious dark creature him and his friend encountered.
Azragon: "This human is too weak. His body can take the power of darkness but his mid couldn't control it. How disappointing."
Cafra: "You there! I remember you. What did you do to that man?!"
Azragon: "That's none of your business."
Cafra readies for an attack. Charging his blade, ready to slash the monster in front of him. He dashed in, like a flash of lightning, towards Azragon. Azragon tilted his head, bored, and effortlessly sidestepped and easily dodged it.
Azragon: "I don't have time to play with you. I've got things to accomplish."
Azragon vanished through a dark portal that swirled open behind him. Cafra tried to go after the dark creature but Faricah stopped him.
Faricah: "Cafra, we don't know what lies beyond that portal. It's too dangerous."
Cafra: "But what if that monster is Val'Zhemyr. It could be our chance to stop him."
Faricah: "I don't think that's him. From what I remember. Right now, he is in his weakened state. That's why he's asking aid from the dark creatures in this world. That creature must be one of his subordinates"
Cafra: "If Val'Zhemyr is in his weakened state, Isn't that a good opportunity to defeat him?"
Faricah: "Yes. But realize this. That person you defeated is probably just one of their pawns. They probably have hundreds, or thousands of dark creatures in their army. Do you think you can take them all at once?"
Cafra: "Yeah.. You're right. I didn't think about that. But how are we gonna find Val'Zhemyr?"
Faricah: "The only way I can think of is we ask our enemy. But you don't think they will sell out their boss, right? So it means its impossible. Maybe we need to encounter them more to get more information."
Cafra: "Hey, I just realized this. Don't you find it weird that they show themselves in broad daylight? As far as I know Aswangs only appear at night. That means that the person we defeated is not an aswang"
Faricah: "This is getting more dangerous. If they can appear and cause chaos during the day, that means danger is everywhere, all the time. This world is no longer safe. I have to go back to Solaris Sanctum and tell the others about this. Sorry Cafra. But you will have to go on this journey on your own for now. We need to make preparations."
Cafra: "Wait, I don't even know where to go."
Faricah: "I will send you a message if I get information about where Val'Zhemyr is. For now, be on the lookout where dark creatures will appear. That will be your only clue for now on his whereabouts. I have to go. Goodbye."
Cafra reached out, but she was already gone. He stood alone in the wrecked market, blade still in hand, breathing in the cold air.
Cafra: "...Dang it, she's already gone. Where am I supposed to go now?"