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Prologue
Kaderis
smiled; victory had been assured…
All of it began with the spark of an idea. And this idea gave rise to possibility into the exploration of things not meant to be looked upon, at least, not directly. First though were barriers that needed breaching, namely in the form of tireless, philosophical debate. Adamantly, ceaselessly, she was reminded that there were some corners beyond reality not meant to be physically entered. Meditation and contemplation were more than enough to satiate harmful curiosity. Entering this shaded abode, home of everything antithetical to life would be her undoing—her untimely death. To gaze and even briefly project their consciousness through the gateway and into that horrific place was more than ample enough for whatever study might be required. Anything further would reduce the strongest mind to incoherent madness. And, after a decade of lengthy debates on the matter, the ashen-blonde priestess was done; it was time to take matters into her own hands.
Though her prowess was near-unrivaled by anyone within their order, Kaderis wasn’t given into reckless abandon; hers was the long game. Over the years she had spent countless hours gazing unflinchingly into the terrible nothingness to glean what lay beyond so that it could be manifested into this world. Each passing moment peering into the formless depths was a period of reflection, seeing what others were unable to see, or possibly turning a blind eye to. But even the practice of mental projection was only so good. She needed to go further than anyone else in the history of their order and survive that ordeal… intact.
“Kaderis!” An approaching furious voice boomed. “Stop this madness! What you’re doing, what you’ve done, is absolute folly! You’ve damned yourself and doomed the very integrity of our order!”
“Integrity of our order?” Whatever expression that might have been on her face was hidden by a featureless ebon mask. Enshrouded in equally matching robes, she loomed amidst a series of thirteen black pillars, light blue eyes brimming with mirth. “I passed through the gateway between realities, returned within a deeper understanding of the abyssal nothingness beyond our homeworld, and you speak to me of integrity!? Bring Ebren forward… respectfully of course. He is—was—the high priest of our order.”
Decades of research had been done within their order’s library, with every ounce of material poured over by priestess regarding the gateway and what lay beyond it. Long days turned into sleepless nights which unexpectedly found her rewarded with several publications added to their library from all the intensive work she had done. After reflecting on all of that information, the Cestrin-born woman did what so very few had successfully accomplished since their order’s founding. Only, she was determined to succeed no matter the cost.
“I’m curious… what exactly will my death serve, Kaderis?” The gray-haired man questioned in between the rustling of chains as he ascended the stairs.
“As an object lesson,” She returned simply. “You and your inner circle have held the Shadowsworn back for too long. You’ve failed to realize that there’s more to be had than simply gazing into the lightless depths. I have seen where our path leads, a path that can no longer be stifled by backward dogma!”
“Dogma set into place at the founding of our order, dogma which has served us well, a dogma which has allowed us to preserve, despite how we’re seen, a dogma—”
“Which has held us back from becoming what we could be!” Shadows snaked toward them, solidifying into a scimitar in her hands. “And now… we will become the darkness, Ebren, that we so emulate.”
Forced to the ground, Ebren sneered angrily at the rebel priestess, before slowly lowering his head. Savoring the moment the ashen-blonde woman raised the blade high into the air, and with a soul-rending shout, brought the blade down upon his neck… and blinked in utter bewilderment as the weapon lost all substance, dissolving back into the shadow where it came from. Casting a murderous glare toward the four confused acolytes, she looked across the crowd waiting expectantly for something to happen. There was only one person that could have possibly undone her weaving, and they were out of the country on business.
“Kaderis… Kaderis… KADERIS…”
Initially incoherent, it began to reverberate through the caverns gradually growing louder with each utterance. Little by little the words echoed outward, resonating into the unseen corner of reality, and filling the spaces in between. Looking back, she glimpsed the induced unnatural undulation of the voidal gateway and could do nothing to calm it. Wraithly whispers soon joined, filling the cavern with a spectral cacophony as they called out her name in a mocking fashion. Feeling a little uneasy, the priestess looked toward Ebren who was now standing and clearly confused and once more to the cavern. The echoing voices continued to move higher and higher into the upper reaches of reality until it seemed that the whole of creation called out her name before falling deathly quiet, leaving the room in a thick pervasive silence.
“Too afraid to face me, are you?” She seethed, her voice echoing throughout as much of the fabric of reality as her will would allow. “Show yourself—name yourself!”
A figure appeared at the entrance. It looked… wreathed—no—formed, from nightmarish blackness. Every head in the room turned to see it silently stalking forward with people already moving to intercept. Within seconds of nearing it, they fell to the floor, screaming as their bodies were torn apart from within. Numerous shadowy claws exploded outward revealing themselves and soaking those nearest with their unholy carnage. Several more rushed forward, creating interlocking walls of shadowy force to prevent its advance. The abyssal specter moved through them uninterrupted and graciously allowed their creators to share in the same fate as their brethren.
“Kaderis…”
Diving from top of the stairs as menacing arcs of sanguine lightning passed through the shade, she imprinted the ground with a three-point landing, reached out with gripping motion, and wrapped the entity in ghostly chains manifested from the ether to immobilize it. Satisfied, Kaderis stood, looked toward the gruesome path it had made with the blood of her order, and stalked toward the unmoving thing.
“I don’t know who or what you are, nor where you came from, but you’ll be gone soon enough!”
The cavern reverberated with an unnerving chuckle coupled with the undertones a draconic growl. Awashed in black-tinged violet, the chains faded. Calling upon every ounce of strength and knowledge, she watched in stubborn futility as the bonds were rendered to nothingness. It tilted an approximation of a head toward Kaderis and seemed to smile. Blinking, she began to step back until her feet were dashing against the first step.
“Normally things can be overlooked for the sake of progress… innovation… growth. Other things… well… cannot be absolved quite so easily.”
“What? Who… what are you?”
“That’s his avatar,” answered Ebren. Freed from his chains, the old priest looked toward it with uncertainty.
“I…” Looking up at the old priest, Kaderis tuned back, blinking rapidly, hearts thumping loudly in her ears at the answer. “I bid you welcome, and have it known that all that has been done, was in the dark glory of your revered name.”
“Spare me your entreaties, I know everything.” The voice echoed as loudly in their ears as it did their thoughts. “You passed through the gateway and returned unscathed… commendable. But the schism you created was foolish… unwise. Penance must be exacted.”
“But… but I…” Looking across the cavern of masked faces and reflecting on everything she had achieved, her fists clenched. Swallowing slowly, the priestess told herself she wouldn’t go down like an animal, instead, standing tall, proud, and resolute for what was to come. They had her notes; others would pick up where she left off. “Fine… I… accept. Let it be done.”
“You think I’m going to let you off that easy?” Questioned the abyssal presence with a darkened smile. “No. You and your followers are banished from Cestrin. You have three days and three nights to gather your things, say your goodbyes, and leave.”
The priestess blinked in confusion by the pronouncement; even Ebren was taken aback by the entity’s utterance. A dull roar of whispers cascaded through the cavern for almost a minute before becoming snuffed out by the velvety voice of Kaderis.”
“And what’s to become of us, we who will no longer be within your hallowed shadow? Are we to be cast out in exile with no hope of feeling your tenebrous presence among us again?”
“Oh, my priestess,” the form sighed softly. “There is nowhere you can dwell where my darkness cannot find you. There is no corner of this world, no matter how remote, that you can go where I cannot see you. If you truly wish to forge a new path, then you do so with my blessing. You are Shadowsworn, remember that…”
An icy chill filled the cavern, lights flickered, shadows ebbed to-and-fro, and the Shadowed One’s avatar vanished. Looking back to Ebren descending the stairs, she cast her gaze toward the order as a whole. Taking a deep breath, with much to consider, the ashen-blonde Ardan realized they had little time to prepare for departure. Whether they were ready for the journey didn’t matter. All that was needed was a new home, and Kaderis decided, she a new name…
All of it began with the spark of an idea. And this idea gave rise to possibility into the exploration of things not meant to be looked upon, at least, not directly. First though were barriers that needed breaching, namely in the form of tireless, philosophical debate. Adamantly, ceaselessly, she was reminded that there were some corners beyond reality not meant to be physically entered. Meditation and contemplation were more than enough to satiate harmful curiosity. Entering this shaded abode, home of everything antithetical to life would be her undoing—her untimely death. To gaze and even briefly project their consciousness through the gateway and into that horrific place was more than ample enough for whatever study might be required. Anything further would reduce the strongest mind to incoherent madness. And, after a decade of lengthy debates on the matter, the ashen-blonde priestess was done; it was time to take matters into her own hands.
Though her prowess was near-unrivaled by anyone within their order, Kaderis wasn’t given into reckless abandon; hers was the long game. Over the years she had spent countless hours gazing unflinchingly into the terrible nothingness to glean what lay beyond so that it could be manifested into this world. Each passing moment peering into the formless depths was a period of reflection, seeing what others were unable to see, or possibly turning a blind eye to. But even the practice of mental projection was only so good. She needed to go further than anyone else in the history of their order and survive that ordeal… intact.
“Kaderis!” An approaching furious voice boomed. “Stop this madness! What you’re doing, what you’ve done, is absolute folly! You’ve damned yourself and doomed the very integrity of our order!”
“Integrity of our order?” Whatever expression that might have been on her face was hidden by a featureless ebon mask. Enshrouded in equally matching robes, she loomed amidst a series of thirteen black pillars, light blue eyes brimming with mirth. “I passed through the gateway between realities, returned within a deeper understanding of the abyssal nothingness beyond our homeworld, and you speak to me of integrity!? Bring Ebren forward… respectfully of course. He is—was—the high priest of our order.”
Decades of research had been done within their order’s library, with every ounce of material poured over by priestess regarding the gateway and what lay beyond it. Long days turned into sleepless nights which unexpectedly found her rewarded with several publications added to their library from all the intensive work she had done. After reflecting on all of that information, the Cestrin-born woman did what so very few had successfully accomplished since their order’s founding. Only, she was determined to succeed no matter the cost.
“I’m curious… what exactly will my death serve, Kaderis?” The gray-haired man questioned in between the rustling of chains as he ascended the stairs.
“As an object lesson,” She returned simply. “You and your inner circle have held the Shadowsworn back for too long. You’ve failed to realize that there’s more to be had than simply gazing into the lightless depths. I have seen where our path leads, a path that can no longer be stifled by backward dogma!”
“Dogma set into place at the founding of our order, dogma which has served us well, a dogma which has allowed us to preserve, despite how we’re seen, a dogma—”
“Which has held us back from becoming what we could be!” Shadows snaked toward them, solidifying into a scimitar in her hands. “And now… we will become the darkness, Ebren, that we so emulate.”
Forced to the ground, Ebren sneered angrily at the rebel priestess, before slowly lowering his head. Savoring the moment the ashen-blonde woman raised the blade high into the air, and with a soul-rending shout, brought the blade down upon his neck… and blinked in utter bewilderment as the weapon lost all substance, dissolving back into the shadow where it came from. Casting a murderous glare toward the four confused acolytes, she looked across the crowd waiting expectantly for something to happen. There was only one person that could have possibly undone her weaving, and they were out of the country on business.
“Kaderis… Kaderis… KADERIS…”
Initially incoherent, it began to reverberate through the caverns gradually growing louder with each utterance. Little by little the words echoed outward, resonating into the unseen corner of reality, and filling the spaces in between. Looking back, she glimpsed the induced unnatural undulation of the voidal gateway and could do nothing to calm it. Wraithly whispers soon joined, filling the cavern with a spectral cacophony as they called out her name in a mocking fashion. Feeling a little uneasy, the priestess looked toward Ebren who was now standing and clearly confused and once more to the cavern. The echoing voices continued to move higher and higher into the upper reaches of reality until it seemed that the whole of creation called out her name before falling deathly quiet, leaving the room in a thick pervasive silence.
“Too afraid to face me, are you?” She seethed, her voice echoing throughout as much of the fabric of reality as her will would allow. “Show yourself—name yourself!”
A figure appeared at the entrance. It looked… wreathed—no—formed, from nightmarish blackness. Every head in the room turned to see it silently stalking forward with people already moving to intercept. Within seconds of nearing it, they fell to the floor, screaming as their bodies were torn apart from within. Numerous shadowy claws exploded outward revealing themselves and soaking those nearest with their unholy carnage. Several more rushed forward, creating interlocking walls of shadowy force to prevent its advance. The abyssal specter moved through them uninterrupted and graciously allowed their creators to share in the same fate as their brethren.
“Kaderis…”
Diving from top of the stairs as menacing arcs of sanguine lightning passed through the shade, she imprinted the ground with a three-point landing, reached out with gripping motion, and wrapped the entity in ghostly chains manifested from the ether to immobilize it. Satisfied, Kaderis stood, looked toward the gruesome path it had made with the blood of her order, and stalked toward the unmoving thing.
“I don’t know who or what you are, nor where you came from, but you’ll be gone soon enough!”
The cavern reverberated with an unnerving chuckle coupled with the undertones a draconic growl. Awashed in black-tinged violet, the chains faded. Calling upon every ounce of strength and knowledge, she watched in stubborn futility as the bonds were rendered to nothingness. It tilted an approximation of a head toward Kaderis and seemed to smile. Blinking, she began to step back until her feet were dashing against the first step.
“Normally things can be overlooked for the sake of progress… innovation… growth. Other things… well… cannot be absolved quite so easily.”
“What? Who… what are you?”
“That’s his avatar,” answered Ebren. Freed from his chains, the old priest looked toward it with uncertainty.
“I…” Looking up at the old priest, Kaderis tuned back, blinking rapidly, hearts thumping loudly in her ears at the answer. “I bid you welcome, and have it known that all that has been done, was in the dark glory of your revered name.”
“Spare me your entreaties, I know everything.” The voice echoed as loudly in their ears as it did their thoughts. “You passed through the gateway and returned unscathed… commendable. But the schism you created was foolish… unwise. Penance must be exacted.”
“But… but I…” Looking across the cavern of masked faces and reflecting on everything she had achieved, her fists clenched. Swallowing slowly, the priestess told herself she wouldn’t go down like an animal, instead, standing tall, proud, and resolute for what was to come. They had her notes; others would pick up where she left off. “Fine… I… accept. Let it be done.”
“You think I’m going to let you off that easy?” Questioned the abyssal presence with a darkened smile. “No. You and your followers are banished from Cestrin. You have three days and three nights to gather your things, say your goodbyes, and leave.”
The priestess blinked in confusion by the pronouncement; even Ebren was taken aback by the entity’s utterance. A dull roar of whispers cascaded through the cavern for almost a minute before becoming snuffed out by the velvety voice of Kaderis.”
“And what’s to become of us, we who will no longer be within your hallowed shadow? Are we to be cast out in exile with no hope of feeling your tenebrous presence among us again?”
“Oh, my priestess,” the form sighed softly. “There is nowhere you can dwell where my darkness cannot find you. There is no corner of this world, no matter how remote, that you can go where I cannot see you. If you truly wish to forge a new path, then you do so with my blessing. You are Shadowsworn, remember that…”
An icy chill filled the cavern, lights flickered, shadows ebbed to-and-fro, and the Shadowed One’s avatar vanished. Looking back to Ebren descending the stairs, she cast her gaze toward the order as a whole. Taking a deep breath, with much to consider, the ashen-blonde Ardan realized they had little time to prepare for departure. Whether they were ready for the journey didn’t matter. All that was needed was a new home, and Kaderis decided, she a new name…
