Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A boy stood alone in the shadows of a forest, as he watched a women draped in purple approach a small village. The woman was small, yet she walked as if she were seven feet tall. Her raven hair cascaded gracefully down her back, floating slightly in the warm breeze. The boy observed her through narrowed eyes as she traversed the outskirts of the petit town. A man ran up to her, yelling something excitably and swiftly leading her over to their barren patch of crops.

The boy scurried over through the bushes, trying to get a better vantage point of this peculiar woman. She seemed different, important somehow. He knew she was special.

She had arrived at the farmland with the enthusiastic townsperson. They spoke for a while about something the boy couldn’t hear or even care to know. Then he watched as she knelt in the middle of the small field, burying her hands slightly in the dirt. She sat completely still for a long moment before a warm glow of light began to appear around her. From his hiding place, the boy’s eyes widened with amazement. As she sat the light grew warmer and brighter, engulfing the entire field.

When she finally rose the light around her faded and the once desolate crops were green with life. The spying boy realised his faced matched the astonishment of the simple village man over this extraordinary feat. He had roamed the world for years and seen many magic users, but never one who could perform miracles such as these. Who was this remarkable woman anyway?

After receiving her praise, the mystical woman began to walk in the direction of the forest the young man was hiding in. He watched her intently as he retreated deeper into the woods, intrigued by her mystique. No person had ever come near to his level of power. No other person could stand up against him. And he wasn’t about to let her be the exception.

Hiding behind a tree in a small clearing he listened carefully for the crunching of leaves, signifying her arrival. He grasped his sword tightly, ready to jump out at the unsuspecting lady. Soon, he heard the sound of footsteps gradually growing behind him. Before he knew it the peculiar woman had stopped in front of him. She paused for a moment, examining her surroundings. As she turned slightly towards the young man he lunged at her, pinning her to the ground with his sword.

“Well, what do we have here?” He jeered at her, looking her up and down. She wore a purple gown, embellished with golden trim and accessories. Her long raven hair was pinned out of here face with more gold accessories, “It seems this is a woman with money. Lucky day for me.”

She stared up at him, her brown eyes were blank and disinterested. In response to her complacency his face twist into disgust, “Ah, you’re a brave one, are you?” He leant forward moving his sword closer to her face, “Most people are not this composed when a sword is thrust in their face.”

She closed her eyes for a moment, sighing, “So you’re the ‘shadow’ the villagers speak about.”

He backed away a little, chuckling, “Correct, you’ve heard of me, and I assume of my talents as well.”

In response to his cockiness the woman laughed him, “You’re just a boy.”

He leant in close again his face contorting into a sharp grimace, “Who are you calling ‘boy’, Woman? I am the ‘shadow’, I am a man.”

The woman raised her head slightly, the tip of his sword just digging into her neck, “A man does not pin down an innocent maiden.” She moved out from under his sword and began to rise, “You are a boy.”

The young man’s blood began to boil, his face flush as it contorted even further. Who did this person think she was taunting him like some weak-minded fool? Did she really think she was so powerful that he was no threat to her? No, it is she who would be the fool. That much he would definitely make sure of.

As she rose from the ground, he took the opportunity to strike, swinging his sword directly at her. Just before he made contact with her exposed back, he heard the sound of metal clashing. It was like magic, she had somehow pulled her own sword, a weapon he was unaware of, and used it to block his attack in the matter of a second.

“Wha- how did you?” He stuttered, his face turned a violent shade of red as he screamed, “You will not best me, Woman!”

To his distaste the woman smiled at him, her sword outstretched towards him, “Come at me again, boy.”

At her taunt his fury grew, his mind clouded with red as he prepared to lunge at the maiden, “Mind your tongue, else I will kill you now!”

As he charged forwards, she stood calm and strong, her sword held ready for his imminent attack. She met him with equal force, the metallic sounds of their swords clashing echoing around the clearing. As they continued their duel each attack was met with a counterattack. The clashing of their swords provided the beat as they danced together in battle. After a long few minutes, they had managed to simultaneously knock their opponent’s sword out of their hand. Their dance ending in a fierce stalemate.

Leaning against the tree to catch is breath the young man chuckled quietly to himself. Never before has anyone been able to stand on equal ground with him. Perhaps it could be possible that this mysterious woman had powers just as strong as his. Maybe she was just as burden as he was. Just as alone.

He peered over to where the maiden stood and watched as she burst into a fit of sweet laughter, “Why are you laughing?” he growled, “Do you mock me, Woman.”

Her eyes smile as she gazed at him and her voice was bright with joy, “It’s just nice. I don’t feel alone anymore.”

He faltered. She was just like him. Though her powers brought crowds of people around her, there was no connection. They were all followers and worshipers. She had no true friends. No one stuck around after she performed her miracles. No one there to support when she is weak from using her magic. No one to go home to after meeting all their demands. But, she was praised. That thought filled him with envy.

“I will knock that smile right off your ridiculous face!”

“Go ahead, strike me,” she spoke clearly as she gestured to his sword strewn on the ground. Then, she spun around, turning her back to the angry young man, “I’ll even turn away from you.”

Confused he stared at her. What game was she playing with him? There was no way a woman like her was so stupid as to make herself such an easy target. He dared not move towards his sword, instead he questioned the strange woman, “You leave yourself open like a fool?”

He took a step away from the tree, towards his sword as the woman responded, “Or maybe I’m waiting for you to lower your guard before I strike,” she heard the grass shake as he retreated, “or maybe like me you’ve learnt not to trust people so easily.”

So, she does want to play games, he thought. This peculiar woman was only getting more interesting throughout their interaction, and he had begun to find her somewhat intriguing. What did a beloved idol such as herself know about true suffering? What ill tidings had brought her to this moment? He needed to know the answers to all these questions. He needed to keep her around somehow. Maybe he too could manipulate the situation, “You know, it’s very rare I find someone who can stand up against me. I think I’d like to see how this turns out.”

She turned to face him once more, a smirk upon her face, “Well then, I guess I’ll be staying in the nearby village for a while,” she started to walk towards him, “and you’ll keep tormenting them like you have,” she was standing exceedingly close to him, their faces only mere inches apart, “and when you do, we shall do this again.”

As she retreated, he released a sigh. So, they would meet again just like this, anytime he chose to terrorise the nearby town. He watched as she left, hiking her sword over her shoulder. All at once he felt angry and content. Who did this woman think she is taunting him and playing games? But, why did he think she may finally be someone who understands him? For now he looked forward to their second rendezvous.

Chapter Text

Just as she promised the woman came to meet with him again, chasing him down after he plagued the town’s herd. He watched her heal the creatures and eagerly waited for her to find his hiding spot. He heard the rustling of bushes and prepared to strike on her arrival. Swiftly she countered his strike, initiating their second fight.

They fought for ages, the sounds of their swords hitting and the shuffling of leaves on the ground filled the area. The ambient sounds creating the beat for their strange dance.

As suddenly as this fight started, it ended, both flopping to the ground in the middle of the clearing. They both lay in the grass, puffing from exertion as they recovered from another stalemate. Whilst trying to catch her breath she finally greeted him, “Nice to meet with you again, Shadow.”

He turned his head to face her, a grin plastered across her face, and her chest heaved from a shallow breathing. He simply scowled at her, the sound of his nickname taking him by surprise. Shaking it off quickly, he responded to her, teasing, “It would be, if you had actually given me a challenge, woman.”

She chuckled, a sound that was sweet to his ears. Almost never in his life had his presence brought joy to someone’s face, his power bringing misery to those near him. Yet here she was, laughing at him, her eyes creasing, lines forming around her smile. The sound echoing in his mind as she spoke, “I have a name you know,” she sat up, smirking down at him, “Call me Irene.”

“Irene,” he tested the name in his mouth, pondering over it and the woman sat beside him, “Yeah, you like an Irene.”

She rolled her eyes at him, “So then, what’s your name?”

Sitting up, he promptly shrugged his shoulders at her, “I don’t have one.”

He could see her confused face before she even made it. Over the years he had had a number of names from a number of authority figures. Before he could even know his family, they had cast him out, his uncontrollable powers making him a dangerous creature. He bounced around orphanages, where he had many boyish names, John, Adam, Henry. As a teen he lived alone, fending for himself as he travelled the countryside, the names turning to insults, ruffian, thug, hoodlum. Now he was synonymous with darkness, plague, destruction. He had no home, no family, no name.

The confusion on her face morphed into deep thought, her brow furrowed as she looked off to the side. He wondered what crazy thoughts were running through her mind, she seemed to have a flare for the dramatics. That was clear enough with her showy magic and cocky attitude. Her face softened and her light brown eyes found his as she opened her mouth, “How about…” She trailed off, pausing for a small moment before she exclaimed excitedly, “Shad!”

Shad? He thought, she was giving him a name? It was clearly a play on the title the surrounding villages had dubbed him with. But maybe that was a good thing, maybe he could accept what he was. Afterall, she had seen beyond the monster they had decided he was, seen a glimpse broken boy behind his tough exterior.

Escaping his mind, he noticed the expectant face in front of him. Slightly, the corner of his lip tilted upwards, “I like it.”

She smiled warmly, “Good,” she said, propping herself up on her elbows, "You know, I've always wished I could choose my own name."

"What do you mean?" he queried.

"Well if I had the choice, I would not be Irene," she gazed up at the sky pondering for a moment, "I think I would call myself Jasmine, like the tea," she bit down on her lower lip as she thought about it a little more, "No! I'd be Aphmau like the rose!"

As her excitement grew, Shad realised that he was smiling at her, his cheeks hurting slightly from the strange expression. But it felt nice. Her energy was so contagious, her presence brought so much light that could never fathom experiencing. As he spoke with a smile, his voice felt brighter, the higher pitch and breathier tone shocking him slightly, "Well an Aphmaus rose is indeed very beautiful," she turned her attention back to him, her intense eyes gazing right through him, but he wasn't phased, "I think their pale purple hue would suit you."

For a moment their eyes met and the world froze around them. Shad gazed into her amber irises, noticing the flecks of greens and brown, much like the forest around them, the sun above making them glow against her tanned skin. Her eyes, the source of her captivating aura. 

Suddenly, those eyes moved away, the face that held them turning red as she scrambled up from the ground, “Well then, Shad," she began to back away, almost stumbling over in her flustered state, "I, uh, look forward to cleaning up your mess again soon.”

Before he had a chance to say anything more, she began to walk off quickly disappearing behind the trees. He watched the spot she vanished from wondering what he had done, what he might've said to scare her away. But he also felt hope, a warmth growing in his chest. He flopped back to the ground, staring at the blue skies above, “Until we meet again, Irene.”

As the weeks turned into months, Shad and Irene continued to meet in the forest. Irene would track him down after fixing his chaos, they would fight, then lay together in the grass and talk and as always, she would leave, disappearing into the trees. Each time just as they would start opening up to each other, she would take the opportunity to flee, leaving him with so many questions.

One afternoon they had one of their meetings after Shad had successfully withered some crops. As they talked Shad watched her closely out the corner of his eye as he probed her, “Have you ever wandered why the two of us were given these powers?” He sat up to look at her, her raven hair spread out across the grass and the sun reflected the golden flecks in her eyes, “Do you think we’re the only ones like this?”

She propped herself up onto her forearms, pondering Shad’s questions for a moment, “Honestly, I can’t say. I was always told that I was blessed by the gods, but I’m sure you don’t feel the same,” she paused to watch him as he ran his fingers over the grass, poisoning each blade with his touch, “I have heard whispers of other people who performed miraculous feats, but you’re the only person I’ve met,” She placed her hand where Shad had killed the grass, a warm light appearing with her magic, “But maybe it is just us. Afterall, darkness is always balanced out by light.”

He looked down at the reformed grass by his feet, “Maybe you’re right.”

Just as he had anticipated, Irene used this as an opportunity to get away. This time Shad scurried to his feet, close behind her. He reached forwards, grabbing her by her bejewelled wrist, “Why do you keep leaving like this.”

Taken aback she turned to face him, gazing into his soft, dark eyes. He loosened his grip on her wrist, moving to hold her hand, which he gave a reassuring squeeze, “Please Irene, why do you keep leaving me?” He asked again, almost pleading with her. In response she pulled her hand away and made to leave him once more. Shad felt his chest pounding, blood rushing through his veins fuelling his rising anger as he yelled out to her, “Don’t mess with me like this, Irene!” He went after to her, grabbing her arm again, “Just tell me I disturb you and leave me be in peace.”

 She faced him, but avoided his stare, her eyes fixing on a spot behind him. His anger and desperation were too much for her. When she responded, she spoke softly, barely a mumble, “You don’t disturb me, Shad.”

She could feel him shaking as he gripped her arm and his voice quivered slightly in response, “Then, why do you keep fleeing?” With his other hand, he lifted her head, forcing her to look him in the eye, “Why won’t you let me know you? Do you even want to know me?”

Her eyes glistened and she shook her head. Shad carefully caressed her arm, finding her hand he clutched it tight. He stared at her intensely, urging her to talk, “Because people who know me always get hurt.”

Shad’s soft eyes were suddenly cast over with darkness, he stepped away from her. His scowl grew impossibly fierce as his anger boiled inside him. How dare she. How could she say that, knowing every person feared the very thought of him. What would she possibly know about hurting others, the woman who was admired by all, who healed with a simple touch. She wouldn’t know the pain of everyone running from you before you even spoke to them. No one wanted to be friends with the boy who spread darkness, inflicts pain with his very gaze. But now the only person who had not fled from him had the audacity to claim that her presence would cause him pain.

“You can't hurt me,” He glared at her still, but took a step closer. Her stance softened, but she remained held back, “I am a bringer of pain, the very manifestation of darkness,” he took another step towards her, "But you," his voice soften as he tentatively reached for her hand, "You are bring life its self, you bring light and joy to everyone around you. There is nothing you could do that would hurt more than what's already been done to me."

She leaned forward, reaching up to touch his face by his eyes, “Shad, I’m sorry,” She traced his face, trailing her fingers along his jawline, “But you don’t understand, I never mean to hurt anyone, but my power brings unwanted attention. Too many people I loved have gotten caught in the crossfire, and everyone else left in fear.”

Shad cupped her face with his hand, desperately trying to reassure her, “But none of that is your fault, Irene,” her face warmed under his touch and her eyes quivered. Shad smiled at her slightly, the corner of his mouth turning up, “Those people were not hurt by your hand, and those who left you were driven by fear, a fear that no amount of light magic can change.”

Suddenly he pulled Irene into a tight hug, his hand gently stroking the back of her head, “Please let me get to know the one person like me. Let me get to know you, Irene.” He pulled away slightly, to look her in the eye, “I promise, you will never hurt me.”

Chapter Text

After convincing her to stick around, Shad led Irene deeper into the forest, following a vague path that twisted around the trees. The forest seemed get darker as they went, the trees growing closer and closer together. He clutched her hand in his, squeezing it as he looked back reassuringly. He was grateful that she had trusted him enough to lead her blindly through the forest.

Eventually, the trees began to disperse again as the rough path opened into a large clearing. The grass grew high, and a rainbow of wildflowers littered the area. And right in the middle there stood a small wooden shack. Irene wondered forward a little, taking in the small open field, “Shad, is this your home?”

He walked forward to meet her, looking out at the quaint dwelling, “Yes, this is my home,” he looked back at her, her brown eyes staring back expectantly, “I built this to escape the pressures of the outside world. I guess you could call it a sanctuary of sorts.”

Offering out his hand, he began to lead Irene through the overgrown field, using his power to clear a path for them. As the greenery slowly wilted in front of them, Shad noticed that her grip on his hand had loosened. He turned to see her faltering in their path, her face a mixture of distress and disgust, “I’m sorry, it hurts me to do this too.”

She turned her sad eyes back up to him, “Then why do you do it?”

Carefully, he picked a flower blooming nearby and held it in his hands, within seconds the flower wilted, quickly turning to dust, “It takes a lot for me to control my powers, especially around delicate things, like these flowers. When I come here, I can finally relax, finally set it all free,” he picked another flower, and carefully placed it in Irene’s hair, concentrating on keeping it alive, “But I’ve also stepped on a snake or two out here and I’d rather not let that happen to you.”

Irene, tenderly took his hand from beside her face, intertwining his fingers with hers. His hands were hard and calloused, scarred from who knows how many fights. But they were warm, just like his deep brown eyes. This was not the heartless monster who destroyed all he touched. This was a man, scared to hurt those around him and shunned for a power he could not control. She reached out to touch his face, faded scars peaking out from beneath his stubble. The marks were harsh, and although his cheekbones stuck out from malnourishment, his face was soft, comforting. The world had betrayed him, twisted him into a hurt shell of a person. Yet, he had been able to let her into his life, wanted her to stand by his side, and learnt to trust that she would stay.

As she caressed his face he peered down at her, leaning forward slightly. He reached up to touch her hand, causing her cheeks to blush.  With her other hand, she let go of him, placing it on his shoulder as she pulled him closer. As he found her amber eyes, he felt a breath catch in his throat, his heart pounded and his stomach churned slightly, even his face felt exceedingly warm, “Irene,” she spoke softly, “What are you doing?”

Curiously, she tilted her head, the hand around his shoulder slowly made its way to cup the other side of his face, her thumb lightly stroking his cheek. Each graze of her fingers across his skin made his heart skip in his chest, and he was suddenly aware how close she was to him. Yet he dared not move. There was something so foreign, yet so comforting about this experience. Slowly, he allowed her to close the space between them, until his forehead met hers.

He closed his eyes, taking in the moment and listening to the calm rhythm of her breath. When she responded, her words gently grazed his ears, “Shad,” his newly given name sent a shiver down his spine, “Is this ok?”

In response, he moved both his hands, placing one on the side of her face and the other wrapped around her waist. He could feel the pulsing of her heart, in time with his own, as they pulled each other impossibly closer. Her sweet, warm breath blew over his face, her mouth mere inches from his. Not a single person in his life had dared to stand so close to him. Never had he felt an embrace like this. It was so comfortable in her arms, and she seemed to melt into his hold as well. No fear, no distrust, just two people who finally felt less alone in this cruel world.

Quietly she spoke again, tilting her head slightly towards his lips, “May I?”

He nodded slightly and she closed the remaining space between. It was a short, tendered kiss, yet it felt like time slowed around them. The grass blew in the breeze around them, the subtle scent of wildflowers filling the air. Her hair waved with the wind, the long strands brushing the side of Shad’s forearm. Neither noticed when the flower he placed their fell into the warm breeze.

As the moment ended, Shad rested his forehead on hers and laughed lightly. He found her hands and clutched them, running his thumbs across the backs of them. Still with eyes closed he broke the silence, “Thank you,” he moved back a little to look at her slightly confused face, “Thank you for trusting me, Irene.”

Softly, her lips turned up at the corner and she leant forward on her toes, planting a soft kiss on his cheek, “No, thank you for trusting me to be yourself,” she squeezed his hands, “You’ve spent too long in life being judged for what you are. Thank you for believing I won’t judge you.”

Hearing those words made his eyes sting, as water threatened to pool and topple over. She did see him. She did trust him.

As a single tear ren down his cheek, Irene scooped him into a strong hug, her arms wrapping tightly around him, “Hey, it’s ok you’re not alone anymore,” he hugged her tentatively, resting his chin on her head, “we’re not alone anymore.”

He sobbed for a moment, tears falling into her raven hair. All the anger and resentment towards humanity falling with them. Each one felt like a weight lifted off his chest. He felt lighter secured in her arms, the world felt quieter, kinder.

When the tears stopped streaming, he released her, wiping his crying eyes with the back of his hand. After giving him a moment, Irene smiled up at him, looking towards the quaint shack a few meters away from them, “Why don’t you show me your home?” she questioned grabbing both his hands, “We can talk some more in there.”

Mustering a small smile on his face and blinking back the last couple tears, he walked her over to the dingy dwelling he called home. It was unimaginably small, he had managed to build two rooms, but they were extremely tight. Shad himself could barely stand tall inside the building. The first room had a chair and table next to a pot and makeshift stove. The next room was separated by a thin curtain in the doorway. Inside of it, was an old mattress with a hand sewn blanket strewn across it. Whilst the house seemed structurally sound, there were small holes in the stone brick walls, likely from Shad’s lack of building skills. The wooden ceiling provided shelter from the harsh sun rays. However, it looked as if it provided little protection from any amount of rain.

Irene stood inside, looking around for a small moment. It saddened her to see that these were his living conditions. That he was so feared out in the world that he had to piece together a home with other people’s rejected items. She noticed a few small tapestries and frames crudely stuck upon the walls. They were all old, beaten by the hands of time, and they were all very generic. The cleanest tapestry hung across from the entrance, read ‘home sweet home’.

He watched her intently as she observed the sad interior of his shack, “I know, it’s pretty shit isn’t it.”

She looked at him taken aback, “I think it’s cute, she ran her hand along the tapestry and the back wall, chuckling lightly as she asked, “where’d you get this one.”

He looked down at the ground ashamedly and mumbled something under his breath. She stared at him confused for a moment before he repeated himself, his voice defensive as it was when they first met, “I stole it, ok. Everything in this shithole is stolen. It’s not a big deal.”

The fire behind his eyes grew fierce for a moment, and Irene was shocked by the sight of it. Yet, she remained calm, speaking softly and Irene was shocked by the sight of it. Yet, she remained calm, speaking softly in a consistent tone, “It’s ok Shad,” she took a step towards him, placing her hands on his upper arms, “I’m not going to judge you for wanting a home,” she paused, watching his harsh expression slowly fade, “especially when they’ve taken more from you. The least they can do is part with some home décor.”

She had done it again. Her touch felt like home, grounding him in this harsh reality. The words she spoke sunk deep within, contradicting all they said he was, a monster, a thug, a demon cursing everything he touched. But she was a blessing, a saint, an angel healing wounds that cut deeper than a blade. Breathing deeply, he brought himself back to reality, finding the golden-brown gaze in front of him, “I’d hardly call it a home,” he gestured to,” he gestured to the tilted wall, “As you can see, I’m not exactly a builder.”

Irene giggled, “Well I didn’t want to say anything, but it is definitely a little rough,” she leaned against the wall, smirking at him, “But, I can also help you fix it, if you’d like?”

“What do you mean you can fix it?” He questioned. There was surely know way she knew how to build houses. No way she could fix the mess of his poor attempt. Surely, she was no that gifted.

“I mean I can fix. I’ve helped my fair share of villages rebuild, especially after a certain person rotted all their wood,” she glared at him softly, as he avoided her gaze, a slight pink tinge forming on his cheeks, “anyway, I can help you and in the meantime you’re welcome to stay with me.”

Shad deliberated her offer, leaning on his shaky dining table. She was right, these were not the best living conditions for him, but living with her, that seemed like too much for him.

“Where do you live?” He asked shyly.

“I live with a friend of mine not too far from here,” she replied.

Shad turned away from her, “No, I can’t,” he uttered, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s not you, I just don’t-”

She interrupted him, “You don’t think you could handle a stranger,” he nodded, still facing away from her, “Trust me when I say you don’t have to worry about Hyria,” she moved towards him carefully placing a hand on his shoulder. His back heaved as he took a few long breaths, “She trained me to use my powers and she’s just as intrigued by your gifts,” he turned to her, his face was blank yet inquisitive, “She really wants to meet you.”

Now she had Shad’s attention. He thought carefully before he responded to her. If this woman was truly wanting to meet him like Irene said then maybe this wouldn’t end badly, wouldn’t end in rejection. And, maybe this Hyria was his answer to train his powers so he didn’t have to live in fear of hurting people, of scaring people away. Though he had his doubts about this situation, the reassurance from Irene had comforted him for seemingly the hundredth time, “I think, I can do that,” he faced Irene, clutching her hands in his, “take me to meet Hyria.”

Chapter Text

Irene grasped Shad’s hand tightly as she led him through the dense forest. While they walked, they didn’t speak, their comfortable silence filled by the sounds of birds flying through the trees. Gradually the forest around them began to subside, the trees grew smaller, younger, and eventually they stood in a vast field. Much like Shad’s clearing there was a small structure in the middle, but this one was larger, the finishes on it more ornate. As they approached, Irene squeezed his hand, “This is where Hyria and I live,” she explained, “It’s not much, but thanks to Hyria’s magic it’s very safe.”

Eagerly she walked to him towards the house, Shad lagging behind as she practically ran through the wildflowers. Once they were close enough, Shad noticed a woman tending to a small garden bed at the front of the house. She was rather tall with bright orange pinned up neatly. She wore a pale purple robe and balanced herself against a staff. Whether she heard them approaching or simply sensed their presence, the woman turned towards them. For a moment, her eyebrows rose, shocked to see the darkly robed man walking alongside Irene. Still, she smiled waving them over welcomingly.

This time Irene actually did run, Shad almost falling to the ground as he caught his footing. But he couldn’t help but smile, seeing this mystical woman get so over excited. He caught a brief glimpse of her face, her mouth agape, the corners turning up creasing her eyes. Which made her face sparkle with life. He took that face in, memorising every crease and the shine of her eyes, a face of pure joy in his presence.

Mere meters from the house she launched forward, swaddling Hyria in a long hug and nearly knocking her off her feet. As they gleefully greeted each other, Shad stood aside nervously fiddling with his clothes, waiting for the strange new woman to address him.

“And who might you be.”

When she finally spoke, it took him by surprise. Her voice was lower, colder than he had expected. It was only a simple question, but her tone demanded respect. He felt himself exhale deeply before he responded, “My name is Shad, Miss Hyria.”

He bowed his head slightly and he her scoff, “The so called ‘Shadow’ is named Shad?” She smirked slightly, tilting her head, “A little on the nose, don’t you think?”

Irene’s bright voice chimed in, “Actually, that’s on me,” she grinned, her admiring eyes glued to Hyria, “I named him.”

Hyria seemed to ignore this comment, instead moving towards Shad. Standing close to him, she began to move around him, pulling and adjusting his tattered clothes. Shad stood there stiff as a board, trying not to shake as she carefully examined him, “Wha- what are you doing?”

“Just trying to work out what she sees in you,” she teased, finally meeting his gaze, “Well more so what makes the elusive shadow so terrifying,” she stepped back, poking him hard in the side with her staff, “to me you just look like a little boy.”

Dumbfounded, Shad stood blubbering out annoyed sounds at her statement. How could both of them have thought this about him? He was very clearly a fully grown man, they had no right to claim otherwise. But as a scowl crawled across his face, he heard Irene giggling away beside him, “That’s what I said when we met,” she laughed harder, placing her hands on her hips as she mocked her past self, “You are just a boy.”

Shad let out an exasperated groan, walking off in defeat. He refused to allow them to mock him, so if that’s what she brought him here for then he would leave. For far too long he had been disrespected, and he would not allow a woman who only knew of his name to do so.

But before he could take off, he felt a hand grasp his, her hand. At her touch his anger subsided and was met with her kind gaze, “Shad it’s ok,” she gently stroked the back of his hand, and he felt his face soften, “We’re just teasing,” her mouth turned upwards into that irresistible smile, “Friends do that sometimes.”

 Friends? He liked the sound of that word rolling off of her tongue. It sounded genuine, tender, sweet. He wanted to hear it from her again and again, desperately wanted to understand what it meant, and feel like he truly deserved it. For now he was happy to have one, and a tentative second. Maybe, the teasing was worth it if it meant he could use that word too. He mustered a small smile and Hyria wrapped an arm around his shoulders, leading him towards her cottage, “Welcome to our safe haven mean of shadows.”

Hyria swung open the heavy front door, revealing the world of whimsy behind it. Shad stood in the entryway for a long moment, taking in the ornately decorated space. All the walls were a pale purple, matching Hyria’s robes. Half of the space was arranged as a seating area, an assortment of comfy chairs gathered around a fireplace. On the other side, tucked behind the staircase was a quaint kitchen with glass cabinets loaded to the brim with delicate cups and plates. A leafy rack of different herbs climbed the wall by the sink and a gorgeous teapot sat upon the counter. Irene guided him over to the dining table which was decorated with a lace tablecloth and a vase full of wildflowers. The whole space felt warm and comforting, a complete calmness washed over him.

As they sat down, Hyria made her way into the kitchen by the stove. She through something into the grate and muttered something, causing a flame to light. Waving her hands slightly, she calmed the blaze, allowing her to place a pot of water over it. Irene noticed his intrigued expression over this small feat and took the opportunity to explain a little about Hyria, “She’s a witch. She uses items with magical properties, like the flamestone” she gestures to the flames, “to perform her magic. Witches can perform almost any type of magic, including some similar to ours, but they need to harness it from magical items, usually in the form of potions or spells. There’s lots of overlap and between our skills though and witches tend to know a lot more about magic than us.”

“She’s right,” Hyria chimed walking over to the table with her teapot and a tray of cups, ““You magic folk are born with your gifts, and few of you actually learn to control them properly. I have spent years of researching and collecting to have the skills I do now,” She placed her tray on the table, the scent of jasmine filling the area, “Now Shad, how do you like your tea?”

For what felt like hours, Shad found himself in some sort of interrogation, answering question after question. Multiple times throughout the conversation, Shad would find Irene’s hand under the table, using it to comfort himself during difficult questions. Hyria asked him a lot about his power, how it worked, how well he could control it, and how long he had known about it. However, it was the questions about his past that were the hardest to answer, it was never easy to tell someone that you were abandoned your power was too dangerous. That you hurt everyone around you with something that is meant to be a gift.

Once the barrage of questions started to subside, Irene began working towards her proposition. She told Hyria all about his living conditions, his small shaky shack in the middle of a meadow, much like their own. Then she revealed her grand idea, “So, I thought Shad could stay with us while I help him fix up his home.”

Hyria’s face remained unchanged as she rested her head on her hands. Her hard gaze cut right through Shad, causing his heart to pound with anticipation. As she lowered her hands he waited expectantly for her rejection, “Well, I’m not fond of him being here,” Here it comes, “But I also don’t believe it’s fair for him to live like that,” she nodded her head curtly, “He can stay.”

Irene practically launched herself out of her seat in excitement, reaching over to strangle Hyria in an embrace, “Oh Hyria, thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Hyria chuckled, smiling fondly as Irene released her, and she kept as he looked over at Shad. He nodded his head slightly, and spoke nervously, “Thank you, Hyria,” he managed a smile back at her, “for your hospitality.”

Almost instantly, Irene yanked Shad out of his chair, and dragged him over to the stairs, barely allowing him to find his feet, “Come on, there’s a spare room for you upstairs.”

She flew up the stairs with Shad trailing behind her. They couldn’t help but burst into fits of laughter as they stumbled into the hallway. She walked him over to a room a few doors down. It was cozy bedroom, most of the space taken up by the large bed. But, there was a dresser in the corner and large window over looking the garden on the far wall. Irene squeezed his hand, “So, what do you think?” She looked up at him expectantly, “It’s not much, but it’s certainly better than your shack.”

Gently, he took both her hands, lifting them up to his mouth and grazing them lightly with his lips, “It’s perfect, thank you.”

Her face flushed bright red, and she bashfully stepped away and she stuttered slightly as she slowly left the room, “Well uh, I’ll leave you to settle in. My room is right next door.” She grinned peering around the doorway, “So, feel free to pop in if you get lonely.”

Shad flopped down on the bed, sighing deeply as he processed everything that had happened that day. From taking Irene to his home to their first kiss to meeting Hyria and finally the promise of happiness and security. As dusk teased the horizon, he watched out the window as Hyria and Irene, his friends, tended to their garden. A warm feeling grew in his chest as he got prepared to rest for the night.

Chapter Text

The night air was cool, the chill cutting through the thin rags which covered his body. The scrawny boy sat curled up down a grimy side street, the smell of smoke and faeces intruding his nose. He sobbed quietly, the sting of hunger had become too fierce to ignore, but the only food he had managed to scab rotted immediately at his touch. His stupid hands ruined everything, any plant or small creature merely wilted away at the brush of his fingertips. The apples he had stolen earlier were no different, the black, shrivelled remains cast aside in small heap beside him. This curse he bared had ruined everyone he had ever known, and now it was destined to ruin him too. 

He closed his eyes, focusing on the dark powers within him trying to pinpoint them and actually use them for good. Pleading with the gods, he prayed desperately for them to remove his curse, to take away the suffering that he never asked for. But just like every night they ignored him.  

In defeat, he leant back against the stone wall behind him. A sole tear slid down his cheeks as he gazed into the heavens. Why did he have to suffer? What had he done to deserve this fate? This tainted magic plagued his life in every way. No leaving him starving and twisted. Staring up at the star speckled sky, the young boy screamed out, the sound reverberating in the night air. His bellows filled him with a sense of catharsis, each scream bringing momentary relief from his pain.  

Eventually, a kindly looking woman came around the corner to investigate the wailing character. He saw her, her face twisted in concerned and her amber eyes widened with shock, “By the gods, are you alright child.” 

She made her way towards him, but he held out his hands insisting she stopped, “No, please don’t come near me.” 

But the woman knelt down to him, “Let me help you,” she persisted, “it looks like you haven’t eaten in weeks, my child.” 

Again, he insisted, his voice rising, “Don't come any closer, please,” His hands trembled as he tried to hold her off, “I don’t want to hurt you, please don’t come closer.” 

Her eyes saddened as she moved closer to him, still attempting to calm him, “It’s ok, I'll take you somewhere safe, you’ll be ok.” 

Slowly she extended a hand to touch his shoulder. As she did, her face contorted in pain and horror as black decay climbed up her arms. All the young boy could do was watch as the woman screamed, her warm amber eyes darkening with hatred and fear. She held out her blackened hand and began to bawl, quickly backing away from the tainted boy on the pavement. His eyes clouded with tears at the pure disgust on her face. It told him everything he needed to know, he was a monster. He was nothing but a manifestation of pain and death. Forever destined to be alone.  

Shad was awakened by a slight tugging on his arm. As he slowly opened his eyes, they met another set of concerned Amber eyes, filled with such love and warmth that he never expected to feel. His mind briefly flashed back to the scared set he had just seen in his dream, or more likely a memory. Irene’s gaze didn’t dare leave his as she tenderly clutched onto his hand, “Shad, are you ok? I could hear you yelling from me room.” 

Looking around a little more, he realised that it was still dark out, the air still cold and crisp from the night. Staring at the window, he thought of his nightmare again. All the pain he had once endured, the endless nights of hunger and despair. Meeting her gaze again, he cautiously answered her question, “It was just a bad dream. I promise I’m fine.” 

He tried his best to muster a slight smile, but the image of the woman’s hand going black kept playing in his mind, the decay that climbed up her arm within seconds and the pain on her face. It was all caused by him and his inability to control his power. But these amber eyes filled him light, suppressing the dark powers coursing within him. He needed to let her into his life like she had invited him into her house. Which meant being honest about his dream, “Actually no, it wasn’t just a dream. It was a memory. A part of my life I had tried to repress.” 

They moved to sit on the bed together, Irene still clutching onto his hand tightly. As he explained the horrors of his past to her, he didn’t dare look away from her face, far too scared that if he were to close his eyes he would end up back there.  Instead, he tried to focus on her change in expression as he spoke. Throughout most of the recount her eyes remained sad, glistening with empathy. When he mentioned how he used to pray to the gods, he felt her squeeze his hand slightly. At the part where he tainted the kindly woman, he noticed her eyes quake with shock. But not once did she recoil in fear. Not once did she drop his hands in disgust. Slowly he felt the horrifying images fade from his mind, melting away into her warm amber eyes. 

As the story ended, Irene scooped Shad into her arms, stroking the back of his head as he finally cried. It was a tender moment, the two of them feeling secure and seen in the moment. United as one through pain and empathy. He held onto her tightly, as the tears pooled in his eyes, using her breathing to ground himself. Afterall, these thoughts and dreams were nothing but figments of his imagination. His current reality was here in her arms where he felt safe and like himself.  

Eventually he let go of her, moving to rest his forehead against hers, “Shad,” she whispered, “Would you like me to stay here for the rest of the night?” 

He simply nodded his head silently in agreement. 

“Then tomorrow, we’ll go out and work out what to do with your house,” she moved away slightly, her voice lilted as she smiled at him, “Together we’ll build your sanctuary.” 

He watched her intently, as she slowly moved, climbing under the handmade quilt which covered the bed. Tentatively, he climbed in next to her, turning to face her. With their hands intertwined, Shad felt at peace once more. And, with the combined sound of her gentle breathing and the forest outside, he felt his eyes slowly close. Tomorrow would officially be the start of his new life, the closest to normality he would ever be able to have, and he wanted to share it with her. Together they would build their sanctuary, He thought to himself as sleep started to claim him.