After encountering that creature it made it very apparent that I couldn't simply physically interact with it.
The woman let out a soft sigh, "This wouldn't really be a test of sorts if I were to give you all the answers, now would it?" She asked as if it were a question but continued talking anyways, "I'll give you a hint: it isn't what it seems."
'It isn't what it seems.' Isn't that too vague?
Could it be a possibility that I could actually interact with that creature or did those words entail something else?
The snake slithered its way from the woman towards me, its tongue gently moving throughout the air as it made its way towards my leg.
I wasn't scared of it too much as it didn't seem hostile towards me so I just let it do its thing, and in any case I have bigger things to worry about and since I probably wouldn't get much help on that, I'd turn to the second best option: learning more about Shadow Step.
For starters, I think I grasp the concept well enough but I still feel wonky about it, but then again that would probably fade as I got used to using it as I'm still not even the best when it came to using my own elements.
It hasn't been long since I've awakened so my body seems sensitive about a lot of things, before I could never imagine what it would feel like when fire ran through my body…
It's hot.
Shadow Step left my feeling dizzy and offset, it reminded me of when I went through that will o wisp but with the addition feeling of being upside down, kind of like when you hang your head off the edge of the bed.
Anyways I might as well ask.
"You spoke of us continuing with Shadow Step right?" Her face seemed to light up at the change of topics, "Ah, yes though I'm not sure if there's anything for us to continue with."
She stared at me—or rather the snake that was now making its way up my arm, then continued speaking.
"You grasp the fundamentals sure enough, for us to continue would just be the training of your endurance, as I've said, Shadow Step takes a toll on both your physical and core. I highly recommend you continue to use it as much as possible."
So, my suspicions were correct.
The snake coiled itself around my arm, it felt almost… weightless. Its tongue gently flicked against my skin, then it settled as if to say, "I like this spot."
The woman eyed me with a curious expression, "She doesn't dislike you."
"That's good to know," I replied now also eyeing down the little creature, good to know that the Darkling and Lysandra aren't both after me.
She crouched down to meet my arm and gently petted the snake before gently removing it and setting it near its statue, "Go rest Lysandra," the snake slowly slithered into a small hole.
She turned to me, "We shall train."
And with that the day went by in a blur.
I had learned quite the bit from this but the most important thing being that I couldn't really use Shadow Step much and the only reason I could use it the night before is because I had drink that cup she had gave me, as I stood now I could barely use Shadow Step more than twice without my body giving out and my mana being almost completely exhausted but I guess that would help me reach more stages in the long run.
Oh, and another thing I had learnt about Shadow Step is that it is relative to how fast I can move around, so during the training I hadn't managed to even get a finger on the woman.
Yeah, sure I could Step out of her shadow and attempt to do something but it really didn't amount to anything if I were to get smacked around in the very next moment, the only thing I currently had going for me was the element of surprise.
I let out a sigh as I lay on the ground, my arms stretched out like a bird's feathers.
I had two goals that I needed to accomplish, one: I needed to defeat this woman somehow, two: I needed to also defeat the Darkling.
Goal one: Nope, she just smacked me around. Big fail.
Goal two: Nope, I couldn't even do anything. An even bigger failure.
Staring into the distant sky I let my thoughts wonder.
During the training she had told me that everything isn't what it seems and she had also told me something like that for the Darkling, what could that possibly mean? What could I do?
Learning Shadow Step hadn't been enough for me to achieve anything that could lead to completing this trial…
One thing that has been bothering me is time.
I've been in this dream for almost two nights now. Does that mean that I've been sleeping for two days straight in my world? Had Stella just walked in and saw me unconscious on the floor? To think I'd make my mother worry again the very next morning or even the same night left my mouth feeling bitter.
Though time could work differently here or my emotions could have some sort of impact on the flow of time like it did in my false dream.
I'm hoping for the latter, if I'm already making my mother feel so anxious she may have gray hair in ten years time.
"Nightfall is soon." The voice snapping me back to reality—or rather a dream.
I sat back up knowing that I'd need to get rest soon to restore some of my mana but quickly laid back down.
"You can rest in the chair," she said, simply staring me down.
Though the chair felt oddly amazing I think I'd prefer laying on the grass tonight, it felt nice.
A soft breeze blew through the air making me feel even more comfortable, "That's fine too," she said, already knowing my answer, for the first time in a while I looked her in the eyes… they seemed somewhat soft.
She took a seat beside me on the floor, "Well, goodnight then." Her voice seemed different, like she had accepted something, "Goodnight, thanks for all your help." I responded not entirely sure what had brought this on but it was good to know that even her expression could soften even if it was the slightest difference.
Closing my eyes I let my body get the well deserved rest it needed as exhaustion took over but just before I could drift off to sleep I thought I felt something stroking my hair but I didn't mind it.