Chapter 43: The Hidden Attunement - The Shadow
The scene unfolds with Ian, Vyrella, and Bavery on a quest to find Samantha. They finally locate her in a secluded cave near Mindrax's place, and a mysterious creature's presence raises their suspicions.
"Is that creature nuts? Why did he bring your honey here. I didn't drop any sweat finding them," Bavery said to Ian.
"Maybe this was just a trap, we should still be very cautious upon entering," Ian replied.
"Ian's right, we should not let our guard down yet. This is the first time I sensed someone who is stronger than Kratos. I really feel that creature is way stronger than all of us," Vyrella said with tension building up.
"I will get Sam from that creature no matter what. I need to save her," Ian responded.
The voice of the creature echoed in their minds, "Ian is just permitted to enter this cave. If you will not follow my instruction, I will make sure you will not see Samantha again." Ian decided to enter the cave alone, and the creature cast a cursed barrier to prevent any Titan from entering.
As Ian ventured deeper, his friends offered words of caution and encouragement. "Be careful Ian and avoid fighting him, settle it with words as much as possible. You might be walking into a trap," Vyrella warned.
"Let's do it Master, we are here to support you," Heat said.
"Just don't let yourself be killed by that bastard," Zexerav said.
"You are a lot stronger now, you have four Titans and one Djinn to protect you, so just stay focused," Xerath said.
"I will Xerath, I know we can beat him," Ian answered confidently.
Ian reached the area where the creature lurked. With no hesitation, Ian rushed to attack the Shadow being. However, the creature dodged Ian's attacks with ease, its movements swift and agile.
Ian's frustration grew as the creature continued to evade his attacks. "Why won't you fight back?" Ian demanded, his voice laced with anger.
The creature remained silent, its eyes fixed on Ian. Samantha intervened, her voice calm and gentle. "Ian, stop! Don't hurt him. He's my grandfather."
Ian's anger subsided, replaced by confusion. "What do you mean, Sam?" he asked, his eyes fixed on the creature.
Samantha approached Ian, her hand on his arm. "He just wanted to talk to you. He is Eros, my grandfather," Samantha said.
Ian's shock turned to curiosity as Eros introduced himself. Eros explained his situation as an exile and the reason behind his secrecy. Ian listened intently as Eros shared a deep secret about the universe's ancient attunements and the powerful wizardry that governed them.
"The primary attunements are the Soul and the Shadow. Soul signifies life, while Shadow signifies death. You, Ian, are a naturally Soul-attuned wizard due to your lineage," Eros revealed.
Ian's mind reeled as Eros shared the history of the Soul and Shadow attunements, including the betrayal of Zeo by Jax and the curse that followed. Eros's proposal to fuse his essence with Ian's body to change his attunement to Shadow raised more questions.
"Why are you telling me this, Eros?" Ian asked.
"I plan to change your Soul attunement to Shadow attunement to regain the rights of Jax's disciples. I will become one with you, giving you my power linked to the Shadow to beat Kratos," Eros replied.
Ian's final question led to a stunning revelation about Samantha's heritage. "One last question, Eros. If Samantha is your granddaughter and her father is Kratos, that makes her..."
"Yes, Ian. SHE HAS BOTH SOUL AND SHADOW ATTUNEMENTS. That's why you need to protect her from Zeo," Eros answered.
Ian's expression turned skeptical as he considered Eros's proposal. "I'm not sure, Eros. Attaining the power of shadows... it sounds like a lot of risk. What makes you think I'm the right person for this?"
Eros's eyes locked onto Ian's, filled with a deep conviction. "You are the only hope for the Shadow-attuned beings, Ian. Your lineage, your connection to the Sun and Soul attunements... it's a unique combination that could tip the balance in our favor. The Shadow-attuned need someone who can wield their power without being consumed by it. I believe you have the potential to do just that."
Ian raised an eyebrow, still uncertain. "But why me? Why not someone else?"
Eros's voice took on a somber tone. "Because, Ian, the Shadow-attuned have been oppressed for so long. We've been forced to live in hiding, always looking over our shoulders. But you... you have the chance to change that. You have the chance to bring balance to the universe and give the Shadow-attuned a voice. You're the only one who can unite the different factions and lead them to a brighter future."
Ian's doubts lingered, but Eros's words struck a chord within him. He thought about Samantha, and the potential risks she faced as a being with both Soul and Shadow attunements. He thought about the responsibility that came with having the power to make a difference.
"What exactly would happen if I accept the Shadow attunement?" Ian asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Eros's expression turned grave. "If you accept the Shadow attunement, you'll gain immense power and insight into the workings of the universe. But it won't be easy. You'll face challenges from those who fear and oppose the Shadow-attuned. You'll have to navigate treacherous alliances and make difficult choices. Are you prepared to take on that burden, Ian?"
Ian hesitated, weighing his options. But something about Eros's words resonated with him. He took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll do it. I'll accept the Shadow attunement and become one with you. Let's do this."
"But before that, I will explain to you our history." Eros tells their story to Ian.
The story begins with Jax, Samantha's great-grandfather and a powerful Titan who wielded the Shadow attunement. Jax was a just and fair ruler, loved by his people, and he worked closely with his best friend, Zeo, the Soul almighty, to maintain balance and harmony in the universe. Zeo, as the creator of life, possessed immense power and wisdom, and Jax valued their friendship and partnership.
However, over time, Zeo began to abuse their power and manipulate the universe to suit their own desires. Jax, who had grown concerned about Zeo's actions, tried to reason with them, but Zeo refused to listen. The disagreement between the two former friends eventually turned into a bitter conflict, and Jax was forced to fight against Zeo to protect the universe.
In the heat of the battle, Jax killed Zeo, but this act came at a great cost. Zeo, before their death, placed a curse on the Shadow attuned beings, declaring that they would be hunted and exterminated throughout the ages. This curse became a powerful and self-sustaining force that shaped the universe's perception of the Shadow attuned beings.
After Zeo's death, the universe was divided into two factions: those who followed the Soul attunement and those who possessed the Shadow attunement. The Soul attuned beings, led by Zeo's disciples, began to hunt down and eliminate the Shadow attuned beings, forcing them to live in hiding and secrecy.
Eros, as a Shadow attuned being and Jax's son, was deeply affected by the curse and the persecution of his people. He made a desperate attempt to save his son, Kratos, from extinction by sacrificing his own soul and transferring it into Kratos' body. This act allowed Kratos to become a Soul attuned being, but Eros' essence remained tied to the Shadow attunement.
Throughout the centuries, the Shadow attuned beings have been living in the shadows, hiding from the Soul attuned beings and waiting for an opportunity to reclaim their rightful place in the universe. Eros' plan to merge with Ian and transfer his Shadow attunement to him is a desperate attempt to break the curse and restore balance to the universe.
Samantha, with her dual Soul and Shadow attunements, becomes a crucial element in this conflict, and Ian's role in protecting her and potentially changing the course of the universe's history is pivotal. The fate of the Shadow attuned beings and the future of the universe hang in the balance, as Ian navigates the complex web of alliances, rivalries, and ancient conflicts.
Here's an expanded backstory:
Samantha's parents, Kratos and his wife, were part of a secret group of Soul attuned beings who were sympathetic to the Shadow attuned cause. They worked together to undermine the Zeo's disciples' efforts to hunt down and eliminate the Shadow attuned. Samantha's mother, however, was killed in a battle with Zeo's followers when Samantha was just a child.
Kratos, determined to protect his daughter, made a difficult decision. He used his powerful Soul attunement to mask Samantha's true nature, making it seem like she only possessed the Soul attunement. This allowed her to live a relatively normal life, hidden from the persecution faced by the Shadow attuned.
As Samantha grew older, she began to exhibit strange abilities that hinted at her Shadow attunement heritage. Kratos knew that if Zeo's disciples discovered her true nature, she would be in grave danger. He kept her abilities hidden, but he also began to teach her how to control and harness her powers in secret.
Samantha's dual attunements made her a target for both the Soul and Shadow factions. The Soul attuned saw her as a potential threat, while the Shadow attuned saw her as a key to breaking the curse. Eros, as her grandfather, watched over her from the shadows, waiting for the right moment to reveal the truth about her heritage and her role in the universe.
Now, with Ian's involvement, the course of Samantha's life is about to change dramatically. As Eros merges with Ian, transferring his Shadow attunement, Samantha's fate becomes intertwined with Ian's quest to balance the universe. Together, they will face challenges from both the Soul and Shadow factions, and the fate of the universe will hang in the balance.
"I will protect Samantha with my life." Ian responded.