The Darkness

They ran and ran and ran. Even though Raze despised fleeing, the stench that had leaked from the darkness set off warning after warning in his head like a buzzer.

“He only gave us a minute to find these damn candles. Split up and look for them, in the meantime, we should also see if there is a way out of this never-ending darkness.”

He couldn't see the other two, but each of them voiced their concerns.

“It will be dangerous...but splitting up seems like the right call,” Lyra concluded.

“I wish I could see our outcome, but this darkness blocks even my power. The Candlemaker is just as terrifying as I heard.”

They split up after that-—Raze continuing forward while the other two went left and right.

He barreled through the darkness when he recalled something Komoria had said to him before.

Right, she has [[Night Vision]]!

Raze had already peeked at their combined stats in the past, but Komoria’s racial ability had slipped past him. He activated it, dousing the world in a green hue, but more importantly: illuminating the darkness in a way the Candlemaker could not track.

His eyesight had also been improved since merging with Komoria, allowing him to pick up a small flame in the distance.

“There it is!” He surged forward, not letting up until he reached the tiny object on the ground.

“What the hell am I supposed to do now?”

He glanced down at his hands and then back at the candle which slightly gave his form away in the infernal darkness.

“You will flee once it runs out.”

Raze craned his neck to see the embodiment of fear and despair. It was a shade of malefic violet, with blazing hungry yellow eyes. Its body was over fifteen feet and contained within ethereal purple and black armor that meshed with its shadowy frame. Its arms were long and thick with talons at the end that could easily split Raze's whole body in half. Its long legs were the exact same, with the power to stomp whatever it pleased underfoot. With a long, crooked neck like a lizard, it faced forward instead of up with no mouth to speak up.

It didn't need it though. Its voice filled the entire void like a movie narrator.

“Does my form frighten you, Savior? No need to hide it. I can taste your fear. It is rather delectable.”

“Don’t come any closer!” Raze yelled. “I am by the candle as you said.”

“No need to squeak like a farm girl. It is as I proclaimed—you are safe. My candles are meant to ward off the darkness, myself included,” its deep voice bellowed.

Why would it go through all that to make something to counter itself? What is the point?

“You seem to be thinking about it, but allow me to correct you. I chose this because fear is fast and fleeting when it comes flowing in. The chase, the fright, the fear, the dread. The feeling of making one lose their head. I want it all and I want to slowly. You beast-kin and human alike love to savor your food, correct? Well, so do I.”

“So we are just livestock to you? Taking us lightly, especially yourself will only bring you to your end.”

Wow. What a Komoria line. Shit! We are synching up faster than I thought.

“Oh? Is that so?” The Candlemaker crouched down, leveling its large head with Raze’s body. “Not much time remains, you better get a move on. Or else…. Well, you already know.”

A wave of disgust and unease washed over Raze as he came face to face with the shadow fiend. He glanced back down at the candle. The wax was overflowing and the flame was slightly larger than one’s thumb. A minute or less remained. The shade's looming presence here only seemed to hasten its demise.

Raze gazed off into the distance, narrowing his eyes as he searched through the darkness. There was another small light at the end of his view. He had to go.

He broke into a sprint, his body's excess fat bouncing up and down while putting his all into his slender legs and the boots that they resided inside. He had gotten accustomed to his new body and with it, he was able to use the combined stats as well as physical abilities. Of course, her breasts still got in the way, but he could see what Sexta IV was going for with his creation. With their combined speed, even if Komoria’s was never high, it would be nearly impossible for something of that size to catch him.

“Magnificent! I love it when they have hope in their hearts! All the better when I dash it and crush it out of them along with their heart. I thank you, Savior. Let’s continue this game of cat and mouse.”

“Why the hell are you only chasing me?!” Raze howled. “You know I’m not the only one in here!”

He was getting closer and closer to the next candle, while also giving the creature time to mull over his words.

“Do not fret in that regard—they are also being pursued by my valiant form. You are not the exception.”

Raze heard the voice all around him. He couldn't tell where it was coming from or how far away it was. Of course, this fucker can clone himself! Or maybe it was better to say everything inside this shadow world is a part of him.

What he did know, was that he had to make it to that next candle before the creature of darkness caught up with him.

Only a bit farther!

The stagnant air breezed by him in his blind spot, forcing him to leap forward like he was diving for home base.

“...and safe!”

“I won’t miss my attack again and as luck would have it, you're all out of candle wards. What a pity that our playtime has come to an end.”

Raze craned his neck once more and raised his voice to the great Candlemaker, who had appeared by the flame on his right. “What do you mean, there are four more? I still got plenty of time, you fat grimace shit!”

A hollow laughter echoed around Raze. “Perhaps if you were alone, but alas—you are not. My candle's light has been extinguished from the other two. After you, they will be lambs to my slaughter.”

“Tch...Those fucking bitches. Why did it have to be now of all times?”

The candle’s light began to dwindle. He wouldn't have much time before darkness descended upon him once more and this time, he would have nothing to stop the beast from pursuing him.

I have to look for a way out; There's no way I can fight him. Scan refuses to work as well. I just don’t know what I’m up against…

Raze acted a lot more rational than he used to. He was a man that threw caution to the wind. Ending a battle fast and quick was his MO.

But now, after spending so much time with Komoria and the others, he has gone through a drastic change. He valued his life far more, mostly for one person in particular, but he would never say it to her.

Now that she was gone, he had to take charge of himself in a way he never did before this.

He needed to preserve his own life for the sake of someone else who would kill him if he died.

Then the candle went out.

“It is time. My hunger has waited long enough!”

Raze had already fled, dashing all the way to the right. He trampled on the dark ground, desperately looking for a way out of this hellish nightscape. He could hear the stomps of the Candlemaker not too far behind. He immediately thought of the famous Jurassic Park scene as it pursued him. 

Time was of the essence.

Ugh...I hope the other two are alright, even if I could die because of their selflessness. Was this Komoria or I, that thought this? I can’t tell.

Raze scrambled along, his breath ragged as he ran through the dark void. The stomping sound was getting closer and closer to his body; it was hot on his tail. Raze frantically looked to the left and then to the right, both sides were the same bleak void.

He couldn't see the other two even at the end of his vision. Even with his [[Night Vision]] and beast-kin sight, he could see nothing but a black abyss. Even so…

—He kept running forward.

“Not giving up now, are you? This will be fun in more ways than one, Savior.”

Raze ignored his taunts, keeping his eyes focused at the edge of his view. He was getting more and more tired, but he refused to give in.

Another swipe from his right came down, clipping into Raze’s shoulder as he barely avoided the brunt of it, drawing blood, but not gouging too deep.

“Gaaaah! Fuck! Ack!" Raze howled, cradling his arm to his chest.

He immediately cast [[Healing Ward]] which he became quite accustomed to to fix the wound, even if it wouldn't replace the blood loss.

If I take one of those attacks head-on, I’ll surely be sliced in two!

Raze let go of his now-healed arm and stepped up his pace. He felt like he had been running on a treadmill of infinity. It was a vicious, endless cycle; the running would never end.

“Why do you try to escape your demise? The moment you walked into my trap in this desert, you were done fo— Wait! Cease your running!”

The Candlemaker’s tone suddenly shifted, unnerving Raze, but giving him the faintest glint of hope.

“Nah, fuck you, shadow!”

He kept on running forward, but at last, something stopped him…

He had tripped on something and fell onto the ground.

Shit, I won’t be able to get up in time. That fuckers got me trapped. I guess this is the end. Need to go out swinging. 

He was about to accept his death when he noticed that the sky had returned above him to a mid-day hue. He was back in the sand as well.

While squirming to pull himself up, his skin rubbed harshly against the sand grains giving him red marks all over the exposed parts of his body.

When he did pull himself up, the first thing he noticed was that one of his boots was covered in wax.

“Eck. This looks like...well something my long lost partner would spit out, heh.”

He remarked at the white substance that was stuck to his foot, clawing it off with his armed hand while he brushed the dust off his borrowed body. He looked behind him to see Lyra and Fione in a daze, both unbelieving at what they were seeing.

“So we have returned…”

“It was s-so dark….”

Raze tried to slick back his hair, but his hand got caught on one of his second pair of ears above his head. It reminded him of what he had to do.

“You two alright? That shadow fuck was chasing me around for a while, but I finally broke free when I tripped on this candle.”

He gestured to the smushed mess at his feet, drawing their attention to it and then back to where they were because what they noticed was that there was….

“There's more candles over here as well. Five in total,” Fione pointed out, while still looking very stressed. “This must be the gateway.”

“The gateway? What do you mean?” Lyra asked.

“I mean the only way for a primal being to exert its full power. The Candlemaker is no different. On a mortal plane, its strength is rather diminished, using only fear or happiness or whatever they specialize in to feed off. We must have walked into a trap that transported us there...but stepping on a piece of the gateway must have sent us back…”

Raze chewed over her information and spat out his own conclusion,” If we walked into that trap and got out, then where is the shadowy fuck? Also: what happened to your hair?”

Raze jabbed his pointer finger at Fione, whose hair all stood up like the hair on someone’s back with goosebumps. She looked like a blond witch. Fione puffed out her cheeks and looked away.

“This is just what happens when I get scared, Okay? Not that I was actually scared of the dark or anything…”

Raze shrugged, brushing off her statement with indifference. “Right, whatever. So about that shadow…”

“There!” Lyra shouted, pointing her finger at a chest-sized blob that was sitting dormant to Raze’s left in the sand. “That was not with us before.”

An unknown language poured from the sand. “<><><><><>>< (Oh shit, I gotta get out of here)!”

The blob popped itself out of the sand before Raze could get his hands on it. He hopped around like a pogo stick, avoiding each of their attempts to capture it. "C'MON, YOU LITTLE SHIT!"

That was until Fione opened a portal right in front of it, forcing it to either be sucked in or captured by Raze and Lyra.

The end result was the same. The light yellow blob was bound tightly by Lyra’s iron grasp.

“<><><><><><><><>>>> (Impossible! I’m a primal being created by the dread of mortals! Unhand me, you fiend!)”

“Now that I get a good look at him, he’s kind of cute like this. I wouldn't mind if he stayed like this.”

Lyra locked eyes with the beady black sockets of the blob. This little thing had caused them so much trouble and nearly killed Raze. Now, all that remained of it was a wax-colored slime.

“You can't be fucking serious. Let’s kill that thing before it tries to bring us back into its domain or whatever. It’s creeping me out too…”

Raze stared at the thing that Lyra, of all people, had started to fawn over. Fione had also taken an interest in it after she recovered from her initial fear. She took it from Lyra and hugged it, bringing the little blob into her bosom.

Raze scowled and crossed his arms while glaring at the creature. This was the thing that gave us so much trouble? Is it blushing now...that little fucking pervert!

Raze’s disdain for the blob could be felt by the two others who were taking turns smothering it with affection. Fione sat with her legs crossed and smiled up at Raze.

“Come on, my future husband. You can’t deny that he looks adorable. You're a girl right now, right? You should be in the same boat as us. I know that other girl would.”

Raze scoffed at her remark and looked away, not wanting anyone else to see his unnatural facial reaction. Now that she mentions it, he does seem a little adora— Get ahold of yourself, Raze!

“H-her name is Komoria and neither of us would be into that u-ugly thing...”

“Oh-ho-ho,” Fione said, smugly. “Is that so?”

“...” Raze had gone uncharacteristically silent.

“He won’t do us harm as long as someone makes a contract with him, right? That is what Uncle educated me on when it came to the Primals. If so, I shall take it upon myself to do that,” Lyra declared.

“Oh! Wonderful! Fione clasped her hands together in delight. “He'll be your familiar if you make a pact with him. They are like demons in that way.”

“You sure know a lot about demons and this thing, princess.”

“I said to call me Fione, Raze! And I know about them because I spent most of my life reading about this world. That. Is. All.”

Raze didn’t meet her vexing gaze, then turned to Lyra and said, “Are you sure you want to make a pact with that...thing?”

Lyra nodded, not a smidge of doubt in her eyes. “He can become a powerful ally if we allow him to do to others what he did to us. What a grand distraction. I think he will not only benefit us but the Azurespines down the line.”

Fione cut in on the conversation, “Does that mean you can understand him? Impressive!”

Lyra lightly blushed at her praise but stood firm. “I can understand bits and pieces of what he says, but if we form a pact, we will be able to fully communicate...with our minds.”

“Woah, minds! Cool!”

Raze made his fingers dance in the air as he gave them a sarcastic response, but overall proving that he approved of her decision. Lyra took this as his consent and held out her hand. The Candlemaker had its own hand form from one of its sides and made contact with her.

“<><><><><>>>>><<><<>>>>> (Not bad, beast-kin. Your strength is commendable to even stand strong in a presence such as my own. Very well, I will form a pact with you)."

“It is done, but I feel very lightheaded. Is this supposed to happen?”

“I-I don’t think so...I also feel...very tired.”

“I could go for a fucking nap right now…”

“<><><><>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><><> (I shit! I think I sucked out too much for their lifeforce with fear. My bad!)”

The Candlemaker jumped onto Lyra’s shoulder and disappeared, leaving only a small unlit candle in his place. He could reform anytime, now having fused with her body, and even imbue his power to control her when she is unconscious should the occasion ever arise. 

Lyra touched her head and collapsed on the sand. Fione grew drowsy soon after and joined her. Raze tried to fight off his exhaustion, but it was no use. He passed out right next to the first two.

A dark figure spotted three collapsed beast-kin on the ground. It said nothing but made a whistling noise.

It was calling its friends.