Chapter 45: 42. Greater Shadow Realm

I wake up from my sleep feeling well rested. My surroundings are more vivid than when I fell asleep, leading me to believe I am no longer in my shadow. Focussing on my cores, I begin cycling them. First, I cycle the death mana. When I am satisfied that the core is exercised enough, I switch to my dark core. Except it is no longer the same dark mana. It is lighter and more fluid. Cycling the mana is different as well. This time the approach is much softer. It is still a pull. The mana just doesn't respond if I pull too hard. 

Successfully getting the mana to cycle feels different as well. While I still feel like I am a part of the darkness, I no longer feel like it is mine to command. The keen sense of awareness in the dark is no less. I still can see more vividly when I am cycling the shadow mana than when I am not. I try pulling the mana out of me so that I can enter my shadow. The mana responds to a gentle, steady pull. However, unlike the dark mana that lingered long enough to enter my shadow, shadow mana resists every attempt I make to cast a portal.

In a way, it makes sense. Before, I needed to pull the dark mana out for it to turn to a shadow nexus. If the mana inside me is already shadow, the extraction step may not be necessary. Somehow I need the mana to maybe cover me? Or it could be that it is something hokie like acknowledging I am the shadow and the shadow is me? That's actually not too distant from what happened with binding my core to darkness. So maybe the thought isn't too foolish. 

"I am shadow," I say timidly, half expecting results. "Shadow is me…." Nope, this is nonsense. 

Following my other line of thought, I continually pull on the shadow mana cycling through my channels. Instead of trying to cast a blob of shadow mana away from my body, I settle for slowly covering myself in the alluring-wispy energy, much like covering myself in bone armor. 

First, my legs are covered in the calm darkness. I gently pull on the energy covering my torso, arms, and shoulders. When I finally cover my entire body, I am back in my shadow realm. The success feels good, and I relish in my victory.

"First try too, and that was totally deliberate," I tell everyone in my shadow realm, currently only me, and give myself another fist pump for good measure. You have to cherish the victories when you get them. Even the small ones. "Now to get out of this place." 

I let the mana covering my body absorb back into my channels. When no more shadow mana covers my body, I exit out of my realm. To be sure I got the process, I enter and exit the realm several times, covering and uncovering myself with shadow. Each attempt is a success. I am a shadow cultivating prodigy!

I continue to cultivate shadow mana. I begin switching between the two energies when I feel comfortable with them. First, I cycle death. Then I let the mana go and cycle shadow. I do this several times, and eventually, switching between the energies becomes more comfortable. 

I want to enter the Greater Shadow Realm and search for the legendary shade. Even with all my luck figuring out the minor realm, I can't bridge the gap to the greater realm. Gene is nowhere to be found, so I'm left to do more of my own thing. 

There are several things on my mind: go through my sword routines and create more names for every slice and stab that will inevitably be changed on every swing, practice with both forms of Bo, study Annette's memories, or do a bit of self-care. 

Self-care, while the least exciting of the options, wins out. I pull my rations from my bag and eat. I didn't realize how long it had been since I had eaten. Hanging with skeletons and spirits makes mealtime an inconvenience. Who wants to be the guy that stops the people-saving ritual because he hasn't eaten in a few days and needs food? Not this guy. That's for sure. 

It is evident that I'm hungry when I notice I've eaten a week's worth of rations. Maybe moving forward, I won't be as concerned about my image and eat a thing or two when I can. 

Dang, I could have been feasting while I was riding on Fury. That would have been the top ten meal destinations by far. Meals On Dragons. Bones would be so jealous. I finish another week of rations in dreamed-up exotic locations. Finally, I slay my hunger and feel satisfied. 

Continuing with my self-care, I start stretching. My muscles aren't exactly tight. They feel good, actually. I'm not even sure it is necessary to stretch. I can see that one of the perks of the body essence is regeneration. My body should recover on its own. The thought process doesn't do anything to stop my stretch session. It feels good, and that is enough for me to stick with it. 

Wanting to get a better feel for my robe and quiver, I equip both and perform a basic fighter's kata, a routine being another intact skill. When I am about to get heavy into sword forms, Gene floats into the building. 

"It is time." Is all she says. She floats low to the ground and waits for me to join her.

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"To enter the Greater Shadow Realm, you first need a constant shadow. Almost any sizable shadow will do. The more consistent the shadow, the easier it is to enter. This house is considered a nexus because the shadow here is constant. The best chance of successfully learning to step into the Greater Shadow Realm is inside a nexus. You also need to be attuned to shadow, which you now are.

"To enter the greater realm, you first need to be in your shadow realm. Then you will repeat the same steps you performed earlier when you first accessed your real. Pull the mana outside of your body and create a shade portal."

"Sounds simple enough," I'm a little disappointed I didn't figure out this step on my own. "Is the Greater Shadow Realm dangerous?

"It is hard to say what you will experience in the Greater Realm of Shadow. I wound up in a different place every time I entered the past. Sometimes it can be peaceful. Other times it is the opposite. 

"Many creatures within the greater shadow hunger for a life outside the realm. They will see you as their exit plan. This will help and hamper your task of finding a shade. Once you find a shade, I believe you will have a good chance of convincing it to join you if you offer it a chance to leave the realm. That is, if it doesn't outright try to kill you first. Beasts and monsters are reliably unpredictable."

Gene sure is handy when I need a bunch of information all at once. And yet, at the same time, I sorta wish I could pull Spider Queen memory yank and have all the information even faster. Maybe that would allow for some more casual talk during these pressing times. 'Hey, T'am. Crazy hike, right? My favorite color is black. You should see how I decorated my town with it. Freaking spiders. Am I right? You know Hank? He is the cool guy who helped me with my gear enhancements. You should meet him.'

Yup, it is confirmed. I will learn Spider's memory leach skill, and then Gene and I will have a more casual chat. Since meeting this spirit walker, life has been a bit messier. I guess it was going to get complicated regardless. With the horde invading, complications were bound to happen. But maybe not. We probably would kill each other until we were done and then move on. Hopefully, we can have more downtime after the shade business is complete. One can only hope. 

"How do I turn a shade into my totem?" A relevant question comes to my mind, and I blurt it out. 

"I was about to explain that process when I noticed you seemed to lose focus. Appropriate question. The ritual for creating a totem is simple for those of us attuned to shadow mana. Create a contact through blood, or whatever the life substance is, and cycle shadow mana through it. Then think upon the creature and accept it as your totem and you, its shaman."

"Got it. Not exactly enthused with all the blood involved in the rituals. Also, am I a shaman?"

"Blood will not always be necessary. The method is used until you gain power and understanding. Think of being a shaman as a way of life instead of a title. Well, a rather loose way of life. You are traveling to another realm, performing rituals, and dealing with spirits and creatures. Any other questions?" She finishes, not at all looking irritated about having to answer my questions. Which I appreciate.

"Nope, I'm good for now. Let's get to it." All my other questions can wait.

"Your portal to your realm will remain open as long as your shadow mana exists in the greater realm. You will notice that it will act as an anchor guiding you back to the portal. Keep your mana, and you will be able to return. If anything consumes you, they will then have your mana and so will be able to exit the portal. Be prepared to be hunted. When you are ready, enter the Greater Shadow Realm."

She got the last order in? I thought, for sure, I wasn't going to take orders from this time. Freaking queens going to queen. I even went so far as to give the order first. I specifically said, " Let's get to it, " so we would break on my command. Power hungry mongrel. 

Gene waits a moment for me to ask more questions. Then adds. "Try not to die. I am not exactly sure what will happen if the host of the host dies while the dungeon is still being created."

Was that snark she was throwing at me at the end? "That is going to be tricky." I fire off a little bit of snark of my own. "Dying is my go-to strategy. Given the circumstances, I will see if I can make some changes."

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