After playing for hours me and Amelia had some snacks and after that I left her and went out. Usually I would have a bunch of people coming to teach me a bunch of stuff but Artemis has canceled those till I get better.
After playing the games with those girls I learned 2 things - first my control over this body is lacking. Second I need to learn about this world's geography and history.
While playing a quiz game I learned that there are some places that weren't mentioned in the book. Some incidents happened which were never explained in detail. Though I have Rio's memories, I decided to check everything by myself since I have time till evening as no one will disturb me.
Agnus is outside hunting down the cult, Amelia is done playing and soon she'll be busy with her classes, Artemis is probably torturing Beric as we speak - so I'm free right now.
Since my body is still weak and not in any condition to go out and train, I decided to head to the library and see if the world is truly the same as I remember it from the book.
_
Myra was still following behind me. She was wearing her usual black dress which was a sign of her being a shodow. She had waist length white hair and slightly yellowish eyes. A thin petite body which helps her agility and control.
She had been with Artemis for 10 years now and has absolute loyalty towards her. She was an orphan kid , struggling to survive, living the life which was worse than rats at the border streets.
10 years ago when Artemis was called to clear an A rank INSTANT DUNGEON* on the northern border. She had found Myra who was trapped in it. When she saw Myra, she was going through her awakening. At first Artemis was going to ignore her as the chances of a successful awakening in a dungeon were very low much less trying that in an instant dungeon and looking at her pale skin and weak stature it was almost impossible to survive.
_
Dungeons were places with rich mana which could stimulate someone's awakening.
Many poor people who see no other choice to awaken take this chance. Though it is cheap and might save them lots of money which they would need to go through a ceremony at the church or required to pay for their services. But it also comes with many risks.
While you're going through your awakening, monsters present in the dungeon can sense the mana disturbance and come attack you and you would be just like a chicken on a chopping block. With no way to run or fight back. There are also chances of some other humans also jeopardizing it as no one would know the truth.
So only people who see no other way or people who are already nearing the age of 18 take this risk.
_
So Artemis just felt curious about why the girl who was only around 10 years in age had decided to take this risk. So she stood guard near her to see if it could bring her any surprises. She didn't help her in controlling the raging mana, she left it on her luck and for fate to decide. Artemis just stood there and killed any monsters that decided to come near her.
After half an hour when Myra finally opened her eyes and looked around. She was surprised by the sight around her - bodies of hundreds of different kinds of monsters were scattered on all sides. They were all dead , sliced into pieces. And then she saw a woman standing there, dressed in a light silver armor which was now covered in green liquid, her long black hair were tied in a pony tail and a sword in her hand which was still dripping a goooey liquid.
She was fighting a big tree monster. It was the biggest creature Myra saw in her whole life. Myra wanted to run away from there, but there was this transparent wall that she couldn't cross. So she just stood there silently watching as the warrior lady fought with the monster.
Myra couldn't believe what she was watching in front of her eyes, the lady would suddenly disappear from her place and then appear far away. She jumped and dodged the branches that were attacking her. She ran on them while throwing something which hit the monsters eyes, Then she saw several black chains suddenly appeared from the ground and held the monsters hands and legs while the lady jumped down and started slicing the monster's leg and soon the whole tree monster was detached from its roots and fell down.
It was the first time Myra saw such monsters and someone fighting them. She had heard stories about adventurers but watching them in front of her eyes was still a shock to her.
She saw the lady walking towards her and with a wave of her hands the wall surrounding her disappeared. Myra waved her hand around but she couldn't feel the wall so she just ran towards the lady.
Myra wanted to be just like her. She wanted to be strong just like the adventurers always talked about. She didn't like living on the streets, begging for food, getting beaten up daily - no she wanted more from life. So that's why when she found out about a dungeon near the forest without thinking about anything she jumped into it.
She thought it was God's way of giving her a chance to be like those awakened and she was right. She had awakened , though she didn't know what power she had but - she could feel it , the air around her was different, with every breath that energy entering her body - it was a new sensation.
_
When she jumped into the dungeon it was a forest. She looked around and started walking towards the center area where she heard mana will be highest. Soon she could feel the heaviness in air around her and as she heard from other people she started breathing in faster and found her body going through a transformation. Since she didn't find any monsters around her she closed her eyes and continued the process, not noticing the trees which were starting to move all around her.
She was successful and still alive, It was only possible because of the lady in front of her. So she wanted to thank her.
_
Artemis looked at Myra and after making sure that she was fine. She gave her a potion and then picked her up and started running. Myra was dazed, not knowing how to react. She could see the scenery around her changing fast and then she saw a blue portal from which they both passed through.
After coming out Artemis gave Myra to a staff member and started walking away. Until she heard a voice behind her. - "wait " .
_
Myra was surprised by all the things that happened. She wanted to say thanks for protecting her and ask her for name and maybe somehow pay her back. She didn't like owing anyone anything , that's why instead of begging on the streets she was ready to die. So when she saw the lady leaving, she couldn't wait any longer and shouted - "wait"
She saw the lady stop and turn back. Myra ran towards her and bowed and said - "Thank you for saving me."
Artemis looked at her for some time and said - "It's ok."
"Can you tell me your name." Myra asked.
"Why? " Artemis replied
Myra looked at her and said - "I want you to teach me how to get stronger."
Artemis chuckled at her naivety and said -"Why do you want to get stronger."
Myra replied instantly, like it was the easiest question in the world for her - "Cause I hate this feeling. Eyes looking at me with pity, I hate that. I want to get stronger so I can never be helpless again."
Artemis looked at her determined eyes and replied - "That's good but why would I want someone who's so weak."
Myra clenched her fists at being called weak, she hated it - " I will get stronger even if I have to risk my life for it."
Myra had just finished her words when she felt pressure on her and the next moment she was on her knees. It was then that she heard her voice again -"Remember young lady, I saved your life back there. So it belongs to me now. And I don't want my efforts to go to waste. You want to get stronger , fine then, learn about your element and show me one spell which you have mastered in one year , and I will make you stronger." Artemis said that and disappeared in front of her eyes.
Artemis only said those words as she didn't want Myra to risk her life doing useless things or join the Evil's Scion and waste her life. But it was these words that had sparked something in Myra's eyes , for the first time in her life she now had a goal, a direction to go to achieve power.
She looked towards the soldiers stationed around who were talking about how it was impossible to master a spell in just one year and how it takes longer but she ignored those words. She was determined - no matter what she had to finish this task. So she can follow that lady. And learn from her and maybe with time be just like her.
Myra remembered that she didn't know the name of her savior so she asked a soldier and learned about it.
(Artemis Raven Black, we will meet again) with that thought Myra left the place.
_
No one knew or heard from her for a year but one year later she was seen standing outside the Blake mansion asking for permission to see the Duchess. When Artemis saw her she was surprised. She knew that Myra had awakened the shadow element cause she saw the signs during awakening. But even she was surprised when she saw Myra practicing "Shadow Step*". Though it wasn't perfected but for an orphan and poor, to learn it and master it to this level showed how talented she was. And seeing her determination to follow her, Artemis agreed to teach her everything.
After that Myra would always spend time learning different spells and mastering them whenever she got time. And soon she was strong enough to be known as a genius around the mansion. But unlike being arrogant or prideful she was even more grateful for Artemis. Though Myra never liked nobles but she knew Artemis was different and she had seen how Artemis lived and cared for everyone. Artemis even treated her who was an orphan with respect and care.
At first she just wanted to learn from Artemis and leave when she was strong enough but over time the thought of leaving left and she just wanted to live here, a place where she felt like home, a place where she felt needed , so when Artemis asked Myra to be her shadow - Myra instantly agreed.
Since then Myra has been following Artemis everyday just like a shadow. She was also made captain of the silent reapers, an assassination squad which follows her every command.
_
In the book during the time Rio had to fight Artemis, it was Myra who came in between and tried to stop both of them but died soon after. It was a sad ending where her last words were that she fulfilled her promise to repay the favor by giving her life in return for Artemis.
_
I was lost in my thoughts about her plot when I heard Myra's voice that we've reached the library. I looked at Myra's face for a second and thought about whether I should protect her or not. There were few who stayed loyal to the Blake's even after everything and she was one of them. But I pushed that thought for the future and walked ahead.
_
���� -
Instant dungeon -- A type of spatial dungeon that could open anytime anywhere. It would remain open for some time depending upon the mana quality. And if the mana in the surrounding ran out - it would collapse. After that if you're trapped in it , then that's the last we'll hear of you.
Shadow step -- Allows the user to temporarily enter the edge of the material realm where it touches the border of Shadow realm. While in this state, the caster can travel at high speed than they're capable of in the real world. As the proficiency increases - the speed , distance & merging into shadow's quality also increases.
_
A/N - Join d discord server, Link's in d synopsis.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter