Shadows Over Arcadia Chapter 15: 15. A New Life

Read chapter 15 of Shadows Over Arcadia by Zacheas on NovelPedia.

15. A New Life I am Maribel Holloway, age 15. I am a worthless street rat, and I think I just died. https://shadowsoverarcadia.com/api/storage/objects/uploads/3436dbb7-6e63-4972-b7d2-a17b68e373de It begins with a blinding light, so intense I cannot see anything beyond it. Then comes a sensation, first at my fingertips, then spreading through my whole body. Warm. Soft. Almost comforting. Am I in the afterlife? The world between worlds? In mere moments, will I stand before Celestia, goddess of creation, in her divine embrace? Or perhaps I have rejoined the Great Spirit, becoming one with nature. I don’t know. I suppose I will soon learn which religion was right, just in time to be judged for believing in none of them. I move a finger and feel it brush against something soft and cushioned. I shift, and a pang of stiff soreness shoots through me. Pain? Soreness? The dead do not feel such things. The blinding light begins to fade, and my eyes adjust. Its source comes into view: an open window spilling sunlight across the room. Sounds filter in, first muffled and distant, then clear. The sweet chirping of birds. The soft rustle of wind through trees. “You’re finally awake,” says a familiar, deep voice, calm and steady. I turn toward the sound as my vision sharpens. A hooded, masked figure sits in a wooden chair at the foot of the bed. Shadow. His large frame leans forward, posture casual, yet his attention fixed squarely on me. I blink, trying to process my surroundings. A bed? My eyes drift down to find my legs beneath a simple blanket, then further to my stomach. Slowly, I lift a hand and trace my fingers over the fabric, pressing lightly against my gut. The memories rush back all at once. I was sliced open. I remember seeing my insides spilled across the grass. My heartbeat quickens as flashes of the battle flood my mind—the bear lumbering toward me, its teeth, those massive teeth closing in. And then, right before I blacked out, I saw... “Don’t worry, you’re fully healed,” Shadow remarks cheerfully. “Not even a scar.” My eyes snap to him, the fog in my mind lifting. Did I really see Shadow punch a five-ton armored monster? Did I really see him snap its neck with a single blow? My gaze fixes on his right arm. “I see you’ve replaced your burned clothes… Shadow,” I say, my tone edged with accusation. He wears a fresh, long-sleeved shirt and thick leather gloves beneath his cloak, leaving nothing exposed. The entire outfit seems meticulously chosen to hide every inch of skin—if he even has skin. The memory flashes back to me: during the battle, the fabric on his right arm burned away, and I saw it. Metal. A metallic arm and fist striking down the bear with inhuman force before I blacked out. “Maribel, I’m sure you have questions about what you may have seen…” Shadow begins, a note of unease in his voice. His tone betrays discomfort, yet his posture remains unnaturally still. No human holds so perfectly still. He is hiding something. "What are you, Shadow?" I demand bluntly, my eyes snapping to the mask, staring where I imagine his eyes should be—if he were human. He hesitates. “I think we make a good team, and I want to continue working together.” “That doesn’t answer my question,” I cut in sharply. Shadow sighs, his shoulders shifting before he goes on. “Please, be patient. I’ll answer that if you truly want, but first I need to explain something.” “Fine,” I reply tersely, crossing my arms. “I suppose I owe you that much for saving my life… twice.” “All right,” he begins. “The way I see it, we make a great team. I’m durable, but I lack the offensive precision you bring. You, on the other hand, are incredibly lethal but vulnerable. Together, we balance each other. We just defeated three monsters far beyond either of our skill levels because we worked together.” “I only did as well as I did because you boosted me,” I snap, frustration bleeding into my voice. “And I only did as well as I did because you supported me,” Shadow counters