Shadows Over Arcadia Chapter 62: 61. Beautiful

Read chapter 62 of Shadows Over Arcadia by Zacheas on NovelPedia.

I am Shadow, and a lot has happened in my one year and two arcs of existence. I am a fragment of soul confined inside a mithril golem, tirelessly serving the master who made me and protecting the one who cares about me. https://shadowsoverarcadia.com/api/storage/objects/uploads/51f2eb33-199c-4126-a5b5-1bea5c8fc16a The few crystal lamps still lit share their light in gentle streams through the manor’s windows, their glow reflecting softly off the rippling surface of the baths. Verdantarc’s new moon has shyly hidden away, leaving the sky above us a deep tapestry of stars, each one shining brighter in Luna’s absence. The estate is silent, Ren and the others long since retired for the night, leaving most of the windows dark. At its heart lies the open-air bath, a marble basin of pale white stone, its surface steaming softly beneath the starlight. The courtyard enclosing it is paved in dark slate and framed by lush, exotic greenery that spills over the walls, giving the place the tranquil air of a hidden spring. Maribel is naked, curled up beside me, her head nestled against my shoulder as we soak in the water, steam rising around us. A single insect serenades us with its hopeful calls for a mate. Her body is pressed against mine, holding me as if afraid I might slip away, yet the slow, rhythmic beat of her heart and the steady rise and fall of her chest tell me she is at peace. Looking at her, willing to be so exposed and so vulnerable beside me, feeling her cling to me so tightly, makes me feel something I can’t quite explain. But I know that whatever it is, it stirs in me a need to protect her. The hand of the arm she rests upon lies on her hip, where she directed me to place it. I don’t understand why, but at some point, Maribel, who is so guarded and distant with everyone, began to insist on being close to me. “You saved her life, Shadow.” Envy interjects. We saved each other, Envy. Every day in this numb prison, this empty nothingness I live in, filled with memories that are not my own, only a fragment, a hollow reflection of life, I grow more detached from this world. “That’s not what we are. We’re the best parts of Ren and Maribel without their human frailty.” Envy retorts. I turn my gaze to where Envy’s mask sits on the edge of the pool, propped against Maribel’s folded robe. She brings her everywhere. No, that’s what you are, Envy. You can feel everything she feels. You get to live through her while I feel nothing. Or at least, I did. Before meeting Maribel, the question had begun to creep into my mind: does anything matter? Do the lives of these people really matter? What difference is there between the beasts I kill and the people I protect? I felt nothing when either died. “ ...And now?” Envy asks, sounding concerned. At that moment, Maribel shifts slightly, absentmindedly tracing the curves of my chestplate with a finger. A contented sigh graces her lips, and her half-lidded hazel eyes glint like gems behind a curtain of damp blonde locks. It would appear Envy is not sharing our conversation. I’ve found that being with her, things start to matter again. Feeling her finger continue tracing the grooves of my frame, I am reminded of the first time we bathed together. It was the night we returned from the Crimson Scale’s cave, covered in goblin gore. The innkeeper of the Rabbit's Paw demanded that we wash off the filth before entering. So we rode to the lake outside Stonebrook to bathe beneath a sky much like tonight’s, among the reeds and cattails swaying in the breeze, surrounded by croaking frogs and hooting owls. I was terrified when she guided me into the dark water. She hadn’t seen the full extent of my inhumanity then, and I was afraid for her to see the cold, metal monster I am shackled to. I expected those beautiful eyes to look at me with fear or disgust. She removed my mask, then my hood. I couldn’t stop her without hurting her. I froze, wanting to run, but I couldn’t while she was undressing me. She must have