Shadows Over Arcadia Chapter 9: 9. Birth Of Shadow

Read chapter 9 of Shadows Over Arcadia by Zacheas on NovelPedia.

9. Birth Of Shadow I am Ren Drakemore, age 8, the unwanted prince of Arcadia. However, one day, I will be king. https://shadowsoverarcadia.com/api/storage/objects/uploads/94d9f12d-768f-4ec3-a12d-51b487be4617 I sit in my workshop, flipping through the final pages of Advanced Techniques in Golemancy , but my mind is far from the text. Lady Willow’s words echo in my thoughts. "If you want to change the kingdom, Ren, you must act in ways that cannot be traced back to you." At the time, I hadn’t grasped her meaning. Now, after recent events, it is painfully clear. I need a way to act beyond the castle without exposing myself. With my father ordering the nobility to block me at every turn and Fobos watching and interfering in all I do, I am stifled. But I have found a solution to all my problems. What if I create a separate identity? One that could move freely through the kingdom, build a reputation, and achieve everything I need without anyone tracing it back to me? My bodyguard puppet is ideal for this. Designed to protect me, its usefulness has grown with the reach of my mental link. It can now operate far beyond the castle walls, even miles into the city. Through it, I can work with allies, confront enemies, and gather information while remaining safely anonymous. Best of all, my puppets are disposable. They cannot die, and I risk nothing. The first step is to register the puppet at the Adventurer’s Guild. That will give it a legitimate identity and allow it to take quests. Those quests will bring in money and, more importantly, provide real-world combat experience. My encounter with the dreadcoil proved how much I still don’t understand about this world. If I want to defeat my father and his allies, I need to learn how to fight and survive in real battles. Next comes a name. Since I plan to use the puppet in the shadows… Shadow feels fitting. Is it too corny? No, it’s cool and mysterious. Adventurers often go by code names, so no one will think twice about it. I stand, gazing at my puppet propped on its rack. "What do you think, buddy? Do you like the name Shadow?" The puppet doesn't answer, of course. I place my hand on its chest and cast the mind transfer spell. The puppet jerks upright, pulling free from the stand, and faces me. “What do you think of the name Shadow?” I ask again. A voice emanates from the mask, magically produced despite the lack of a mouth. “Since I am you, and you like the name, I think you already know I approve.” Shadow tilts his head from side to side, then rolls each joint in turn, testing his range of motion. "What's it like, Shadow?" I ask. “It’s a little strange hearing myself call me Shadow,” he says evenly. “Mobility feels good. It’s just… odd not being able to feel anything.” “You can’t feel anything at all?” I ask. “That makes sense, I suppose.” “No. Nothing I touch, not even my own weight,” Shadow says. “It’s a very strange sensation.” I nod, intrigued by the insight. “Do you have any questions about the plan for registering as an adventurer?” “There is one thing,” Shadow replies thoughtfully. “You need to be fifteen to register. We’re a bit too short to pass for that.” He’s right. At eight years old, I’m far shorter than the average fifteen-year-old, and I built Shadow to match my height. “How much taller do we need to make you?” I ask. “I’m not sure,” Shadow says with a shrug. “We don’t know any fifteen-year-olds. Maybe six inches?” “That’s as good a guess as any.” I shrug back. A white light shimmers through the weave of his clothes as Shadow casts a spell to alter his wooden body. The cuffs of his sleeves and the hems of his trousers seem to recede as his limbs stretch with a rapid crackling and popping sound. He looks down at me from his new angle, then at his sleeves. Balling his fists, the light flares again, this time emanating from his clothes as the sleeves and pant legs lengthen to cover him once more. "There's also your voice," I add. "You sound like me. You'll need to sound older.