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2024-10-29 19:42:56The illusionist had us trapped in between walls of the garden labyrinth; two walls blocking the paths towards the outer layers of the labyrinth and one wall, blocking the very centre of the labyrinth where the source of all the aura illusions, the illusionist dwelled.
I observed the two other walls, and I raged, "Damn it! They're solid illusions as well. That bastard's got us just where he wants us!"*BANG* *BANG* *BANG* *BANG*A resounding clash of fists against the centre wall was heard, over and over and over. It was Sir Dustin.He was using all of his might to punch that illusion wall, however, no matter how many times he punched the wall, he couldn't even make a dent on the wall. It was made stronger than any other illusions so far.After a few minutes of non-stop punching, he finally stopped. His knuckles were cut with some of the skin peeled off, the edges of the fingers were bruised and the cut areas were bleeding a bit.Feel
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SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO) PROLOGUE
CHIAROSCUROBy Prince FirelornDISCLAIMERAll the characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. But the work reflects reality somewhat, which is one of the issues of our society.All Rights Reserved.INSCRIPTION“Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light.”— Madeline L’EnglePROLOGUEFor the longest time, all I've ever known was...Darkness.I was born and brought up in a family of royals, in a world of thorns and scorn, hate and greed, lies and betrayal, selfishness and parasitism. It wasn't easy surviving on my own but I found my way, in the shadows where I belonged.Many would envy and seek out my lifestyle because it appeared luxurious, and glorious even but it really wasn't. I was trapped in a neverending fight for control and most of all, my life only to see my death encroach slowly, to the point I started having nightmares about it.I was even abandoned by my own father. We
SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO) WHO AM I?
Injured in the heart, bleeding from my eyes, and grasping for dear life, I stood at the very edge of a cliff.This was the second time that I was pushed into a corner. I was stuck in a place of peril as I was surrounded by all my enemies and the lifeless bodies of my allies.There was no escape, none at all. Only death remained."Didn't think we'd get you, huh, Your Highness?" a man clad in gold mockingly asked.*COUGH* *COUGH* I spilt so much blood from my mouth, the injury they had inflicted on me was killing me faster than I thought it would.With my bloodied mouth, I mustered what little strength I had and asked, "Why?""Huh? You want to know why!?" The man in golden armour approached me with widened eyes.My chest tightened even more, it was heavy and hard to breathe.The man smirked. "All this time, and you didn't know why we were after your life?"I painfully mentioned, "I had my suspicions.""Suspicions?""Greed, money, power, who knows? It was inevitable that I'd encounter a f
SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO) WHAT MAKES A MAN?
With the help of a few real friends, I created a secret guild that investigates mysterious crimes and conducts of the people of gladia, commoners or nobles. With my riches as a royal prince, I took a whole year gathering the best aura benders and scholars with certain detective skills to create the secret guild, Night's Eye.Even though, we had uncovered so many dirty secrets and discovered interesting mysteries of my kingdom, Gladia. We were far from finding a single clue that would lead to my mother's murder.I sighed, “Ha...!" Twas nothing but a thought I had. I soaked away my troubles, my aches and my entire body with my face under the bathtub.I rinsed myself clean, covered my bottom half with a towel and exited my bath only to bump into my personal maid, Penelope, who was waiting for me outside as always.She had fallen to the tiled floor, with her legs apart and her undergarments exposed to my eyes. "Black, huh?" I thought upon catching a glimpse of her underwear."Ah, sorry dea
SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO) HOW DOES A LORD ACT?
Before I could relax my furious expression, I was alerted by the sudden footsteps of Penelope entering my chambers...“Sire! I've found your shoes,” Penelope said as entered my room with my poulaine shoes in her hands.“Ah, yes... I see.” I composed myself and proceeded to wear my shoes, they were of oxblood in colour and had a golden tip on both shoes.Once I had worn my shoes, I took a special glass bottle that I left in my drawers with a golden substance in it.I went to my human-sized mirror and slowly applied the golden creamy contents of the bottle all over my jet-black hair follicles.In a few seconds of applying the golden substance, I witnessed my glossy jet-black hair turn golden almost instantly. I now looked like I had natural blonde hair.I was finally ready, “Penelope!” I called for my maid as I gradually brushed my now golden hair and bangs in place.Penelope approached me and gracefully curtsied while saying, “Yes, Sire?”“I need you to summon for me the lord chamberlai
SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO) WHAT IS AURA?
The silver armoured knight with his loud and smoky voice, addressed the people once more, “Have you all lost your heads!? You stand before a prince of the royal family!”The knight concluded with a loud stomp on the wooden platform, “Do you all wish to have your heads on a pike for treason!!?”After hearing him out, the people's attitude changed from disapproval to respect at that moment. However, once the noise had subsided the honourable knight's words were rebutted by another knight to my left.The knight had a soft yet egotistical voice and spoke like a noble, “And why should they not lose their heads!? These... 'commonfolk' just received a royal decree spelling their demise...!"He walked to the other side of the platform, facing the people as if he was addressing them and not the knight, and he continued, saying, "Why should they not panic? These PEOPLE have been handed with unjust cause to the infamous Incompetent Prince!”The knight stood tall after his short speech, he was ju
SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO) MY SECOND BATTLE
The next day came and I was ready to battle, it had been a few years since my first real battle.It was early dawn and a new day of reckoning. I had found myself standing by the doors in front of my manor house, looking at all the views surrounding it, I took my time to view it in its beauty.My manor was comprised of tracts of agricultural land, a garden, a pond, a mansion right in the middle and a small path leading to a remote village in which the servants of the estate resided.It was also beautifully surrounded by an orchard of maple trees. But what caught my eye the most were the people working in the estate."There are about 15 to 30 people, each of a different family doing their best to maintain the beauty and functionality of the estate, my estate," I thought as I strolled along the path to the gates.Paige was indisposed at the moment so he couldn't escort me to battle but Penelope was by my side, eager to accompany me to the gates of the estate at the very least.I saw seve
SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO) MASTER OF AURA
Aura, as mentioned before is an atomic chemical element of the world that could not be easily seen or touched but felt even controlled.Thus, the only way to tell if someone was using aura would be by feeling it in the atmosphere like the feeling of pressure under the sea.The first level for aura benders is Aura Apprentice or Apprentice Of Aura – one who simply can use aura and can improve their physique a bit, thereby allowing them to do things like lift boulders, run fast or even fight beasts like bears or lions but in no way can they match an aura lord.They're basically humans just above the average man.The second level is Aura Lord or Lord of Aura – an aura bender with moderately high volume and control of aura, blessed with the capabilities of a dozen men.For someone like Sir Cassian, he was at the Aura Lord level, having the strength of ten men flowing through his entire being.As we fought, he increased the volume of aura in his body and used that ten-fold strength to throw
SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO) MY FIRST TIME?
"Urgh...!” my head throbbed and ached. It seemed that I had too much to drink, even though I dislike it.“Ah!” The afternoon rays caught my eyes once again. I took a moment to take a breath and refresh my thoughts.Then I slowly opened my eyes to find myself in my private chambers on my mattress, naked, disgruntled and hungover from the previous night's feast. I took a glance around, and to my left, I saw a sleeping maiden lying naked on my left arm. I took another glance but to my right, this time and I saw another maiden lying naked sleeping on my right arm.“What in the ass cheeks happened last night!” I suddenly thought as my eyes were glued to the Maximus Gluteus of the sleeping maidens that slept beside me.I looked to the ceiling of my bed and softly uttered, "Damn..." while imagining how I had just lost my virginity just last night, at the age of 17 and to two dames at that.It wasn't much of an achievement but I was kind of impressed with myself, actually, proud in fact. But
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- SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO)
AURA ABSORBER
The illusionist had us trapped in between walls of the garden labyrinth; two walls blocking the paths towards the outer layers of the labyrinth and one wall, blocking the very centre of the labyrinth where the source of all the aura illusions, the illusionist dwelled. I observed the two other walls, and I raged, "Damn it! They're solid illusions as well. That bastard's got us just where he wants us!"*BANG* *BANG* *BANG* *BANG*A resounding clash of fists against the centre wall was heard, over and over and over. It was Sir Dustin.He was using all of his might to punch that illusion wall, however, no matter how many times he punched the wall, he couldn't even make a dent on the wall. It was made stronger than any other illusions so far.After a few minutes of non-stop punching, he finally stopped. His knuckles were cut with some of the skin peeled off, the edges of the fingers were bruised and the cut areas were bleeding a bit.Feel
- SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO)
TRAPPED, TRAPPED LIKE RATS
I reached for Sir Dustin's arm and yelled, "Run!" And we sped away from the area, speeding through a few corners.Once we came to a stop at a dead end along a long path, we took a long moment to catch our breaths. I was on the hard floor, with my knees on the floor and my back to the wall. Sir Dustin was still standing tall, his excalibur still in his hand and his other hand on his waist.We were now sweating, dehydrated, starving and exhausted from the long run. We made sure to run through five different corners and changed paths a few times to get to where we were.While gasping for air, Sir Dustin questioned, "Do...Ha...! Do you think they'll appear again, I mean the lightmen, sire?""I...I couldn't say. But I think...Ha...! Ha...! I think we lost them for now. Right now, we need to recover what little strength we have left."The moment we dropped our guards, a flash of blue light struck the unsuspecting Sir Dustin on the back and he f
- SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO)
AMONGST THE HUMANS
Sir Dustin's eyes widened at the truth that I exposed his ears to. Conflicted, he stood up from my side on the wall and took a moment to think to himself. He walked aimlessly around me which was annoying and somewhat dizzying to watch.I thought as I watched him stressing, "Where does he get the energy? I'm gasping for air down here and he's busy speed-walking left to right repeatedly!"He even began scratching his head and rubbing his chin in deep thought as he speed-walked around me.While moving erratically, Sir Dustin muttered to himself silently, "Poison to humans, life to aura benders... How? Why?"I could see it all from his body language, he was very intrigued, curious and maybe a bit afraid."Is it too much information to handle?" I said, stopping his random erratic movements."But sire, that...just doesn't make any sense," he stated with doubt in his eyes.I sighed for a bit then rubbed my eyes, I felt like telling this truth to someone as dimwitted as Sir Dustin was coming
- SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO)
THE POWER OF ILLUSIONS
Sir Dustin and I ventured back into the labyrinth abandoning any thoughts of escaping the labyrinth but instead, finding the culprit that trapped us here.As we followed the illusion deeper and deeper into the maze-like labyrinth, we found ourselves being attacked, psychologically."Hmm... We're getting closer to the source of the illusions, I can feel it." I said.Sir Dustin mentioned, "Sire, from the looks of it we seem to be going to the very centre of the labyrinth.""Indeed," I replied.Navigating our way back into the labyrinth was not as difficult as finding a way out, we were making good time as well. But then..."Sire, look out!" A sword made completely of just aura appeared and tried to strike me down.I fell to the floor, weaved and dodged the attack, accidentally hitting my back on the labyrinth wall that was behind me, I was a bit injured from the impact.As I looked up, I saw the aura sword that struck
- SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO)
LABYRINTH MIRAGE
At the garden labyrinth, Sir Dustin and I were navigating the path of the garden labyrinth with haste for hours on end...I caught sight of an opening. “Over there! There's Come on, man! Pick up the speed!”Sir Dustin was right behind me, we ran as quickly as we could speeding through all the corners to reach the exit.As we sped through the labyrinth, the paths behind us began to exponentially grow in vegetation, closing up the paths we came from.Some may have wondered, why couldn't we just climb over the wall of the labyrinth? And they wouldn't be wrong for asking such, but there were three problems to even attempting to climb the walls; First of all, the walls were at least 9 ft tall, which would be difficult to climb in the first place.Secondly, even if we tried to climb the tall walls of thick vegetation, there were sleeping vines growing in between the walls. These were thick strong vines that had prickles all over them and each prickl
- SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO)
RATS IN THE MANOR
Sir Dustin stood there, dumbfounded and somewhat confused as to what I meant. I turned to him and gave him the rose, instructing him to hold onto it. His brows immediately furrowed with confusion when I gave it to him.He just kept staring at the peculiar wild rose as if he was trying to solve a puzzle with his eyes. I, on the other hand, was trying to solve a bigger puzzle.Once the rose was in his hand, I turned away from him once again and marched along another path away from the dead end.As I marched along the new path, I ordered the confused silver knight, “Follow.” And he did with the rose delicately in his hand.As he obediently followed me, Sir Dustin's expression changed from confused to intrigued...“Sire—"I immediately interrupted him, “—Quiet! Just follow.” Once we got to a corner, I stopped and ordered, “Pull out a petal from the rose.”“Pardon, sire? I don't understand.”I sighed, scratching my head i
- SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO)
SURVIVAL AND PROTECTION
Sir Dustin looked at me with a confused expression.“Excalibur?” he uttered a question.I answered, “Yes, that shall be the name of your sword from this henceforth.”He retrieved his 'Excalibur' and sheath it. He stood up to me and asked, “But what exactly IS Excalibur? I don't think I've ever heard of such a sword before.”I tucked my hands behind my back, holding that stance as I walked away and gestured for the silver knight to follow me. As we strolled through the winding labyrinth of the garden I began to explain the origins of the name, Excalibur...“The sword known as Excalibur is an old tale of a medieval time”“Medieval time, sire?”“Yes, well... It's a time long before the great world war, a time of simpler time kind of like this one but less... Evolved.“Evolved? Sire?"“Well... We're not savages, we do have some knowledge of science and technology."“Why yes, sire. You do have a point, but didn't we lose all that during the great world war?”“Haha, you would think...”“Pard
- SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO)
EXCALIBUR
I stood there dumbfounded by Sir Dustin's request, no, his life wish. This wasn't a game, this was life or death. And he was betting it all on me. I was seriously stressing out. so much that I began to retreat from the scene.“Master?” Sir Dustin looked at me slowly retreating with such sincere eyes.I was perturbed, I stopped myself and stood still. I began to think but no matter how I thought about the situation I couldn't reach a better conclusion.The more I saw him on his knee with his bleeding hand, it made it even more difficult to decide if this was the right course of action or not, I couldn't just trust him but...his conviction to serve me made me think otherwise.At the moment, all I could do was...“Fine...!” Menacingly, I rolled back my golden-dyed curly bangs back as I said that. My expression had suddenly changed from calm to thrilling.“Pardon, sire!? Did you say...?"“I said I'll do it but you're going to have to
- SHADOW AND LIGHT (CHIAROSCURO)
BLOOD KNIGHT
“I... I... I'm not,” Sir Dustin was speechless and demoralized by my questions. He couldn't even muster any rebuttals. His expression had become that of a defeated man, utterly sad.I left his head to fall, and his other knee fell with it. He was quiet after that, it made me think, “It seems that I may have broken his will and pride. That's unfortunate. I'd have thought he was stronger than that.”I pocketed my hands and began to step away from the fallen silver knight. As I did, I also thought, “No matter! If he wasn't able to handle a little criticism, then he would never be able to handle the burden of staying by my side. My path, after all, is a treacherous one.”As I slowly walked away, my ears caught some noise from behind me, it sounded like a deep inhale and...“Is he... Still...?” I turned back only to witness Sir Dustin, still on his knees inhaling the cold air around him.“What is he...?” I couldn't finish my thoughts.With
