Chapter 896: Raised In The Shadow Pt 1

Our mission is more than holy. We are not a religious order, dedicated to the pursuit of an unknown god. Our rituals are not held in service of empty sophistry, symbolism or in deference to imagined forces. Everything is in service to the mission. We remind ourselves of the purpose. We hone ourselves like blades, scrape away until we are reduced to the finest edge, all in service of a noble goal. Everything is for the Colony. To that end we throw everything away. Our name is simply the first thing to go.

· Excerpt from ‘The Shadow Doctrine’. Nameless Author.

She awoke in darkness. The stone beneath her was cold and hard, she pulled her hand across the surface until it rested in front of her face, yet she couldn’t see it. She blinked her eyes, wondering if perhaps she had gone blind. She could still feel her eyes, feel the lids close over them, but there was just nothing there.

She was calm though. There was another sense, the new one, that assured her that she was safe, that she was welcome and that no harm would come to her. It was all around, suffused into the very air itself. She drew that feeling of peace into her lungs with every breath, it soaked into her skin. It hadn’t been long since she awakened this ability, to ‘smell’ with her mind, it had something to do with her new Class, she was sure of that.

As she moved with caution and slowly pushed herself off the ground, using her hands to feel around and above for obstacles as she sought to rise, she began to realise that she wasn’t alone. Similar noises sounded out to her left and right as others who must have awoken at the same time she did mimicked her actions without being able to see them. She was tempted to speak to them, but she didn’t. She felt that it wouldn’t be right. This was a place of silence, and she could respect that.

Instead, she waited.

It was impossible to say how much time had passed in that place. There was no sight, no sound, nothing to mark the passing minutes. The stillness was so complete the girl could feel the beat of her own heart like a drum, so loud it seemed as if everyone would be able to hear it.

Eventually a new presence made itself known. She wasn’t sure how she could tell, but she was certain that this being had been with them in wherever they were from the beginning. She didn’t hear anyone enter in the time since she awoke. Then the feeling returned. A scent, a thought, a feeling that unfurled into meaning inside her thoughts like a flower opening itself to the sun.

“You are all patient. That is good. Patience is required to do what we do.”

Silence descended once more as the scent hung in the air. The girl drew air deeply through her nose, trying to take in more of the message but it made no difference, she didn’t perceive it with her nose, not really.

“For three of you to awaken this talent so young. It is a curious thing. Very unusual, as we understand these things. For each of you to reach out to us, even more unexpected.”

So there were three of them. Still, each of them did not speak, instead they remained still, comforted by the feeling that still permeated all around them. Then, slowly, the girl raised a hand.

“You may speak, child,” the scent was warm and patient.

She opened her mouth to speak and suddenly her throat was dry and rasping. She coughed lightly.

“Sorry,” she croaked. “I didn’t mean…”

“It is fine. Take your time.”

She swallowed a few times before she felt confident speaking again.

“I’m not sure I remember reaching out to anyone… about… anything?” she frowned.

“You may not recall, but I assure you it is true. Perhaps you did not realise what it was that you were searching for, you may not have even realised you were searching, but I assure you that you were. We’ve had our eye on you three for some time and you have been drawing closer to us every day that passes, whether you knew it or not. So we have chosen to make ourselves known to you. Do not fear, there is no danger here. Whenever you like, we can have you returned to the town above in moments, you have but to say the word.”

Each of the three young humans shifted on their feet, but none spoke. After a respectful pause, the scent began to flow once more.

“I will introduce myself.”

Something shifted in the dark, the sound of many legs tapping on the ground.

“I am the nameless one, and this place is the Sanctum of Sleep. You should feel honoured, you are the first of your kind to see this place.”

The girl shifted her head as if she were looking around her, though she could not see.

“It’s very nice,” she said politely.

“Lovely,” said a girl to her left.

“Very impressive,” a boy to her right spoke up.

A brief silence.

“I know you cannot see it.”

“I didn’t want to be rude,” the girl said. Her mother had taught her better than that.

She felt the amusement of the ant, for it must be an ant. She had seen them so many times in town, though never too close. She’d been drawn to them for as long as she could remember. To be this close to them, perhaps to more than one! She began to tremble with excitement.

“What are your names, young ones?”

“Allison Brimsby,” the girl on the left said.

“Trean Potter,” said the boy.

“Emilia Cretherton,” she said.

“In this place we have no names, though you are not one of us, yet. For now, you will keep these names, and we will see how far you will come. Should you follow all the way to the end, you will be the first non-ant members of our order.”

The girl raised her hand once more.

“Why do you want humans to join?” she asked.

She didn’t intend to be rude, but she was curious. The ants had always seemed so powerful, so distant and alien to her. The idea that they might want her help seemed… wrong, impossible and strange. There was silence as the ant considered her answer.

“It isn’t necessarily that we want other non-ants to join us, but we have no reason to refuse those that yearn to spread the discipline of the Great One. There are many among the humans who seek to follow in the ways of the Eldest, but who is there to help those who would go astray? Who is there to provide guidance? Here in the Colony, we are ever watchful, but up there? Amongst the humans? If there will be those who follow the ways of the Colony, then we too must have our counterparts, to ensure it is done with the proper… respect.”

Each of the three processed what they heard. Then the voice went on.

“There are civilisations above who are yet to hear of the Colony, but they too will soon have those who are swayed by our ways. The teachings of the Great One will cover this planet eventually, it is simply a matter of time. When that happens, you will be ready. You will bear our burden and carry on our task amongst your people.”

“You will be: nameless.”