Y/n POV:

Even with how close Cadenza and I were, I never actually saw New Mateli. So all this was new to me when Aphmau and I walked around. We were visiting Emma and Kenmur in the library when Aphmau and I were called back with Cadenza for the council meeting. It was just gonna be held in her house, so nothing too special. I saw some familiar faces like Gale and Ulrick. There was that Vincent guy from earlier and then a guard by the name of Zack.

    Vincent had spent the last 5 minutes apologizing for trying to flirt earlier which was highly amusing to watch. He hadn't known me nor Aphmau were friends of Cadenza and he could get in 'trouble' if we told her. He then mentioned the fact that just because I was beautiful didn't mean he was gonna say yes. They wanted to make sure it was in best interest for the people of Mateli. I nodded to him with crossed arms.

    "I respect that. And if you need any help *cough*which you do*cough* I could teach you a few pick up lines to try on other girls." We had a vague agreement set upon for a later date as the meeting was called to order. Immediately Zack's concerns were brought to light. "Cadenza with all do respect, this is NEW Mateli not OLD Mateli. I understand why the guards of old Mateli would be in favor of joining. However, I feel that changing the way things are will open us up to be more vulnerable than we are now."

   Cadenza gave him a list of terrible things that have happened to them in the past that they survived through, and how that some help from the outside with do more good than harm. Zack was hesitant to admit how that wouldn't be a bad thing to happen but eventually complied to understanding. Vincent crossed his arms on the couch as he sat. "I'm sorry the two view points given here... I need some time to thing about all this. To be honest Cadenza, we know you like to butter us up with food as beautiful girls."

    He stopped talking to shoot me a wink, to which I stepped out of the way from the range very dramatically. "However, this isn't something that can be decided in one day. Maybe yes for the people that once knew them but.... for Zack and myself. I'm sorry. We need more time to think." Their decision was understood and they were expected to have a final say by morning.

   Vincent decided to make one last comment before dinner, causing a swift punch to the gut from Cadenza. It was something to chuckle at before we all left out.

~oOo~

It was late in the day, but the sun was still high for some reason. Rather peaceful, looking at the passing villagers and light breeze. That was, until a cry rang out from the frontier. Rushing forward, the few guards here were being bombarded by floating entities. Black and dark grey creatures with nothing but yellow eyes on their face and translucent bodies. They were horrifyingly twice our size but resembled a human skeleton.

   "What the hell?!" Aphmau and Cadenza just came out of her house, as frazzled as I felt. "YOU TWO GET CADENZA TO SAFETY! WE'LL HOLD THEM OFF!" Zack yelled out at Aphmau and Vincent as he fought against one of those things. "These are--" Vincent held a shocked expression with his blade drawn. I was attacked from before, turning a heal and defending myself.

   They had a foul smell and a dark swarming aura. I remembered these things. Even after such a long time, but not from where. "SHADOW SOULS! What the heck are they doin--" Laurence two was in the conversation before I realized what happened. "THR NETHER PORTAL HAS BEEN OPENED!" Out of all the shit to have happened, someone reactivated the Nether portal!

    I was having a hard time with one of them, but I wasn't alone with that. "These things are too strong to push back!" Katelyn was leaning backwards, shoving as hard as she could without the thing budging. Laurence yelled out in a strain how they have been channeling their energy for too long in the Nether. That put Zack on edge, "VINCENT, CLOWD GET CADENZA TO SAFETY NOW!"

   I glanced over for a quick second to see two Shadow Souls run past and snatched up Cadenza before anyone could react. She scream out as the sprinted off into the thick forest. I grew much more upset, whacking my guy a few good times before electrocuting him. The shadow soul turned to dust and blew off. I booked it off in Cloud, Vincent and Aphmau's running figures.

   They all stopped a ways into the woods looking all around. Vincent went in a direction by himself after he saw me come over. Cloud and Aphmau were going off together as I stayed by myself. It was relatively quiet for a while, sneaking around to see where they went. I came up on the Nether portal with the Shadow Souls and an unconscious Cadenza.

   The portal itself was shaped weirdly. Almost shaped as an alter, with surrounding pillars just as the Irene portal had. The actual portal part was red instead of purple! I theorize that it has something to do with how "charged" it is. I went around he long way from behind, to keep from being seen.

    Aphmau and Cloud were in front of it, hiding behind a tree. I waved over at her until she saw me and nodded. Striding out of my hiding spot a few meters away as a distraction. "Yoo hoo, assholes! I've seen blob fish better looking than you!" They turned their attention over to me with what I can only interpret as anger. They both came charging at me a little unexpectedly as I 180 spun and sprinted deeper into the forest.

    As bad as the situation was, this was actually fun. I hid behind a tree once they were a ways behind before climbing it. It wasn't relatively easy, as I got several scratches and blisters from almost falling repeatedly. The Shadow Souls were roaming around me, looking off but staying close. I cupped my mouth with both hands after standing on a sturdy branch(it was really high up). "AAAUUHH!"

    They both looked up at me as I waved down. The Shadow Souls are floating creatures but apparently they can't fly or climb. It was kind of pathetic as they jumped around down below. "Come on! You're almost there! Just a little more!" That seemed to piss it off, as they both slammed into the trunk of the tree with much force.

    It shook me where I stood, loosing my footing and plummeting down. I flopped sideways against my right shoulder, ribs and hip. A pained help left my mouth without warning. My nerves were on fire yet numb at the same time. A few things were definitely bruised, if not broken. I was immediately swarmed by the two Shadow Souls against the trunk.

    I chucked my F/c knife in between one of their eyes, as it crumbled and proofed into the wind. Throwing my last one at the other guy, failed miserably as I was left on the floor with a useless arm and a metal pole. I glared at it expecting excruciating pain and/or death, when the Shadow Soul was cut through. The users was dressed as a Mateli guard, but had the red surrounding aura of a Shadow Knight.

   I sat up as best I could in my condition while still feeling quite fearful of the person. My paranoia was lessened some once I saw who it was. "Vincent?!" That at least explains the unnatural red eyes. But that also means he had to kill someone to get them. My thoughts were conflicting with each other as I stared up at him with growing suspicion. "...You're a fool to take on those Shadow Souls alone."

   He said without moving from his spot. I grunted, putting most of my weight against the tree to stand up. "I'd much rather be the judge of that. So you're a Shadow Knight?" Vincent's neutral expression didn't change. "As you can see. Now, Cadenza is safe?" He finally decided to lend me a hand with walking. Everything hurt by the way.

    "Yes, Aphmau and Cloud took her back to the village. I was distracted the Shadow Souls for them." My face was scrunched as I tried to focus on anything else other than the aching. Vincent handed me my knifes off of the ground before I put them away. "Good. You were brave to put others before yourself, but please... This is not something you should be fighting alone. Now come, let's head back to the village."

    I put my hurt arm around his shoulder while trying to walk as properly as I could back to New Mateli. We stopped for a second at the Nether portal, breaking it, and warding off any other Shadow Souls trying to get through. Niether of us said anything as we both continued making our way back. I broke the silence after feeling a growing tension being formed.

   "...I'm not gonna ask you any questions but, don't get mad at Laurence's outbursts when he finds out."

1589 words. I am such a procrastinator. I had two weeks to finish this chapter but did it at midnight, the day before it was time to publish.