"Fearian, I understand that you can't use your magic, but it's our only option," Nardo said in sympathy. "especially since your King is hurt," he added.

"But I keep telling you my magic is fading now! I'm running out of energy here and e-even if I still have magic, I don't want to do it!" Fearian was slowly stepping back.

"Come on Grevalon stop being a scaredy kid and do it!" Red cried. "Why is this any different!?" He added.

"This is different, because shadow magic doesn't only involve summoning and touching actual shadows," Maron said seriously. "it is also about entering one's head and going through the shadowy parts of the mind, from negative habits to darkest memories and secrets of that person," he added.

Red's eyes slightly widened at the new fact, still staring at Fearian, who hunched his back.

"Look, all we ask you to do is to go inside the beast's head to find the spirit, you really don't need to go through the shadow part of his mind, use your magic as a way to get access." Lewis approached Fearian slowly.

"Well, what are you so afraid of?!" Red cried while Fearian hesitated, his body slowly releasing some shades to flow away.

But before anyone did anything, the beast's snout struggled one more time, and the chains finally snapped, letting out a roar.

"Shit!" Red yelled.

There was nothing that can be done. Just as the Lords were about to tie the beast again, it opened its mouth wide, and a crimson mist swirled into existence. That mist then spun fast, suddenly sucking in the shades on Fearian's body.

"Wait no--" Fearian grunted as he tried to glide away as far as he can. But the pull was strong, to the point that now all of the shades were being sucked by that crimson mist.

"No! Stop!" Fearian cried.

Lewis tried to summon more roots to hold the beast down; unfortunately, the beast somehow managed to break all that held it down and stood up, continuing to suck Fearian's body.

On the other hand, Red charged at the beast and jumped, grabbing the snout with both arms and struggling to close it with his grunts. But to no avail, the beast shook its head right and left and let Red fly at the wall again and fall.

Now it had become quick. The beast kept sucking Fearian's shadowy form while the lords desperately searched for other ways to hold the beast down by tossing their powers like they previously did.

"HELP!" Fearian cried, body flaring like fire and flying towards the crimson mist. And all he felt at the moment was sheer pain and paralysis crawling all over his body.

Before he could know it, his shadow body was yanked away and pulled into the beast's mouth, and the last thing he heard was the men calling his name.

"HELP--" The teeth closed in on Fearian shut.

~~~

He jumped as he snapped his eyes open with a gasp, heart pounding against his chest and sweat sliding down through his fur. His limbs shivered as he landed a hand on his head, trying to realise what had happened.

That's where he slowly noticed something, something unnatural. He looked around and found himself in a small room filled with a small table with a lantern, a bed in the corner and a bag hanging beside the door. Yet, it was slightly dark due to the lantern's dim light. He was baffled at where he was.

Where am I? He asked himself as he stood up from his position.

And as if on cue, the door of the room opened with a squeak, revealing a man that stood behind. The only visible things were his glowing indigo eyes and the indigo diamond that illuminated from his chest.

"Feeling better?" The man asked in sympathy.

What? That's what he wanted to say, but something else slipped out of his lips.

"A little," he replied, and it wasn't his voice.

What the hell?! He thought to himself, then he looked at his body.

His shadowy form was gone, and he was in a normal body again, except that his skin was shadowy grey in colour and his hair was raven black. His garments were different as well; they were in blues and navy. What is wrong with me?! He thought to himself again, panicking.

"That is good to hear," the man said. "I wish I could give you more time, but I can't," he added.

"What is it?" The words that weren't in his mind slipped again, causing him to feel like he has no control over his body.

"King Sondrum wants to see you at once, he says it's important." The man turned his heels and left, causing the door to close behind.

Wait! He wanted to call out to him, but not a single word left his mouth and neither did he move to open the door. He wasn't in control, and it was like he was stuck in someone else's body and saw everything through their eyes. The only thing that happened was that he sighed.

Then finally, after a moment of silence, he moved his body and went for the door to open it. Once he did, he was greeted with an indigo light that washed over him, and stepping into the other side of the door, he found himself standing on the surface of a vast and silent ocean.

The sky was reflecting the colour of the ocean as well, to the point it seemed as if he was standing under the ocean rather than standing on its surface. Or was it just a blue watery void?

Not only was he surprised by this bizarre place, but he was more surprised when he saw an enormous dark fish swimming ever so slowly above him, wailing and moaning with its giant mouth filled with hay-like teeth. To him, this creature was so big it almost fit the entire sky, and it terrified him on the spot from seeing it up close.

He averted his gaze from the giant creature and looked ahead to see that he wasn't alone. There stood a man who was so tall and big that his head could reach the man's abdomen. His skin was the same, shadowy grey with raven black hair. Yet his eyes were different.

"Don't be afraid, come closer," the man called, his voice low and slightly deep yet filled with sorrow.

There was hesitation, but that only lasted for a few seconds until his body complied with the man's command. What is happening to me?! He thought.

As soon as he approached the giant Dark Meanian, he noticed what was wrong with his eyes. They were indigo, but the black pupils were different in shape. Instead of being normally circular, they were in a diamond shape, and with his dark eye bags, tears were falling nonstop from his sorrowful eyes.

The moment he saw the tears, his eyes began to do the same. W-Wait, why am I crying?! He thought, but he couldn't wipe his tears away. Instead, he bowed before the man. His body didn't listen to him.

"No need to bow, Blarence," the man said.

Blarence? Wait no I'm Fear--

"How do you feel?" The man asked.

"Slightly fine your majesty, but still, I'm suffering from those nightmares," the body he was in answered. That's where he finally understood what was happening.

"It's a shame, however, those dark dreams will pass after some time," the man said. "that is why I brought you here, Blarence." The man then turned his head in a different direction. Blarence did the same.

Not too far, the water began to spiral up and form into a figure. Once the transformation was complete, the figure shocked Fearian.

"I began to have a sinister sense that something worse will happen in the Meanian Kingdom, and here is your mission so you could barely think about your past, I order you to be my eyes and ears," the man said as he stared at the figure that the man summoned in a watery form.

"I need you to keep an eye on King Salvador Seriaz and his people." The man lowered his head, and more tears began to rain heavily from his eyes.