In Felora, the market flourished, no, dragged on as usual. There was a gloomy air about the lively place full of barter and bargains. People tread their steps carefully as their omnipresent Netheran patrolled the streets as Wither skeletons. To the common folk, it did not really matter who their ruler was, so long as they do not have hefty taxes, or fear of displeasing them, or a constant surveillance and threat of death.
Because the people were busy steering clear of the wither skeletons, and the skeletons too preoccupied with keeping the people in check, no one noticed as two figures slid out from a small opening long thought to be a dog's nest.
"So here we are." Lucan said. "Home, sweet home. I always wondered where in the city this Necromancer tunnel led out."
Nikka turned her ears to the side, then to the front, then to the side again. "Coast's clear. We need to be careful not to draw attention to ourselves." Nikka hissed. "I see skeletons everywhere."
"Hey," Lucan patted his chest. "I'm good at blending in." Nikka gave him a sideways glance.
"So, where to?" Nikka held Lucan's hand.
"Uh," Lucan startled at the touch of her paw. "To the marketplace, I guess. There's usually plenty of people, and plenty of gossip flying around."
The main street to their destination was mostly unchanged, except for the darker tone of Netherrack and lava. They threaded their way like hopscotch between the orange and dark purple.
"I didn't do nothing wrong!" A young Felina teen struggled as two Wither skeletons, a head taller than him, held him up by the collar.
"No! Please let my brother go!" The Felina girl beside them cried, tugging at the skeletons.
Nikka's hand moved towards her katanas, but Lucan stopped her. "We can't interfere, not yet."
Behind Lucan and Nikka, a black hooded figure materialized from an alley. He pulled a skeleton over the roadside bush and threw him into a pool of lava. It sizzled and evaporated. The figure vanished into another alley
The remaining skeleton, still holding the brother, swiveled its head around to see Lucan and Nikka staring. Putting down the Felina, it drew its sword and ran towards them.
"Uh oh," Lucan said, "Time to go." He pulled Nikka around and ran down the street, hopping between the tiles. They turned a corner and came to a nice long stretch of un-Nethered road. They sprinted towards the next intersection when…
The hooded figure who had killed the skeleton earlier pulled them both into a side alley. Holding one hand over each of their mouths, he shushed them silent as the Wither skeleton ran past.
"Let GO of me!" Nikka struggled. "I assure you, if you so much as…"
"Quiet!" The hooded figure revealed his face. "It's me."
"Alec?" Lucan blurted out. The soldier's square face remained familiar to him, but his hair and beard had grown wilder and unkempt. He had done his best to braid both in ponytails but it could not conceal the fact that they have not been washed for months, unlike back in the barracks.
Alec let them go. "Thought you two were killed in the battle with the Necromancers."
"That's my line!" Lucan exclaimed. "We had no idea you'd survived either."
Alec checked the street outside. "Things have gotten so much worse." He checked again. "We defeated the Necromancers only for them to be replaced by a much greater evil."
"Listen, Alec." Nikka approached him. "This is why we've come back. We plan to fight the Nether from the inside, with Feldons who know the kingdom well, and we could really use your help."
"Are you two mad?!" Alec shook their shoulders. "It'll put everyone at risk. There are some people who are actually sucking up the Netheran's shit, and we have no idea who. How do you suppose we will gather a resistance in this environemet? I am not getting involved in this." He let them go, put his hood back on, and headed onto the street.
"So…" Lucan began, "That was you who killed that skelly, right?"
"Skelly?" Nikka asked.
"Back in the corps," Alec explained, that's what we used to refer to the skeletons." He looked towards the street. "Only they used to be white. Now they are black." He sighed and turned back to the pair. "If you are serious about this, you should go to The Sunset Topiary and seek out the Shadow."
Lucan and Nikka walked along the passageways between the trees. Having no other lead, they followed Alec's direction to the Topiary. Located in the treetops on the west end of Felora, it commanded a magnificent view of the orange sky every dusk.
"So who do you reckon this "Shadow" is?" Lucan asked, "Could it be Alec?"
"Well, he does move kind of like a shadow." Nikka replied. "But I don't think it's him. I reckon he would have told us back in the alley." She thought for a bit. "You think someone has already started our job for us?"
"If they did, then it's definitely not him. I guess we'll find out who this Shadow is."
Before long, they came to a gateway. The overhead sign confirmed that it was their destination. They stepped onto a large wooden platform built around the branches. From Lucan's previous time here, on hiding from…well, Kiyoshi, the canopy branches were trimmed into beautiful animals. Now, they were trimmed to represent images of Pythus, of Skorch, of Wither skeletons, ghasts, and Withers. Oddly though, despite the vast number of skellies in the city, there were none here. Perhaps they did not bother, for this place was empty, except for one person.
"Yes? Can I help you with something?" A gentle voice asked. The speaker was a young Felina girl surrounded by books. Though the ends of her hair was still a lively pink, white sprouted from her head, forming a circle on top. Despite its color, her hair, too, was untended to.
"Hi," Nikka began, "A friend sent us here. He…" Lucan nudged her and gave her a look, but she did not take the hint. "…usually wears a black hood."
"You mean that one?" The girl pointed to a nearby bench. On it was Alec's hood, neatly folded. "You must be looking for the Shadow. Locals made up the name. Very illusive figure." She scrutinized them. "What do you want with the Shadow?"
"We're trying to help Felden." Lucan said. "We are against the Nether."
"So is the Shadow." The girl replied. "Unfortunately, no one is to learn of his identity."
She closed the book she was writing in. Hugging it to her chest, she stepped nearer. Her ears twitched and pointed forward as she approached them. "He must remain anonymous." She took another step, awfully close now. Lucan could count the hairs in her face. "Or the Nether would destroy the resistance. He needs to be… someone with connections." She backed away and Lucan breathed a sigh of relief. "Someone who is neutral." Her ears flapped. Lucan and Nikka just stared.
"Someone who is untouchable by the traditions of Ardonia." The girl continued.
"Someone who no one would suspect." She examined a nearby ghast bush.
"Maybe the Shadow isn't even a he" She placed one foot in front of the other and approached them again.
"Maybe she's a Chronicler…." She whispered in their ear and hopped back in her chair. Crossing her slender legs, she placed her feet on a small table in front of her and giggled.
"I'm a Chronicler."
"You are the…" Lucan burst out. The girl jumped in front of him and put a finger on his lip. "Sh-sh-sh, no one must know."
She stood up. Placing her hands behind her, she swayed left and right. Putting on a cute and mischievous face, she said,
"My name is Nitsuke, and you must be Lucan and Nikka."
"Yes, hi." Lucan scratched the back of his head. "I was… supposed to be your escort… before the Nether."
"How did you…" Nikka began.
"It is the Shadow's specialty to know everything." Nitsuke giggled and turned to Lucan.
"And yes, that's how Alec came to protect me." Nitsuke looked at the sun. "He should be any minute now. He's bringing a very special guest, one that will help us in liberating Felora."
Lucan laughed. "What's so funny?" Nikka asked.
"The last time me and Alec had a conversation," he chortled, "was about how we were both chasing Felina tails."
Nitsuke's smile vanished. Nikka slapped Lucan on the face. "How did you end up with this…jerk?" Nitsuke asked Nikka.
"Beats me."
"Anyway, back to business." Nitsuke pulled out a piece of paper and began writing.
"I thought it was forbidden for Chroniclers to take sides?" Nikka asked.
"You're correct." Nitsuke looked up. "We're not allowed to fight or favor one faction or the other. However," she capped her pen, "nowhere does it say I'm not allowed to provide you with a list of places." She winked. "After all, it is stated as part of a Chronicler's duty to gather impartial, that means from both sides in a war, information."
"Which places?" Lucan scanned the list.
"Places where people in this city who would be useful to a rebellion visit regularly." Nitsuke answered. "And if you were to recruit these people, I would remain neutral, and compliment your good work."
"Well, why didn't you give us places and names?" Lucan asked, folding the paper and tucking it into his jacket pocket.
"Oh," Nitsuke giggled, "First, where's the fun in that? Second, places do not reveal who these people are, and hence if things go south they will be safe."
"This is far better than us asking people in the streets or putting up posters." Nikka murmured. "Thank you, Nit… I mean, miss Shadow."
Alec entered the garden with a Felina woman. She was about the same age as Lucan and stood as tall. She wore a white and purple robe and held in her hand a spear. Her silver hair glinted in the light. She looked at the three and nodded.
"This is Captain Yujuki of Hydraphel." Nitsuke introduced. "She is here to help us win the rebellion."
"Yes," Yujuki stepped forth. "Kiyoshi has told me how he got his ear torni." She smiled. "You must be Lucani. Not many people cani beat Kiyoshi in a fight, much less leeve a mark on him."
Lucan bowed lightly. "He didn't tell me he had… special connections outside Felden."
"Well, I would see no reasoni to." Yujuki said. "Alec rescued me from the Netherani stationed at Hyperia. He kept me as his pet." Yujuki almost spat the word. "With the help of some… uncultured Legionnaires."
Alec looked away. "I am sorry, ma'am, but they were all the help I could get."
"After we free Feldeni," Yujuki continued, "I hope you will help me take back Hydraphel."
"We most certainly will." Lucan promised. "We may be Feldons, but Ardonia is our land. We will not stop until the Nether is vanquished."