Supreme Magus novel Chapter 3379

The world wasn’t the safe place they spoke of to reassure him when he was afraid. Out of their house, there were people and things from which his parents could not defend him.

One of them was standing right in the middle of the living room.

Whether it was a thing or a person, Liru couldn’t tell. He was just five years old and Mogar’s complexity still baffled him. To make matters worse, the wonder he once felt for the unknown had been replaced by fear.

Fear that new things and strangers could hurt him. Fear of facing another threat above his parents’ means that might take them away from him forever. Liru was afraid of pain but loneliness horrified him.

Agra and Borj were all his little, imperfect world. Without them, he would be truly lost.

"It’s okay, son." Borj left Lith’s side and moved to the child’s, quickly followed by Agra. "Please, don’t move, Supreme Magus Verhen."

The creature blinked in acknowledgment, not moving a muscle.

With his parents by either side, holding his hands, Liru found the strength to take a small step forward. Once he felt reassured the shadow wouldn’t attack, he took another, and then another.

He left his father’s hand, taking the shining stone out of his pocket and putting it in front of the living darkness standing in front of him. The light didn’t banish the darkness, it only made it deeper.

Holding his mother’s hand, Liru took the final step forward and touched the shadow. It was cold, yes. It was solid, yes. But it was also harmless.

The chill of the Abomination gave Liru relief from the rising heat of the day, bringing back to his mind the shade of trees. Back when Mogar was still a safe place, Liru used to play outside and during the hottest hours of summer the shadows were his friends.

Liru took a step back and then ran behind his father’s legs. He was still scared, but he was no longer terrified.

"Turn back into a human, please." Borj asked and Lith complied. "Thank you for your visit but now I have to ask you to leave."

"As you wish." Lith gave them a polite bow. "I won’t bother you further. If you ever need me, Shay knows how to contact me."

"Thanks, but I hope we’ll never need to make that call." Agra noticed that Lith was waiting for someone to open the door and let him out so she did it.

She didn’t miss the relief on Liru’s face as he saw the shadows obeying his parents or the huge smile that appeared on his small face as Lith walked through the door. The first smile since that day.

Lith had just left the house and opened a Warp Steps when Agra found the strength to step outside and say:

"I also hope that one day I’ll be strong enough to forgive you, but that day is not today."

"Fair enough." Lith gave her a nod before disappearing through the Warp Steps.

Agra felt her knees giving out and leaned against the wall for support. The sun was still clouded but even under its dim light, Agra could finally appreciate the colors of Mogar again.

Shadows still lurked around every corner, but they were no longer filled with invisible enemies. Sunlight had stopped being the sword she needed to drive away the monsters and had gone back to being the annoying prick that covered her in sweat and stung her eyes.