Chapter One: the Alleyway

In the World of Ruyanei, there are One-Hundred Independent City-States, and Six-Hundred and Sixty Six Dungeons dotting its vast, expansive and diverse landscapes. No empires remain since the fall of Krow; only minor powers vying for whatever influence after the War of Saints and Sinners. Down, down, down below this view of the great expanse of a world is a single City-State.

Prima, the City of Plenty.

A peaceful City, and the original home of the great Heroine who saved the world a mere twenty years ago. The massive walls protect its people, who walk the streets with naught a single care; even if the streets have been less than safe in the recent nights. But ever smaller scale then the city, smaller still than a road or a single stall is a young man, with black hair, dark eyes, pale skin, pointed ears, a pair of swords, and an irritable look on his face.

"Mortsie... you have got to be kidding me..." Klyde grumbles. "Leaving me like this; couldn't have even let me get a body I'd be comfortable in."

Yet smaller still, underneath the silly "protagonist", living within his shadow as it emerges from the void of ****.

A Shade; the lowest, weakest form of undead. Simply two white dots, swimming amongst the small pond that was the oafish Klyde's shadow. It's soul, a meager fragment, contained within it vast potential, and a secret long since buried. But that doesn't matter now. What matters, is that it's about to die. Over, and over, and over again.

Klyde, unaware of his passenger, walks his way into an alleyway, just as the sun begins to set. Its not long before man finds himself lost, and wanders off once more, leaving behind his shadows guest in the sparse space between a smithy, and a bookstore. The two white dots, barely capable of thought in its reduced state, waited. And waited. And waited... The sun rose, and set, a dozen times as it waited. Slowly but surely, it began to do something remarkable. It began to think; its mind having absorbed the most critical of information from the passers by.

Language.

"I. Am." It thought; and then another thought whizzed by; barely understood.

"Hungry."

As rats meandered nearby, eating the corpse of one of their own, they did not notice the little white dots moved across the wall of the alley. Slipping through the shadows like a pair of marbles sliding down a hill, the little shadow found itself perfectly below one of the rat's heads. From there, instinct took over. A raspy small voice spoke in that alleyway...

"Shade Blade."

A blade of shadows, curved like that if a scythe, erupts upward. It was no larger than a mere whittling knife, but that was enough to pierce the brain of the rat above the little shadow. Small black hands, each feeble in their own right, slowly pulled the rat's fresh corpse down into the shadows, consuming it, flesh, muscle, and bone alike. The other rats had scattered by now, but the little shadow was satisfied for now. It felt stronger from the experience, and revitalized thanks to the meal... maybe it should find something larger to eat next.

For now, it lingered here as the other rats scattered, and moved to consume the half-eaten body of the other dead rat. As it did, however, something quickly bounced through, landing on the prize that was won by the little shadow and its twin white dots. A yellow blob, translucent and around the same as as the little shadow, was absorbing the half-eaten rat. The little shadow hissed.

"Mine. Steal. Thief." Its raspy voice called.

The yellow goop sways slightly, as if surprised, and it spoke with a cheery voice. "Voice? Friend?"

"No. You. Steal." The whispers called.

The yellow goop shuddered, sounding sad. "Sorry. Help find more? Apology?"

There was silence, and then. "Acceptable."

The two little monster then leapt upon their newfound basic alliance, and while the other rats scattered and fled, the flying of bouncy slime and the near silent formation of dark blades was all that awaited them as they scurried and scattered. The feast was enormous, relatively speaking considering the size of our two little friends. After they each had their fill with plenty to spare for the time being, their size and strength grew in turn, doubling their masses. Alliances, it seemed, were key to success; the little shadow learned.

"Sammy!" Says the now cat-sized ball of yellow ooze, a simulacrum of a cute face forming on the surface of its membrane. "Sammy is name! What yours?"

The little shadow, just as increased in strength and mass, pondered the question. What was its name? Why was it here? What is here? Where was it?

Where is She? His one and only...

Her.

It's shattered mind grew hazy as it wondered who Her was; but something deep down inside itself knew a different answer. It had a name. A powerful name. A true name.

"Envoy." Said the little shadow. "Envoy is my name."

"Envoy, Envoy, the very best boy~" Sang Sammy, wobbling and wiggling. "You're friend now! Sammy help you now. Sammy is great helper."

"Ok." Envoy said in a whisper, barely understanding the concepts of "friend", but understanding in full the need to learn.

And so, the two little monsters remained in the alleyway with their feast of rats, with Sammy informing Envoy of all she knew about Monsters, how they grew, what they were; and various other little details. Given her short attention span and tendency to bounce off the walls, it was not until after the sun passed over the hill and the moon rose; when the last rat was split in two and devoured by both of them, that she had finished her little lessons. Now, it was time to get back to the hunt.

The little shadow, able to move through the darkness of night, was no longer confined by the shadows of the dark alley. Sammy followed, bouncing along with him as they sought yet more prey. They passed various buildings as they went; a Tailor, a Tavern, a Teashop, but it was when passing a building with an odd flag that Sammy stopped the both of them.

"Look, Friend. Guild! The fight-y-est of fighter places!" Sammy says happily.

Even now there were a few people gathered outside in a line, waiting for their turn to join the ranks of this "Guild." Various people, of different colors and creeds, some of whom were even monsters like them; but with little red scraps of cloth tied to various places. Sammy squishes over to Envoy.

"Want to be strong like Heroine one day. Guild Leader. Bestest Fighter!" She says quietly, as they sneakily look at the Guild from afar.

The flag flowing freely was a beautiful golden tapestry, with a hint of grey and blue at its center. A symbol that burns its way into the Envoy's little mind. A ring of silver, with a sapphire heart. Its inner world was set ablaze by the sight, and it knew only longing from that moment onward... this was a familiarity. One it would chase to the ends of the world, time and time again. This was a part of Her.

"Hurry! People coming!" Sammy whispered, slipping into another dim alley as a pair approached their position.

The Envoy closed its white dot eyes, becoming one with the shadows as the pair passed.

"They said they'd give us a call... is that good, Ashes?" Asked a mousey, quiet voice.

Another voice, one with joy and energy to spare, laughed. "Duuuh, Zana. Come on, Pops will kill me if we're out any later."

The Envoy opened its eyes, watching the armored girl and the one with the large hat pass it by; from the looks of it, they were heading back towards the area his favorite alley lay. Shaking off some additional deja vu, he then followed Sammy ever further along, until finally, the two emerged out of the streets and alleys of the commercial district, and into the City Square.

There, a statue of the Saints stood tall amid a great and beautiful fountain. The water, lit from beneath by magical means, cast a rainbow across the City Square. Festivities were rampant across the area, with performers, puppets, and bards each finding a place among the dazzling wonderment. The Statue of Tomoko Sakurai in particular drew the attentions of the Envoy. It was by pure deathly instinct that it knew her true name. It was by this instinct it knew what it must do...

Tomoko Sakurai... Is Her.

And he must gain Her attention