My shadow on the floor beside the bed turned dark, thickening like a pool of black liquid spreading across the polished marble. It slowly stirred at first, but then it became chaotic, splashes of black energy erupting outward in all directions, flickering like dying flames. My eyes narrowed as first a claw became visible before vanishing into the darkness again, the liquid churning as if something chaotic and violent was happening beneath the surface.
"Taranis, is this normal?" Nymeria asked, moving protectively in front of me, her body tense and ready.
Ume had already risen to the floor, standing in front of both of us, her pink eyes fixed on the shadow pond while a single plum blossom petal materialised in her hand, glowing with soft pink light.
"I should have guessed this might happen," I sighed, facepalming with a soft smack. "Ume, you can rela—"
