Theo stood frozen in place, as if the powers of the surrounding dark void had returned to paralyze him completely, their coldness seeping into the depths of his bones until it almost froze him. His wide black eyes stared at the face that resembled his own incredibly, the face that bore the same features he saw every day in the reflection of water or the broken mirror in his home, the same small scars he had acquired from years of harsh training under Kyle and from the recent cave battles.
But his eyes... with eyes he had never seen before in his life, even in his most terrifying nightmares, eyes that were not red as he first saw when he faced the entity in the cave, but were completely black like his own, but their darkness was incredibly terrifying, an abyss, like an endless pit that swallowed everything that fell into it, exuding an ancient power and a hidden evil that Theo could not comprehend or understand at his young age.
The smile that formed on the doppelgänger's lips, the smile that began to look very realistic on his face similar to Theo's, was indescribably terrifying, a smile that spoke a thousand words Theo could not yet decipher.
It wasn't Theo's smile that he knew, it wasn't the smile of a child or even a young man. It carried within it pain, knowledge, and perhaps a madness that Theo could not yet comprehend.
Theo felt that this moment, this strange confrontation in this placeless place in the reality he knew, was the culmination of all the mystery and horror he had experienced since his feet first stepped into the cursed cave, all the voices and hallucinations he heard, all the traps and monsters he faced—all of it led him here, to face this terrifying entity that emerged from the darkness and swallowed him.
This entity that darkness swallowed in the cave now stood before him, in this infinite library, with his face, his own face! But with terrifying eyes that differed fundamentally from his own in the intensity of the darkness they held, and with a smile that did not belong to the human world he knew.
Theo was looking at a mirror, but it was the hardest mirror he had ever seen, a mirror reflecting a dark side of himself he didn't know existed.
"Surprised to see me here?" said the doppelgänger, his voice calm and deep, echoing in the vast library like a distant reverberation coming from nothingness itself, carrying clear sarcasm and knowledge far beyond Theo's comprehension, knowledge of his history that he had not yet lived. "Or did you expect something different? Perhaps an easy and quick exit from this small darkness you were aimlessly swimming in, lost like a small child who doesn't know where to go in this gloom?"
Theo could not utter a single word, his tongue was tied in his mouth from the intensity of the shock and fear that completely engulfed his being, and his mind struggled to comprehend this terrifying surreal scene that surpassed any logic or knowledge he knew.
The dark entity he faced in the cave, the entity that seemed to be the embodiment of darkness itself, possessing the invincible power of absolute darkness, now stood before him with his face, his own face! But with terrifying black eyes like an abyss, and a smile that did not belong to the human world he knew.
Now, if he went out and said he was Theo, people would easily believe him, if only his eyes were not those of a thirteen-year-old child. His eyes were those of a thirteen-year-old Theo in form, but the doppelgänger's eyes were terrifyingly dark, an extremely terrifying darkness, an abyss, like an endless pit. It was a terrifying darkness that could not be looked at for long without feeling as if it was swallowing you.
Theo tried to look into the doppelgänger's eyes, but he was completely swallowed, the abyss in his eyes had already tried to swallow him!
"Don't be so shy," the doppelgänger continued, his smile widening slightly to reveal a row of teeth that seemed strangely normal compared to his face and eyes, which only added to the strangeness of the situation. "We've come a long way on our journey, your journey, Theo, until we finally meet face to face in this placeless place, haven't we? Or perhaps... face to face... again after our short and exciting encounter in the cave, the encounter in which darkness swallowed you and brought you here?"
The doppelgänger advanced slowly and confidently towards Theo, his movements fluid and quiet, as if he were walking on solid ground in this placeless place, like a great predator approaching its helpless prey in its moment of weakness and despair.
He stopped directly in front of him, the distance between them no more than a few short steps. His terrifying black eyes pierced Theo, as if searching the depths of his soul, the dark corners of his mind that he tried to hide, revealing all his buried secrets and fears that he had desperately tried to hide even from himself, his fears that the dark entity in the cave had seen and read like an open book with no secrets.
"You have many questions, don't you, Theo? Questions that burn your mind and gnaw at your soul like volatile, uncontrollable fire?" said the doppelgänger, the sarcastic tone in his voice becoming clearer and harsher, as if it were whips lashing Theo's exhausted soul and leaving him naked before himself. "Questions about this placeless place, about me, and about... your true self that you are trying to hide from the world and from yourself, your self that you do not want to acknowledge and face. Don't worry, we have all the time in the world here in my infinite library filled with hidden secrets and knowledge to answer them. Or perhaps... to make you answer them yourself by confronting your dark truth that you constantly run from."
The terrifying, sinister smile on the doppelgänger's face, which reached his ears, his black eyes that held the power of absolute darkness and the endless abyss... everything about this entity said that this was not just an illusion, not just a disturbing dream or a hallucination from a mind exhausted by fear and despair, but a terrifying reality that surpassed any nightmare Theo could ever experience.
"Who... who are you really? How... how is this possible?" Theo finally managed to utter the words, his voice hoarse and trembling from fear and long disuse, barely audible above the profound silence of the place. "What do you want from me in this strange place that I don't understand? Why am I here? What's happening? Am I dead?"
The doppelgänger looked at Theo for a moment, a look that held many complex meanings, then slowly turned his back to him and returned to the large wooden desk in the middle of the room. He sat on his swivel chair, placing one hand on an open book before him, as if reading something very important or waiting for something to happen.
His appearance was disturbingly calm and relaxed after all the terror he had shown, which increased Theo's tension and anxiety to its utmost peak.
"Who am I? A very good question, Theo, a question that holds answers you would never expect, answers that might radically change your perception of yourself and the world around you," said the doppelgänger, his voice echoing in the vast library as if coming from every direction at once, like an echo of his multifaceted existence in time. "I... I am you, Theo."
Theo froze again, and felt a shiver run through his entire body, cold as the void he had been in, cold as death itself. "I... I am you? What do you mean by these strange words? Are you a copy of me? Am I in a dream? Have I lost my mind?"
The doppelgänger smiled a sad smile this time, a smile that held a pain Theo did not yet understand, a deep pain known only to the doppelgänger, a pain resulting from a long and difficult journey he had endured. "I mean exactly what I said, Theo. I am you. But... I am you from the future."
A new shock swept over Theo, stronger than any shock he had ever felt in his short life. The future? Was this possible? Was this doppelgänger... the future that awaited him? Was this person... the future? Was this the madness of darkness that his aunt Celia spoke of? Was everything happening just an illusion?
"The future? How? That's impossible! How can I meet myself from the future? This defies any logic or science I know!" Theo cried out, his mind refusing to comprehend this temporal and existential contradiction.
"Nothing is impossible in this world, Theo, especially for you," the doppelgänger replied with mysterious calmness, his voice carrying absolute confidence and deep knowledge of the universe's secrets.
"This library... this void you found yourself in... they exist outside the realm of time and space you know in your physical world. Here, past, present, and future can meet and intertwine at a single point with no beginning or end. And here, I exist as a part of you, as an echo of your long journey that you haven't truly begun yet, as proof of what you will become."
The doppelgänger rose again and began to stroll slowly and confidently among the towering bookshelves that stretched endlessly into the darkness surrounding the floating candles in the air.
His movements were fluid and quiet, as if he were an integral part of this place, as if he knew every corner and every secret in this massive library filled with secrets and hidden knowledge.
He extended his hand and stopped at one of the shelves, pulling out an old book, its leather cover worn and tattered, appearing to hold a very long history of time, experience, and suffering.
He quickly flipped through its pages, his black eyes examining the strange words and drawings within, as if reading a history he knew very well.
"You are here because you have reached a crucial and pivotal turning point in your life, Theo," the doppelgänger said without looking at Theo, his voice now serious, devoid of sarcasm, filled with truths. "A point after which you cannot continue in the old way you were accustomed to. The cave was just a very small beginning, a first spark, just a simple test for what is to come on your difficult and long path."
Theo remembered the mysterious drawings on the cave walls, the giant fighters with their immense power and the shadowy spectral beings with glowing red eyes. He remembered the mysterious voice that called his name for the first time in his life. Everything began to connect in a frightening and disturbing way in his exhausted mind, as if pieces of a terrifying puzzle were coming together to form a complete, frightening picture.
"What are you talking about? What is coming? Is it related to those terrifying drawings I saw?" Theo asked, his voice carrying anticipation mixed with fear of the answer he would receive, fear of the future looming ahead.
The doppelgänger stopped flipping through the book and quietly closed it. He placed it aside on the desk, then looked directly at Theo, his black eyes holding unwavering determination and confidence, but also wisdom and knowledge gained from bitter experiences and great pains.
"What's coming is... fate, Theo," the doppelgänger said, his voice low but carrying an immense weight, the weight of an inescapable destiny. "Your destiny, and the fate of this world we live in, which depends on you more than you realize at your current age."
He took another step towards Theo and spoke in a lower voice, as if whispering a very dangerous secret that no one else should know, a secret concerning their shared existence "You are destined to face seven major catastrophes, Theo. Seven crucial and painful turning points in your life, each one will test your physical and magical strength, your solid will forged by Kyle, your humanity to its utmost limits. You will suffer terribly, Theo. You will wish for death every moment, every time. Now, Theo, the time for sleep is over."
Seven catastrophes? The number alone was incredibly terrifying for a thirteen-year-old boy. Seven major catastrophes that would change his life and destiny, and perhaps the destiny of the entire world.
'Seven catastrophes? When will these catastrophes happen? What are they? How do I prepare for them? Who will help me? Will I be alone?' Questions gathered in his throat, coming out with great difficulty, desperate for answers that might save him from what was coming, or at least give him a glimmer of hope in this surrounding darkness and the dark future.
The doppelgänger looked at Theo again, and a look of deep pain and sadness passed through his black eyes, as if remembering pains, suffering, and difficult situations he himself had repeatedly experienced. "I cannot tell you more about the catastrophes themselves, Theo, this goes beyond my limits that I cannot cross," the doppelgänger said, his voice carrying a tone of clear regret, as if he were bound by invisible chains stronger than any force. "These are my limits that I can never cross, limits imposed by this place."
He slowly extended his hand towards another bookshelf, pulling out a different book from the first, appearing much older and more dilapidated, as if it held very ancient secrets from the beginning of time itself. He began to slowly flip through its pages, as if searching for specific information, a keyword, a complex equation, a secret buried between the lines.
"The more I tell you something specific about the future, about the upcoming events in their precise details, the more the present from which I came will change radically and significantly. There are rules in this place, rules that govern existence itself, rules that can never be broken, even by me, who came from the future. Rules that govern time itself and its irreversible flow. If I exceed the limits of what I am allowed to say, I will cease to exist. Of course, you will not die, and I will not be able to tell you more or help you in any other way on your difficult journey."
Theo finally understood the extent of the limitations imposed on this mysterious doppelgänger who stood before him, this entity that was a part of him. He wanted to help him, that seemed clear from the tone of his voice and his gaze, but he was bound by the rules of this mysterious place where they met, rules he could not understand, but which he had to respect if he wanted the doppelgänger to remain.
"But... how can I face seven major catastrophes about which I know nothing? How do I prepare for what's coming when I don't know its nature or true power? How do I gather the necessary strength to face all this in time before it's too late and the next catastrophe arrives?" Theo said with increasing despair, feeling utterly helpless before the magnitude of the challenge that awaited him, before a complete future of suffering and struggle.
The doppelgänger stopped Browse the book and quietly closed it. He placed it aside on the desk, then looked directly at Theo, his eyes holding unwavering determination and confidence, but also wisdom and knowledge gained from bitter experiences and great pains he had lived through.
"I will not leave you to face this destiny alone without real help, Theo," the doppelgänger said, his voice firm and strangely reassuring despite all the terrifying things he had said, despite all the talk of catastrophes and potential death. "I will not tell you about the catastrophes themselves, I cannot, but I will teach you how to become strong enough to face them when the time comes. I will explain to you about darkness, about the inherent power within it that you have not yet realized, about its hidden aspects that go beyond the magic you know, and how to use it in ways you have never imagined or learned from anyone, not even from Celia or Kyle."
The doppelgänger began to talk about darkness, not just as a magical element that Theo used in his attacks and spells, but as a fundamental and deep force in existence itself, as an integral part of the complex fabric of reality.
He spoke of its dual nature, its ability to completely destroy and create anew, to inflict severe harm and rapid healing at the same time, of how it interacted with the physical and spiritual world, of being an integral part of everything living and non-living, of its omnipresence. He explained how darkness was not just the absence of light, as most people in Theo's world believed, but an independent entity, a force that could be understood and controlled by those who possessed the courage and will to delve into its depths and explore its hidden secrets.
"Listen to me, Theo, darkness is not a void... it is not the absence of light, it is a living being, unlike all other elements. It and time are the only ones that can be alive whenever they wish. It is a primordial entity born from the womb of nothingness before the stars came into existence. It is the mystery that precedes time, and it rejects any of those lowly laws," the doppelgänger said, his voice becoming deeper and more mysterious.
"Look at yourself, for example, Theo. You are darkness itself. You are darkness, and darkness is you. You are not the son of darkness, as geniuses like you were described and as you are described. You are darkness itself, and you choose your next heir."
"Neither light nor darkness can exist together in one body, of course," he said, looking at Theo with a hint of pity. "Darkness will completely consume light, and then it will consume all the parts that were nourished by light. In other words, it will kill the person carrying light if darkness and light merge in their body."
"Light is like a small child trying to stand up, and darkness comes back to kill it every time."
Theo was shocked and his heart was still pounding hard. He was trying to focus intensely to understand the complex words he was hearing, memorizing them as much as possible. He wished he had full control over his body and mind now, as he would have imprinted the words on his body to save them from oblivion.
"Darkness can take any form and consume everything. You can create an entire body from darkness, with a heart, lungs, a mind, or even without a mind, and the last component will remain, of course." The doppelgänger paused for a moment then continued, raising his head to look directly at Theo. "Can you guess what it is, Theo? What is this last component that a body of darkness needs to be complete?"
Theo was shocked by his doppelgänger's question, or rather, his future self, and said in a low voice barely audible, "The soul."
The future Theo laughed for the first time as if praising himself. "Hahahahaha, well done, Theo, you catch on quickly. Of course, it's the soul, the soul that represents the essence of existence, and you can take it from anywhere, from any living creature. And the more developed and complex the creature's soul, the stronger and more loyal the servant you will possess. And these are things, of course, that light will not contain, it will not be able to do them."
The entire library shook from his laughter, books seemed to fall from their places. The library tried to forcefully reject him and cast him away, but it was not in its power. Now, the future Theo calmed down and did something with his hands, and the library immediately quieted down, then he continued.
"Darkness can spread dark emotions, corrupt the mind and drive people insane, destroy souls, explode them, and completely reshape them."
He was now teaching Theo everything available to him without severely breaking the rules imposed on him at the same time. He was teaching him many concepts about his element, telling him things he wished he had known at his age.
"Darkness, Theo, is not an element as I told you and explained to you. At the same time, it is not from our planet or this world. It is from a world called 'The World Without Suns'. It has passed through the barriers that protect our planet somehow. I don't know exactly how it happened, but it has happened, and we, who possess this darkness in our blood, have become enemies and traitors to the planet the moment we awakened with it, the moment we showed this power. Your opinion on this doesn't matter now, just prepare for the death that will pursue you."
"Oh... and that darkness in the cave wasn't me. I only appeared the moment the spell that opened the door between our times was completed, and also... this dark entity that swallowed you is the previous owner of darkness, but it existed in a body that was created by..." As soon as he said it, his body seemed to flicker, as if his image was swaying in the air.
"Damn it! Haven't I killed enough of them to speak more freely? I wish I hadn't let that cursed rat escape!" the future Theo said with sudden anger, as if speaking of someone he knew very well.
Theo was surprised by what was happening to the future Theo's body and asked, "Killed what? Who do you mean?"
"What? You don't know? They are the cursed time mages—" The future Theo suddenly looked at Theo and realized that this information was not supposed to be revealed until Theo had already formed his seventh ring.
Theo was already shocked but couldn't maintain his balance now. "T-t-t-time e-e-element?" He couldn't speak now, and his mind was working faster, searching for a memory of that element, but of course he wouldn't find it.
"Ah, don't think about it now, Theo, you will only know about this element in the future. It's an element that a mage who had an affinity with it can switch to at a certain time."
"The element of darkness that you master and use is a very small part, just an outer shell, of this greater essence," the future Theo said. "But it is not all of it at all. There are much deeper levels, stronger and more primordial forms of darkness whose existence you have not yet realized, which you have not yet reached in your short journey so far."
"Indeed, I have taught you a lot now, but what I taught you was limited due to the restrictions imposed on me. If we consider what I taught you, it is not even a quarter of my understanding of darkness, but it will build a stronger foundation for you, and I already expect you to reach three or four rings soon."
Then the future Theo touched upon the concept of "aura," that invisible energy that Theo felt when Kyle was training in front of him, that energy whose nature he could not understand.
"The energy you felt when Kyle was training you, that invisible force that wrapped around his body like a protective shield or a halo of power, is what we call 'Aura'," the future Theo said. "It is an embodiment of a fighter's physical and spiritual strength, the essence of his existence as a seasoned warrior. Every living being, everything in existence, possesses a form of its own aura, however weak. But skilled fighters who reach advanced levels, especially from the Fourth Rank onwards, can condense it, control it, and use it for very powerful combat purposes."
"To break through to the Fourth Rank as a fighter, which you should strive for with all your might and as quickly as possible, you must learn how to absorb this aura, how to make it a part of your body and inner energy, how to integrate it into your being. Not just the aura you produce yourself from your training, but the aura present in the world around you, the aura that leaks from other creatures you defeat, even the residual aura in places that witnessed powerful events or intense combat encounters."
The future Theo explained that absorbing aura is not easy at all, it is a very difficult and dangerous process if not mastered correctly, requiring very high concentration and precise control over internal and external aura. He spoke of the traditional ways of absorbing aura that fighters use, but said there is a much more effective way, a way that can greatly accelerate the breakthrough to the Fourth Rank, a way he himself learned in his future after many trials and errors, and after almost destroying himself.
"I will teach you a very advanced technique for absorbing aura," the future Theo said, his black eyes gleaming with ancient intelligence and deep knowledge of the secrets of energy inherent in existence, as if they held the wisdom of bygone eras. "It requires... a small sacrifice from you, some pain you are already accustomed to in your training with Kyle, but its result is worth the great risk you will take to gain the necessary strength to face what is coming."
"And before I begin, you must know that aura is absorbed into the Dantian. The Dantian is the energy center within the human body. The Dantian is located precisely three fingers below the navel, and it works to refine the energy you absorb from the outside world and purify it from impurities."
The future Theo paused for a moment, as if gathering his complex thoughts, or preparing to reveal a very important secret that should not be easily divulged to anyone who cannot bear its consequences. He looked at Theo with a look that held many meanings, many shared memories that Theo had not yet lived, many pains and sacrifices that he himself had experienced in his future. Then he continued speaking, and began to explain the importance of this advanced technique for absorbing aura, a technique that would be crucial in Theo's journey towards the strength needed to face the upcoming catastrophes that awaited him at different stages of his life. This technique would be a key to a new door in Theo's path, a door that would open up new horizons of power that he would desperately need in the difficult times the future Theo mentioned.
Theo felt a mixture of fear and anticipation. An advanced technique? Requiring sacrifice and pain? He was accustomed to pain in his training, but this seemed different, it seemed to require another kind of sacrifice, a sacrifice that might be greater than he could imagine. But he was ready, ready to do anything to become strong enough to face the seven catastrophes that awaited him, to face the dark destiny looming ahead.
"What is this technique?" Theo asked, his voice steady this time, curiosity mixed with determination.
The future Theo smiled faintly, not as terrifying as his previous smile, but bearing a hint of deep sadness. "It's not as simple as you expect, Theo. It's not just a set of movements or spells. It requires you to understand the nature of aura itself, and how to integrate it into your body on a much deeper level than ordinary fighters do."
The future Theo returned to the desk, and picked up a pen that seemed to be made from a large bird's feather and dark black ink from an old stone inkwell. He opened another book on the desk, and began to draw some complex symbols and lines on its pages. His movements were precise and quick, as if he had been doing this for thousands of years.
"Aura is not just physical or spiritual energy," the future Theo continued without raising his eyes from the book. "It is an embodiment of will, of the inner essence of a being. Traditional fighters use it as a shield or an external weapon. But there is a way to absorb it internally, to make it flow in your veins instead of merging with your blood, to become a part of your bone and flesh tissue."
Theo felt a shiver run through his body upon hearing these words. Aura flowing in his veins? This seemed incredibly dangerous, almost impossible.
"How... how can something like that be done?" Theo asked in astonishment.
The future Theo raised his black eyes from the book and looked directly at Theo. It was a look that held challenge and deep knowledge of the body and energy. "The human body is fragile, Theo, weak compared to the forces you will need to face. To carry this immense power within you, you must reshape it, make it stronger, more flexible, and more capable of absorbing the latent energy in aura."
"The technique I will teach you relies on... forcibly opening a pathway. A pathway through which aura can flow directly into the depths of your body, into your bone marrow, into your heart."
The future Theo explained that this technique relied on causing shock to the body, a shock that would force cells and tissues to open up and accept the aura. He spoke of the crucial moment that must be exploited to begin the absorption process.
"When the body is injured, experiences sharp pain, there is a brief moment, a moment when the body opens its natural channels for the healing process. At that exact moment, you can direct the aura around you to enter your body through this wound, and direct it to penetrate into your depths."
The future Theo stopped writing and quietly closed the book. The symbols and lines he had drawn were complex and obscure, incomprehensible to Theo, but they seemed to hold a great secret.
"Pain is the first key, Theo," the future Theo said, his voice completely serious. "Causing the wound is the first step. But what's more important is what you do in the moment immediately following. You must be able to control the aura surrounding you and direct it to enter your body through the open wound."
"The process doesn't stop at one wound," the future Theo continued, his black eyes looking at Theo with intense focus. "You must continue the process, using the wound as a temporary gateway to continuously absorb aura until the wound heals. And with every healed wound and flowing aura, your body will change. It will become stronger, your bones will become harder, your flesh will be denser, and your blood will become saturated with energy."
The future Theo explained that this process was extremely painful and required unyielding patience and will. He spoke of the risk of damaging the body if the aura was not controlled correctly, and the risk of over-absorption that could lead to tearing of tissues and blood vessels. But he emphasized that this was the fastest and most effective way to break through to the Fourth Rank as a fighter, which Theo would desperately need to face the upcoming catastrophes.
"Ordinary fighters spend years, perhaps decades, in physical training and slowly condensing aura," the future Theo said. "This technique will save you a lot of time. But remember, it is not for the weak. It requires an iron will and the ability to endure pain beyond normal limits."
Theo listened with extreme concentration, trying to comprehend every word the future Theo said. The technique seemed terrifying and painful, but the promise of the strength it would give him to face the catastrophes was very tempting. He remembered his mother's worried face, and his promise to himself that he would protect her. He remembered Rayn's loyal face, and his need to be strong for him as well.
"But... is this technique related to darkness?" Theo asked.
The future Theo smiled mysteriously. "Aura exists in everything, Theo. But the element of darkness you possess, this essence that you are a part of, has a special affinity with aura. You can use it to direct the aura, to control its flow into your body more effectively. Darkness can be your guide in this process."
The future Theo explained how darkness, with its ability to absorb and penetrate, could help Theo draw aura from his surroundings and direct it towards the wound. And how he could use darkness to stabilize the aura within his body and prevent it from dissipating.
"This technique will change you, Theo," the future Theo said in a serious tone. "You will not be the same person anymore. You will become stronger, but you will also bear a greater burden. The burden of knowledge, and the burden of the power you will possess."
The future Theo looked at Theo again, his black eyes holding a look that carried a mixture of hope and warning. "Power has a price, Theo. Every step you take towards power will require you to give up something, a part of your life as you know it. Are you willing to pay that price?"
The future Theo's question carried immense weight. Was he ready to sacrifice for power? Was he ready to give up his life as he knew it to become strong enough to face the seven catastrophes? He looked into the darkness around him, into the library full of secrets, into the face of the future Theo, who was himself from the future. He realized that his journey had already begun, and that turning back was no longer an option.
"I am ready," Theo finally said, his voice carrying unwavering determination. "I will do what it takes to protect those I love."
The future Theo smiled very faintly, like a glimmer of hope in the darkness of the library, and it carried some pity as if it were compulsory. "I knew you would say that, Theo. This is your essence. But remember, the road is long and difficult, and full of dangers."
"Now, let's move on to the second part of my explanation. I will teach you about magic, about how to develop your magical abilities to new levels, and about a spell... a very special spell that will be your secret weapon in facing what is to come."
The future Theo returned to the desk again and picked up another book, its cover darker than the first, appearing to hold dark and profound secrets. He began to open it slowly, his black eyes examining the first pages, as if preparing to reveal the secrets of darkness itself.