141. Solid Shadow

- Can they just be pulled out? - just in case, I asked, removing the lid from the boiler.

- Yes. Do not worry. Now, it's just useless water. - Hope said with a smile, standing next to her.

- Okey. - I replied and cautiously stuck my hand into the cauldron, reaching for the black pages.

Finding all three sheets at the bottom of the cauldron, I grabbed them and pulled out my hand, immediately noticing that the pages were completely dry and now the text written on them in bloody ink had changed to English. Really magic….

- Well, what is written there? - Hope asked impatiently as I began to read the text.

- …It seems that this is really what we need. Your intuition did not fail you. - I said with a smile.

- A way to create a strong mental defense? - Hope asked, looking at me anxiously.

- Not really. Although, in the end, everything will lead to this. - I said slowly, rereading the contents of the pages one more time.

- I don't understand anything. Stop talking in riddles and tell me what it says. - the Girl said impatiently, trying to look at the pages in my hands, but since I was taller, she could not do anything.

- Okay, okay, stop jumping, I'll explain everything now. - I said first, stopping Hope, and then I began to tell: - From what I understand, this is a ritual.

- Ritual? - Hope asked with a cute tilt of her head, after clarifying: - Magical?

- Mm, not exactly. I would say racial. Some of the information is missing here, but it can be concluded that this ritual must be performed by all Ubramants when they reach adulthood. Well, at least that's how it used to be. - I said.

- Then these pages are indeed connected to that shadow alien. - Hope said thoughtfully.

- Like the diadem. - I said, and then pointing to the pages I added: - It says here that an ancient relic of great power was used for the ritual. It is not specified what kind of relic it is, but if you remember how the diadem and pages behaved when I turned into a Cloak with them, then everything becomes obvious anyway.

- I think you're right. - Hope said nodding her head, and then looking at me, she asked the most important thing: - And what does this ritual do? What is it for?

- Well, as you know, Umbramants main ability is to dive into the Shadow Dimension, another plane of existence that can be entered through any shadow. - I began to speak.

- Yes, there are even a few spells associated with it. - Hope nodded her head.

- So, the Shadow Dimension, in fact, this is an extremely dangerous place, inhabited by terrible monsters, worse than in all the stories of Lovecraft, capable of affecting the sanity of anyone who enters their world. And just to protect yourself from these monsters, this ritual is needed. - I added.

- But, you've already used the Cloak before, and you didn't meet any monsters there, did you? - Hope asked, remembering how I told her about all my aliens.

- Yes, but I traveled through the shadows for short distances, within one block, so you can say that I didn't dive deep into the Dimension at all. In a safe zone where no monsters live. - I explained.

- Ah, I understand that the more distance you need to move between the shadows, the deeper you need to dive into the dimension, and the greater the chance that you will meet these shadow monsters there. - Hope said, sorting everything out.

- Correctly. In fact, since there are shadows everywhere where there is at least some light, then, in fact, Umbramants can travel throughout the universe, although it will be difficult to navigate in such a huge space, but still. - I explained with a smile.

- And it was precisely in order to use the Shadow Dimension without fear of those monsters that the Umbramants created this ritual, which, in the end, will protect their consciousness, exactly what you need so much. - Hope said, basically repeating what I had said a little earlier.

- Yes. Luckily we have both the diadem and the Cloak so I can use this method. - I said, once again carefully rereading the description of the ritual, so as not to make a mistake in anything.

- And what do you need to do? - Hope asked curiously.

- The Umbramants have turned this whole ritual into a respected ceremony, through which the teenager will prove that he is enough, responsible, mature and can properly use his abilities. - I said.

- That sounds like a test… - Hope pointed out.

- Because that's the way it is. To create mental protection, first need to independently extract from the very depths of the Dimension a very rare substance, in fact, a solid shadow, which gave rise to that whole world. - I explained.

- It's dangerous, isn't it? - Hope asked worriedly.

- Actually, yes, and even very much so. Those monsters cannot harm physically, but they love to play with the intruders in their world, sending various illusions that will first make you get lost there, and then they just drive you crazy, so that in the end, you become the same monster. - I said gloomily.

- You shouldn't go there. - Hope said emphatically.

- I should. - I said stubbornly, looking into the girl's eyes.

- But…. - the girl tried to convince me, but I did not allow.

- I should. It's not just about me, it's about Gwen and Ashley. They need strong mental protection, which, firstly, will protect them from the negative influence of their powers now, and secondly, it will help them a lot in the future. This applies to you too. - I said seriously.

- Let's find another way. Why take the risk now. - Hope said, grabbing my hand.

- No, can't take it anymore. Gwen could succumb to the Pyrokinesis Tattoo again at any moment, and Ashley has been waiting too long already. - I said decisively.

- I won't let you in! I don't want you to disappear there so stupid!!! - Hope said aggressively as her eyes lit up with magic overflowing into her.

- It's not stupidity. It is very important. - I said calmly, completely ignoring Hope's fighting spirit, after which I added: - Especially since I did not intend to go into the depths of the Shadow Dimension myself.

- What? - Hope asked in shock, losing all her aggressiveness.

- Well, of course, I won't go there. It's really dangerous out there. And scary. - I said confidently, as if it was the most obvious thing.

- But, didn't you say that you definitely need to get a solid shadow for the ritual to work? - Hope asked incredulously.

- Well, yes, but I'm not going to risk my ass and go to these monsters. No thanks, I'll go. I'll just send clones there and they'll produce a solid shadow on their own. - I said, actually mocking the girl a little, because her reaction was funny.

- You…. FOOL! I AM REALLY SCARED!!! - Hope yelled, punching me in the ribs.

- Did you really believe that I myself was going to go to the depths of the Dimension, where there is an 80% chance that I will be stuck there forever? - asked with a provocative smirk.

- OF COURSE, I BELIEVE!!! - Hitting me again, Hope shouted, after which she added more calmly: - You were so serious and determined...

- Forgive me for disappointing you, but I am not a fairy tale hero, ready to rush forward, ignoring the danger. I'm a rational person and value my own life, besides, I'm important to many people. I'm not going to just risk myself when there's a much easier way. - I said calmly.

- Eh… I know. - Hope said with a sigh, then kissed me on the cheek and said with a smile; - That's why I love you.

- I know. - I said confidently, and then added: - Okay, it's time to send the clones in search. Most likely, this will take time.

- Okey. Do you need something for this? - once again kissing me, the Charmcaster asked.

- Just a diadem. - I said, and turning into an Echo-Echo, I took out a Headgear.

After creating two hundred clones, we all turned into the Cloak, which caused the diadem to emit intense black smoke again.

- The diadem should open the safest path to the depths of the Shadow Dimension. - I explained to Hope, then quietly added: - Though, the chance of encountering monsters is still high.

This time I was able to put the diadem on my head and she didn't resist as I read aloud the special text from the pages to start the ritual. When I finished reading the first part, a beam of energy shot out from the diadem, which created a pitch-black portal through which all the clones immediately passed. I hope that at least one of them will succeed...

- Everything, now it remains only to wait... - Sitting in a lotus position, still with a diadem on my head and an open portal in front of me, I said.

- And how long will it take them? - Hope asked as she sat down beside her.

- Months, I think. Perhaps years. - I said calmly.

- What? So long? - Hope asked in shock.

- Yes. Still, it's not called a test for nothing. - I said nodding my head, and then added: - Although, we are lucky that in the depths of the dimension, time works according to other laws, and goes much more slowly.

- Thank God. - Hope said with relief.

For the next few minutes, we sat in silence just staring at the black portal, which proved oppressive to Hope, so she could not stand it and asked: - Maybe we can do something?

- I'm not allowed to undo Umbramant's appearance and remove the diadem, otherwise the portal will close and the clones won't be able to return. - I said, but when I noticed that Hope was sad, I suggested: - Maybe then tell me more, something about magic? How then…

- Okey. - Hope said with a bright smile, and then she began to tell another story while we continued to wait.

***

- Looks like it's the last survivor. - I said when only the third clone passed through the portal and was able to complete the mission.

- Yeah, you didn't exaggerate the danger. Of the two hundred clones, only three survived. It's only 1.5% percent. - Hope said impressed, looking at the slightly battered clones.

- If they could transform into other aliens, more would survive, but that would break the whole ritual. I already found a loophole making it look like my clones are contenders for the test. In any case, this is enough. - I said, accepting from all the clones all the solid shadow they had obtained.

- It's only about 200 grams. - Hope said after looking at the substance, which looked very much like black stones.

- That should be enough for five. Even stay a little longer. - I said closing the black portal.

- Five? - asked the Charmcaster, tilting her head.

- Well, yes, for me, for Grandpa, for Gwen, for Ashley, and for you. For all the people who are most important to me. - I said with a smile.

- Thanks. That's good to hear. - Hope said softly, hugging me, ignoring my appearance.

- It's my pleasure. I just told the truth.

- And now what? - Hope asked, suppressing her raging feelings.

- You need to swallow a piece of solid shadow. - I said, dividing all the substance I had into five parts, taking one for himself and one betraying Hope. The rest will stay in inventory for now.

- Swallow? - Hope asked dubiously, looking at what was essentially a black stone.

- And put a diadem on your head. - I said, and then explained in more detail: - The diadem is made of the same material and it will have to do all the work.

- And how does it work in general? - the girl asked.

- According to what is written on the pages, the diadem uses a solid shadow that has entered the body and create a metaphysical shield around the mind that will protect our creation from any kind of interference or negative influence. In theory, this shield is as changeable as the shadow, which makes it impregnable. - I explained, immediately swallowing a piece of hard shadow.

As soon as it was in my mouth, it immediately dissolved, and I felt an unknown coolness fill my brain, under the control of the diadem. It's funny...

When that feeling went away, I put the diadem on Hope's head, continuing to imbue her with this alien's energy to make it work, even though Hope is human.

- And it's all? - Hope asked, somewhat disappointed, when it was all over.

- The main changes will take place at night, when we will sleep. Tomorrow we will have protection from all telepaths and other fans of playing with the mind. - I said, becoming a man and removing the diadem.

- Whatever you say, it's incredibly useful in our world. - Hope said with a smile, hugging me again.

- And there is. - I said hugging the girl to me and looked at the time.

'Hmm, 5:15 pm, should be on time.' - I thought, and asked aloud: - Now, go to Hex?

Apparently only remembering that we planned to visit him today, Hope put on a serious face and just nodded. Also nodding, I activated the Infinity Tattoo, finding the right place, I enveloped us in a dome of magic and transported us to Friedkin University.