The Shadow Queen’s Romance

Chapter 2: Learning Curve

Jasper startled awake, his eyes being red and puffy from crying himself to sleep.

‘How have I been so calm up to now?’ Jasper pondered,

‘I should be stuttering and blubbering over my situation. Yet when I see her without her terrifying power, my heart is at ease… Why? Could she be altering my emotional state? That would be the most likely option, given that there are many spirits that can alter human emotion.’ Jasper, having grounded his thoughts, observed the chains once more before noticing how they were interacting with the wall behind him.

“Hold on…” Jasper muttered,

“Why are the chains phasing through this wall? I’ve leaned on this wall several times and never phased through it.” Jasper grasped the chains at the base, pressed some of his chains into the wall and pulled, surprised to see that the bricks began to move. Yet, when he pulled out the bricks holding his chains in place, he suddenly tensed and gasped. Jasper’s face went bone white, his heart began to race, his eyes widened into two enormous saucers. For what Jasper saw was the appearance of eyes and mouths dotting the brick, twisted and malnourished. The eyes turned to look at Jasper and the mouths then opened to speak, ‘Help us… She’s made us like this. She’ll do the same to you… if you’re not careful. Save us, please…’ Jasper trembled, releasing the bricks. They slid back into place as if pulled by puppet strings. Human shrieks sounded out as this occurred, rising from evident agony, before being silenced when the chains fell out from the wall.

“W-what? No, no. That didn’t happen. That didn’t happen!” Jasper whispered, backing away from the wall as he trembled and his knees quaked. Jasper’s lips pressed thinly together while his eyes were glued to the shadowy wall. He grasped his head tightly, heart pounding in his throat, his breathing gone shallow and making a hissing noise through his teeth. After a moment, Jasper shook his head. Jasper then murmured

“Those eyes… Human-” a clang was heard from Jasper’s left side, making him jump away from the bars and quickly scuttle to the corner.

“H-have to g-get out,” Jasper stammered,

“I… I… Oh gods… This is no good!” Jasper gulped, unable to move as he trembled in the corner.

“You saw it, didn’t you?” Selene asked, emerging from where the clang was heard. Jasper screamed, pressing against the wall as he looked at Selene, who was watching him just outside his cell.

“W-what… The wall… I-it…” Jasper continued, sweat dripping from his head in droves.

“My poor darling…” Selene murmured plainly before walking through the bars again,

“You aren’t well. Let me hold you.” Selene drew close to Jasper.

“No- No… NOOOOOO!” Jasper screamed, scrambling to get away from Selene. She didn’t flinch, only scooping Jasper up before using a wet rag she summoned in her hands from the shadows in the cell to clean the sweat from Jasper’s brow. Selene then held Jasper softly, her lips shrouded in violet shade as she gave him gentle kisses on his temple and forehead and rocked him back and forth, feeling his muscles lose the tension in them as her dusky kisses sunk into his skin. Selene began to stroke Jasper’s back, listening to his heartbeat as it slowed to a crawl, disarming whatever alarm Jasper once held there.

“There you go,” Selene whispered affectionately as shadowy hands emerge from under her clothes and coiled around Jasper’s spine,

“Nice and relaxed. No more terror from my beloved.” Selene ran her hands through Jasper’s hair, smiling as her eyes raked over his now stagnant form. Jasper’s limbs ceased their trembling, the sweat cleared up immediately, and his mind began to grow still. Calmly, yet with a shaky undertone, Jasper remarked,

“Huh? What happened? Wasn’t I looking into a wall?” Jasper scratched his head as he looked at the wall with a scrutinizing glare. Selene giggled at this as if she were a child.

“No, no. You were looking at your chains and trying to pull them out,” Selene explained, steering Jasper’s focus away from the wall,

“For your safety, do not do that. Trust me when I say that doing so is not a good idea. I will know if you try something like that.” Jasper shook at the sound of that, but remained sturdy thanks to the shadowy hands soothing his nerves. Selene then pulled Jasper to his feet and led him out of the cell, keeping a fierce grip on his chains.

“Where are we going?” Jasper asked. Selene smirked mischievously.

“You’re going to meet my subjects,” Selene uttered with amused undertones. Jasper instantly froze, his knees and arms trembling violently as he began to mutter incoherently. Without hesitation, Selene had the shadowy hands-on Jasper’s nerves focus on his legs, allowing her to guide him without having to be forceful. The sight made her smile.

“I… I…” Jasper croaked, barely able to speak.

“We’re here!” Selene exclaimed, immediately switching the shadow hands back to Jasper's nerves to prevent him from screaming and causing a scene. In the room they entered, Kanao was present, but there were also other entities present. One was a crimson Oni with spiky white hair and long sharp horns sticking out of his forehead named Brock (the name coming from Selene to keep communication simple.) There was an old woman-like figure in the corner, suddenly huffing glaring in Jasper’s direction. There was no doubt in Jasper’s mind that this was a Turbo Granny Yokai and the thought alone disturbed him. Kanao had followed behind the pair, causing Jasper to yelp as she walked around him, studying him with a scrutinous glare. Along the walls, a shadow person with a putrid, vomit-green spirit core where the heart would be stretched over the scene, looking over everyone with a large, emotionless smile.

Selene stared at the shadow person with a cold stare. “Royce,” Selene began, “Your smile is unwarranted. Did you pull another unauthorized prank?” Royce chuckled, shifting off the walls and forming in front of Selene.

“Oh, certainly not. I’m just interested to meet this little sponge you keep talking about,” Royce explained, slowly turning to stare at Jasper and giggling as soon as they saw Jasper begin to sweat in their presence. Even without the shadow hands, Jasper felt his heartbeat relax when looking at Selene since despite the obvious corruption, she still retained a human appearance, thus keeping Jasper’s subconscious calm, exactly as Selene intended.

“Everyone,” Selene began authoritatively, “This is Jasper, my consort and your future King.”

“Wait, what?” Jasper asked before they all came over, making him tremble like a leaf in the autumn wind. Brock laughed at Jasper, pointing a finger at him.

“What a whimpering specimen!” Brock cackled, “Little man can barely keep his composure!”

“Surely, You’ve an explanation for this selection, My Queen?” Hanao asked coldly. The Turbo Granny spirit only glared with sheer dismissive disdain while Royce smirked with a smug giggle. Jasper backed away before Selene held him close, unfazed by the tension.

“You four will all get your chance to test our guest here,” Selene began, her voice gaining a mischievous edge as she addressed Royce again, “Royce, you will go first. If our guest fails, you have my permission to use him as a temporary host for your… antics. However, I expect you to leave him be if he wins~”

“Oh?!” Royce exclaimed, turning to Jasper with an impossibly wide smile, “A host for me? That would expand the plan drastically. A grand idea indeed!” Without warning the area around the group contorted and bent in unnatural and impossible angles, yet it all was unmistakably physical and dangerous.

“Figure out your surroundings when everything is this gunked up, human!” Royce shouted before laughing maniacally as he slipped into the background. Jasper immediately analyzed the area, Selene’s influence preventing him from going over the line or spiraling as his eyes roamed over the initial corruption.

Within the span of thirty seconds, Jasper gathered the structure of the room and what little contents Royce left in view: a stick; an iron bell, likely lacking any purification; and a soul-like substance wrapped into a bow. There was a vortex that framed the corruption of what appeared to be an oddly satisfying web of pulsing matter Jasper couldn’t identify. There was a singular window off to the left, hanging at a perfect angle with the wall noticeably blank, as if left untouched. Without losing a beat, Jasper picked up the stick and headed to the window. When he looked outside, there were rows of graves and leafless trees that populated an ashy landmass with inky-black grass dotting the landscape. Retracting from the window, Jasper turned his attention to the soul bow and attempted to grab it. His eyes widened when he realized he could do so. Jasper then turned to the vortex and nodded his head, ignoring Royce’s giggling as he did so. Jasper then tied the iron bell to the stick, chucked the soul bow into the vortex (where it was suspended as if caught in a web) and then rang the bell right next to the bow. The bow then warped into a pair of gnashing fangs that tore the bell apart. Once Jasper let go of the stick, the bow devoured it whole and then proceeded to eat the web of corruption at its roots, turning the room back to normal. Royce’s mouth fell agape in shock before he scowled and snapped his fingers, causing the bow to disappear.

“Right,” Royce muttered in a forceful tone with an irritated edge to each syllable, “Where are we, human?”

Jasper turned to Royce calmly and answered, “We are in the tomb of Bone Valley.” Royce audibly gasped, blinking twice.

“H-how?! My design was foolproof!” Royce exclaimed, “How did you cheat?!”

“I did not,” Jasper stated, “The first clue was the window itself. You refused to touch it, which indicated that you had no authority there and therefore, it has a weak spiritual connection. That window leads to the physical world, but given the height, I am not jumping out anytime soon.”

Jasper cleared his throat before continuing, “Anyhow, I analyzed the torrent of graves outside along with the landscape and came to the conclusion that it had the aesthetics of the Bone Valley, but it could easily be a trick. So, I attempted to grab the bow, knowing that if we were solely in a physical location, I wouldn’t be able to pick it up. The Bone Valley is notorious for its curses but the tomb within is significant due to the fact that the boundary between the physical and the spiritual planes of existence is considerably weak in that area. Therefore, that is the area we currently are, hence why… this place has impossible architecture…” Jasper was visibly sweating and he understood the implications of him being in such a dangerous location. Royce sighed before giving Jasper a golf-clap out of respect, though not without insincere enthusiasm.

“Well done. Well done indeed,” Royce stated, backing off instantly.

“Is that all you’re going to do?” Gran barked.

“Well, yes,” Royce answered, “He has earned my respect. I am convinced he is at least an asset to our cause. Besides, the matter is out of my hands, as much as I wanted a host.”

“Bah! Then let me have at him! I’ll make sure I get to curse this whelp for daring to lay his frail little mitts on our Queen!” Gran yelled, cackling right after. Normally, Jasper would be begging to run, yet Selene’s influence kept him steady.

Selene chuckled at Gran teasing, “Careful~ You’re letting out that protective side again.” Gran huffed, squaring up to race.

“Wait, what are we doing?” Jasper asked.

“We’re going to race, human,” Gran grumbled, “You get to that door at the end of this course, I let you off the hook. If you fail, I curse you for eternity.”

“Right…” Jasper replied, getting into position as he saw the shining door in front of the seemingly long hallway. It seemed to be Jasper’s best ticket out of this place, if not a way to gain distance, so he was going to put in all he had. Selene readied the signal and let it loose on her cue, sending off Gran and Jasper.

Selene bellowed, “Ready, set, Go!” The race was on. Without hesitation, Jasper bolted away, leaping between perch points and sliding along the ground to gain as much distance as possible. Gran chuckled before racing at 1000 km toward Jasper, intending to run him over. Jasper, however, instantly backflipped out of nowhere, causing Gran to shift course to try to strike him.

‘If both spiritual and physical aspects are simultaneous, I should be able to grapple these spirits!’ Jasper pondered before swiftly twisting in midair and avoiding Gran. When Gran tried to punch Jasper in the back of his head, he dodged faster than an above average human and grabbed Gran, being able to throw her away instead of his hand phasing through her body

‘Gah! He figured it out!’ Gran thought before racing up the wall in time to see Jasper leaping between perch points again. She tried kicking, smashing the pillars Jasper was on, even going so far as to try lobbing stones, yet Jasper avoided each of these obstacles with impressive reflexes no ordinary human should be capable of. Gran wasn’t deterred though as she tried once again to run Jasper over. At the last moment, Jasper stepped to the side and got on Gran’s back, using her to propel him forward.

“EH?!” Gran exclaimed, “Get off me!”

“As you wish!” Jasper shouted, launching off her letting the momentum allow him to soar over all the obstacles on the path, which made Gran yell incredulously as she raced after him. When Gran finally caught up with Jasper, she grabbed his ankle, stopping the momentum.

“Got you!” Gran chortled, only for Jasper to twist out of her grip and land in a defensive posture right in front of her with his back towards the shining door.

“Not quite,” Jasper replied, the shadow hands still calming his nerves and preventing cowardly traits from manifesting. Gran then retaliated against Jasper, who promptly batted her attacks with precise strikes to send them away from his body and into the surrounding walls, letting her advance on him as it pushed him closer to the door. Once he got there, Jasper turned the handle with a smirk and opened the door without looking.

“So long!” Jasper called out before leaping back, only to find out the room was filled with shadow hands. Gran paused, realizing what Jasper was doing and for once, she gave him a stern, if not respectful, glance and raced off while the shadow hands transported Jasper along the wall and into the waiting arms of Selene, who hugged him dearly, much to his chagrin.

“Welcome back~” Selene whispered playfully, giggling at Jasper’s wide eyes and gaping mouth. Once Gran returned and the hug was over, Selene placed Henry down and turned to Gran with a stone-faced expression.

“Satisfied?” Selene asked, glaring at Gran knowingly.

“Yes, my Queen,” Gran stated with a serious tone in her voice, “His mental and physical reflexes and speed are to my satisfaction.”

“My turn, then,” Hanao murmured as she stepped forward, schooling her features into an emotionless mask as she looked over a composed Jasper.

“I will ask you three questions, human. Get the majority wrong and I will personally curse you for tarnishing my queen. Get one wrong, I will thrash you, but I will not end your life. I will only back away once you have answered all three with answers built upon my satisfaction,” Hanao stated, glaring down at Jasper as if he were an insect, already sensing his mind at work before she said anything.

“Question one: When confronted with a Jinn, a poltergeist, and a possessed human, what is the most efficient way for one of your exorcists to handle them all at once?” Hanao asked.

Almost immediately, Jasper answered in an intricate manner, “Well, first an exorcist would ring a silver bell to disorient all of these entities. Next, the exorcist would take a special gong or specific bell and ring it to dispel any smoke energy, thus weakening the Jinn and the possession over the human. With the poltergeist emboldened, the exorcist would then lure the poltergeist to attack before spreading holy water around the place, trapping the poltergeist, stripping the jinn of their power, thus trapping the jinn, and banishing the spirit possessing the human. After a specific incantation depending on the particular possessor type, both the poltergeist and the possessor will be caught, thus the exorcist can then purify the malicious energy of all three spirits, eliminating them from the area and allowing them to tend to the human.” Hanao paused, recognizing how thorough and quick Jasper’s response was. Yet, she was undeterred.

“Question two: What is the most effective way to banish a kitsune from a shrine? Not a home, not a forest. A shrine specifically.” Hanao asked.

Once again, at a near-instantaneous speed, Jasper answered, “Well, in the event that the kitsune only needs or must only be pushed away, leaving an offering in the form of well-made aburaage (as shown in eastern regions) keeping dogs near the shrine, or even be stopped entirely by getting ahold of one’s ‘star ball’ as it is called, thus gaining full control over the situation. If ending the kitsune is required; removing its heart, decapitation, destroying the tail, or shattering the star ball will do fine and there is a myriad of tools that can perform any option on both paths. Would you like me to list them?” Hanao pushed away, turning her back on Jasper without another word, seemingly checking for something. Royce tilted their head with a grin, seeming to understand the situation.

“Hanao? Your last question?” Selene asked.

After a long silence, Hanao answered, “It is unnecessary, My Queen. Somehow…” Hanao glanced at Jasper, tense, yet clearly not holding her former hostile glare, “...This man is more intelligent than I gave him credit for. Not only in knowledge, but the quickness, his application; that alone is the crux of my assessment. A third question is unneeded as it is evident that he will know the solution and can implement it immediately. Given he has the tools, of course.”

Selene smirked as she accepted Hanao’s answer. “And now you understand why he is capable of being the king. Intelligence is important for a leader to have.” Selene murmured, stroking Jasper’s head, despite him pulling away. Brock huffed, still not convinced.

“Yet, even the smartest ruler will bow to strength when faced with force,” Brock stated, stomping over to Jasper. Jasper tensed as Brock approached, sensing his aggression. “I will show you real strength, human, and once I’ve beaten you, you’ll be my next meal!” Selene slid between them, pulling a table out of thin air and setting it down between them.

“Huh?” Brock asked, “What’s this?”

“Arm wrestling table,” Selene answered, “The perfect competition of strength, is it not?” Brock snickered, enjoying the idea.

“Very well!” Brock proclaimed, placing his arm on the table confidently, “Come at me, human!”

Jasper came to the table, though still tense as he made eye contact with Brock, who held a wide smirk at Jasper’s caution. Once Selene ordered that the match begin, Brock poured some weight into his pull but found Jasper’s arm didn’t budge, shocking everyone, save for Selene, but especially Brock.

“W-what?!” Brock snarled, putting more strength into his grasp, but Jasper pushed back, turning Brock’s arm to his losing end.

“NO!” Brock bellowed, forcing Jasper’s arm to get low to the table with a huff, only for Jasper to hold his ground and eventually smack Brock’s hand into the table. Brock receded without a word, staring at Jasper with an almost reverent look as he took a knee before him.

“Erm…” Jasper started, “That is not…” Selene quickly hushed Jasper and held him close.

“You did well today. I’ll take you back to your cell now,” Selene whispered before guiding Jasper away, leaving the four commanders agape in amazement as the pair disappeared into the shadows. Once Selene left with Jasper, the four generals huddled together to whisper amongst themselves. “He just beat me like it was nothing!” “How is he so fast?” “How can he think on such a complex level?” “How was he able to keep his composure through all that?” “I can’t believe he’s stronger than Brock!”

“Ahem,” Selene uttered, getting their attention. The four generals awkwardly turned to her, falling silent under her authority.

“Now then,” Selene began coldly, “I know you four have a question. Speak it.”

Hanao stepped forward, asking, “How did the hu- Er, I mean… the future king, become so adept?”

“Yes!” Royce exclaimed, “How was he able to understand my puzzles and get through everything in his way?!” Selene chuckled amusingly.

“Such a simple question,” Selene remarked, “When we were children, he studied alongside me. Everything he and I know, every bit of physical and mental prowess we possess is due to our shared training. The only difference is that my core was capable of learning spirit power whereas his core was locked under spiritual blockages and became petrified with time.” Selene’s lip trembled, a somber tone playing over her features.

“Petrified?” Hanao asked. Selene flared with a visceral spirit manifestation in the form of violet flames dancing around her.

“Yes…” Selene growled venomously, “Those pitiful humans dragged him through the coals and tormented him relentlessly. He lost faith in himself and afterwards, he became unable to sense anything spiritual. Where do you think he got the cowardice he shamelessly displays.” The generals had no sympathy for Jasper, yet they suddenly understood him.

“So… You brought the fool here to shake that doubt?” Gran inquired.

“Precisely,” Selene answered, “Our benefactor has already begun to amplify the scraps of spirit power still keeping him from behaving in a soulless manner. I was worried it would all perish… He wouldn’t have been able to recognize me if it did.” Royce shuddered at the thought.

“Ugh… I don’t like thinking about that ‘person.’ And I certainly hate soulless victims. Only grunts, no screams, no torment. It would be devastatingly boring if I had to sort through such meat sacks!” Royce rambled, shaking their head. Hanao gave Royce a side eye as he spoke.

“All this time and you still can’t refer to the master with respect. For shame, Royce,” Hanao stated. Before Royce could interject, Selene snapped her fingers, shutting them all up once again. Selene then made a dismissive hand motion, having the generals leave her be in the room before she looked out the window and then erased it as if it never existed.

In Castle Rosskellin, Jasmine was pouring her spiritual energy over the map room, scrying in her crystal ball and navigating the spirit realm via a mental project of the world onto a physical map. She had bags under her eyes and huffed with exertion as she did her work.

‘Selene… My daughter. Where have you gone, my baby?’ Jasmine pondered, nearly crying, yet remaining firm and holding out hope. As she continued, Arthur walked in with a pot and a blanket.

“My darling,” Arthur murmured, “I have come bearing gifts. Are you alright?” Arthur set down the items and sat next to Jasmine.

“I’ve been searching for hours… I cannot find where she is. But I will not give up,” Jasmine answered, determination staining her tone.

“But your eyes… And your hands, they tremble…” Arthur stated worryingly, “Here.” Without another word, Arthur placed the blanket over Jasmine, and unveiled that what was in the pot was her favorite soup. Only then, did Jasmine weep, leaning into Arthur’s embrace as she ate.

“Thank you… Thank you, my love,” Jasmine croaked between sobs. Arthur held her and kissed her head again and again, letting her rest on him as she finished her soup.

“Go rest, Jasmine. It is my turn now,” Arthur stated, seeing Jasmine off to their bedroom. Jasmine kissed Arthur deeply, before smiling warmly and then entered through the door without a word, understanding Arthur’s intentions. Arthur then went to the map room with a grimace, searching through Jasmine notes to construct a new training regime. With this many failed attempts, Arthur and Jasmine would stop at nothing to find Selene now.