#ooooooookay

It is winter and I am cold so they are cold as well. I'm kind of mentally preparing myself to post the animatic which is 100% more cheesy and self indulgent

Also while I'm here I may aswell post some other smaller doodles that aren't important enough to give their own post - under the cut

The Conclusion

When his mind returned to him, he was in unimaginable pain. This was worse than when he was transformed into a Shadow Knight. Laurance didn’t think anything could be worse than that, yet here he was. He couldn’t move. Couldn’t open his eyes or swallow or anything. It felt like there was an immense weight placed upon his entire body. He tried to keep from panicking, but his mind could only race, trying desperately to remember what had lead to this. Then it hit him. He died. He’d managed to kill Zane and in turn, himself. Is that was this was? Death? Would this be his eternity? Please, Gods no. Irene take mercy on his damned soul. Was this his punishment for becoming a Shadow Knight? Against his will or not? It was clear that he was in fact dead. His lungs no longer drew breath and his heart lay still in his chest. All he could do was lay and contemplate.

He was beginning to come to terms with his new reality, when he felt a strange sensation. His fingers began to twitch. Though, he wasn’t the one doing that. He felt a sudden surge of energy run throughout his body, and as quickly as it arrived it was gone. Then his ears rang, and his nose burned, and his eyes opened. Suddenly he was sitting upright, though not of his own accord. What in the name of Irene was happening? Everyone was much too bright, too loud, too.. EVERYTHING! He wanted to scream but his voice would not cooperate. “My Lord.” He knew that voice.. That was- “Gene,” he spoke! But.. no, he didn’t! That’s not his voice. But it came from his mouth.? “You’ve done well with this one. You retrieved this host well in time.” Host? What did- Oh no. Oh no no no no no. “Thank you my Lord.” Gene bowed his head, awaiting command. Finally, it clicked. Laurance did die. And because of that, the Shadow Lord was able to take his body and use him as a puppet. His body! And wait! Oh Gods the portal- It’s open! As soon as the Shadow Lord had enough strength he’d use his body to destroy everything. Everything he loved. Every one he loved. No. No he had to find a way to stop this. But.. what good could he do? He was dead after all. He could not warn anyone. All he could do was sit and wait.

Laurance felt like an idiot. He tried to protect Aphmau but in turn sentenced her to death. And not to mention the fact that he was a prisoner in his own body. It hurt, though the hurt did dull with time. Did anyone know he was here? Trapped and doomed to watch as his hands destroy what they’d once loved? Shad wanted Aphmau. For what reason he knew not. Perhaps she truly was Irene… No that’s silly. Shad must want her power.. Or her relic. That’s gotta be it! Laurance had been trapped like this for what felt like centuries. He had no idea how long it had truly been or how many years had passed in the overworld. If he had to guess he’d say… Four.?

For years, his mind moved on in a blur. Sometimes he’d forget who he was and have to remind himself. He’d try his best to annoy Shad with his thought but it seemed to have no affect. Oh well. He was beginning to forget who he was again until he saw her. Aphmau. His Aphmau. She’d hardly aged. She looked beautiful as ever. He was so thrilled to see her again that he almost forgot that his body was no longer his own. Once it registered, he took note of the terrified look worn on Aphmau’s face, and the tears that flowed from her amber eyes. She shouted something, though he could not tell what. He was too focused on the crows feet forming around her eyes. Those are new.. A terrified scream pulled Laurance out of his trance. He saw a girl. Small and scared. No older than 3 or 4. What was a little girl doing here?! And why did she look so much like… Aphmau…? “Oh ho ho.. Now this is something,” Shad’s rotten voice fell from Laurance’s mouth unnaturally, “A child born of Shadow Knight and Divine blood. I didn’t think it possible. And yet here we are. Irene, would you be so kind and hand over our daughter?” ‘Our… daughter..?’ “Never! You’re not Laurance!” Her voice was strained and the girl was crying. Shad let out a bellowing chuckle, “Well of COURSE I’m not Laurance. HE’S DEAD!” Laurance wanted to scream to run, something to let her know that he was still here. ‘Our daughter?!?’ But he could not even lift a finger. ‘.. Our daughter..’ Laurance was beginning to feel hopeless when Shad’s hand rose to his face, touching a small tear drop. Laurance came to the realization that he was the one crying for them. He still had some kind of control. He just needed to harness it.

Shad lunged for the girl and Aphmau swooped in front, taking a hard blow. “Garroth! Get Lina out of here!” ‘..Lina..?’ Garroth ran to her and scooped the small girl into his arms. He got her as far away as he could, Aphmau doing her best to keep Shad focused on herself.

“If you give her to me know, I promise to be gentler with you.” “Never!” “Well then Irene, remember, this is your doing” Shad’s voice was filled with venom as he lunged at her again. ‘Why does he keep calling her Irene?’ The two fought for a while and all Laurance could do was watch. He’d tried in vein to stop Shad multiple times but to no avail.

Aphmau stumbled only once, and it cost her. Shad managed to slice her side. Not enough to take her down, but it enraged Laurance. He’d had enough. He didn’t know how he managed to do it, but he was able to hold Shad in place. He was frozen. “What?! How is-“ “A.. Aph- mau,” his voice was weak and strained, “r-uun.” “..Laurance.?” Aphmau practically whispered. She couldn’t believe it. He was still in there. She had to do something! She had to help him! She had to- Shad was beginning to shake, slowly gaining back control. “G-GO! Aph.. Get- Outta here!” His voice was breathless and hoarse, yet urgent. She gasped before rising to her feet and running towards the direction Garroth had taken that girl. Lina, her name was. Aphmau’s daughter… His.. Daughter..