If Damien had to use one word to describe Shadow Garden, he'd most likely call it contradictory.
Because despite its ominous name, the atmosphere within was quite warm.
It had to be remembered, Shadow Garden was essentially a safe space created for refugees. Only the experts among them knew of their rebellious thoughts. The others were simply happy to have escaped their previous hells.
And there were plenty of others.
As Damien enjoyed the scenic view of the lush island he seemed to be on, these non-combatants were the first people his eyes landed on.
He ended up conversing with a few of them out of curiosity.
Why they joined Shadow Garden, how life had been for them, the conversation wasn't intimidating, it just seemed like a local teaching a foreigner about their customs.
And that was truly all it was. Perhaps the reason Damien was treated so well by the refugees might've been because his attitude was pure curiosity with no hidden intentions.
Through these conversations, Damien learned that the refugees present were not only from Asgard and Niflheim, but also stragglers who were forced to survive in the Outer Wilds and those who escaped the chaotic environment of the Hub Cities.
More than anything else, Shadow Garden was a place to foster these people. Damien understood this truth.
'It's strange.' He thought to himself. 'If I continue to desperately look for a reason why these people shouldn't be trusted, I'll be the one marked crazy.'
There was no longer any reason for him to suspect Shadow Garden to be like the other two forces. They were extremely open with him, allowing him to move freely as if he was already a member of their organization.
Damien didn't understand how they could trust him so much within their territory, but he realized they might simply be assured of their own strength.
As day and night interchanged, Damien spent more than just a few days in this vacation-like routine. He talked to the locals, explored the small island, and experienced the culture.
He was also made aware that this patch of greenery was truly an island. Or rather, it was better to be called an Oasis. This patch of land was a separate space located in the Outer Wilds. If one didn't have the strength to brave the dangers to arrive here, they'd never know it existed.
Even from outside perception, it was invisible. For the location of a refugee camp, it was hidden enough.
Damien's steps took him around. It was his fourth day in Shadow Garden, and today, he found himself somewhere closer to the central area.
This place was usually blocked off from the public, it was where the experts of the organization took residence. But even then, Damien was allowed to peruse it.
The guards at the entrance to this section of the island only told him that he was restricted from entering anyone's property without permission, but this was simply basic human decency. He had no plans to intrude on anyone.
As he walked through this area, he admired the way the foliage and landscape had been altered to fit all the residences and facilities. At the same time, the arrangement of the buildings mirrored the records of a few ancient arrays Damien had seen in the past.
Ting~!
His admiration of the landscape was cut short by a crisp sound. It was a clear melodic note that seemed to descend from the heavens, painting the core residences with splendor.
Ting~! Ting~! Ting~!
Damien's steps halted. He began walking in the direction of the music notes as if he was entranced. In this zombie-like state, his mind entered his spiritual world and could only watch his body move.
But there was a strange profundity to this detachment. Damien felt like if he truly wanted to, he could sluggishly control his body, though his movements wouldn't be altered from their current path.
He soon reached a covert hut that stood atop an overarching hill. Compared to the other residences, it was incredibly shabby, but the homey feel coming from it was far more welcoming.
Ting~! Ting~!
Ting~!
The sound of music filled the air, causing the surrounding elements to dance in joy. Damien's body stood among these dancing elements, quietly appreciating the music.
Ting~!
Ting~! Ting~! Ting~!
It sounded like a string instrument that had far too many layers to be an ordinary string instrument. The sounds it produced had Asian influence, but Western patterns as well, making it hard to decipher its origins.
But naturally, this wasn't a piece of music that originated from Earth. Perhaps what compelled Damien to find its source was how strange and novel it was compared to the music he was used to.
With his body standing among the natural elements like so, Damien found himself regaining control. But he didn't move or walk away. Instead, he waved his hands in the air like a madman.
His bodily movements became more fluid, his feet taking tentative steps without any specific pattern. His arms cut through the air roughly at first, but their movements also became far more graceful.
Without realizing it, Damien began dancing across the flow of mana. His body followed the world's natural flow, the dancing elements in the atmosphere following his steps.
The scene became even more beautiful. The elements were dancing previously, this much was true, but they were doing so without direction. Now that they had such a skilled guide showing them the way, things were no longer so simple.
A vortex formed in front of the small hut. The sky above darkened, but this darkness wasn't ominous. Instead, it gave an inviting feel like what a mother's womb would feel like to a baby.
The lightning that crackled through these clouds didn't give off the frightening stench of death, but instead, the comfortable scent of life.
There was once a rumor that creation began with a lightning strike. Naturally, the laws surrounding the element weren't so simple and single-focused.
But this didn't matter. This wasn't lightning called by Damien, but lightning naturally formed as the elements excitedly danced through the air.
There were large flames streaking across the sky, waterfalls descending from the heavens, astral winds, and even rising earth monuments. Out of nowhere, this grand showing of natural elemental formation and destruction appeared for all to see, providing no small number of insights to the numerous experts in the surroundings.
As for the causes of this phenomenon?
Damien continued to mindlessly follow the world's flow. The elements followed him without missing a single step. And from the small hut, the strange music continued to play, exciting the world into action.
Damien didn't know how he felt right now. He followed his instinct and the path it showed him, and somehow, he felt like he touched upon World Force without needing to use his Celestial status as a crutch.
But that was all for another time.
The music slowly faded away with time. It had already been playing for many hours already. Along with the music, Damien's actions in the field also halted, bringing the elements down from their high and allowing them to settle into the atmosphere once more.
As the scene calmed, the door to the small hut opened, giving way to the jade-like figure of a certain girl…
