Chapter 79-80: An Interesting Story
“What about your kind, the Shadow People?”
When it came to lifespans, what Leon was actually more curious about was the limits of other creatures in this world—especially the race that Krobus belonged to.
“We don’t have a concept of lifespan. We are born of shadow and return to shadow. Most shadowy marauders are extremely warlike because we are products of the shadow element. Even if we are killed, the shadows will soon reshape our bodies. But whether the reshaped marauder is still the same one as before… that’s something I can’t say for sure,” Krobus replied.
Leon glanced at him. If he remembered correctly, Krobus was also a shadowy marauder, yet he didn’t seem as aggressive as he was claiming.
Krobus seemed to realize what Leon was thinking. “You might wonder why a warlike marauder like me would hide in the sewers of a human town. To be honest, I’m not too sure either. All I know is that when I first coalesced in the shadows, I appeared here. There’s no sunlight, and no one bothers me. Later, I met the Guardian. He taught me human language and ways of living, and we made a pact that I would not disturb human life.”
“So, from the moment you became self-aware, you’ve been living in the sewer?”
“Yes,” Krobus confirmed. “I once discussed my origins with the Guardian, but he only told me I was special. I tried searching underground for my kind, but they didn’t like me. One of the elders even told me to never approach the underground or our kin again. They didn’t accept me, but they told me to remember the meaning of my name.”
“Krobus? What does it mean in your language?”
“Bridge-Crosser. It means one who crosses bridges, or one who travels between two worlds. This is a special gift that other Shadow People don’t have. I can freely enter the Spirit Realm and the City of Elements. That’s my edge as a merchant.” Krobus didn’t seem to mind sharing these details. In fact, he looked happy to have someone to chat with.