The next day Aden woke up and read the map once again, the marks that lead to the exit were leading to a dark forest and before that dark forest a small town.
"So a town and and dark forest, I see. Ah.. before I start this journey let me eat something I am hungry as hell." Aden spoke and summoned a shadow and asked him to bring him some food to eat. The shadow returned after some a while with some big fruits, Aden ate them and left the cave.
Aden followed the route that was marked on the map and continued his journey, for extra safety Aden was walking with his both shadows to be safe. Aden stayed in the middle of his shadows, one shadow was walking forward and other one was walking back side of Aden.
After walking for a while one of the shadow froze at the place, Aden stopped and asked, "Um... Hey, is everything okay?" The shadow didn't responded and just remained frozen at the place, Aden looked around checking the area, he saw nothing dangerous.
The shadow suddenly turned back and pointed a finger, Aden looked, "There's... Nothing, is everything okay? You're literally scaring me and plus we are in a middle of a forest where tree leaves are black instead of green." The shadow stayed frozen and then started to walk again. The second shadow was acting normal. Aden resumed his journey and started to walk.
As Aden was walking, a figure hiding behind a big tree was watching him, as Aden went out of the view the figure went inside the ground as his body wasn't physical only just something else that can go through any wall or thing.
*******
The sun was shining brightly in the grey coloured sky, it was time for afternoon lunch. Aden stopped for a break and started to eat some fruits that his shadow brought, as he was eating them a big bear attacked on them, without wasting any time the second shadow killed the bear with a single blow.
"Woah! That was amazing dude, I didn't knew you're that strong. Thanks a lot." Aden said and finished his lunch by eating those fruits and continued the journey once again, his goal was to reach a safe place before the sunset.
As he continued his journey, the same figure hiding behind the tree suddenly moved and teleported just right above of Aden's first shadow and slammed it in the ground. The second shadow instinctively reacted and attack on that figure, the figure dodged the first blow and countered with a strong punch landing on the shadow's face. The shadow didn't gave up and once again attacked with some punches but the figure effortlessly dodged every one of them and then with a strong kick it finished the job.
Aden's both shadows were dead and returned in his shadow. "Wh... Who are you? Please don't kill me!." Aden said.
"You have the map, right?" The mysterious figure spoke. "Yes I do have the map." Aden replied.
"But who are you and what do you want from me?" Aden asked.
"I'm Raj. I am the guide of this world for people that are sent for the trials from the Demon Realm." Raj said, revealing his name.
"So you're a guide, right? Then why did you attacked on my shadows? You should have told me that normally." Aden said.
"You're unfamiliar with me, if I suddenly came out and say something your shadows would have attacked me or they would've killed me for protecting you." Raj explained.
"So, a guide you said, right? But why should I trust you and believe you are a real guide?" Aden doubted and asked..
"Ah... So you want proof."
"Yeah."
"You've got that diary with you right? Check in that." Raj said.
"But there are pages mostly blank and only some of them are only containing information." Aden said.
"Just give it to me."
Aden handed over the diary to Raj. Raj kept the diary on the ground and lifted his hand just ahead of the diary, like he's about to perform a magic. "What is your name?" Raj asked.
"Aden, Aden Gray."
Raj said nothing and looked at the diary, "O' the diary of guidance, reveal the guide of Aden Gray."
The diary opened itself and started turning pages randomly and stopped at one page, "The Mysterious Guide, Raj." Aden read.
"So now you believe that I am your guide of this world?" Raj asked.
Aden nodded and was about to ask one more question but Raj interrupted and said, "No more questions until we reach the abandoned town that is just ahead of us." Aden just simply nodded and started to follow raj.