Every day at high noon, the people of the Seerway village come to the grand plaza of the town. Every day there are two boys, both about the age of 16, that stand there with their wooden swords at their side. These two boys have been rivals and everyone knows it. It has become a custom thing to watch and cheer the two boys on. Today was no different.

"You ready Toby?" The boy with jet red hair asked.
"I am always ready, Jacob." Responded the boy with greasy black hair. The boy named Toby stood at about 5'9'' and had a somewhat muscular body. At first glance he would seem to be an adult, but upon further examination you could tell that he still had a small amount of his baby fat on his face and had that childish look in his eyes. Jacob didn't look anything like Toby, for Jacob stood at about 5'2'' tall and was as skinny as a stick. Many people thought that he was just a boy of about 12 or 13 years of age. Sadly, Jacob was in fact 16 years old and was stronger then he looked.

Toby got into a lunging stance, his usual starting stance, and Jacob put his wooden sword to his belt, as if he where sheathing a blade. Most kids watched with interested eyes and stayed silent, while other people, who where mostly the same age as the two boys, cheered for their favorite fighter. Near the back of the crowd a man with a hat was seeing if people would take a bet on who would win.

The crowd grew silent as Toby charged, thrusting his sword towards Jacob's heart. Jacob closed his eyes and unsheathed his sword from his belt, which knocked Toby's thrust off course and then Jacob spun around and swung his sword at Toby's back. Toby quickly spun around and parried Jacob's blow, returning on of his own attacks.

Toby and Jacob where at opposite sides of the plaza and where both lightly panting. The two had always fought each other every day in hopes that one of them would surpass the other. Jacob and Toby both charged at each other, and Jacob sent a horizontal swing at Toby, and Toby sent a vertical slice at Jacob. The duel ended as the two swords shattered into splinters around the two boys.

The crowd grew wild as the destruction of the weapons always closed the duel. Jacob and Toby stood up straight and shook hands.

"Good match Jacob,"
"You too Toby."

Unbeknownst to everyone, there was another person watching the two fight. As Jacob and Toby went to the tavern to talk, a shadow followed the two. Toby sat down at the nearest table and Jacob sat down across from him.
"So, anyone ask to be your girlfriend Toby?" Jacob asked with a small grin.
"Nope, I don't know why, I am the stronger of us and the better looking. Why, if it wasn't for me, no one would even recognize your existence." Toby said to Jacob with mock humor.
Jacob sighed, "Your probably right. I mean look at me, I am a short thin kid who looks 4 years younger then he is. Compared to you, I would look like a fool. Though the reason you fight so hard to win is because it would be shameful on your ego if you lost to someone like me right?" Jacob said with a light laugh. The waiter came over to where they were sitting.
"Tis and extraordinary fight that was today. Took about 10 minutes longer for you two to draw again. How many times it that now?" The waiter asked.
"Oh, hey Yin, I am guessing about 279 draws right Jacob?" Toby responded.
"No, its only been 78 draws. You where winning the first 201 fights we had." Jacob corrected Toby.
"Well it seems your getting better at fighting Jacob, either of you want anything to eat or drink? Its on the house today, seeing as you guys fighting right in front of our tavern brings in a lot of customers. 'Specually at high noon." Yin said to them.
Jacob shook his head, "No thanks, I would just like some water please." He said to Yin.
Toby yawned, "If you don't mind can I get steak and milk?" HE asked Yin. Yin nodded and walked away from the table. Slowly but surely the shadow was coming closer to the two boys. It was just the shadow of a table that seemed to flicker in the light. It seemed as if the shadow was watching the two and after a few minutes it seemed to disappear.

After a while Yin came back with Toby's steak and milk. He gave Jacob his water and left the two to chat.

"So, Jacob, what do you plan to do today." Toby asked Jacob.
"Not really sure. I might go to the forest for a while." Jacob said quietly. Quieter then usual.
"Jacob, you know that you aren't allowed into the forest anymore. You remember what happened to your parents and to a good deal of other people's parents? They went into the forest all fine and healthy, but when they came out they where as sick as a dog and-" Jacob put his hand up stopping Toby from talking.
"I don't need to hear this from you. I need to know what happened in there, not just for my sake, but for my parents sake as well. I must know what killed them." Jacob said as he got up and started to leave the building. Toby quickly followed afterwards.
"Jacob, I am begging you, don't do this." He said to Jacob with fear in his voice.
"Toby, nothing you can say can stop me. Honestly, who would miss me if I didn't come back? You would forget about me very quickly and as you said it, no one would have noticed me if it wasn't for you. So, they won't notice if I died now would they?" He said and walked off before Toby could say a word.

Jacob went to his empty home and unlocked the door. When he opened the door he saw a dark figure sitting on the table. The figured turned his head and looked at Jacob.
"Sssso, your finally back. About time you came back. I heard you want to go into the foresssst? I sssugessssst not little boy. In lesssssss you fear nothing, you can't sssssurvive the foresssst." The figure hissed.
Jacob was furious now. First Toby, now this thing was telling him not to pursue what he wanted to know. "Get out." Jacob said sternly and opened a drawer. In the drawer was a blue sheath with a glimmering blade inside of it. Jacob unsheathed the blade and pointed it at the figure, "Leave now or else I will force you to leave." He said to it.
"Do you really think you can kill a sssshadow walker?" The thing said as it laughed. Then before Jacob could blink, the figure vanished. Leaving nothing but the laughter carved in Jacobs head behind.