My creator brought me to life in a secret place. My creation seemed to be based on an entity whose name I’m forbidden to speak.

  He gave me a special form and told me of the importance of his brood; how they are the only ones allowed in this special place of abundance. To protect his lands, his world and family, he gave me incredible power. As I was born and named, what my master’s memory referred to as a Sisttemm screen appeared.

  Umbra Level 1 [Alexander’s Creation] [Fate\Mind\Chaos]

  Strength - Average

  Dexterity - Excellent

  Constitution - High

  Intelligence - Very High

  Wisdom - High

  Charisma - Low

  Abilities:

  Shadow Camouflage: Umbra can manipulate her body to appear nearly invisible in dim light or darkness. This allows exceptional stealth capability.

  Sensory Link: Umbra telepathically connects to Alexander’s senses, allowing him to perceive things from the spider’s location.

  Web Creation: Umbra can spin durable webs of swirling darkness similar in strength and adhesion to Alexander’s Psychokinetic Threads. These shadow webs can be used to immobilize or entangle threats.

  Toxic Fangs/Stingers: Umbra’s fangs and stinger legs secrete a potent hematoxin venom that immobilizes and weakens victims.

  Trap Setting: Umbra can strategically build web traps, trip lines, and massed entanglement zones for ambushing inbound threats.

  I’m currently the only watcher within this world. It seems my purpose, if summoned to his home world, is to be his eyes. I await the opportunity to fulfill the task he has given me. I am indebted to him.

  Before he left, with but a wave of his hand, the area behind his home became fertile land as far as I could see. “Take that area and build whatever you’d like, Umbra.” he had said.

  “My master gave me my life, power, a territory of my own and access to some of his world’s information. I would serve him and his spawn eternally,” she thought as she started traversing the dense forest behind his nest. She continuously practiced with her abilities as the forest continued to grow around her.

  She found a large mass of trees that she decided would make an adequate nest for her own web. Sitting in the massive group of trees, she marveled as the lands behind her master’s home came into being.

  Waterfalls and caves sprang forth as the space filled twice as large as before her master had left. Water filled the basins of rivers and caves formed in the side of large hills that formed within the distance. Flowers of numerous varieties and small animals came into being within the forest.

  “Umbra. What a wonderful name,” she thought as she closed her eyes to rest amongst the beautiful scenery and ambient smells.

  She watched the landscape shift and grow as the master’s power continued to flow through this mental domain. Though I was but a creation myself, I could sense the vastness of his ability. The lands expanded far beyond what even he might have intended, suggesting his potential exceeded his own awareness.

  As I wove my first web between the ancient trees, I felt purpose fill my being. The silken strands shimmered with a darkness deeper than night, each one an extension of my consciousness. Through these threads, I would become the master’s eyes and ears, his silent sentinel in places he could not reach.

  I instinctively knew my purpose; surveillance, protection, and when necessary, elimination of threats that bothered my master. The knowledge he had shared with me contained centuries of tactical information, combat strategies, and historical patterns of conflict. I could anticipate enemy movements before they occurred, sense weaknesses in defenses, and deploy countermeasures with surgical precision.

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  But beyond these practical abilities, I felt something unexpected growing within me…curiosity. The master had gifted me with more than just purpose; he had given me identity.

  “Umbra,” I whispered to myself, feeling the resonance of the name. It fit perfectly; the shadow cast by light, the unseen guardian in the darkness.

  As night fell in this ever-changing realm, I ventured deeper into the forest, testing the limits of my shadow camouflage. My body blended seamlessly with the darkness between trees, my eight eyes able to perceive heat signatures, movement patterns, and the gentle flow of mana through living organisms.

  I discovered I could traverse the entire constructed world within moments, moving through shadows as if they were doorways connected to a single vast room. This would please the master, I thought. Efficiency in movement meant quicker response to threats.

  When I returned to my primary web, I began constructing an elaborate network of sensory strands extending throughout the forest. Each thread would alert me to unwelcome presences, allowing me to monitor this realm even while accompanying the master elsewhere.

  As I worked, I contemplated the brood the master had mentioned, his family. From the memories he had shared, I understood they were precious to him beyond measure. He had bent time itself to save them, had faced great powers with nothing but determination and cunning.

  They would be my charges as well. I would learn their patterns, their strengths and vulnerabilities. I would become their unseen protector, a shadow at their shoulder when danger approached.

  I settled into the center of my web, eight legs extended to touch the primary sensory strands. Through them, I could feel the heartbeat of my master's entire realm; the rustle of leaves, the flow of water, the gentle breath of wind across meadows.

  The next time my master summoned me; he was not alone.

  I sensed their presence instantly, five additional consciousnesses entering the Mind Palace. Their mana signatures pulsed with familiar patterns, and I recognized them immediately from the master’s memories: his family.

  I observed them from the shadows of the forest as they marveled at the world my master had created. Their reactions were fascinating; shock, wonder, disbelief. They touched trees and flowers, testing their solidity, breathing deeply of air that existed only within the master’s imagination.

  My instinct was to remain hidden, to watch and assess before revealing myself. But the master turned toward the forest where I lurked.

  “Oh, here she comes,” he said with an unusual smile.

  I could not disobey a summons, even an indirect one. I abandoned my stealth and moved swiftly through the branches, racing towards my creator. I heard the young male, Xavier, cry out in alarm as he spotted my approach.

  “Dad, something’s coming extremely fast towards us!”

  “Calm down, that’s our new friend,” my master replied as I landed lightly on his shoulder.

  I observed their reactions carefully. Horror, shock, fascination; all expected responses to my appearance. I nodded slightly under my master’s touch as he introduced me.

  “This is Umbra, my familiar. She looks after the place for me, don’t you girl.”

  The son called me “it,” and I felt an unexpected emotion; indignation, as my master’s memories describe it. To my surprise, the master immediately corrected him.

  “Son,” he said seriously, “Not an IT, but a She. She gets her feelings hurt easily, look at her face.”

  The boy apologized directly to me, which pleased me. I raised one leg to indicate my acceptance.

  “She can understand language!?” the quiet daughter, Maeve, exclaimed with volume.

  I confirmed with another raised leg, pleased by their growing interest. Soon they surrounded me, asking questions, each of which I answered with my simple sign language. The youngest daughter, Nadia, asked permission to pet me as the master did. I granted it, enjoying the gentle touch of another being.

  As they accepted me, I studied them more carefully. Each burned with unique mana signatures, their power growing but still undeveloped compared to the master’s. They would need protection, training, guidance.

  I would help provide all three.

  When the master warned them about the darkened area in the distance, I immediately retreated to Nadia’s shoulder. Even I felt fear at the mention of that place; his Infinite Spire. The master’s tone made it clear: that domain was forbidden to all.

  As the family continued exploring, testing their abilities in this mana rich environment, I observed their powers with keen interest. The golden light of the creator’s mate, the plant manipulation of the loud one, the sheer power of the small one, the brutal efficiency of the light using spawn, the spatial manipulation of the quiet one; each complemented the others, forming a formidable unit.

  When Nadia demonstrated her combat skills against a construct the master created, I raised four legs in approval. The girl had potential; her control of gravity showed finesse beyond her years.

  I belonged to this family now. Their battles would be my battles, their enemies my prey. I would be the silent guardian in their peripheral vision, the lurking shadow that struck when threats emerged.

  As the master prepared to return them to the physical world, I retreated to my web, satisfied with this first meeting. The family had accepted me, and I had begun to understand them beyond the memories the master had shared.

  I looked toward the dark area the master had forbidden; the Infinite Spire that loomed ominously in the distance. My master would not have to worry. I would never venture near that place of darkness, and I would ensure none of his brood did either.

  I settled into my web, eight eyes blinking in sequence as I extended my consciousness through the strands. Master would return soon, and we would continue our training. Until then, I would watch, I would wait, I would prepare.

  My name is Umbra, First Creation of the Archon of Lilith.