2026-07-24 20:01:32The Shadow Sun–not a real sun, but a giant crystal suspended in the sky of the Shadow World that emitted a dim light at all times–had just reached its peak brightness when Aldric walked cheerfully toward the Palace of Eternal Darkness.
That day, he woke up earlier than usual. Ever since yesterday’s skills competition, he had been eager to see Elara. He wanted to hear directly from his cousin whether she had watched his performance. He wanted to know if Elara had smiled upon seeing the shadow shield and sword he had created.
Aldric wore his black ceremonial robe with silver embroidery at the cuffs. He had combed his curly hair neatly–something he rarely did. In his hand, he carried a small box of crystal candies, Elara’s favorite treat that could only be found at a specialty shop in the South Shadow Market.
He was almost at the palace gates when a voice called out to him from the side.
“Aldric!”
Aldric stopped. He turned to his left, his brow furrowing slightly. Davina stood there, smiling sweetly in a burgundy dress that fluttered lightly in the breeze. The dark-blonde girl was the daughter of one of the most influential noble clans in the Shadow World. Her face was beautiful, her eyes sharp, and she always got what she wanted.
“Aldric, where are you going?” Davina asked in a sweet tone. She stepped closer, her hands clasped behind her back. “I’m looking for someone to play with. Do you want to come along? I know a new spot in the eastern garden. I heard the shadow flowers are blooming tonight.”
Aldric offered a faint smile, but his eyes lacked enthusiasm. “Sorry, Davina. I’m planning to see Elara.”
Davina’s expression changed. Not drastically, but enough for a keen observer to notice. Her smile stiffened slightly. “Elara again? You’re always seeing her. Every single day.”
“Because she’s my cousin,” Aldric replied flatly.
“Cousin.” Davina repeated the word with a slightly mocking tone. “Just a cousin. You don’t need to see her every day.”
Aldric was about to reply, but from behind the palace gates, a cheerful voice cut into their conversation.
“Aldric!”
Aldric turned his head. Elara was jogging toward him from the palace gate. The light blue dress she wore fluttered in the breeze, her black hair flowing freely. Her face was radiant, her smile wide and bright.
“Elara!” Aldric immediately raised his hand, waving back. His previously flat expression brightened. He walked quickly away from Davina, heading toward his cousin.
“I wanted to see you!” Elara exclaimed, slightly out of breath. “I’ve been waiting since this morning. Mother said you’d definitely come.”
“I’m here. And I brought this for you.” Aldric held out the small box in his hand. “Crystal candies. The ones you like.”
Elara accepted it with sparkling eyes. “Really? Thank you, Aldric! You’re so kind.”
They both chuckled. Before them, the dark Shadow World seemed a little brighter.
But behind Aldric, Davina stood silently. Her hands were clenched at her sides. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at Elara with burning intensity. She saw how Aldric smiled at the girl. She saw how Aldric brought her a gift and forgot all about her the moment Elara appeared.
Davina couldn’t take it anymore.
“Aldric,” Davina called out once more, her voice colder this time.
Aldric turned his head briefly. “What is it, Davina?”
“I asked you to play, and you said no. But the moment Elara appears, you’re ready to play with her.” Davina took a step closer. “It’s not fair.”
Aldric sighed. “Davina, I already told you ....”
Without warning, Davina raised her hand. From the palm of her hand, a burst of dense shadow shot rapidly toward Elara. It wasn’t a deadly attack, but it was enough to knock someone down, leaving them bruised and humiliated in public.
Elara didn’t have time to react. The girl simply froze, her eyes wide with fear.
But before the burst of shadow reached Elara, something else moved even faster.
The shadow beneath Aldric’s feet stretched out like a striking serpent. In an instant, it formed a circular wall that enveloped Elara’s body. The shadow shield was solid, dark, and impenetrable. Davina’s burst of power struck the shield and shattered into pieces like water hitting a rock.
Elara was stunned. She stood in the center of the shadow shield, safe and unharmed.
Davina lowered her hand, her face pale. “Aldric, you ....”
“Enough, Davina!” Aldric’s voice changed. No longer friendly. No longer patient. He glared at Davina with piercing eyes–a look he rarely showed anyone. “This is why I don’t want to play with you. You’re always trying to hurt Elara.”
Davina went quiet. Her lips trembled. She wasn’t used to being rejected, let alone in public. “I was just .…”
“I don’t care what you meant.” Aldric took a step back, moving closer to Elara. The shadow shield around Elara slowly faded, merging once more with Aldric’s shadow. “Go away, Davina. I don’t want to see you today. Or tomorrow. Not until you learn to control yourself.”
Davina bit her lip. Her eyes were glistening, but not from sadness–it was pure anger and embarrassment. She glanced at Elara one last time, her gaze filled with hatred, then turned and hurried away.
After Davina left, Aldric turned to Elara. His expression softened instantly. “Are you okay?”
Elara nodded. “I’m fine. Thank you, Aldric. You protected me again.”
“I’ll always protect you,” Aldric said firmly. “I won’t let anyone hurt you–no one!”
Elara smiled. But behind that smile, there was a small pang in her heart. Once again, she couldn’t protect herself. Once again, she had to rely on someone else.
“Aldric.”
“Hm?”
“Will I ever be able to protect myself one day?”
Aldric gazed at Elara for a long time. He reached out and clasped her fingers. “I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “But I promise, until you can, I’ll always be by your side.”
The two of them stood in front of the palace gates beneath the dark sky of the Shadow World. In the distance, Davina disappeared around a corner. And inside the palace, Queen Seraphina watched from her bedroom window, a bittersweet smile on her face.
Elara, no matter what, would never possess any power. She was just an ordinary human child–a fragile creature. But Seraphina loved Elara dearly.
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A Shared Enemy
Davina sneaked into the palace library late at night. It was not the public library frequented by nobles, but a locked underground chamber that could only be opened with a high-ranking family spell, one Davina had learned in secret from her father.Her footsteps echoed down the cold stone corridor. The candles along the walls ignited on their own as she passed, as if recognizing the noble blood flowing through her veins. Davina browsed the ancient bookshelves, her fingers brushing against dusty spines. She was searching for one thing: information about the Poisonous Forest and the toxic mist that guarded it.“I can’t believe there isn’t a single record about that forest,” Davina muttered in frustration after two hours of searching.She pulled a large book from the top shelf. Its cover was made of black leather, unlabelled, save for a circular symbol carved into the center. Davina opened the first page, and her eyes widened.It was a personal journal written by someone who had successf
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The Shadow Sun–not a real sun, but a giant crystal suspended in the sky of the Shadow World that emitted a dim light at all times–had just reached its peak brightness when Aldric walked cheerfully toward the Palace of Eternal Darkness.That day, he woke up earlier than usual. Ever since yesterday’s skills competition, he had been eager to see Elara. He wanted to hear directly from his cousin whether she had watched his performance. He wanted to know if Elara had smiled upon seeing the shadow shield and sword he had created.Aldric wore his black ceremonial robe with silver embroidery at the cuffs. He had combed his curly hair neatly–something he rarely did. In his hand, he carried a small box of crystal candies, Elara’s favorite treat that could only be found at a specialty shop in the South Shadow Market.He was almost at the palace gates when a voice called out to him from the side.“Aldric!”Aldric stopped. He turned to his left, his brow furrowing slightly. Davina stood there
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