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2024-12-05 17:24:34The shadows in the mirror twisted, swirling in a mad dance, as if sensing Jorin's presence. His heart pounded, every instinct screaming for him to turn back, yet he held his ground, his gaze locked onto Evans's face within the glass. His friend's eyes, once filled with light and determination, were now hollow, a darkness swirling within them.
"Evans…" Jorin whispered, reaching toward the mirror again. But as his fingertips brushed the cold surface, the darkness surged forward. Shadows poured from the glass, spilling out like smoke and taking shape around the clearing. They formed spectral figures with vague, distorted faces-their eyes glowing with malevolent intent. Each was a twisted reflection of the humans they had once been, shadows of the ancient guardians who had once protected the crown. Mara and Kellan instantly prepared their arms, one to either side of Jorin, while Sir Garen clutched his sword before them, protectively. The shad
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Shadows of the crown Chapter 23: The Wrath of the shadow lord
Before them, it loomed-the creature form shifting, pulsing with the essence of darkness itself. Its face was undistinguished except from its eyes, which gleamed bright with an ancient and threatening intelligence, piercing right through Jorin. The air grew colder with each breath the creature took, furthering the chilling reminder they were standing in the middle of something far beyond mortal reckoning. Jorin's fingers tightened on his sword, the cool metal a minor reassurance considering the smothering presence before him. He glanced at his companions: Mara and Kellan steeled themselves, holding torches high, while Sir Garen readied his blade, clenching his jaw. The Shadow Lord tilted its head to one side, regarding them with the briefest flicker of a minor annoyance. "You stand before me with such resolve," it hissed, the voice like ice scraping over stone. "Brave—and foolish. I have been bound for centuries, denied my rightful power. Your ancestors
Shadows of the crown Chapter 24: Unbelievable
The quiet in the throne room seemed unusually tense as Evans sat in his place, surveying the court. This should be a moment of triumph, fresh from their victory over the Shadow Lord, but an unshakeable feeling of unease had settled upon him. Bizarre occurrences still plagued the kingdom even while the Shadow Lord was defeated. Rumors of unrest, strange behavior amongst familiar faces, and growing distrust apparently infected the townsfolk like some sort of slow-spreading illness. He'd also noticed the change in the air within his court. Everyone around him seemed distant, some even going so far as to whisper amongst themselves when they thought him not watching. Advisors that had spoken to him with confidence and conviction now stuttered and looked about with furtive glances. Evans could feel the shadows creeping back in, this time not overt as before, not so clearly defined. It was a more insidious kind of darkness, similar to poison dripping into the veins of his ki
Shadows of the crown Chapter 25: Shadows Within
Evans paced the limits of his chamber, his mind whirling with all he had seen inside the chapel: Cedric, the trusted advisor who was once more like a brother to him, using the dark remnants of the crown's power-it was almost too unreal to fathom. Still, he could feel the chill of that dark magic in his thoughts and know the power of the curse was far more strongly wound than he had realized. Garen entered early in the morning, his face tight with concern. "I have arranged to meet with the few members of the council whom we can trust," he whispered, "but we must be very careful. We are not sure who else may have been influenced by Cedric." Evans nodded, looking out at the courtyard below. It seemed quieter than usual tonight, nearly strained, as if even the guards felt it-the weight of change hanging in the air. "We go in secret," he said finally. "The fewer eyes on us, the better." The two slipped out of the room an
Shadows of the crown Chapter 26: The Return with the Amulet
The walk back from the Cave of Echoes was not at all victorious. Evans grasped the Amulet of the First Light, its luminous shine starkly contrasted with the gloom hanging over his group. Every step was an ordeal. The trials of the cave might have tested their resolution, but the way back home was filled with tension, which betrayed the fact that treachery could be sitting in any shadow.Sir Garen led the way, his sword at the ready as his eyes scanned the thick forest for any sign of movement. Brynna followed closely, her gaze flickering from the amulet to the path ahead, her healer's intuition sensing danger as yet unseen. Jorin and Mara brought up the rear, whispering in hushed tones about the political unrest gripping the kingdom in their absence."We need to move faster," Evans said, low but firm. "Cedric won't sit idly by now that we have this."Brynna nodded. "The amulet is powerful, but its light will draw attention. Shadows, whether magical or mort
Shadows of the crown Chapter 27: Shadows at the Throne
The halls of the castle were no longer recognizable, where once splendor and order had been; now, chaos. Fires smoldered in the corners of the corridors, casting eerie shadows on the cracked stone walls. Every echo of their hurried footsteps seemed to taunt them, a sinister whisper of the reach of rebellion. Evans and his group moved cautiously, guns drawn, senses high. The weight of the Amulet of the First Light on Evans's neck seemed heavier with every step. He could feel its magic run through him, but the thought of how little he knew of its power gnawed at the edges of his mind. They had one shot to stop Cedric before the kingdom fell completely. "You don't think we are walking into some kind of trap?" Brynna whispered, clutching her staff tightly. Garen's face was grim. "We're well past traps. This is a battlefield." As they approached the grand staircase leading to the throne room, Evans’s heart clenched. Guards loyal
Shadows of the crown Chapter 28: The Aftermath of Shadows
The throne room was silent now but for the soft crackle of the extinguished shadows. The shattered remains of Cedric's shadow crown lay scattered across the floor, faintly shimmering as if they retained a fraction of the dark power that had consumed him. Evans stared at the fragments, his chest rising and falling heavily from the battle. He had won-at least, it felt like it-but a deep unease churned in his gut. Evans," Brynna called softly, her voice hoarse. She crouched beside one of the freed citizens who had been under Cedric's control. "They're alive but barely. Whatever spell he used drained them to their core. Evans knelt next to her, placing a hand on the unconscious villager’s shoulder. The man’s face was pale, his body trembling as though caught in an endless nightmare. Around the room, others in the same condition lay scattered, broken but alive. “We’ll get them help,” Evans said, his tone firm despite the uncertainty gnawing at
Shadows of the crown Chapter 29: The Splintered Shadows
Thick tension hung in the air as the group trekked through the forest, guided by the soft, eerie light of the Amulet of the First Light. Evans walked upfront, and every nerve in his body was taut. The roar still echoed faintly in his mind, a grim reminder that tonight was far from over.Brynna gained on him, her staff resuming its soft glow with a muttered protection spell. "We don't know what we're walking into," she said, quietly but urgently. "The loyalists of Cedric are desperate. That just makes them unpredictable-and dangerous."Evans looked at her, his jaw tightening. "If they've taken the shadow fragments, we really don't have time to wait. Whatever they're up to, we need to stop it before it only gets worse.From behind them, Jorin chimed in, his tone dry. "Worse than shadow spirits, cursed crowns, and rebellious traitors? Sounds like a low bar."Despite himself, Evans almost smiled. Jorin's humor was a rare constant in the chaos. But the
Shadows of the crown Chapter 30: The Edge of Deception
It wore a deep night, and, it seemed, the treetops pulsed through the darkness with life-thoughts in an unnatural, extended stillness. By this time, Evans knew that weight against his chest was more than an innocuous mass of material, being now quite sensitive to the near presence of a great, moving evil. It had, after all, brought them thus far, and its light was now a blaze compared to what Evans could recall as he made their way toward the loyalists' camp. He glanced at his comrades: Mara, her daggers faintly glinting in the dark; Brynna, who had muttered softly under her breath; Jorin, his hand firm on the hilt of his sword. Garen led ahead, a mask of concentration etched across his face. "We are close," Garen uttered in a low tone. Evans nodded. "We keep to the plan. We find Seraphine, stop the ritual, and get the fragments before they can complete the crown." Yet with their push onward, a seed of disquiet began to nes
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- Shadows of the crown
Chapter 40: The Chamber of Truth
The shadows in the chamber grew thicker, writhing around each other like a storm as the voice thundered again, its authority deeper."Only the worthy may seize the key. To take it, you will confront the truths you hide even from yourself."Evans hesitated, his hand poised over the ornate box sitting upon the pedestal. The air above him seemed to weigh heavier still with every beat of the passing second. Lena stepped forward, her staff shining feebly."Evans, this may be a test of the mind," she whispered. "The shadows… they're testing us. Be cautious."Evans nodded but did not retreat. He had come too far to turn back now. The instant his fingers touched the box, a brilliant light burst from the pedestal, engulfing him completely."Evans!" Lena screamed, reaching out, but her hand passed through empty air. He was gone.Evans blinked and found himself standing in a completely different place: a wide, empty expanse of black and sil
- Shadows of the crown
Chapter 39: The Whispered Warning
The wind bore a sound, faint but unmistakable—a whisper that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. It wasn't the soft rustle of leaves or the gentle sigh of the breeze but, rather, a voice—old, fragmented—calling out to Evans:"You cannot run… You cannot hide… The shadow sees all…Evans stopped dead in his tracks, his hand clutching the hilt of his sword. They had left Ashwood only hours ago, but the fight still resonated in his mind. And now, here was this voice, making all that seem very empty and hollow, a sort of prelude to something far blacker."Hear what?" she asked, Browning in bewilderment at him."You didn't, then?" He asked Lena, who trailed a few steps behind him.Evans hesitated, looking about. The road was empty, flanked by heavy woods on either side. Still, he could not dispel the feeling that they were being watched."Nothing," he said finally, though the unease in his voice betrayed him.The group
- Shadows of the crown
Chapter 38: The Shadow’s Whisper
The trek out of the Forest of Dusk was no less harrowing than their arrival. The shadows watched them, silent and unrelenting, as if in mourning for the destruction of the obelisk. Evans felt their presence in the chill of the air, the eerie stillness of the trees.Lena kept pace with him, her staff aglow with a faint, flickering light, showing them their way. "That shard we found," she said, breaking the uneasy silence, "it's not just any bit of the map. It's a marker."Evans glanced at her. "A marker for what?"She hesitated before answering: "The next obelisk. The runes shift, like alive. It means to guide us.".Evans tightened his grip on his sword. “Whoever created these obelisks knows we’re following them. They’re setting the stage for something bigger.”The group emerged from the forest at last, greeted by the open expanse of the plains. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow over the horizon, but it did little to ease the
- Shadows of the crown
Chapter 37: The Map of Shadows
Morning sunlight battled the last wisps of haze over Greystone, casting long, flat shadows through the ravaged village. The villagers, now free, were led from the square under the guidance of Evans's guards, but even their bodies freed, their minds would carry the marks of having been possessed: faces pale and confused, eyes hollow and distant.Evans leaned back against a broken wall, exhaustion weighing down on him like a physical force. His sword still glowed faintly and leaned against his knee. Lena stood beside him, her eyes fixed on the rubble of the broken dark obelisk."That was no simple artifact," Lena said, breaking the silence. "It was a beacon. Whatever is doing this, it's placing these to spread the shadows."Evans nodded, thinking quickly. "Whatever is behind this, they know the kingdom. Greystone is not just a village; it's one of the major junctures of food supplies. Had they not stopped here, the rest of the kingdom would have starved with
- Shadows of the crown
Chapter 36: The Whisper of Shadows
The last wisps of shadow had burned away, leaving the court in an uneasy silence in the grand hall. Evans sheathed his still-glowing sword, his hand shaking ever so slightly as the weight of the battle began to settle into his bones. His council members and guards slowly rose, pale and shaken. The once-proud hall showed signs of the struggle: shattered stone, scorched walls, and a faint lingering chill of dark magic.Lena advanced on Evans, staff still aglow with the dull sheen of barrier magic. "Are you okay?" she demanded, her tone low but unshaken.Evans nodded, but his face remained grim. He looked over to where Alric lay in a heap on the floor, robes rent and bloodstained. Something about that really irked Evans, even though they had won the battle. The darkness had been too strong; it seemed inhumanly coherent. This wasn't some trick by Alric—something much bigger is going on here."We must secure him now," Evans commanded, his tone adamant. "To the
- Shadows of the crown
Chapter 35: Shadows of Deception
The air in the great hall was tense, the flickering light from every torch casting sinister shadows against the ancient stone walls. Evans stood at the center of the room, the weight of his kingdom heavy upon his shoulders. Before him, on bended knee, was the treacherous advisor Alric, bound in glowing, enchanted chains that radiated a faint blue light. The court was silent; faces were filled with a mix of fear, anger, and confusion as the weight of what had been said was digested."You betrayed us, Alric," Evans said, his voice calm but laced with an undercurrent of fury. "You used the crown's dark magic to manipulate my people, sow chaos, and nearly destroy the kingdom. Why?"Alric lifted his head, and his lips curled into a smile that sent a chill down Evans's spine. "Why?" he echoed, his voice mocking. "You are weak, Evans. You hold on to hope and light in a world long ago devoured by shadows. The crown's power—its true power—could have been ours. We could have
- Shadows of the crown
Chapter 34: The Shattered Crown
Evans's heart was racing as he looked up to see the creature finally exposed in full detail looming over the horizon, the form an elongated, ghastly shadow in a vast desert expanse. All instincts within him were screaming, demanding he run, escape from chaos and darkness, promising to sweep him and all he cared for under. There was nowhere to go, no place left. It was here, in this spot, that his world was coming to an end. The crown, the curse, the creature-all had built up to this. The amulet on his chest pulsed with an unnatural heat, almost as if it were alive and urging him to action-to call upon its power inside. He reached for it, his fingers trembling as the weight of such a decision weighed heavy upon his chest: Could he trust it? Be able to make use of its power to stop this creature? Or would things get even worse, like with the crown? The creature, still a distance away but closing in with each passing second, let out a low growl-a guttural
- Shadows of the crown
Chapter 33: The Price of Power
Everything around Evans was disorienting: a dizzying blur of fractured images and sounds. He blinked rapidly, fighting to clear the haze from his brain. His body seemed like it had been shredded by some sort of storm inside him; each muscle screamed in pain, its tension threatening to paralyze him. Gradually, the light that had blinded him began to dim, allowing him to make out the details of his surroundings.He was no longer in the abyss. The smothering darkness had lifted, and in its place, a soft golden glow bathed the ground beneath him. It was quiet, almost peaceful-until his gaze shifted to what lay before him.The ground spread in all directions, a huge area of land that was desolate to the last inch. Mountains loomed distantly, their jagged peaks enshrouded by mists. The air reeked of the burning of wood and the crashing of waves from a distance. It was as though he had been spirited to some place between worlds—a place where time and reality melted togeth
- Shadows of the crown
Chapter 32: Into the Abyss
It seemed his fall was endless. Evans was breathing in ragged gasps, and the chill of the abyss had permeated his bones with every drop into the unknown. The blinding light from the amulet gave way to overwhelmingly suffocating darkness that closed in on him from every direction. His body was in pain; the beat of his heart echoed in his head, as if it were to explode at that moment because of the heavy action.Everything went silent for a moment.Then, a sharp jolt ripped through him as he hit solid ground with a sickening thud. Pain tore through his limbs, and for a heartbeat, he was convinced that he had something broken-or worse, this was it. Yet, he fought through the hazy veil of agony and dragged himself to his feet by the skin of his teeth.The air was thick, heavy, and oppressive, as if the very atmosphere was a manifestation of sorrow and decay. There was no light, no warmth-just shadow, twisting and writhing like living things. Evans felt the pul
