2024-11-15 06:12:24Days faded into an indistinct haze, but what lingered in Evans's mind was the shadow dog's attack, hovering over him like a dark cloud. While people of Astera gradually began to get back into the daily grind once again, the kingdom itself awaited with bated breath the occurrence of something, anything.
Evans felt it, too. The skies had cleared-the streets were once again filled with caution and hope-but he knew the curse of the crown hadn't been truly broken. Not yet. Since the night of the battle, Evans had been avoiding the council chambers, much more content to wander the empty halls of the castle. His heart was heavy, for though his father's reign had been brought to a close, the weight of the curse clung to him like a shadow. Every mirror, every dark corner seemed to mock him with the knowledge that the crown had not been destroyed, only changed. And thus, late one night, unable to sleep, Evans found himself standing before the mirror in his chambers, peering into the reflection in desperation, searching for any sign that the darkness had returned. For a moment, everything seemed normal. But then he saw it—just a flicker, a momentary glimpse of something that made his heart race. His eyes—his own eyes—were not entirely his. They swirled with shadow. Evans stumbled backward, his breath catching in his throat. He blinked hard to clear his vision, and the second time he opened his eyes, the reflection stared back normal. His heart racing in his chest, he leaned closer to the mirror, searching for any residual smidgen of darkness. Nothing. Just his worn, weary face staring back at him. But he had seen it. He knew it, was certain. The shadow, the same darkness that had eaten his father alive, was inside him, now. It hadn't been defeated. It had simply found a new host. Evans's fists were clenched as his mind somersaulted. How could this be happening? He had destroyed the creature, banished the shadows that had plagued his kingdom for so long. But the crown. it had always been more than just a cursed object. The creature had said it was a doorway, a conduit for power far beyond their world. And now that doorway was inside him. His thoughts broke to the soft knock at the door. Evans tensed, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword. "Your Majesty?" The voice was unmistakable to Evans; it was Jorin. Careful, as if he knew Evans's mind was not at ease. "May I come in?" Evans hesitated and nodded though well aware Jorin wouldn't be able to see him. "Enter, " he said with a very straight voice; the turmoil that was climbing in his chest didn't find any reflection in his voice. The door creaked open, and Jorin stepped into the room. With one swift look around, his eyes fell upon Evans standing before the mirror, pale and tense. "I have been looking for you. You've missed several council meetings, Evans. The nobles begin to show signs of restlessness. Evans turned away from the mirror as the weight of his responsibilities finally fell hard on him. He hadn't given much thought, in the days since the battle, either to the council or to the kingdom. He had been mainly concerned with the feeling of impending doom growing inside him. "The council will have to wait," he said quietly, strained. "There's something far more important we need to deal with." Jorin frowned, his feet shifting closer. "What is it? Has something happened?" Evans's eyes refocused on the mirror, where his reflection stared back with an accusing hauntedness. "The crown," he breathed. "It's still here, Jorin. I can feel it. And I think. I think it's inside me." Jorin stiffened, eyes wide in alarm. "What are you talking about? The crown's power was destroyed. You defeated the creature, Evans. The curse is broken." "No," Evans said, shaking his head. "It's not. The creature was only the beginning. The crown-it's connected with something so much darker, something that has been waiting for centuries. And now that it's gone, that darkness has found a new host." He stopped, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Me." Jorin's face paled, but he didn't back away. He stepped closer, his voice firm. "We'll find a way to stop it. Whatever this is, we'll deal with it. You're not alone in this, Evans." Evans wanted to believe him, wanted to cleave to the hope that somehow, someway they could finally beat the curse. But deep inside, he knew it wasn't that simple. The shadows had been in his family for generations. They'd corrupted his father, twisted him into something unrecognizable. And now, they were coming for him. "What if it's too late?" Evans asked, his voice low with quiet desperation. "What if the darkness has already taken root inside me? What if I'm already lost?" Jorin's grip on his sword tightened, but his gaze did not waver. "You are stronger than that, Evans. You fought the shadows and won. You can fight this too. But you have to let us help you. You have to trust us." Evans regarded his friend, the weight of his words sinking into his gut. He wanted to trust Jorin, wanted to believe he could fight whatever was growing inside him. But the truth was, he wasn't sure he could. The darkness had already begun oozing into his soul, and with each day, it was getting stronger. Before Evans could answer, the room was suddenly washed over with a chill. The temperature rapidly fell, while a faint whispering sound filled the air, both from everywhere and nowhere simultaneously. Evans and Jorin both froze, their eyes going around the room. The whispers rose in volume, as though someone spoke words that were indistinguishable but full of malice. Shadows in corners of the room almost seemed to writhe and twist in unnatural life. Evans's heart was racing. "Do you hear that?" Jorin nodded, his face white. "I hear it." The whispers grew louder, filling Evans's mind with a sense of dread so deep it almost dropped him to his knees. He clutched at his head, trying to shut out the voices, but they merely grew louder, more insistent. "Evans," Jorin said, his voice tight with fear. "We need to leave. Now." But Evans couldn't budge. The shadows, it appeared to him, had come alive, imploring him to come nearer. His vision blurred, and all of a sudden he was no longer standing within his chamber but elsewhere-cold and dark, in a place surrounded by figures shrouded in shadow. The eyes of these figures glowed from within with that same eerie light as the creature he'd fought against in the throne room. "Evans," the voices chanted in unison. "You are ours now." Abruptly Evans opened his eyes. He was cold with sweat. The room was rigid, unmoving; no longer writhing shadows. Yet the whispers continued, very soft and far away. Jorin grasped his arm in a tight, urgent grip. "Evans! Are you alright? Evans shook his head as his chest heaved, trying to catch his breath. "It's not over," he muttered, his voice shaking. "The crown. it's still here. And it's coming for me." Jorin's face hardened. "Then we'll fight together. We will find a way to destroy it once and for all." But in his friend's eyes, Evans couldn't help but wonder if it was already too late. The shadows had marked him, and no matter how hard he tried to fight, he knew the darkness would never let him go. The crown's legacy was in him now. And it would never be silenced.
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Shadows of the crown Chapter 8: Decent into darkness
The chill of the shadows clung to Evans long after the voices had faded, their whispering echoing in the far reaches of his mind. It had been three nights since that terrifying encounter in his chambers, and he had not slept since. He was too afraid of what might come in the silence of the night, too fearful of what he might become should he let his guard down, even for a moment. Jorin kept pace, his attentive company a reminder of the steadfastness Evans had always relied upon. Yet the farther on Evans pressed, the more the kingdom shrouded its mysteries. Figures flitted at the edges of his sight, never quite in focus, melting away the instant he turned toward them. This crown, now locked deep in the furthest vault of the castle, still called to him; its faint presence a tug deep in his chest. The whispers and his mind seemed to be indistinguishable from each other. He could no longer draw a line between his sanity and whatever nightmare his life ha
Shadows of the crown Chapter 9: The Abyss Beckons
Evans swung his sword through the village square with all the strength he could manage. The form twisted and writhed, avoiding his strikes with unnatural speed. The glowing eyes fixed on him, shining with malice. "You cannot win this fight," the creature hissed, its voice echoing in the air around them. "The darkness has already claimed you." Evans clinched his teeth, refusing to yield to the fear eating away at his stomach. Again, Evans swung his sword, catching the creature's arm this time. The blade cut through the shadowy form, and for a moment, it faltered, but then the darkness reassembled, the wound closing almost in an instant. The soldiers ringed the creature, their swords drawn, but were hesitant. None of them knew how to fight this thing. It wasn't like any enemy they had ever faced. It was made out of shadow, something beyond their understanding. Jorin moved beside Evans, his sword raised. "We can't fight it
Shadows of the crown Chapter 10: The crown's call
Evans was silent afterward, his chest heaving with every breath that seemed to shake him. The shadow had gone, leaving the air still and cold, but the discomfort in his chest just refused to dissipate. Slowly, he sheathed his sword, the sound of steel ringing against the scabbard like the last note in some long-forgotten song. Around him, the forest seemed exhaled, too, the weight of the shadow lifted, if only for a moment. Yet the fight was not over. The titterings in his head, so soft now as if it was only an echo of an echo, reminded him of the worst foe that was yet to come: the crown. Kept well and tight deep inside the Astera castle vaults, it always waited. While it was, the darkness could never be truly overcome. He knew what had to be done. The crown needed to be destroyed, no matter the cost. Jorin and the soldiers carefully emerged from the edge of the forest. The faces of the soldiers were grim but relieved, though their ey
Shadows of the crown Chapter 11: The Heart of Shadows
The earth shook beneath Evans's feet as he stood at the edge of the abyss, the final threshold to the resting place of the crown. In the darkness, the jagged rocks below were luminous from the pit glowing with that eerie light, casting long, twisted shadows around the chamber. Every step they had taken through the Black Mountains had been taken to come here. Now, at the heart of the cursed land, the crown's whispers no longer confined themselves to his head; instead, they echoed around him like some sort of chilling chorus of lost souls, begging to be set free. The air felt heavy with malevolent weight, and it was hard to breathe. "Evans, this isn't right," Jorin's voice cut through the haze, though it seemed to be so much farther away than it should have been. "We need to get out. This place. it's teeming with the crown's power. Evans's hand hovered near the hilt of his sword, his muscles tense, as if every fiber in his body was ready to ac
Shadows of the crown Chapter 12: The Shadow That Remains
Evans stood staring out at the peculiar emptiness that had settled in after his victory. The crown was gone, lost to the bottom of the Black Mountains, and with it, the voices that had haunted him for so long. Yet, in place of the whispers came a heavy silence-colder and more forbidding than he'd imagined. Jorin planted a firm hand on his shoulder, yanking him from the edge. "Evans, we have to go. This place… it's changed you. You've done all you could. Evans nodded but could not pull his gaze from the shadows. Defeating the crown, he felt somehow a victory that was not quite complete. Deep down, he felt he had only just let something out-a sleeping ancient darkness. They turned back and went, their footsteps heavy, down the narrow path leading them out of the accursed chamber. Now the mountain was dead silent, and this strange, unearthly calm had taken the place of that supernatural tension which smothered them before.
Shadows of the crown Chapter 13: A Kingdom Restored
Evans stood in the grand hall, the morning sun spilling through the high windows, filtering on to the intricate designs on the stone floor. He had trod these halls a thousand times as a boy, but now he dreamed of one day taking the throne, leading his kingdom with the same strength and honor. But after his journey into the Black Mountains, everything was somehow different. Gone was the boy who'd left the castle with little more than courage and curiosity. Before her stood a prince forged by darkness, strong through sacrifice, and burdened by truths he could hardly speak. Then he faced Jorin, who was well beyond being a friend—a partner, brother in arms. Together they'd faced horrors that nobody could ever understand, their bond deepening within the silence afterwards, after being taken from the mountain. Evans, are you certain?" Jorin's voice was even, but Evans saw the flash of concern in his eyes. "You don't owe anyone the truth of what happened. Th
Shadows of the crown Chapter 14: The rising shadows
Evans sat at the head of the council chamber, his mind wrestling with uneasy thoughts. Only days had passed since he'd shared the truth about the cursed crown with his council, but a new fear had begun to take root in the kingdom. Rumors began to filter in from villages along the borders: farmers spoke of seeing shadowy figures in the middle of their fields at night, and merchants spoke of townsfolk vanishing into thin air. Jorin entered the room, pale and grim. "Your Highness, word has arrived from North Haven and River's Edge," he said to Evans, handing him a worn and hastily-scrawled note. "It is worse than we thought." Evans's eyes scanned the message, his heart plummeting per line. "Three villages, and all under the same curse," he murmured, his voice no more than a whisper. "They are seeing shadows-figures that vanish once some one approaches. Jorin nodded, his jaw tight. "These shadows… they are no normal specters. It is as if t
Shadows of the crown Chapter 15: The sorceress of the eastern forest
By the time morning broke over the kingdom, Evans and Jorin prepared to take their leave for the eastern forests. The atmosphere was thick with foreboding as they mounted their horses, accompanied by a small retinue of house guards loyal to them. Though the sorceress they searched for was only a day's ride away, weighted was this journey because there was an ominous threat lurking behind every shadow. Are you certain of this, Evans? "Jorin asked. An edge of concern laced his tone. "Magic has always had a price, especially of the kind used by the sorceress." Evans nodded, his jaw set. "If there is even a chance she can help us understand this curse, we have to take it. The kingdom's already in jeopardy. Whatever price she asks, I'll pay it if it protects our people.". They set off at an even gait, the sound of hooves pounding on the forest path the only sound to break the silence of early morning. The trees loomed overhead, their shadow
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The air crackled with a tension so thick it could almost be touched. Evans stood tall, his sword drawn, his breath shallow but steady. Amara was beside him, her golden light pulsating like a heartbeat, its warmth cutting through the encroaching darkness. Together, they faced the abyss—the vast nothingness that seemed to stretch out endlessly, threatening to swallow them whole.And yet, despite the overwhelming odds, they stood their ground."Evans," Amara's voice cut through the chaos. "This isn't the end. We can end this."But her words, while comforting, seemed to hang in the air, uncertain, like the wind before a storm. The abyss, however, seemed to mock them, its silence louder than any roar."Can we?" Evans muttered, almost to himself. His grip tightened around his sword, his thoughts swirling in a haze of doubt. The figure—the one who had been manipulating them, twisting their every move, had vanished into the shadows, leaving only its words
Chapter 124: The Abyss of Truth
The darkness swirled around them like a living, breathing entity, its tendrils creeping along the edges of the battlefield, wrapping around them like a suffocating shroud. Evans’s heart pounded in his chest as he and Amara stood back-to-back, eyes darting for any sign of movement, any shift in the shadows that might signal the next attack. They were trapped.The figure—the one who had claimed the cycle was not yet over—loomed in the distance, its shape ever-shifting, like a shadow cast in a world without light. It moved with eerie precision, its presence suffocating, as if the very air had thickened in response to its arrival.Evans gritted his teeth, sword tight in his grip. "Who are you?" he demanded again, his voice louder this time, desperate for answers. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the distant crackle of the growing storm of shadows."You want to know who I am?" The figure's voice, cold and mocking, sliced through the tensi
Chapter 123: A Price to Pay
The silence hung thick in the air, broken only by the faint crackle of fading energy. Evans could barely register his surroundings, his body too worn to make sense of anything. The pain from the battle had settled into his bones, but there was something deeper, something more lingering—a weight in his chest that had nothing to do with his physical wounds.He had won. They had won.But at what cost?The battlefield lay in ruins around them, the air thick with the scent of smoke and destruction. The storm had vanished, leaving behind a cold, empty silence. It was as though the world itself had held its breath, waiting for something—anything—to change. And in the distance, the last remnants of the Devourer's dark form flickered and collapsed into nothingness.Evans staggered, his legs threatening to buckle beneath him, but he caught himself, steadying himself with a hand on his blade. His vision swam, and for a moment, he thought he might collapse ri
Chapter 122: The Descent
Evans’s vision blurred as his body struggled to respond. The blast from the creature had sent shockwaves through him, and every muscle felt as if it were on fire. The storm raged above him, an angry sea of darkness, but the world felt distant now. His heartbeat thudded painfully in his ears, and for a moment, he thought he might lose consciousness again.But then, he heard her voice."Evans..."It wasn’t the wind. It wasn’t the storm. It was her—Amara. Her voice cut through the chaos like a lifeline, bringing him back from the brink.He pushed himself up, gritting his teeth against the pain. His ribs felt like they were cracked, and his head spun with every movement. But he couldn’t stop. Not now. Not when they were this close.He could see her now, standing on the edge of the battlefield, her golden energy crackling around her. Her eyes were wide with fear, but there was something else too—determination. She had seen him fall, but she ha
Chapter 121: The Heart of the Storm
The ground beneath them trembled as the monstrous creature loomed over them. Its form was vast, impossibly large, with tendrils that stretched from the depths of the mountain, twisting and writhing like serpents in the dark. Its eyes, glowing with that sickly green light, locked onto Evans, and for a moment, the world stood still.Evans’s heart pounded in his chest. He had faced enemies before, creatures of unimaginable power, but this—this thing—was different. It wasn’t just a physical threat. It was a manifestation of everything they had fought against: fear, despair, the breaking of the mind.The creature roared again, its voice echoing through the pass, and the sound was enough to rattle even the strongest of warriors. It wasn’t just the force of the roar; it was the weight of the emotions behind it. The pain. The suffering. The fear that had been trapped inside the creature for eons.Evans’s hand tightened around his blade.“We can’t fight th
Chapter 120: The Abyss Within
The silence was deafening.Evans stood in the center of the ruined camp, his body still trembling from the weight of what he had just witnessed. The air was thick with the remnants of the creature's storm, the dark clouds still swirling above, but now there was no sound, no movement. The world around him seemed suspended in time, as though it was holding its breath.He didn’t know how long they stood there, the storm above them slowly dissipating. Amara’s hand remained tightly clasped around his arm, her grip firm, but there was fear in her eyes. Fear and something else. Something deeper.“We have to go,” Amara said quietly, her voice barely a whisper. “Before it comes back.”Evans nodded but didn’t move. His mind was still reeling. What had just happened? The creature was gone—vanished—but he could feel it, the faint echo of its presence, lingering in the depths of his mind. It wasn’t over. Not yet.He turned to Amara, his voice low. “Wh
Chapter 119: The Whispering Darkness
Evans’s heart pounded in his chest, the echo of the dark voice still vibrating in his bones. The air was thick with uncertainty, the ground beneath him unsettled as if the very earth knew something he didn’t. He looked at Amara, and for the first time since this battle had begun, he saw something in her eyes that mirrored his own dread—uncertainty.“What did it mean?” Amara asked quietly, her voice strained with disbelief.Evans swallowed, shaking his head as he tried to focus. The figure, the voice, the endless night—nothing made sense. But one thing did.“We’ve only just started,” he muttered, more to himself than to her.Amara’s grip tightened on his arm. “Evans—what does that mean?”Before he could respond, the rumbling began again. This time, it was closer. Louder. Stronger.The sky overhead crackled with an unnatural storm, swirling clouds darkening the horizon like an oncoming tidal wave. The air had grown cold, sharper, b
Chapter 118: Fractured Paths
The camp was quiet, but the weight of the silence felt like an unshakable storm cloud hanging above them. The aftermath of the battle had left its mark on everyone, but more than the physical wounds was the uncertainty—how could they rebuild when the very fabric of their reality had been torn apart?Evans stared into the horizon, where the smoke from the burned battlefield still lingered like a fading memory. He could still feel the sting of his exhaustion, the remnants of the Devourer’s power still tingling in his veins. But there was something else, too. An unease that gnawed at him, a whispering doubt that clung to his thoughts no matter how hard he tried to push it away."You’re not alone in this," Amara’s words echoed in his mind, but somehow, they didn’t reach him. He needed more than words right now. He needed answers.He heard footsteps behind him, and before he could turn, a voice cut through the silence."You’re still thinking about it,
Chapter 117: The Aftermath
The silence was deafening.Evans’s chest rose and fell rapidly, his breath sharp, as he struggled to steady himself. He had done it. The shadow—the Devourer, or whatever it had become—was gone. But the victory tasted bitter. He hadn’t just fought an enemy; he had fought himself, the remnants of his own fears, doubts, and insecurities. It wasn’t just an external battle—it was an internal war. And now, with the creature destroyed, the question lingered: What remained of him?Amara’s voice broke through the quiet."Evans."He looked up. She was standing just a few paces away, her expression a mix of concern and relief. But there was something else in her eyes. Something that made his heart skip a beat. The battle was over, but the war inside him wasn’t.He forced himself to stand, wiping the sweat from his brow. "It’s over," he said quietly, though he wasn’t sure if he was speaking to her or to himself.Amara stepped closer, her gol
