2024-11-15 06:14:03Evans 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
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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
Shadows of the crown Chapter 16: The silent war within
The weight of the shadows lay heavy within Evans as he and Jorin emerged from the sorceress's cottage, this darkness now an invisible burden he had to carry in silence. Every step back toward the kingdom felt arduous, the shadows themselves seeming to resist leaving the forest. The trees whispered, gnarled branches twisting, as if they too sensed the silent threat now bound to the young prince. Jorin studied Evans closely, the worry deeply etched across his face. "How are you feeling, Evans?" His voice was hesitant; loyalty tugged at him while dread seemed to fill the air around them. Evans forced a smile of reassurance, but his eyes betrayed the exhaustion. "The shadows… I can feel them. They're quiet now, but it's as if they're watching, waiting. It is as if a tempest were being held back by a hair's breadth." He stopped, turning back to the woods, the mist and silence swallowing the terrors. "I know what I've taken on, Jorin. But I won't let them w
Shadows of the crown Chapter 17: A Kingdom In Shadows
The night Evans came back, the quiet of the castle seemed to be every bit as ominous. Every corner seemed darker, each shadow deeper. He could feel the weight of the shadow spirits pressing down on him, their unending memory of what this soul held captive within himself. Every step he took echoed through the empty hallways, mingled with the hushed whispers that trailed his thoughts. By the time he reached his chambers, a figure stood waiting by his door. It was Jorin, his features etched in concern and determination. "Evans," Jorin said, stepping forward. "We have to talk. The people are frightened, and the council's getting restless. They can feel something is wrong, although they do not know the full extent of it. Evans nodded, fatigue pulling at his face. "I understand, Jorin. The shadows' influence is beginning to seep. Even now, they lean on me, probing my defenses. But I may not yield to them. Not now, not when there is so much h
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Chapter 125: The Final Choice
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
