Chapter 11: The Weakness He Never Wanted
The forest had finally grown quiet.
The destruction left behind told the story of the brutal battle that had just taken place. Broken trees lay scattered across the ground, and the air still carried traces of dark energy.
Liora walked beside the Shadow King in silence.
He hadn't spoken since the battle ended.
His expression remained cold.
But she could feel it.
Something inside him had changed.
"You shouldn't have come."
His voice suddenly broke the silence.
She looked at him.
"I was worried."
He stopped walking.
Slowly, he turned toward her.
His glowing red eyes met hers.
"Worrying about me will only put you in danger."
Her chest tightened.
"But I couldn't just stay behind…"
His gaze darkened slightly.
"You don't understand the situation."
"Then help me understand."
Silence.
The wind passed between them.
Finally, he sighed softly.
"The man we fought…"
"The general?"
"Yes."
His eyes narrowed.
"He won't stop."
Her heart skipped.
"Will he attack again?"
"Definitely."
Her hands tightened slightly.
"Then… we should prepare."
The Shadow King studied her quietly.
"You're still not afraid?"
She hesitated.
"I am."
Her voice softened.
"But… I don't want to run away."
Something flickered in his eyes.
"You're foolish."
She smiled faintly.
"You said that before."
He turned away again.
"Come. We're going back."
They walked toward the castle slowly.
But deep inside—
The Shadow King felt uneasy.
Because he realized something dangerous.
When she appeared…
He lost control.
And that scared him.
Back inside the castle—
Liora sat quietly in her room.
The shadow wolf jumped onto the bed again.
"You followed me?"
She smiled faintly.
The wolf wagged its tail.
She gently patted its head.
"You saw everything… didn't you?"
The wolf rested its head against her.
She sighed softly.
"He looked scary…"
Her mind replayed the moment.
His dark wings.
His cold eyes.
His brutal attacks.
"He looked like… a villain."
Her chest tightened.
"But… he stopped."
Because she asked him to.
Her heart beat slightly faster.
"Maybe… he's not fully lost."
She looked at her glowing hand again.
Her light flickered faintly.
"You're his destruction…"
The mirror's words echoed again.
Her expression grew serious.
"What if… it's true?"
She shook her head.
"No…"
She didn't want that.
She wanted to help him.
Meanwhile—
The Shadow King stood in the throne hall alone.
The shadows moved slowly around him.
"You hesitated."
A dark voice echoed.
His shadow formed again.
The darker version of himself.
"I know."
The shadow smiled.
"You let him escape."
The Shadow King's expression remained calm.
"It wasn't time."
The shadow chuckled.
"No…"
Its voice darkened.
"You stopped because of her."
Silence.
The Shadow King didn't reply.
The shadow continued.
"She's becoming your weakness."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"I won't allow that."
The shadow laughed softly.
"You already have."
Darkness filled the hall.
"You lost control… when she was in danger."
The Shadow King's hand tightened slightly.
"That won't happen again."
The shadow smiled.
"We'll see."
It slowly faded away.
Leaving him alone again.
But the words remained.
Weakness.
Danger.
Attachment.
All things he should avoid.
The next morning—
Liora woke up to sunlight.
She blinked in surprise.
Sunlight?
She rushed toward the window.
Her eyes widened.
The sky was slightly brighter than before.
It wasn't fully sunny.
But it wasn't completely dark either.
"This… never happened before."
Her heart beat faster.
Was her light affecting the kingdom?
She quickly left her room.
The castle felt different.
The shadows were calmer.
The air felt lighter.
Then—
She saw him.
The Shadow King stood near the balcony.
Looking at the sky.
She approached slowly.
"Did you see this?"
He didn't turn.
"Yes."
Her eyes sparkled slightly.
"It's brighter…"
He remained silent.
"This hasn't happened in centuries."
Her heart skipped.
"Really?"
"Yes."
She smiled softly.
"Maybe things are changing."
Silence.
Then—
"Or maybe it's just temporary."
Her smile faded slightly.
"You always think negatively."
He looked at her.
"It's called being realistic."
She crossed her arms slightly.
"You could try being hopeful."
Something flickered in his eyes.
Hope.
A dangerous emotion.
"I stopped hoping long ago."
Her chest tightened.
She stepped closer.
"Maybe it's time to start again."
Silence filled the balcony.
Their eyes met.
The moment stretched.
Then—
Suddenly—
The sky darkened again.
Her eyes widened.
The sunlight disappeared.
The atmosphere turned cold.
The Shadow King's expression hardened.
"Something's wrong."
Dark energy filled the air again.
Liora felt it too.
Her heart raced.
"What is that?"
The Shadow King looked toward the horizon.
"He's back."
Her breath caught.
"So soon?"
The Shadow King's eyes glowed faintly.
"No…"
His voice lowered.
"This is something worse."
The air trembled.
Dark clouds formed rapidly.
The shadows moved violently.
The kingdom itself seemed to react.
Liora's hands trembled slightly.
"What's happening?"
The Shadow King's voice turned cold.
"Someone… is awakening."
Her heart skipped.
"Who?"
Silence.
Then—
"A real monster."
A loud roar echoed across the kingdom.
The ground trembled violently.
Liora gasped.
The Shadow King's expression darkened.
"This…"
His voice dropped.
"Was sealed long ago."
Her chest tightened.
"Sealed?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Something even I cannot control."
Fear crept into her heart.
Something worse than the Shadow King?
Her light flickered faintly.
The roar echoed again.
The sky turned darker.
And for the first time—
Even the Shadow King looked serious.
Because he knew—
A new threat had appeared.
And this time—
Even he might not be enough.