Chapter 13: The Light That Frightened the King
The battlefield fell silent.
Only the sound of the wind remained.
Broken mountains surrounded them. The ground had split into deep cracks, and traces of dark energy still lingered in the air.
Liora stood still, her breathing uneven.
Her hands were still faintly glowing.
She slowly looked down at them.
"My power…"
She didn't understand it.
But she knew one thing—
It was growing stronger.
Slowly… dangerously.
She looked up.
The Shadow King stood a few steps away.
Watching her.
His red eyes glowed faintly.
But this time…
There was something else in them.
Not anger.
Not coldness.
Something deeper.
Something unfamiliar.
Fear.
Her chest tightened.
"Shadow King…?"
He didn't respond immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on her glowing hand.
"You pushed the Abyss Beast back… twice."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
She nodded slowly.
"I didn't mean to…"
Silence stretched between them.
Then—
"You didn't just push it back."
His voice lowered.
"You wounded it."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"I… did?"
He nodded.
"The Abyss Beast feeds on darkness."
His gaze sharpened.
"But your light…"
He paused.
"...is its natural enemy."
Her heart skipped.
"Then… that's good… right?"
Silence.
The wind blew harder.
The Shadow King turned away slowly.
"For now."
Her chest tightened.
"What do you mean?"
He looked toward the horizon.
"Power like yours…"
His voice dropped.
"...can destroy everything."
Her heart skipped again.
"You think… I'm dangerous?"
Silence.
He didn't deny it.
Her chest felt heavy.
"I won't hurt anyone…"
Her voice sounded soft.
Almost fragile.
The Shadow King finally looked at her again.
"I know."
But even as he said it—
He wasn't completely sure.
And that uncertainty scared him.
They returned to the castle shortly after.
The atmosphere inside had changed.
The shadows moved restlessly.
Even the castle seemed uneasy.
Liora walked quietly beside him.
Neither of them spoke.
But the silence felt heavier than before.
They reached the hallway.
"Liora."
She stopped.
"Yes?"
"You should rest."
She nodded slowly.
"Okay…"
But before she left—
She hesitated.
Then spoke softly.
"You were scared… weren't you?"
His eyes widened slightly.
"Of the monster?"
She shook her head.
"Of me."
Silence filled the hallway.
The Shadow King looked at her.
Long.
Then—
"...Yes."
Her heart tightened.
But she didn't look away.
"I understand."
That surprised him.
"You do?"
She nodded.
"If I had that much power… I'd be scared too."
Her voice softened.
"But I won't become your enemy."
Silence stretched.
Something in his eyes softened.
Then—
"Good."
He turned away.
And disappeared into shadows.
That night—
Liora couldn't sleep.
Her mind replayed everything.
The monster.
Her power.
His fear.
She sat near the window.
The sky remained dark.
But she noticed something.
A faint glow in the distance.
The place where the Abyss Beast awakened.
Her chest tightened.
"It's still there…"
Suddenly—
The shadow wolf jumped onto her lap.
"You came again…"
She smiled faintly.
The wolf looked at her glowing hand.
Its ears twitched.
"You can feel it too… right?"
The wolf nodded slightly.
Her expression grew serious.
"My power… keeps growing."
She looked at the horizon again.
"And something else… is coming."
The wind outside grew colder.
She felt it.
A strange feeling in her chest.
Like something calling her.
Something dark.
Something dangerous.
Meanwhile—
Deep beneath the castle—
The Shadow King stood alone.
In a hidden chamber.
Ancient symbols covered the walls.
Dark chains surrounded a massive black crystal.
His eyes glowed faintly.
"The seal is weakening."
His voice echoed.
The crystal pulsed slowly.
Dark energy leaked from it.
"The Abyss Beast…"
His expression darkened.
"And now… her light."
He clenched his fist.
Everything was changing.
Too fast.
Then—
His shadow formed behind him again.
"You're afraid."
He didn't turn.
"Yes."
The shadow laughed softly.
"Of her?"
Silence.
"She saved you."
The shadow's voice turned darker.
"And yet… you fear her."
His eyes narrowed.
"Because she can destroy me."
The shadow smiled.
"Exactly."
The chamber trembled slightly.
The crystal pulsed again.
The shadow stepped closer.
"You're becoming weak."
His voice turned cold.
"No."
"You hesitated."
Silence.
The shadow whispered.
"If she turns against you…"
The Shadow King's eyes glowed brighter.
"I won't let that happen."
The shadow smiled.
"Then you'll have to choose."
The chamber fell silent.
"Her…"
The shadow's voice echoed.
"Or your kingdom."
His heart tightened.
That choice…
Was something he didn't want to make.
Elsewhere—
Far beyond the mountains—
The former general stood in darkness.
His blue eyes glowed faintly.
He looked toward the kingdom.
"So… the Abyss Beast awakened."
A shadow figure appeared beside him.
"And the girl?"
He smiled slowly.
"She's more dangerous than expected."
The shadow figure tilted its head.
"What now?"
His smile widened.
"Now… we accelerate things."
His eyes glowed brighter.
"Let the kingdom fall into chaos."
Dark energy spread around him.
"And when the Shadow King loses control…"
He looked toward the horizon.
"I'll take everything."
The wind howled.
War was coming.
Back in the castle—
Liora finally lay down.
But sleep didn't come easily.
Her light flickered faintly.
Her heart felt uneasy.
Then—
She fell asleep.
And dreamed.
She stood in darkness.
The kingdom burned again.
The sky cracked.
The Abyss Beast roared.
Then—
She saw him.
The Shadow King.
Standing in front of her.
But something was wrong.
His eyes were darker.
More dangerous.
"You…"
Her voice trembled.
He raised his hand.
Darkness spread.
Destroying everything.
Her heart broke.
"Stop…"
He looked at her.
Cold.
"You are my enemy."
Her breath stopped.
"No…"
Darkness surrounded her.
She fell—
She woke up suddenly.
Her breath came fast.
"It was… a dream…"
But her chest still hurt.
Her hand glowed faintly again.
And for the first time—
She wondered…
What if the dream…
Was the future?