Chapter 20: The Darkness He Could Never Escape
The courtyard fell silent.
Only the wind moved slowly through the broken stone and cracked ground. The shadows slowly returned to their calm state, but the tension still lingered in the air.
Liora rested weakly in the Shadow King's arms.
Her breathing was soft.
Her eyes slowly opened.
"...He's gone?"
The Shadow King nodded.
"For now."
She looked at him.
His expression was colder than usual.
But she could feel it—
He was worried.
"You know him… very well…"
Silence lingered.
"...Yes."
Her chest tightened.
"He… created you?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he carried her quietly toward the castle.
She didn't resist.
Her head rested gently against his shoulder.
The shadow wolf followed quietly behind them.
They entered the castle slowly.
The silence between them felt heavy.
Finally—
She spoke softly.
"Can you… tell me about him?"
He stopped walking.
Silence filled the hallway.
"...Why?"
Her voice was gentle.
"Because… I want to understand you."
His eyes softened slightly.
No one had ever asked that before.
After a long pause—
He began walking again.
"...His name was Kael."
Her heart skipped.
"He was the strongest dark mage in history."
The hallway grew darker as he spoke.
"He found me when I was young."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"You were… young?"
He nodded.
"I was just a child."
Her chest tightened.
"What happened?"
His gaze grew distant.
"...My village was destroyed."
Her breath caught.
"Destroyed?"
"By light mages."
Her heart stopped.
"I was the only survivor."
Silence filled the air.
"He found me… surrounded by ashes."
The memory flashed in his eyes.
"He offered me power."
Her chest tightened.
"So… you accepted?"
"...Yes."
His voice turned colder.
"I wanted revenge."
She felt pain in her chest.
"He trained me."
Darkness flickered slightly around him.
"He taught me everything."
The air felt heavier.
"But his power…"
He paused.
"...was corrupted."
Her heart raced.
"Corrupted?"
"He believed darkness should rule everything."
Her breath trembled.
"So… he wanted to destroy the world?"
He nodded slowly.
"I realized too late."
Silence filled the hallway.
"He tried to use me."
Her chest tightened.
"As a weapon?"
"...Yes."
His eyes darkened.
"He wanted me to become the next Shadow Master."
Her heart pounded.
"But you refused?"
"...Yes."
The memory grew darker.
"He attacked me."
Her breath stopped.
"You fought him?"
"I had no choice."
The shadows trembled slightly.
"The battle lasted three days."
Her eyes widened.
"Three days…"
"In the end…"
His voice lowered.
"...I killed him."
Silence fell.
Liora felt her chest ache.
"You were alone…"
He didn't respond.
But she could feel the loneliness in his silence.
They reached her room.
He gently placed her on the bed.
She looked at him softly.
"You didn't become like him."
He looked at her.
"...I did."
She shook her head.
"No."
Her voice was gentle.
"You protect people."
Silence.
"You saved me."
Her words were soft.
"But you didn't have to."
His chest tightened slightly.
"I…"
He stopped.
He didn't know what to say.
No one had ever defended him like this.
She smiled faintly.
"I think… you're different."
The silence between them felt warmer.
But suddenly—
The shadow wolf growled.
Both of them froze.
The air turned cold.
The shadows moved violently.
The Shadow King's expression hardened.
"...He's back."
Liora's heart raced.
"So soon?"
Dark mist formed near the window.
A familiar presence filled the room.
But—
Something felt wrong.
Different.
A shadow figure appeared.
But this time—
It wasn't Kael.
A woman stepped forward.
Her long silver hair flowed like smoke.
Her eyes glowed faintly purple.
Liora felt her heart tighten.
"Who…"
The Shadow King's eyes narrowed.
"...You."
The woman smiled faintly.
"It's been a while."
Her voice sounded calm.
But dangerous.
"You look tired."
The Shadow King's aura grew darker.
"What do you want?"
Her gaze shifted.
She looked at Liora.
Her smile widened slightly.
"So… she's the balance."
Liora's breath trembled.
The Shadow King stepped forward.
"Don't look at her."
The woman chuckled softly.
"You're still protective."
Her eyes glowed.
"I came with a message."
The air grew colder.
"Kael is preparing."
Liora's heart raced.
"Preparing…?"
The woman's smile faded slightly.
"The seal is weakening."
The Shadow King's eyes darkened.
"You helped him."
She didn't deny it.
"I believe in his vision."
Her gaze turned cold.
"The world belongs to darkness."
The Shadow King's voice turned colder.
"Leave."
She smiled faintly.
"Soon… we will meet again."
Dark mist surrounded her.
Before disappearing—
She looked at Liora.
"Next time… I'll take you."
She vanished.
Silence filled the room.
Liora's heart pounded loudly.
"Who was that…"
The Shadow King's expression darkened.
"...One of Kael's followers."
Her chest tightened.
"There are more?"
He nodded slowly.
"Many."
The tension returned.
The war—
Was getting bigger.
Liora clenched her hand.
Her light flickered.
She looked at him.
"I'll fight with you."
He looked at her quietly.
"...I know."
Silence filled the room.
But something had changed.
They were no longer just allies.
They were partners—
Facing the darkness together.