The stillness of the park was unnatural.
Seren stared at the ground, unmoving. His shadow stretched under the dim streetlamp, but it was no longer just a reflection. It twitched. It tilted its head. It was thinking.
And then it spoke.
"About time," it said.
Seren's breath caught in his throat.
The voice wasn't loud, not even a whisper in the air—it echoed straight into his mind. Smooth, confident, almost smug. His legs tensed, ready to run, but something told him running wouldn't help.
"You're... me?" Seren asked aloud.
"Not quite," the shadow replied. "More like... the better version. The one that doesn't sleep through life."
Seren blinked. Was this madness? Hallucination? He glanced around—still alone. Still surrounded by silence and wind. And yet, he wasn't afraid. Confused, yes. But deep down, this felt right.
"What are you?"
"I'm the part of you that woke up," the shadow said. "The part that sees through lies, through people, through weakness. And lucky you… you just stepped onto the path. Shadow Awakened."
Seren felt something shift within. A cold clarity settled behind his eyes, steady and grounding. He could feel the trees breathing, the shifting of leaves behind him, even the faint heartbeat of a squirrel nearby.
His senses had stretched again—but now he understood. It wasn't random. It was power. Controlled. Silent. Precise.
"I can feel... everything."
"Shadow Sense," the voice confirmed. "One of the gifts. You're not normal anymore. Not that you ever were."
Seren took a cautious step. His foot didn't make a sound. No crunch of gravel, no shuffle of cloth.
"Silent Step," the shadow said with pride. "You're learning fast."
Seren exhaled, steadying himself. "Why now?"
The shadow chuckled. "Because the world is starting to wake up too. Storms are coming. Masks will fall. You needed to wake up before it swallowed you."
Seren studied the silhouette beneath him. It didn't mimic him anymore. It stood there, arms crossed, smirking somehow without a face.
"You're arrogant."
"Confidence," it corrected. "Get used to it."
"And I'm supposed to trust you?"
"I'm not here to lead," the shadow said. "I'm here to sharpen you. Watch your back. Keep your blade clean. But make no mistake—I answer to you, Seren Vale."
A quiet moment passed.
Seren finally nodded. "Then let's begin."
The shadow grinned. Somehow, the darkness rippled like water at his feet.
"I like this version of you," it said. "Now let's see what else you're capable of."