When Evening Fell on Darcol Palace
When evening cast its purple glow over the halls of Darcol Palace, the echo of Raine's footsteps resonated through the cold wooden corridors. He returned to his room weighed down by heavy thoughts, his body broken, and his heart clouded by a storm of unanswered questions.
He did not dare confront them face to face, but inside him burned a fierce desire to understand the truth hidden behind the palace walls and behind his father's deep silence.
He sat on his bed, reclined slightly, then gathered his strength, driven by an unwavering determination. From among his belongings, he pulled out an ancient magical scroll—bearing the incantation of the "Memory Spell" he had learned from a rare book in the Gray Academy.
He thought that using this magic on himself—or on his father—might be the key to breaking through the oppressive silence.
Gently moving his hands, he carefully traced the symbols in the air, trying to direct his energy toward his father's room, only a few meters away.
But what happened was the opposite of what he expected.
A mysterious, powerful barrier resisted him—impenetrable. Within moments, before his focus could even falter, a sharp wave of pain crashed through his head, as if the shadows he tried to summon had rebelled against him.
Raine collapsed to the floor, writhing in pain, his thoughts tangled, and darkness curling around his mind as if something was trying to swallow him whole.
The crisis didn't last long before his father appeared, walking steadily toward Raine's room. He scrutinized Raine carefully and broke his silence only with cold words:
"You have crossed the line. No more attempts."
He ordered his guards not to let Raine leave the room until he recovered, with close watch over all his movements.
In those days, the visits knocking on his door were kinder, but different in nature.
Eileen, his younger sister, would sneak in quietly, carrying a mischievous smile and a bag full of toys and stories that eased the weight of his solitude.
"Brother, do you want me to tell you how I won the fight against the magic rabbit?" she said, sitting beside him, her eyes shining with innocence and curiosity.
Those moments, simple as they were, became an unexpected source of strength and comfort, binding two hearts—one breaking, the other trying to survive.
His mother, however, came one evening with a sternness and coldness in her face that Raine never hesitated to see, even though their relationship was always charged with tension.
She sat beside him, offering no praise or affection. Instead, her words were like spears piercing his heart:
"You are not my biological son, Raine. That makes things clearer. Don't think you can break the rules that govern this house with childish magic."
She added sharply, "I'm tired of your constant attempts to prove something that isn't yours. Memory Magic is no game, and you're not prepared for its consequences."
Raine tried to respond, to explain, but found himself helpless—trapped between his aching body and her words, sharp as swords.
"But I want to know the truth. I want to understand who my real father is."
She raised her head firmly and said, "The truth is not always what you wish to hear. And maybe you shouldn't know it yet."
Still, she did not forget to extend her hand—a quick touch on his forehead as if to soothe or warn him at once.
During these days, a growing feeling of loneliness bloomed in Raine's heart, though he was not completely alone.
Eileen brought innocence to his days, reminding him that someone loved him, no matter the shadow surrounding him.
While her visits were childish and joyful, they shared imaginary adventures and old songs, planting a faint hope in his heart.
As time passed, Raine decided he could no longer wait for answers in this cage-like place.
One evening, he sat with his mother in the living room and told her his decision:
"I'm going to Nora. There, I might find what I couldn't here. There, I might find someone who understands me."
She looked at him sharply again, but this time did not stop him.
"Go if you want," she said dryly, "but don't forget you are just a guest in this house, and you are responsible for your actions."
Raine smiled sadly and said, "Maybe that guest will one day return with something stronger than shadows."
He left the room, and it seemed his destiny had changed.
A new journey awaited him, carrying pains, secrets, and a glowing hope despite all the shadows surrounding him.