Cough! cough! Selene Veyra struggled for breath, pounding her fists weakly against Ean Briden's arm. His grip was unrelenting, fingers clamped tight around her slender neck. Her eyes widened in panic, and for a fleeting moment, fear flickered across her usually composed features.
Kael Draven, who had been standing only a few paces away, froze in shock before launching forward.
Clack!
The heavy oak door swung wide open.
Psshhh!
A suffocating wave of black magic spilled into the corridor like smoke. The air itself grew heavy, pressing down on everyone who dared to breathe it.
Wosshhh…
The oppressive aura radiating from Ean's body was unlike anything Kael had ever felt. It surged outward, raw and violent, forcing even seasoned knights to stumble back. None could draw closer, the sheer pressure locked them in place.
Kael's jaw clenched. Raising his hand, he summoned the living shadows that answered only to him. His voice rang out, sharp and commanding:
"O shadow, heed my call!"
Dark tendrils coiled and twisted to life around him, stretching across the floor like serpents. Kael Draven - thirty years of age, seasoned warrior, and bearer of the Shadow Contract, was no stranger to controlling such entities. His bond allowed him to command them: to bind, to strike, to consume.
Now, those very shadows surged toward Ean.
"Release her." His tone brooked no refusal.
The floor warped as shadows thickened beneath both Ean and Selene. Their silhouettes detached from their owners, twisting unnaturally as though no longer bound by flesh. The two shadows rose, writhing, and lunged at Ean - struggling against him on their own, trying desperately to peel him off Selene.
For a moment, hope flickered in Kael's chest.
But Ean only tilted his head, lips curling into a sinister smile. Slowly, deliberately, he turned to face the writhing shadows. His voice was low, edged with malice.
"You think these tricks can touch me?" His eyes gleamed, unnatural and cold. "This is merely a warning. If you dare pry into this boy's memories again, you will regret it."
His grip tightened once, then abruptly released.
Selene collapsed, gasping as she fell to the floor, clutching her throat.
And just as suddenly as it had begun, the strength drained from Ean. His body went slack, collapsing in front of Selene with a dull thud. He lay still, unconscious, as though the violent storm of energy had never existed.
Selene coughed violently, her chest heaving. Her lungs screamed for air even as the oppressive magic began to dissipate. Only then did Kael break through the barrier, rushing to her side.
"What happened?" His voice was tight, urgent.
Selene shook her head weakly, her gaze never leaving the young man sprawled unconscious on the floor. "I… I don't know," she whispered.
The door creaked again.
Aurora Lysandria entered in silence, her very presence commanding the room. The Supreme Commander of the Guardian of Dawn - cloaked in flowing white robes and veiled in a hood that concealed all but her piercing eyes - rarely revealed herself to anyone. Yet here she was, drawn by the disturbance.
Her gaze swept the room, hard and unyielding.
She had come the moment she felt it: a surge of magic that should not exist in this world. And though it had already vanished, the echoes still lingered.
"Impossible…" Aurora's thoughts were sharp. Such power cannot belong to an ordinary boy.
Her eyes narrowed as they fell upon Ean.
"Ean Briden… who are you, truly?"
Turning, she addressed Kael and Selene. "Are you unharmed?"
Kael immediately bowed, startled. Selene, still recovering, forced herself upright and lowered her head in respect.
To them, Aurora was nearly divine - an untouchable figure whose power and authority eclipsed them all. She was said to wield the Eternal Light, a force capable of erasing any darkness with a single touch.
Without a word, Aurora crossed the floor. She moved with quiet grace, kneeling beside the unconscious Ean. Her hand hovered briefly above his brow before gently pressing against it.
A pure, radiant glow flared at her fingertip.
For an instant, the entire room brightened.
When the light faded, Aurora spoke firmly:
"There is no trace of corruption within him. No shadow, no lingering darkness. He is… clean."
Kael and Selene exchanged bewildered glances.
Selene's lips trembled as she whispered, almost to herself, "But… after forcing his way into the boy's memories, the Codex Memoria went berserk. That torrent of magic, how could there be nothing left behind?"
Aurora rose smoothly, her expression calm yet unreadable. "Guard him closely. He may merely be a pawn… yet I sense his role is not so simple."
She turned, her cloak swaying like moonlight.
"He may be the key to finding the one we seek."
Kael's eyes widened. "You mean… the Shadow?"
Aurora's only answer was a faint nod before she disappeared behind the door.
***
Hours later.
Ean stirred. His eyes fluttered open to find himself lying on a long sofa in a lavishly decorated chamber. Gold-framed paintings lined the walls, while the warm scent of polished wood filled his senses.
"You're awake."
A soft voice greeted him.
Ean blinked and turned his head. A woman stood nearby, her long silvery-blonde hair glinting in the lamplight, her eyes a cool shade of icy blue. She wore a pristine white mantle embroidered with a rising sun pierced by a sword - the insignia of the Guardian of Dawn.
"Try this," she said kindly, pouring tea into a delicate porcelain cup. "It will warm you and ease your mind."
Ean frowned warily. "What… what happened? Why am I here? Wasn't I in an interrogation room?"
The woman - Eira Solenne, though he did not yet know her name, set the cup down in front of him. "Drink first. You must be exhausted."
His throat was parched, his lips dry. Against his better judgment, Ean accepted the cup and took a slow sip. The warmth seeped into him, calming his ragged nerves.
The woman studied him intently. "Now… tell me. What did you see, while you were asleep?"
Ean stiffened. His brows furrowed in confusion.
"Who was he? The one you met." Her voice softened, but her gaze pierced straight through him.
His breath hitched. Memory flickered in his mind - an image, a whisper.
'For the sake of the past, will you hide who I am, Ean?'
Ean shook his head quickly, forcing words past his lips. "I... I don't know. I didn't see anyone clearly."
Her smile thinned, her tone quiet but pressing. "Truly? You're not lying to me?"
The softness of her voice belied the intensity in her eyes. They dug into him, unrelenting.
A sudden pain pulsed in Ean's skull. He clutched his head, groaning. "I really don't know! I saw him, but… I can't remember. The harder I try, the emptier it gets…"
"Enough, Eira."
The voice of Kael Draven cut through the room.
Eira drew back reluctantly as Kael stepped forward. "Selene already confirmed it. His memories were erased."
Kael's eyes fixed on Ean. His tone carried weight. "After entering that dream, you must have realized it yourself, haven't you?"
Ean's lips parted, but no words came. His expression faltered, sadness flickering across his face.
"I don't understand," he murmured. "I just… I just want to go home. My father, my mother, my sister… they're waiting for me."
Kael opened the door, his expression unreadable. "If that is truly what you believe… then go."
"What?!" Eira shot up from her chair. "Kael, are you mad? Aurora told us to watch him, how could you let him..."
Without wasting the chance, Ean quickly rose to his feet.
"Aren't you curious who he is? Why he erased your memories and left you with this false life?" Kael Draven murmured as the young man passed by.
Ean froze mid-step, fists clenched. His jaw trembled, but he did not turn back.
"No. My family… they're real. They're not a lie." His voice cracked as he forced the words out.
And with that, he left.
Eira glared at Kael. "You just let him go?!"
Kael crossed his arms. "What would you have us do? Cage him like a criminal? Aurora believes he will lead us to the Shadow. Let him walk his own path. We'll follow."
"You…" Eira growled in frustration, storming out in the opposite direction. Kael only watched silently as Ean vanished into the night.
***
Outside the Guardian of Dawn headquarters, the Grenhant City was alive. Even at night, lanterns illuminated every street, laughter and music spilling from taverns and markets alike. The glow of the festival drowned the darkness, and Ean found himself disoriented amidst the bustle.
"Damn it," he muttered. "How am I supposed to get home now?"
As he wandered, he stumbled upon a massive crowd gathered along the main avenue. Cheers and applause rang out as performers paraded past.
"A carnival?"
He edged closer, watching as dancers, jugglers, and fire-breathers dazzled the audience. Then came the circus caravan - ornate wagons painted in crimson and gold. Acrobats balanced on high beams, magicians conjured illusions, and clowns tossed glittering balls of light.
At the head of the procession stood a man in a black coat and tall top hat. The Grand Ringmaster. He carried himself with regal authority, a staff in hand, eyes gleaming beneath the brim of his hat.
Their gazes met.
The Ringmaster smiled knowingly. Reaching for a rose, he flicked it toward Ean. Gasps followed as all eyes turned to the boy.
Ean instinctively reached out.
Pyasshh!
The rose burst into two doves, wings scattering petals into the air. The crowd erupted in applause, dazzled by the display.
Ean froze, stunned.
The Ringmaster tipped his hat in a graceful bow, directly at him.
Before Ean could react, the caravan had already passed, swallowed by the sea of laughter and cheers.
As he walked away, leaving the ongoing performance behind, Ean suddenly realized that the flower tossed by the man from the caravan had somehow nestled neatly into his pocket, adorning his clothes with its quiet charm.
***
Finally, after what felt like hours, he arrived home.
His father opened the door before he could even knock.
"Father… I'm home." Relief flooded his voice.
The man only gave a brief nod, stepping aside.
Inside, his mother and sister sat at the dinner table, smiling warmly.
"I'm back, Mother. Lira."
His little sister stood eagerly, clutching his sleeve. "Brother! Will you teach me calligraphy? I want to learn too!"
"Of course," Ean said softly, ruffling her hair. "We'll do it tomorrow."
"Why not now?" his mother asked sweetly. "I'd love to watch you both."
"Yes," his father added, his tone oddly insistent. "I even found the tools, but I couldn't bring them here. Could you fetch them for us?"
Ean frowned, glancing at the three of them. Their smiles were warm… yet something felt wrong. Their gazes lingered a little too long, their presence almost pressing in on him.