There wasn’t much left for him to do.
He’d turned in his final submission on the Friday of the week that school had begun after October break, and since then—after he’d been announced as the representative for the school—he’d been using a laboratory that the school had provided him to soothe the edges of his project. He now knew why Enariss hadn’t visited the MMA Club now, since she’d been working on her project like him. Apparently, he was the latest to receive the school’s support; the other two contestants already had been using the facilities long before he did.
Did it feel unfair? Maybe, but given the others’ positions in the school, he could see why. Enariss herself had been the valedictorian since middle school as well as being the president of the MMA Club beginning this year. The other guy—probably the same. These were people with high SAP ratings, and given his experience as Shaden, people with more mana in them tended to be smarter, stronger, and more competent.
He wasn’t going to complain. The facilities he’d been provided were top-notch, and he loved it. Instead of his plastic bottles, he now had square containers for his algae; instead of drying the algae in the sun, he now had a drying machine that prepared the sample within an hour. While it was a pity that the makeshift ‘mana crystals’ he’d made with his algae samples quickly lost their power when the algae itself died, dry samples were much easier to use than wet ones.
He especially liked the metal balls where he could put his sample of wet algae inside without much trouble. Using aluminum foil had its limits, but these balls were perfect for conducting heat as crude SAP detectors.
The only downside of everything was the fact that he had no ‘real’ evidence that he could use to support the theories he’d obtained as Shaden. Information was limited, and he had no guide to help him. It was him, and him alone.
Which was why after a while, he didn’t have much to do. He couldn’t look over errors, since there wasn’t anyone to tell him that he was wrong. He couldn’t reinforce his project with outside research, because there were none available. All he could do now was to continue feeding his SAP/mana into the algae samples he had, praying that they wouldn’t die on him when the time for the presentation came.
They’d leave for Zone 1 on December 30, a Monday. It was nearly November now. While that was around two months for Demund, it would be a year for Shaden. That was scary to think, now that his other life would soon begin to change drastically. His birthday was next month, and that was less than a week for Demund.
Time was too quick.
He still had so many things he wanted to do with his family as Shaden. He had done much, but it had never been enough. All the memories he’d made were adding to his reluctance to leave.
Perhaps it was because his life as Demund was so lonely that he enjoyed being Shaden so much. Everyone cared about him there; everyone loved him. Here, the attention was at best admiration—and more often than not, envy and hatred. Even today, he’d heard unpleasant whispers behind him during class, during lunch, and on his way to the laboratory.
Would his project be good enough?
Now that he was finalizing his results, they weren’t as flashy as he wanted them to be. His explanations were simple and his experiments simpler. His theories were excellent—they had been created by geniuses of Exarria—but he didn’t have the means to test them out. He lacked mana crystals, which the other world had plenty of.
It would work out somehow.
He’d been accepted, hadn’t he? He had to have more confidence.
In a large bag with wheels that the school had provided him with, he began to put the algae containers in neatly to take home for the day. He’d have to supply them with his mana constantly, after all. The higher concentration they were, the better. They were still nowhere near the density that crystals had, but he could at least feel something from them. But if he grew lax, they’d lose their power quickly, and he’d have to start over.
Yawning, he slid on his backpack and pulled the large suitcase to the door. After turning off the lights, he went outside and locked the laboratory behind him.
He sat in the hall, sitting on the suitcase while scrolling through his phone when Enariss emerged from her laboratory. Someone emerged with her—someone older, with dark brown skin and a mustache that seemed a little...off. The person gave off a weird, nerdy feel even though he didn’t wear glasses.
“Thanks, Seca. When will you be available again?” Enariss said.
“Depends on how much pay I’m gonna get,” the man replied, pinching his fingers. “But boy, you sure do learn quickly.”
“Two weeks from now. I’ll be done by then,” Enariss concluded. Turning, she spotted Demund waving at her and waved back.
He thought he saw the man narrow his eyes at him before he put his sunglasses on. Weird, since there wasn’t any sunlight.
“Anyway, gotta go. I am a busy genius,” he said, doing a funny gesture with his fingers. While Enariss went back in to fetch her belongings, the man passed him and took the elevator up. Before the doors closed, Demund thought he saw him sigh while looking at him.
“Geez, he really had to leave first?”
The door closed with a clack as Enariss swung her bag over her shoulders. “Let’s go. We’ll take the other way.”
They walked down the dimly lit halls as they made their way to where the ramps were.
“Do you really need to carry all of that around?” she asked, motioning to his carrier. “What’s your project anyway?”
“Manipulation of SAP,” he replied. He cleared his throat when Enariss frowned. “Yeah, I know. There isn’t much about it anywhere, except for powers.”
“That’s an interesting topic. Is it related to the thing you told me you did with your prosthetic leg?”
“A little. What’s your project?”
“Mine? It’s nothing special.”
He waited for her reply, and eventually, she opened her mouth when they were out of the ramps. “My project is programming with light instead of electricity. It uses certain crystals to bring out the effect.”
“That sounds really difficult.”
She shrugged. “I’m building on what already exists. It’s not as interesting as yours. But I’m still not going to lose.”
Demund would have grinned if Enariss didn’t look so determined. “Do your best,” he said softly.
Well, at least I want second place, he thought as they made their way towards the car. After he placed the container in the trunk, he got in with Enariss leaned back on the seat as the vehicle began to navigate.
It would be a lie to say that things hadn’t become more distant between them. Enariss didn’t have the usual energy she used to bear. When he thanked her like he always did after he got off, she smiled and rode off.
She was the same but different. Her actions weren’t unusual, but he felt something.
But what?
Wordlessly, he entered his house.
⤙ ◯ ⤚
“Rother, are you ready?”
“Just give me a second, Mom!”
“Melany!”
“Shidey’s gone! I need to take Shidey—”
“She’s here. Wait, I don’t think we need to take that—”
“Nonsense. It’s a mother’s duty to cook for her children.”
“Mom! They literally have chefs there. Leave the things.”
“He’s right. You will be a guest in Skotos. I’d recommend taking the least you can.”
“If Eilae says so.”
“What—that’s exactly what I said before.”
The beginning of the trip began with some confusion as Shaden forced his family to unpack the things they’d crammed into their bags, urging them to take only their clothes with them. Rother had wanted to pack rations (he’d learned how to make them in the north) and Melany had wanted to take everything. His mother, being his mother, would have taken the whole house if Eilae hadn’t convinced her otherwise. It would be her first time seeing her father-in-law, so she appeared to be more nervous than usual.
“I’ll use the utensils they have there.”
“No, Mom. That’s beside the point. Just think of this as a vacation.”
“Every day with you is a vacation for me.”
“Mom—”
Finally, after a hectic morning of preparing for the trip, they were ready to leave for Skotos for Shaden’s tenth birthday. It would still be a few days before the actual celebration, but Lytha had recommended that they go there earlier to become adjusted to the atmosphere. There were also things he’d have to learn to properly carry on the tradition, so instead of going there alone, the whole family had decided to come with him. At least, everyone except his dad.
“I’ll join you then,” Garthan said with a sad smile.
His father had used all of his vacation days during his search for Rother, going a little over the limit which had earned him some trouble from the officials of the city. He was a captain and had his responsibilities he had to fulfill. If it had been any other soldier, they would have been sent to prison for leaving their post. Even joining Shaden for his tenth birthday was a privilege only he could enjoy, since that was how rigorously he worked during his duty.
Lytha arrived with the carriage from Skotos, and after loading their belongings, they began to make their way towards the portal at the edge of the city. Shaden and Eilae sat next to Lytha as she drove the carriage, while Rother was on the roof, feeling the wind. Melany was holding onto Shidey, with her back against their mother.
“How do you feel? You’ll be seeing your family again soon,” Shaden asked, looking at her.
“Good,” she replied.
“You don’t look too happy.”
“I am delighted. But I am worried that my manners may have deteriorated during my time with you. I will surely be reeducated.”
“If they act mean, I’ll protect you,” he told her, crossing his arms. “Your family is subservient to mine, correct?”
“Hah! You don’t hold much authority yet. You are still only an heir.”
“Don’t you know how strong I am?”
“I do, but such matters cannot be resolved with force. I understand the importance of education, and hard as it might be, I shall overcome it.”
“Alright, stop talking so weirdly.”
Eilae smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. I was practicing. My parents would be upset if they heard my manner of speech.”
“Come on, relax. You don’t need to keep up your facade all the time. Surely your family will understand.”
She only smiled sadly. “I hope so. They are stricter on the younger children. Perhaps my place in the family has changed since I’ve built up my ties with you.”
“Now you sound political.”
“But it’s true, isn’t it?” Her blue eyes twinkled in the light. “When you become the head of your family, I will be the one who knows the most about you, the person who will be able to ask favors from you the easiest.”
“So?”
“There is power in that. Much power.”
“Huh.”
Eilae placed her head on his shoulder. “You’re young, and you’re talented. Your powers are beyond my imagination, but you have more than that. You’re shorter than me, but you sometimes act like you’re older.”
“Sometimes?”
She laughed. “I hope you won’t forget about me when you grow up.”
“I couldn’t, even if I wanted to.”
“Yes, he is terrible at forgetting things,” Lytha said, chuckling. “No need to try and charm him.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Ho?”
They don’t know that I’m a teenager in real life, he thought, trying not to laugh. Playing the innocent kid, he replied, “But you’re wonderful. I’ve already been charmed.”
It was funny seeing the girl turn her face away from him, which made his aunt burst out laughing. He took the opportunity to manipulate the bracelet that he’d received from Eilae on his ninth birthday, uncoiling it so it swished around the air before him like a snake. Hearing the sound, Eilae turned to him, her face slightly flushed.
“That’s dangerous,” she squeaked, then cleared her throat. “If you lose that, I won’t forgive you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he smiled, returning the bracelet to his wrist. “But what’s the point of carrying it if I’m not allowed to use it?”
“You’re already skilled. You don’t need practice. Also, that’s not how the bracelet is meant to be wielded in the first place. Only you could control it in that manner.”
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“That sounds like a compliment.”
Pursing her lips, Eilae crossed her arms and looked at him. Shaden shrugged.
“Shaden. Now’s the time,” Lytha told him.
“Gotcha. Rother, could you get back into the carriage?”
“So soon? Alright.”
Shaden covered the carriage along with the horse at the front with the grayish aura that hid them from the world. It was more like a bubble he’d enclosed them in, and from the inside, the view wasn’t that different, except for the unnoticeable haze that flickered where his magic was present. From the outside, they’d be untraceable.
It wasn’t long before they reached the hidden tree that led to Skotos. Jumping off with his dagger in hand, Shaden slashed into the bark, cutting it so that a straight line appeared at the center of its surface. The black tree groaned as it split and widened, causing a puddle of black to appear from its wound. With his mana hands, Shaden forced the entrance to widen, enough so that it would be able to fit the carriage.
The large tree was a strange kind of life; it was invisible to the common eye, only accessible through his family’s magic or the dagger. No one could touch it except those from Skotos. Shaden wondered how that worked because his knowledge of physics wasn’t enough to explain the concept to him.
Well, who cared? It was super convenient.
He got back on the carriage as it entered the portal. A gentle ripple passed over his skin as his vision turned black. In an instant, they were on the other side, inside of the small forest where the black trees with white leaves lived, neatly arranged, all leading to different places in the world.
“Which one was the one you came from?” he asked Eilae. She blinked.
“That...one? Or that one,” she said, pointing towards some trees. She tilted her head to one side. “It’s been too long.”
“Woah! What is this place?!” Rother shouted, pushing his head in between them. Eilae smacked him on the face with her hair, and Rother positioned his head so that it would be next to only his and not to hers.
“This is Skotos,” Shaden said proudly. “I’ll own this place someday.”
“Looks pretty gloomy,” Rother commented.
“Ah, yeah. But there’s this mysterious atmosphere, right? Isn’t it cool?”
“Yeah, pretty cool. It feels so thick here. I can feel my skin bristling.”
While Rother had been injured during his time in the north, he’d learned many things that allowed him to fight and survive while he’d had his legs.
“Is it just me, or does it feel like someone’s watching us?” he said, looking around. “Darn, this feels like a great place to train in.”
He wasn’t a musclebrain, but he loved training—even more so when his feet had been restored. Shaden had been annihilated by his brother’s swordsmanship when he wasn’t relying on his hand-to-hand combat and dagger techniques. He hadn’t exactly lost, but had been constantly defeated when his sword-sticks had continued to break while fighting with Rother.
“I don’t think we have any sword-related things here,” Shaden said, glancing at his tutor. “Or do we?”
“We do,” she said.
“Really?”
“There are many weapons in store,” she explained as she steered the horse down the path paved with stone. “For disguises, or it can be something of a hobby. Sparring partners can be created quite easily with the resources in our hands.”
“I never knew.”
“You fought one of the dolls. Eilae did too.”
“You mean Hairy?” he said, taken aback. “How can a mass of hair fight with a sword?”
“With a different body, of course. You’ve only seen one model.”
“There are others?”
“Naturally. You underestimate everything Skotos has to offer, Shaden. Everything you know is only part of the surface.”
“Huh.”
“You’ll gradually learn, with time.”
Would those additional things be cool, or dangerous? Shaden seriously hoped that it would have nothing to do with torture or other vile actions. At least Lytha and Eilae were reasonable, and his father hadn’t mentioned anything to him that would suggest otherwise. Then again, his father had left early.
“I won’t have to...kill someone for my birthday, right?” he questioned while the carriage passed by the twisted trees. They were out of the garden now, approaching the large, black gates in the distance.
“That again? You assume the weirdest things,” Lytha said. “No, you won’t. No killing, so don’t worry.”
“Will I ever have to kill?”
“Shaden wouldn’t kill anyone, would you?” his mother asked from the carriage. “That would break my heart.”
“Don’t worry, Mom,” Shaden assured. “......right?”
Lytha shrugged. “Who knows? It’s not as simple as that. There are circumstances, there are responsibilities, and sometimes there are people you just want to slice up. You won’t be forced to kill, no.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Try worrying about complicated things after your fifteenth birthday,” Lytha told him. “Before then, learn everything you can—which I bet you won’t have a problem with.”
“Yeah,” he agreed.
“You gotta kill if it’s kill or die,” Rother advised, ruffling Shaden’s hair. “An eye for an eye, a death for a death. If you’re facing a criminal, it’s better to kill them before they hurt you or anyone else.”
“You’ve killed before?” Shaden gasped.
“No, but I’ve beaten up people who’ve been jerks,” he laughed. “I’m just telling you what Dad told me.”
“Well spoken!” Lytha smiled.
Shaden wondered what his family’s job was then if it wasn’t assassinating people, but there was plenty of time to figure things out. While the thought of being a blade in the shadows had enticed him at first, the more he traveled around seeing everyone, the more repulsive the thought of harming others seemed to him.
Then again, if it was one of those people who attacked me and Enarris—would I still feel the same?
Responsibility. While he’d be granted wealth, status, and power when he inherited Skotos, responsibilities came with it. Burdens he wasn’t fully aware of. It was why Lytha pitied his grandfather, why he’d have to go to the other families to learn from them.
Let’s just have fun for now, he decided.
They passed through the outer gates which Shaden opened with his magic. He could see the castle now at the top of the small mountain, too thickly covered with fog to make it out clearly. It was always foggy in Skotos; the golden sun rarely showed itself in the sky.
“Eesh, what a depressing atmosphere,” Lytha said, squinting. “He should be aware that we’re here by now.”
She turned to the people in the carriage. “While the people here may seem off, don’t worry too much about it. If they don’t know who you are, they will simply ignore you.”
“Which would be everyone except me and Lytha,” Shaden said. “I never knew that.”
“It’s not like this place never gets any visitors. Quite a few, actually.”
“I bet I’ll be able to see all of them this time.”
Lytha smiled. “You would be if they’re still here. Outsiders will likely be sent away for your birthday celebration.”
“Ah.”
“No matter. They’re not the type of people who are here to socialize. Though some of them may be interested in making your acquaintance, it would be against their contracts.”
Things were the same as Shaden remembered them to be. The village at the base of the mountain was sparsely populated like before, and many of them didn’t even throw them a glance as their horse clacked its way across the hard path. Only the children watched curiously behind walls and windows, unmoving as their eyes shimmered with interest. There were those Shaden didn’t remember seeing.
“I was too scared to ask before, but who exactly are they?” he whispered to Lytha quietly.
“People with complicated circumstances,” he replied. “For some, this place is a haven. For others, it is a prison. Do you see the children? Most of them are orphans. Many of the people living there are orphans.”
“I remember my grandpa saying that those who are seen outside of the gates will be ‘removed.’ Are they not allowed out?”
Lytha smiled. “It isn’t that cruel. But those who leave may never come back. For most, after they experience Skotos once, returning isn’t an option.”
“I am very fortunate to visit again,” Eilae commented.
“It’s different for those who are part of the family. You can visit as often as you’d like. But who’d want to come to this depressing place?”
Lytha sighed. “I’d say once is enough. You would not want to live here.”
Shaden felt his back dig into his seat after the carriage began to make its way upwards towards the gates of the castle. The mist became palpable as the altitude rose. It wasn’t a humid presence, but a cool and smoky—one without scent or touch. It only covered their eyes and gradually fell apart as they neared the bridge.
The gates were already open with a row of masked servants on each side of the entrance. Standing at the center was a familiar figure—an aged man with grey-black hair and a short beard with eyes as dark as obsidian.
And his arms were open.
“Shaden. My daughter. Welcome, welcome. At last!” he spoke cheerfully with a large smile. “How you’ve grown! Ah, Eilae. Your parents send their greatest regards.”
Eilae bowed, and Shaden jumped off of the carriage. As a grandchild should, he went to the old man and gave him the biggest hug he could.
“You’ve gotten skinnier,” he said, looking at the man’s wrinkled face.
“And you’ve gotten stronger!” his grandfather laughed, patting his back. “Come, is your family here with you?”
“Yes. My mom and my siblings came.”
“Good, good. I shall give them the warmest welcome.”
Lytha yawned as she handed the reins over to a masked servant. “I’m going to go rest,” she said, walking into the castle. In an instant, she’d vanished into the dark background.
It made Shaden a little sad seeing that. He didn’t know how much his father and aunt disliked their father, but her detached attitude didn’t have any affection in it. Neither did his grandfather greet Lytha with the warmness that he’d greeted him with.
Everyone had gotten off of the carriage while the servants were moving the little luggage they had. Shaden’s mother approached his grandfather with her children behind her and did a bow. His grandfather smiled and returned the gesture. It was the first time he’d seen the man lower his head.
“You must be Melsei,” he said, placing his hand over his chest. . “I am grateful to you. You have raised wonderful children.”
“T-thank you,” she replied.
“And you, little one? What’s your name?” his grandfather asked.
“M-Melany,” the girl squeaked, holding Shidey in front of her like a shield. The cat looked even more baffled than her, with eyes as wide as saucers.
“A beautiful name. And you must be Rother.”
“Yes, sir.”
The rigidness had kicked into him, and he stood firmly like a statue, face hard as stone. What had they taught him in the north?
His grandfather smiled and pat Rother’s shoulders lightly before giving it a firm hold. “My son told me that you were his son.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You certainly possess his eyes.”
“Thank you, sir.”
The man let go of his hold, and Shaden was able to breathe out. “You are welcome here. All of you,” he said, nodding. “This is not a hospitable place, as you can see. But what we do have, do enjoy it to the fullest. The servants will be tending to your needs. Now, Shaden. Walk with me.”
Shaden gave his mom a nod and accompanied his grandfather as the old man began to disappear from his eyes. Not instantly, but weak enough for Shaden to make out. He likewise enveloped his body in magic, helping him sense his grandfather better. The stronger use of it would overshadow the weaker, and his grandfather was purposefully doing it so that he’d still be able to sense him.
“How were your travels?” his grandfather asked, walking along the dark walls. Even their shadows failed to manifest in the light.
“It was fun. And a little short,” Shaden replied.
“Have you made yourself known to the other families?”
“About that—” Shaden scratched his cheek. “Sorry. I kind of spent my time with my family. I heard that after my birthday, I won’t be able to see them for five years.”
“Four, if the circumstances are right, but you are correct,” the man agreed. “There is no need for an apology. You will bear the circumstances, and all I will be able to do is worry.”
“Is it that bad?”
“It was difficult for me. But for you?”
He turned around and glanced him over. “You are a special existence. A child of promise. I trust your decision. You’ve mastered what has taken me years in mere months. Perhaps weeks.”
“I don’t think I’m that great.”
His grandfather chuckled. “There was little chance to compare yourself to anyone, after all. The world must have shocked you, with all the incredible things it held. But once you’ve made your place among your peers, you will learn that your existence is not something that can be taken lightly—both for them and yourself.”
“Myself?”
He held up a finger. “Yes, you. Do not let power consume you. Do not let pride muddle your reason, lest you encounter someone above you and destroy yourself by not realizing your position.”
“That’s too complicated, grandpa,” Shaden complained. “Don’t you mean, ‘Be nice to others?’”
“You could take it that way. But being too kind will hurt you.”
They chatted some more as they headed up some stairs and crossed hallways. His grandfather was eager to know more about his journey. What he’d eaten, what he’d seen—what cities he’d been to and what kind of people he’d met. His eyebrows slightly moved upwards when Shaden explained what had happened in the Great Library to him.
“Yes, I had gone there long ago,” he said. “So you saw the Librarian!”
“And he gave me a library pass,” Shaden bragged, holding it out. His grandfather’s eyes widened.
“There was one thing I failed to steal. And now you’re holding it in front of me!” he laughed, patting him on the head. “But that was long ago. Treasure it, Shaden.”
“I also saw the Elders,” he said, feeling a little proud. “One of them taught me a little. His name was Pleid.”
“I have heard of him. An unkillable scholar.”
“Do you know a lot about the world, grandpa?”
“I know what I must.”
They went into the same room he’d used before—the one that overlooked the black tree in the courtyard suspended over the giant chasm. He remembered sleeping under the tree and waking up in bed. Hairy had woken him up once, and it had scared the living daylights out of him. The tree was naked as usual, lacking the characteristic white leaves that the others had.
“The clothes for your birthday are in the closet, but they will have to be resized,” his grandfather stated. “There is much to prepare. The servants will take care of everything, but you must make yourself presentable. Have you practiced your manners?”
“Eilae told me what I needed to know.”
“Very good. Now, sit down with me.”
Shaden took a seat on the bed next to his grandfather, who caressed his head as one would do to a baby. “There is something I must tell you before the celebration,” he said. Shaden nodded.
“On your tenth birthday, you will have to stab yourself with the dagger that I have given you—” the man pointed at the center of his chest, “—right here, where the heart resides.”
“Huh?” Shaden cocked his head. “I’ll have to kill myself?”
The old man shook his head. “You will not die. The purpose of the ritual is to make the dagger one with your body so that you will never lose it. You will be able to summon the weapon whenever you require it, and its shape will become as versatile as you need it. It will become a living weapon, a part of you.”
“Will it hurt?”
“Not at all. For me, it was like a puff of vapor that enveloped my heart.”
“I think that sounds cool.”
“But—it comes with a responsibility.”
When the man opened his hand, something like a liquid shadow began to swirl into his palm, taking shape as his fingers closed around the handle. He held up the dagger and held it up to Shaden—who took it.
“What do you sense?” the man asked him.
“It feels alive,” Shaden told him, “but it doesn’t feel like you. I don’t know. It’s weird.”
“So it is.”
The dagger dissolved from Shaden’s hands, gone like smoke in a strong wind. “This is the responsibility you will have to take. Your body will hold two wills.”
“So...will it try to take over my mind?”
“It would be better if it tried to. No, Shaden. It tells you a story. A story you will never be able to forget. It comes in whispers, and its voice will captivate your spirit. Don’t worry. You may ignore it if you want to. But it tells a beautiful tale, and I was bewitched.”
“A tale?”
“A tale. You can lock it away deep inside, but it will never leave you. One day, you will want to listen to it—be it out of boredom, or despair, or curiosity—and you will understand the responsibility that our family holds.”
“Once I become one with it, I won’t be able to separate from it.”
“You will not want to. My father and his father before him all died clinging on to the dagger in their hands.”
“And you?”
“I wonder. You may be the one to relieve me of this burden.”
The old man patted him on the head. “I’ve been telling you too much to worry about. The dagger will stay silent for five years. You will not hear its whispers anytime soon.”
When Shaden looked up, his grandfather’s eyes had deepened, and his wrinkles seemed to become more defined. “Why did you tell me all of this?” Shaden asked.
“To give you a choice.”
He got up and motioned to Shaden to stay seated. “There is much to prepare. Do not be afraid, Shaden. I believe that you can do it.”
And he vanished.
Slowly, Shaden took out his dagger from his inner pocket and held it in front of him. The black weapon had always felt strange to him—not in a bad way, but in a resonating way. It was like the bracelet that Eilae had given him, but the sensation was duller, repressed. He balanced it and twirled it between his hands, giving it a good whoosh in the air.
“Concealed, mysterious weapon?” he grinned. “Cool.”
Shaden was never the one to worry about things thoroughly. And being the dream-loving person he was, how could he not accept such a cool, wonderful offer? Impaling himself sounded scary, but he had been invincible so far. Such a thing could never faze him.
He looked forward to his birthday.
Soon, the servants came in and began to prepare him for the celebration.