Several days had drifted since, or at least I presume so; time seemed to flow differently in this realm. An ocean of shadows pooled around my feet, while an eternal light bathed the expanse overhead. No matter where I ventured, the light remained fixed above me, a constant beacon at the center. It felt akin to being at the base of a deep well, with the light serving as the passage to the world beyond. Yet, unlike a well where one can climb out, there were no walls, only an unfathomable void of darkness stretching infinitely.

Beneath my feet, the shadows coalesced into many grasping hands, clawing and tugging at my legs as if seeking to drag themselves from the abyss below. At times, their efforts proved successful, and their forms emerged halfway into the light, compelling me to kick them back into the depths from which they came. These shadowy figures, devoid of faces, possessed tall and slender bodies, their existence a haunting silhouette within the darkness.

Their silent, relentless presence filled my nights with unease, leaving me unable to close my eyes and succumb to the realm of sleep. Alone in this desolate expanse, the shadows beneath became my only companions. In this realm, devoid of temperature or sensation, my emotions slowly disappeared along with the memories of old until even my own identity faded into obscurity.

As time passed, I embraced the darkness that enveloped me, my essence merging with the shadows until I too became one with them. My flesh transformed into a shadowy silhouette, my features lost to the void as I wandered through the endless expanse. Yet, with each step, the purpose behind my journey eluded me, replaced by a relentless questioning of my existence. Why did I roam? For whom did I search? As my strength waned and the darkness threatened to consume me entirely, the hands from below reached out, pulling me into their embrace. At that moment, I welcomed their touch, finding solace in the companionship of the shadows within this forsaken realm where solitude was the only emotion I knew.

"Valerian..." echoed the multitude of whispers, their urgent summons drawing me into their midst.

"Valerian..." I added my voice to the chorus, swept up in the urgency of the call.

Who could this Valerian be? Their name echoed through the void with significance, making me wish I was as important as that person.

We called out for him relentlessly, but he did not answer. Yet, with each repetition, my curiosity grew, wondering about the identity of this important figure. Was he kind, I pondered? If so, perhaps I too could aspire to such kindness and be worthy of a name like Valerian.

How does one earn a name, I mused? Did one's character determine their name? Perhaps, if one were kind and strong, they would bear a name like Valerian. Despite my weakness, a desire stirred within me to claim that name for myself, hoping to gain the same virtues the name possessed. Though I felt small and insignificant in the vast expanse of darkness, the stories of Valerian filled my mind with visions of courage and nobility. And so, in the silence of the void, I whispered to myself, "Valerian," embracing the hope that by adopting this name, I could forge a new identity—one imbued with strength and purpose.

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"Have you finally remembered who we are?" The red-eyed boy's voice sliced through the darkness as he toyed with shadows.

"And here, I just started to hope you were finally gone," I retorted, settling before him.

"That wish will soon become a reality, little one, seeing how you already chose your path,"

"And what path is that? Half the time I'm lost, and the other half I'm just pretending," I confessed bitterly.

"A path that is not yours leads to a predetermined end, while a path of your choosing holds infinite possibilities. It's all up to you," he explained, his words shrouded in enigma.

"Enough with the riddles! Face me like a man," I demanded. "You deceived my father, sealing my fate to serve your selfish whims. And then you pretended to be my friend, only to betray me. Who are you?"

As he dropped the shadows and his features shifted, his face morphed into an unsettling familiarity—my own.

"I have already told you in the future, and I will tell you now in the present; I am you and you are me. Not that it matters now, you will leave me as everyone did before you," the man before me replied, his crimson gaze tinged with sadness and despair as he continued manipulating the pool of darkness beneath him.

"You say we are the same, but I don't see any similarities between us other than our faces," I challenged.

"But we are the same. I was once an avian just like you, the first offspring of a forbidden union between a mortal and a celestial being, hailed as Valerian, the First Sin."

"How can this be? I would've heard about you; I thought I was the first one," I expressed astonishment, feeling the foundations of my understanding crumble.

"How could you? They have rewritten history countless times since then, erasing me from existence entirely. Anyway, shortly after they banished me from their realm into a different plane of existence called Eldoria, home to dragons," he divulged, drawing me further into his narrative.

"Dragons? But there are no dragons left in Eldoria; the last sighting was eight hundred years ago," I interjected.

"But once, dragons reigned supreme, and I was conceived by one."

"By a dragon? How does that even work?" I inquired, struggling to fathom the concept.

"They possess the power to shapeshift. How did you imagine the union between a tiny avian and a mighty dragon would appear?" he chuckled.

"I suppose it's difficult to envision," I conceded.

"I lived in harmony with the dragons for centuries, but their numbers dwindled over time, due to conflict and the passage of eras. I was content to fade away with them. However, those who banished me had other plans. They viewed dragons as a threat and sought dominion over their lands, sparking a war that raged for centuries. Though we were stronger, their sealing magic was something we could not fight against. Unable to defeat us, they sealed most dragons away and killed the rest," he recounted, a simmering anger visible in his eyes.

"Where were they sealed? And what became of you?" I pressed.

"That is a tale for another time. Your time here is running out; you are finally liberated from my hold. Promise me one thing, promise me you will embrace your new life without any regrets, for both of us," he implored.

As those words slipped from his lips, a surge of shadows departed from my being, flowing into the pool of darkness where he sat.

"You still haven't explained why we share the same face! Why do we bear the same name?! Valerian!" I shouted at him, my voice echoing through the chamber as the darkness released its grip on me, propelling me toward the radiant light above.