At dawn, Reik and his allies were ready for their journey to the Shadowed Valley, where a great battle awaited them.

“Hey Tharion, I hope you live up to the fight,” Laira said with a laugh.

“Your jokes stopped being funny before the demons came. I hope you don’t wet yourself when you see one up close,” the dwarf replied, concealing his own fear of what was to come.

“Take this journey seriously and leave the jokes behind,” Reik said firmly.

Thirteen long hours had passed since they began their trek. The landscape around them had gradually changed, with the early rays of sunlight giving way to a cloudy, gray sky. The path felt heavier under their feet, and although no one voiced it, exhaustion was visible on everyone’s faces.

“We need to rest for a while; I think we all need it,” Kaiser said.

“We need to get there as soon as possible. The longer we take, the less time the people of the kingdom and its surroundings have,” Reik raised his voice to Kaiser.

“We won’t accomplish anything if we arrive exhausted; we’ll make mistakes and be much slower if something goes wrong with our plan,” Kaiser countered.

“He’s right. Reik, be patient,” Laira said, placing a hand on Reik’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry… You’re right. I’m being selfish. I don’t intend to put you all in danger,” Reik said softly, lowering his gaze.

“Don’t worry, Reik. There’s no need to apologize. Your intentions are noble; you want to save the kingdom, and not everyone would have the courage to do that.”

After this conversation, the group fell into a reflective silence. The tension in the air gradually dissipated, and the accumulated fatigue began to show.

One by one, they sat down, leaning their backpacks against nearby rocks and logs. Despite the serenity of the surroundings, everyone remained on high alert, attentive to any sounds that might indicate danger in the darkness of the forest.

Kaiser, who had remained silent after the last words, slowly stood up from where he was sitting. His footsteps made barely any noise as he approached Reik, who was staring blankly at the forest horizon, lost in thought.

“Reik, can you come over here for a moment?” Kaiser asked.

“Sure,

They wa

“Can I ask you a couple of questions?” Kaiser asked, his tone indicating the importance of what w

“I don’t mind answering, so go ahead,” Reik replied.

Reik was very curious, as it seemed Kaiser knew him and it didn’t appear to be just a casual acquaintance. They seemed to share some kind of bond, but what kind of bond was it?

“What is your greatest desire?”

“To destroy the demons,” Reik answered.

“Are you sure about your answer?” Kaiser pressed, waiting for a more sincere response.

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“Alright, my greatest desire is to be the most powerful in the kingdom and protect everyone, whether human, elf, or any other race,” Reik replied with a determined look.

“That’s the answer I was hoping for. Good.”

“Alright, and what’s the other question? What is it?” Reik asked.

“Are you prepared to risk your life constantly until you become the most powerful?”

“I’m more than prepared; I will do whatever it takes day by day until I achieve it,” Reik answered with excitement and determination.

“Then I believe today is the perfect time. It’s time to give you something that belongs to you.”

“Something that belongs to me?” Reik asked, astonished.

“This is yours by right of blood.”

Kaiser slowly withdrew from his leather coat something wrapped in a velvet cloth and extended his arms toward Reik.

“Take it, Reik,” Kaiser said in a deep voice. “It’s time for you to wield it.”

At that moment, Reik took the cloth and carefully uncovered what it concealed.

It was a sword with a very thin and sharp blade, adorned with strange and very ancient symbols.

“I don’t understand. Are you telling me that this sword, which looks like it could break easily, belongs to me by blood?” Reik asked.

“I assure you it’s yours. Trust me. It’s not an ordinary sword,” Kaiser responded.

“Then explain. Why does it belong to me by right of blood? What do you know about me and my past that I don’t even remember?” Reik asked, frustration and curiosity evident in his voice.

“You’re ready to fight the demons, but it’s still too early to answer those questions. You’ll get the answers, but it’s not the time yet.”

Reik frowned, aware that there was still much to uncover.

“Alright, I’ll wait, but make sure you don’t die without telling me everything in detail,” Reik said.

“Don’t worry, I don’t plan on dying,” Kaiser said with a smile.

“Thank you for the sword,” Reik said, ending the conversation.

Reik and Kaiser returned to the group, their conversation leaving Reik with more questions than answers.

They all took the opportunity to eat and rest, but they didn’t have much time.

Soon after finishing their meal, while some were already snoring loudly, Reik, Kaiser, and a few others woke up.

“Do you notice those presences?” Fain said.

Fain, a considerably tall man with a robust and strong body, was likely one of the strongest among them.

The tension in his voice and the tremor in his body were unmistakable, revealing the impact that the sinister presences he sensed were having on him. Despite his impressive strength, the threat he felt was palpable, and immediately, the rest of the group became alert, understanding the gravity of the situation.

“Wake up, everyone! Grab your weapons and get into defensive positions,” Kaiser shouted.

His tone left no room for doubt, and in an instant, the group went from the lethargy of rest to tense preparation. The warriors immediately grabbed their weapons with haste.

“Tharion, Laira. Are you ready?” Reik asked.

“Yes!” they both responded in unison, with palpable determination in their voices.

At that moment, Reik firmly grasped the sword Kaiser had given him.

Suddenly, without warning, a warrior who had been right behind Reik vanished with a scream, dragged away by something invisible.

“AHHH, HELP!!”

“Solid! Answer me! Are you there?” Kaiser shouted, his voice filled with urgency as he searched for his companion amidst the growing unease.

But there was no response, only an oppressive silence enveloping the camp. Kaiser, who had known Solid for many years, was deeply concerned for his friend.

“Calm down, Kaiser! Keep your head cool and don’t lose it, or we’ll all die,” Reik said firmly, trying to take control of the situation.

The tension in the air was palpable, but Reik knew that losing control at this moment would only lead them to disaster.

“Fire, we need fire!” Laira said.

At that moment, several companions quickly ignited their torches. Thanks to this, they were able to see further than their eyes had barely been able to moments before. As the flames illuminated much of the darkness around them, they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

“What are those things?” Tharion said.

With a slender, elongated body, these creatures moved like a gust of wind, almost invisible to the naked eye. Their skin was a deep black, covered with small iridescent scales that allowed them to blend into the night’s darkness. Their claws were thin and sharp as blades.

“Get ready! These are the first demons we’ll face, and they are called Shadow Demons. They are the weakest. If we want to reclaim the kingdom, we will face things a thousand times worse than these beings,” Kaiser said, rallying the group.