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—You speak as if you were above everything, —said King Uldraxis in a whisper that echoed like the dying breath of thousands of voices in unison—. What could a creature as insignificant as you offer me?
Ralkar and King Uldraxis remained motionless, but the stillness was only superficial. Anyone observing from the outside might have thought they were sizing each other up in some kind of silent duel.
But to the most experienced among them, those who had witnessed the darkest eras of the Kingdom of Uldraxis, they knew this wasn’t just a mere exchange of empty stares.
Their eyes were not mere portals to the present; there was a far deeper conversation taking place, one they were not part of.
They were talking, but not with words that could be heard.
The communication between Ralkar and King Uldraxis occurred deep within their minds, where each thought was exchanged with precision and speed. Neither moved a muscle, and no expression on their faces revealed the content of their conversation.
Only the air, tense with energy, and small details betrayed the truth.
The shadows that enveloped King Uldraxis, usually serene and constant, began to tighten.
At first, it was barely noticeable—a slight tremor at the edges of the darkness that twisted around him. But as the silence between them stretched on, those shadows, as alive as Uldraxis himself, began to stir with greater intensity.
It wasn’t anger, nor even the resentment one might expect from a being as powerful as him. It was something else… something the veterans had not seen in the Lord of Shadows, not even during the great wars of the Lost Realms.
Anxiety. Concern.
King Uldraxis, the immortal Lord of Shadows, hadn’t shown any emotion in centuries, yet now, in front of a mortal, his perfect control over his emotions was faltering. The shadows that made up his armor trembled in a frantic dance, as if reflecting what their bearer refused to admit.
Ralkar remained silent, but his gaze had also shifted. There was a deeper understanding in his eyes, an awareness of the gravity of the moment.
Both knew that what they were discussing in their minds had consequences that would resonate far beyond this instant.
Minutes passed that felt like hours. No guard dared to move, and the air grew heavier.
Finally, it was Ralkar who broke the silence, his voice slicing through the air like a sharp blade gliding with precision.
—It's because I owe it.
The tone was ambiguous, and although the response was directed at King Uldraxis, its meaning was as inscrutable as the shadows surrounding the monarch. It wasn’t clear if he was speaking directly to him or if that debt mentioned was to someone else.
King Uldraxis didn’t reply immediately, but the shadows around him began to calm, as a tacit agreement seemed to have been reached between them.
He remained motionless for a moment longer, as if deliberating deep within his mind before issuing the next command.
Finally, his voice resonated, as deep and distant as before, but this time with a clarity that demanded immediate obedience.
—Harvesters of Uldraxis, return to your posts.
The echo of his command spread like thunder muffled by time.
Without hesitation, the brittle specters, who until a moment ago had been disintegrating and reconstructing ceaselessly, responded with precise, coordinated movement. With a respectful military salute, their fragmented bodies briefly aligned, and then, as if they had been waiting for that order for centuries, they dispersed in all directions.
They moved with such speed that their forms vanished in the blink of an eye, but their departure wasn’t chaotic; they marched in an order so absolute it seemed unnatural, as if the very fabric of space adjusted to their steps.
Ralkar watched with a faint smile as they disappeared into the distance, knowing that despite their fragile appearance, those beings were lethal in their efficiency.
When the last specter had vanished, King Uldraxis spoke no words, but the shadow around him seemed to thicken for a moment, as if his thoughts had been the catalyst for what came next.
From the heights, the silhouette of dark birds began to descend, emerging from the blackness of the sky like gigantic ethereal ravens, with imposing wings and feathers that briefly gleamed with a somber shimmer.
These creatures were not mere birds; their forms were larger, more terrifying.
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Armor, made of the same shadowy material as the hundred guards, covered their bodies. It gleamed intermittently, as if its ethereal structure was connected to the same abyss from which they emerged.
The ground vibrated in unison when their claws touched the earth, and a chill ran through the air.
Ralkar observed with interest, noting the details of the creatures.
They weren’t just birds; saddles prepared for transport could be seen on their backs. A hundred saddles, one for each guard.
"Airborne mounts, then..." He thought as a slight smile of understanding crossed his lips. "Interesting."
But it was the sound of a more imposing screech that caught his attention.
From the sky descended a creature even more majestic, forged from the depths of the abyss. Its form resembled that of an ethereal phoenix, but with dark scales like a dragon, shining with an unnatural light, reflecting the shadows that wrapped around it. It was a blend of power and grace, a being that commanded respect, even from the shadow itself.
The creature landed with deadly precision, yet with a clear submission to King Uldraxis.
The monarch extended a hand towards it, and his shadows intertwined with the feathers and scales of the bird in a gesture that, in some way, resembled a caress. Uldraxis, without moving a single visible muscle, transmitted a clear command to his guards.
—Sentinels of Uldraxis, mount.
Without hesitation, the hundred guards, who had remained in formation until that moment, moved in unison toward their winged mounts. Each of them mounted their respective creature with precise movements.
Only one mount remained vacant, an unspoken invitation.
Ralkar, however, didn’t rush to take his place.
Unhurried, he turned towards the cabin behind him, as if there weren’t an army of spectral shadows and an immortal King waiting.
His fingers playfully drummed on the wooden frame of the door.
—Come on, little one —he said in a light tone—. It's time to go out.
The girl, still paralyzed by fear, held her rigid posture at the edge of the bed. Her mind struggled to make sense of the distant echoes and the strange atmosphere she perceived through the walls.
Her body, however, refused to move, afraid that any action might make things worse. She was trapped between terror and uncertainty.
But then, the knocks on the door came again, this time with a light, almost carefree rhythm. When she looked up, she saw Ralkar’s face peeking through the frame, his eyes shining with childlike excitement.
A mischievous smile adorned his face, as if he hadn’t just faced an army of dark specters and King Uldraxis himself.
—Come on! —he said, as if inviting her for a stroll in the park—. It's time to go out!
The girl blinked, confused. But seeing the nonchalance on his face, something inside her began to change.
A small spark of curiosity started to ignite. "What’s out there that could make someone like him seem so… excited?"
She took a deep breath and stood up, almost without thinking, before fear could trap her again.
She walked towards the door, her steps unsteady but determined, her eyes fixed on Ralkar, as if he were her only anchor at that moment.
—That’s more like it —he said, smiling, as he stepped away from the door and walked toward the imposing ethereal beast waiting for him—. Don’t stare at the landscape too much, it’s a bit... gloomy today.
The girl, though unsure, followed him. It was hard to ignore the desolate panorama of shadows and emptiness that surrounded them, but somehow, Ralkar’s confidence kept her focused on him.
As she walked behind him, Ralkar raised a hand toward the winged creature, as if about to mount it with complete normalcy. But the beast, proud and haughty, didn’t seem willing to be dominated so easily.
With a defiant screech, the creature opened its beak, preparing to intimidate him.
But before the sound could even escape, Ralkar, without wasting a moment, raised his hand and, with a quick and precise slap, turned the bird's head.
The impact echoed in the air with a sharp clap, and for a brief moment, the beast was stunned, its gaze lost and its dignity severely wounded.
—Bad bird —said Ralkar in an almost paternal tone, as he climbed onto the creature without further thought.
The girl’s eyes widened as she watched Ralkar’s strike.
Worried, she quickly approached the head of the strange winged bird, gently placing her hand on its dark, ethereal plumage, and whispered softly:
—Don’t worry, it wasn’t that bad. I’m sure you’re a good bird… you just need to behave.
The creature, still dazed from the unexpected slap, snorted disdainfully. But deep inside, humiliation boiled. It couldn’t afford to lose more dignity in front of the other mounts.
So, with a defiant look, it tried to regain some prestige by showing off its sharp claws and tightening its beak.
Before it could even display its terrifying expression, the girl, with surprising speed, poked her small finger into its eye socket, making the beast let out a pained, almost pitiful whimper.
—Bad bird! —the girl said with unexpected firmness.
Ralkar watched the scene with a wide grin, clearly delighted by the girl's unexpected boldness.
Then, he stretched out his hand toward her, enthusiastically inviting her to climb onto the mount.
—Come on, little one. This is going to get even more fun!
The girl looked at the outstretched hand, but her eyes drifted toward the other mounts, where the imposing Sentinels of Uldraxis were already prepared. Her gaze traveled over their dark armor, the winged creatures they rode, and for a moment, a sense of doubt took hold of her.
Ralkar let out a light chuckle, sensing her hesitation.
—Ah, don’t worry. They’re not as intimidating as they seem. In fact —he pointed to one of the sentinels—, that one over there, the one with the horned armor, his name is… Rufus. He loves sunsets. Every time his shift ends, you can see him sighing as the sun sets. A hopeless romantic, the poor guy.
The girl looked at him, confused but intrigued.
—And that one over there —he continued, pointing to another—, that’s Claudius. He found out his girlfriend was cheating on him with another sentinel… the one standing right next to him, Lero. It was a huge drama, believe me.
The girl frowned, listening intently as if every word Ralkar spoke was undeniable truth. She nodded slowly, as if mentally taking notes of the details.
—And that one? —she asked, pointing to another guard standing on an imposing mount.
—Ah, that one… that’s Thronar! —Ralkar said, making up more on the fly—. He loves flowers. Yes, he has a secret garden in the shadows, full of lilies and daisies. No one knows, of course. A very sensitive guy!
The girl covered her mouth, astonished and moved by the idea of a Sentinel of Uldraxis secretly tending to flowers.
But just as Ralkar was about to invent another name and a new ridiculous fact, the stern voice of King Uldraxis cut through the air like lightning.
—Enough of this nonsense! —demanded the monarch, his deep voice rumbling like the echo of a distant storm—. Let the girl ride at once!
The girl frowned at him, clearly offended. She muttered to herself, but loud enough for everyone to hear:
—Rude old man...
Ralkar had to bite his lip to keep from bursting into laughter.
The Sentinels of Uldraxis, usually unflappable, averted their eyes in different directions, pretending they hadn’t heard a thing.
Meanwhile, King Uldraxis stood still, but the shadows around him stirred with fury. It was clear the monarch was making a titanic effort not to destroy the tiny, fragile human creature right then and there.