The full moon, peeking out from behind the sparse late-evening clouds, was mirrored by the sea's surface, casting an iridescent silver path on the waves. Oblivious to this unexpected adornment, the waves rolled rhythmically, even monotonously against the rocky shoreline in a soothing manner.
A small rocky beach, nestled between two low cliffs, was particularly alluring in this weather. Not long ago, by the standards of waves and stones, this stretch of coast was frequented almost every night by romantic couples or simply students with a fondness for reflection. Several poems and songs that later gained popularity among young people were conceived amidst the rhythmic noise of the night sea surf.
Despite its beauty, this small cove located on a university island near Wilflaes bore a rather strange name to the uninitiated - Shattered Skulls Beach. The night sea, the deceptively calm waves, the smooth stones underfoot - it all seemed to hypnotize, inviting one to dive in, to swim, to momentarily become part of this beauty. But nature can be treacherous, and grave danger often lurks beneath a beautiful facade. Such was the case here. Close to the shore, two currents converged, and the nearby shipping lane's waves, rebounding off the rocks, created a real storm and whirlpools in the seemingly harmless bay.
In the past, nearly every year saw at least one student entrapped by the deceptive beauty, and the unexpected, towering, powerful waves would toss those daring to swim at night against the boulders and rocks, smashing their heads. That's how this beach earned its unusual name, despite its initially appealing appearance.
For two decades now, the university administration has prohibited nighttime visits to this beach. Still, every three or four years, someone, captivated by the local beauty, would enter the water, only to have their broken body, with a fractured skull, later discovered washed up on the otherwise beautiful beach.
On that particular night, the coast appeared deserted at first, second, and even third glance. Only by chance could one spot an almost motionless shadow lurking among the massive boulders.
The Shadow was a master at concealment, so much so that even mythical ninjas or saboteurs trained in the finest intelligence schools would have bowed their heads in respect, had they had the chance to evaluate her skills.
The Shadow hadn't merely appeared on the shore. She was waiting. And she knew how to wait nearly as well as she knew how to hide.
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Less than a month ago, the Shadow had longed for solitude, hoping to escape the dictates of her family, clan, and even her beloved but incredibly demanding mentor. But after losing her family, clan, and Teacher in a single day, the Shadow was confronted with a void. A void she didn't know how to fill, until she decided to seek revenge. Revenge... It filled the emptiness in her soul, replacing it with a rumbling, insistent heat.
On this island, the Shadow was somewhat restrained. The university was teeming with sensums who might detect something if she was not careful. Regardless, even under such constraints, the Shadow's skills were so remarkable that she was confident her quest for vengeance would be successful.
The Shadow knew the instigator of the upheaval in her life was a Break Knight, a student at this university. She speculated that among the multitude of students, there could be more than one raig. This added complexities to her hunt for the guilty party. Yet, she was resolute in finding them all - the Shadow was certain of this. Even if it took years. Find and kill. More precisely, she would kill until she eradicated the guilty party. She was aware that if she murdered the correct person, the oath she had sworn during the revenge ritual would activate, allowing her to inherit her mentor's power.
The power and endless skills of her mentor would be hers if she fulfilled the vow she made during the forbidden ritual. The thought of the doors that might open post-revenge made the Shadow's hands tremble slightly. The yearning for power and the thirst for revenge - all these intertwined tightly in the young Shadow's chest. So tightly that it was impossible to disentangle one from the other.
She might exact her revenge today. Recently, the Shadow had located one of the Break Knights. A strong, seasoned raig radiating inexplicable energy. This person could very well be the perpetrator of her family's demise. Tonight, he would meet his end. And if she was correct...
Her thoughts were abruptly cut off at this point. Right beside her, a mere four strides from the boulders she was concealed behind, a human figure materialized out of thin air.
The Shadow flinched. She had purposely stationed herself in a position where she could monitor all the pathways leading to the rocky beach, offering her a sense of control. But she had overlooked the capabilities of her prey. She had let it slip her mind and almost paid the price. Had the raig taken one more step, he would have effortlessly found the Shadow, and no one could predict what would have ensued.
She had been preparing for this moment for three days. A subtle influence, a simple ritual, and numerous psychological ploys had incited in the Knight a desire to visit this particular beach tonight.
The Break Knight, his gaze locked on the waves, stretched, inhaled deeply, and bent down to pick up a pebble from the beach.
Quiet as a whisper, the Shadow emerged from behind the boulder.
She was more adept at killing than at hiding...