Dawn slowly crept over Dominion, chasing away the night's darkness, which clung stubbornly, reluctant to fully retreat. Soft morning sunlight filtered between the buildings of the Dominion Elite Academy, casting grey shadows on its grand stone walls. The stillness of the morning lingered, as if all of Dominion was taking a deep breath, preparing to welcome a new beginning. In his small room, Rael opened his eyes, adjusting to the soft morning light that had slipped in through a narrow window. The cool morning air filled his lungs, refreshing his tired body, but his spirit was alight with burning determination.
In the corner of his room hung his training uniform—plain black, without any adornment or distinguishing emblems, simple and silent. The outfit reflected Rael's position as an Inferus-level student in Umbra House, the first step in the academy's secretive hierarchy. Slowly, Rael donned the uniform, feeling the chill of the dark fabric against his skin, blending with the lingering shadows of the early morning that had yet to vanish completely.
Once ready, Rael stepped out of his room, moving through the academy's long corridors still wrapped in morning silence. Grey stone walls rose around him, cold and gleaming with morning dew. His footsteps echoed faintly, whispering secrets down the hallway. The further he walked, the heavier the atmosphere grew, as though the shadows themselves were testing his courage.
At last, he arrived at the training room—a large hall with rough wooden floors, dimly lit by a few flickering candles in each corner, casting just enough light to glimpse the shadows before them. This training room seemed deliberately shrouded in darkness, embodying Umbra House's philosophy of teaching its students to become part of the shadows themselves.
There, a few other students had already gathered, their faces tense and alert. Among them, Rael spotted Jarin, a broad-shouldered young man with a steady gaze and sharp eyes scanning the surroundings like a guard. Beside him stood Eira, a small, quiet girl who always appeared indifferent, though Rael knew that beneath her calm exterior lay an exceptional alertness. Eira seemed to have already memorised every inch of the room, her eyes sweeping the dark corners with practised vigilance, as though she were entirely at home in the shadows.
The quiet of the training room was broken when another figure appeared without warning, as though slipping directly out of the shadows themselves. Rael found himself captivated as he looked upon Master Elyon Nacht, their mentor, who had arrived without a sound. Elyon's impassive face, cold and firm, hid countless secrets known only to him. Rael sensed the aura of mystery surrounding the man, as if Elyon were a living shadow, carrying hidden truths about Dominion and the world they knew nothing of.
"Welcome to your first day of training in Umbra," Master Elyon's voice was low, yet filled with an authority that could shake the hearts of everyone present. His gaze scanned each face, ensuring no one escaped his sharp eyes. "Here, you are not here to be recognised or celebrated. You are here to become the shadow—to protect Dominion from behind the veil, without ever being known or remembered."
Elyon's words struck deeply into Rael's core. In Umbra House, there would be no praise or recognition. They were trained to slip in and move silently, to become the shadow shielding Dominion from the darkness. Rael felt an unusual sense of peace spreading through him; he wasn't seeking recognition—what he desired was the hidden truth within each shadow of this world.
Master Elyon raised his hand slowly, signalling them to begin training. "Today, we start with the basics of infiltration—moving without sound," he said, his voice flowing like the cold night breeze. "Your task may seem simple, but it will test your precision. Cross this hallway without making a single noise."
Rael looked at the long corridor stretched out before them. Ten metres, but filled with obstacles that would test their patience: creaky wooden floorboards, scattered pebbles, and shards of glass that would shatter if touched. This wasn't just a physical exercise but a test of mental calm and self-control.
Eira stepped forward first, moving with a graceful precision. Each of her steps seemed like a silent dance, her footfalls perfectly controlled, as though the shadows themselves were guiding her. Rael watched in awe as Eira crossed the hallway with intense focus. Yet, on the last step, there was a small creak as Eira accidentally stepped on a loose floorboard. Briefly, a flash of frustration crossed her face, but she quickly suppressed it. Master Elyon's sharp look sent a clear message: in the world of shadows, there was no room for error.
Then it was Rael's turn. Taking a calm breath, he stepped forward, carefully placing each foot to avoid any sound. Step by step, he moved down the hall like a breeze slipping through, letting himself fall into the rhythm of the silence. But just as he neared the end, his foot unknowingly pressed against a tiny shard of glass, producing a faint crunch that echoed in the darkness. Rael exhaled, feeling a pang of disappointment weigh on his chest.
Master Elyon said nothing, only nodding slightly, his gaze delivering a stern lesson. "You all have potential," he said in his cold yet commanding voice, "but you also have weaknesses. Learn to overcome them. Out there, even the smallest sound can bring death."
Rael bowed his head in acknowledgment, realising that in a world stalked by Gloomspawn and external threats, even the smallest mistake wasn't just a flaw—it was a breach that could lead to terrible consequences.
Training continued throughout the morning. They practised techniques for stealth and moving within shadows, seeking out weaknesses in enemy defences, and mastering deeper tactics of disguise. Every movement had to be executed perfectly, without anxiety or hesitation. Rael grew to understand that becoming a part of Umbra demanded more than physical strength; it required precision, patience, and a calmness that came only from a grounded soul.
After an intense training session, Rael leaned against the cold wall, taking a long, heavy breath. The air around him was filled with the warmth of exhausted bodies and the mingled scent of sweat and dust from the training room floor. Although his body felt weary, he experienced a satisfaction that was hard to describe, something beyond mere relief at finishing the training session. He looked around, his eyes landing on Eira, who was standing nearby, wiping sweat from her forehead with a worn towel.
Driven by curiosity and a desire to get to know her better, Rael decided to speak to her. Eira was like a puzzle to him—a person of few words, yet clearly possessing a mysterious depth. She looked at Rael with an expressionless face, like a shadow unwilling to reveal its hidden secrets.
"What is it, Rael?" Eira asked eventually, her tone flat but direct.
Rael gave a small smile, searching for the right words to open a conversation without seeming overly eager. "That training earlier… you seemed pretty skilled at moving silently," he began, a little hesitantly. "How do you do it?"
Eira paused, glancing at Rael with a faint smile, one carrying an air of mystery. "I grew up in Pariah, Rael. Shadows aren't unfamiliar to me. Shadows aren't enemies—they're friends, if you know how to use them."
Her words left a lasting impression on Rael. There was something in her tone and the way she said it that left him silent, as though the shadows he had once feared were now something warmer and more loyal. Like him, Eira had learned to make peace with the darkness, seeing it not only as a hiding place but as a way of life. Rael nodded slowly, realising that in this world of secrets, each person in Umbra had to find strength in the shadows, not fight them.
Days passed, and training at the Dominion Elite Academy grew more intense. Each morning, the students from Umbra House gathered in the training room, ready to face challenges tougher than the day before. Master Elyon was a strict instructor, never giving them a moment's reprieve. Every mistake became a lesson, and every small success was acknowledged only with brief praise that was enough to ignite their spirits. Rael came to appreciate how vital every movement and action was in Umbra, where even the slightest failure could lead to disaster.
In one training session, they were divided into teams for a mock infiltration mission. Rael found himself paired with Jarin, the broad-shouldered young man with remarkable agility. Their task was to reach the end of a corridor guarded by simulated sentries equipped with sound sensors. This challenge was all about maintaining calm and self-control under pressure. Rael controlled each step meticulously, regulating every breath, each footfall stable and deliberate. Jarin beside him moved with similar agility, though with a more daring strength.
However, just as they neared the target, Jarin accidentally stepped on a small stone, which rolled noisily, triggering the sensor with a loud beep. The sound bounced off the corridor walls, drawing the "guard's" attention and setting off an alarm as if to warn of an intruder.
Master Elyon immediately stopped the exercise and approached them, his sharp gaze assessing them seriously, looking deep into their souls. "This training is not merely about movement," he said firmly, his voice cold yet authoritative. "It is training in environmental awareness. Know where your enemies may be, and never let a small mistake ruin your mission."
Master Elyon's words pierced Rael's heart, and he committed each one to memory. In the world of Umbra, everything was about precision and perfection. There was no room for error, even as small as a single footstep on a loose floorboard. Rael realised that beyond the academy walls, the real challenges awaited—challenges that would not offer them a second chance.
At night, Rael often gazed out at the night sky from his room's small window. The stars glittering over Dominion were his silent companions in his deep reflections. He began to understand that this journey was not simply physical or mental training. There was something more profound, something beyond what they could grasp about the academy and their roles in Umbra House. On this dark night, in the darkness, Rael found peace and strength he had never felt before. The darkness that once frightened him had now become a refuge full of secrets.
In the days that followed, training grew harder and more challenging. Master Elyon never tired of testing them with difficult scenarios that forced them to push their limits. With each challenge, Rael learned to embrace the shadows as part of himself, using them to protect, infiltrate, and observe from the cover of darkness. He began to understand that being part of Umbra meant becoming an unseen spy, a shadow that was always watching yet never touched by light.
After each training session, Rael felt himself changing bit by bit. Every mistake was not just a failure but a valuable lesson that shaped him into someone more skilled and composed. He grew closer to embodying the qualities required in Umbra—not just physical strength, but an extraordinary mental calmness.
One night after a long training session, Rael lay on his bed, contemplating the journey he was on. His eyes stared at the ceiling, as though piercing through the darkness that now surrounded his life. This world offered little clarity, but he felt himself becoming attuned to the mysteries around him. Rael understood that each training they underwent was part of an effort to build a shield for Dominion—one that would never be seen or praised but would always work silently.
With every new challenge, Rael was discovering his true strength, a power unseen by others. He learned to embrace the darkness not only as a shield but as part of his identity. Umbra was no longer just a house or a place of training, but a place where he found a piece of himself, a piece capable of overcoming fear and uncertainty.
He knew that the next day, harder training awaited him, and more difficult challenges would test his courage. But he was ready. In the shadows of Umbra, Rael was no longer just a student. He was becoming a resilient shadow, a silent warrior who understood the essence of living in invisibility. The world of Dominion and its threats might be vast and filled with uncertainty, but he had found something far stronger within himself—a readiness to face it all, with the shadows as his loyal companions.