Chapter Fourteen: The Shadow
After I stepped out, Sylvia greeted me with a slight smile that adorned her lips, making them appear enchanting.
Sylvia said, "Young Master Ryan, the head of the family is summoning you."
I looked at her briefly before replying, "Alright, is there a specific reason?"
Sylvia said, "Today is the Day of Shadow Selection; all the heirs are already present in the hall."
Upon hearing that, I realized that the moment had come.
The selection of the shadow is not merely a tradition; it is an eternal bond between the guardian and their master.
I took a deep breath, then stepped forward, ready to face my destiny.
I walked through the long corridors of the family mansion, heading toward the deep chamber where my father and sisters awaited me.
My footsteps produced a faint echo on the polished marble floor, while the lights mounted on the walls cast a warm glow over the place.
Sylvia, who was accompanying me, remained silent, but I felt her scrutinizing gaze as if she were assessing my condition before the meeting. This was not merely a family gathering; it was a rite that every family member had to undergo.
Upon reaching the grand, intricately carved door, I paused for a moment.
Before me lay the deep chamber within the mansion, where my father sat awaiting my arrival.
I pushed the door slowly, producing a deep wooden sound, revealing the vast hall filled with an aura of grandeur and authority. My father was seated in his usual chair, his sharp eyes observing me silently, while my younger sister Lia and the twins Lisa and Lina stood on either side, awaiting the commencement of the rituals.
The time had come.
"Hello, Father, did you summon me?"
My father looked at me.
Father said in a calm voice, "Sit down, Ryan, we will begin soon."
I turned my gaze toward my little sister, Lia, who looked as sweet as ever. I approached her, hugged her, kissed her cheek, and sat her on my lap.
I smiled at her, "Dear Lia, it seems you're here too."
But she squirmed.
Lia said with a frown, "Let me go! You're a pervert!"
At that moment, Lisa and Lina spoke simultaneously, "Sister, would you like to switch seats with us?"
Lia said, "You're perverts; I don't want that."
The twins said, "Really, we…"
Before the twins could finish their sentence, two girls entered; one with black hair and the other with wavy, curly orange hair.
"They are Sila, my niece, and Irina, my brother's daughter."
I looked at my father.
"Well, what's happening here, Father?"
Father said, "I have summoned you here because it's time for you to choose your shadows. Today, you will select the individuals who will be your shadows and strive to protect you. In short, you will choose the personal guards who will be ready to die for you. Each of you will select your guard. You should know that they are not just guards; they are more than that; they are the shadow that will be with you everywhere, and they are the person who knows you best. Therefore, I hope you choose people you are comfortable with."
"Well, Father, I understand. I prefer my shadow to be a girl."
Then we looked at the girls.
"Well, girls, you should choose girls, not males."
Ira said, "Uncle, is there a reason for that, for them being female and not males?"
"Dear Irina, yes, there is a very important reason. Father said they will be our shadow, and they will be with us everywhere, which means they will be privy to everything, even your private life, like the bathroom or otherwise."
"Well, tell me now, would you prefer it to be a man or a girl? I really prefer it to be a girl for me; that way, I can make her closer to me more, being a girl and I am a man."
"Well, what about you, girls?"
Father did not speak; he just continued watching, looking forward to seeing where this conversation would go.
Lina said, "Brother, I want my shadow to be a girl. I don't want a man to see me while I'm in the bath, so I want it to be a girl. Anyway, after I come of age, I will marry the man I love, so it's not appropriate for my shadow to be a man."
Lisa said, "Well, I agree with my twin sister; I also want my shadow to be a girl."
At this moment, all our eyes turned to Sila and Irina.
"What about you?"
Irina said, "Uncle, I want my shadow to be a girl."
"Okay, and you, Sila?"
Sila said, "Uncle Ryan, I really prefer it to be a girl rather than a man because she would know everything."
"Okay, and you, dear Leah?"
Leah said, "Big brother, I will also choose a girl. Why would I choose a man? I'm not perverted."
I looked at Leah, who was trying to wriggle out of my lap, but she couldn't hide the slight blush on her cheeks.
"Leah, don't you want to stay with me?" I said teasingly, but her reaction was swift.
Leah said, "You're annoying!" and hit me with her small fist on my chest, making Lisa and Lena chuckle softly.
Before this teasing continued, my father raised his hand in a calm gesture, and the hall fell into silence.
Father said, "Well, since you're all here, let's begin."
He looked at all of us with his sharp eyes before continuing.
Father said, "As you know, it's time to choose your shadows. They are not just guards, but more than that—they are a part of you, a reflection of your strength, and your most loyal weapon. The shadow is ready to die for you, so you must choose carefully."
"Okay, Dad, we've heard everything we want," I said.
Father replied, "Okay, Ryan, you've heard everything."
Then he clapped his hands.
After that, a group of young girls of our age entered.
"Well, you can choose from this group."
I was the first to choose.
After examining the group, my eyes fell on a young girl with black hair and pointed ears. She is half-human, half-jinn. I recognized her; she was Ryan's shadow in the original work, whose end was very tragic and sad.
"I choose this girl with black hair, half-jinn."
I walked toward her, and upon reaching her, she knelt on one knee and looked at me.
The half-jinn girl said, "It is an honor for me to be your shadow, Lord Ryan."
"Ah, you're not only beautiful but also polite. I liked you. Well, from today you will be my shadow. Are you ready to perform the ritual with me and become my girl and shadow for the rest of your life?"
The half-jinn girl said, "It is an honor for me, Lord Ryan. However, I am just a shadow and do not deserve to be your girl; I am too insignificant to aspire to that."
"No, you are indeed qualified to be my girl. Anyway, my life and secrets will be in your hands. Well, tell me, what is your name?"
The half-jinn girl said, "Lord Ryan, I do not have a name; it is not my right to have a name."
"Well, I see. From today, your name will be Rina. From today, you will be my shadow and my girl. Well, let's start the shadow ritual."
I carried her in a princess carry.
She let out a soft sound, "Kah."
She made a very gentle sound, and her face turned red, then she buried her face in my chest.
I whispered in her ear, "I thought shadows didn't have emotions and were trained to suppress them. However, you are very sweet, my girl and shadow, Rina. I really liked you, and from today you will be mine."
Her face turned red until the blush reached her pointed ears.
I walked with her toward the ritual circle, holding her, then I looked at my father.
"Well, Dad, I have chosen my shadow and my girl. You can start performing the shadow binding ritual."
Father said, "I see. You have won her heart very quickly. However, your choice is indeed fortunate; she is one of the most talented in this generation of shadows. You are really lucky."
After an hour, the girls also finished choosing and binding their shadows, and they all chose girls.
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(Number of words in this chapter: 1,417 words)
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