Shadow continued his search, eventually stumbling into a grand office filled with shelves of ancient tomes and magical artifacts. A massive desk dominated the room, its surface cluttered with scrolls, maps, and an assortment of peculiar trinkets. His sharp eyes quickly scanned the space, and his excitement spiked when he spotted a coffer glinting in the dim light.
Sliding it open, he was greeted by a dazzling display of jewels.
"Around ten million jewels? Wow, with what I collected before I have enough to begin my collection of the eminence in the shadows. Now I must find a house as a base, create a basement for my training and my experiments, and a hidden room to be my shadow time room !" he mused, a pleased smirk spreading across his face.
"Let's see what else does this office have! "Shadow continued rifling through the drawers and cabinets, uncovering stacks of papers, obscure devices, and magical trinkets of questionable use. Despite his thoroughness, nothing else piqued his interest. Finally, he flopped into the large chair behind the desk, spinning it lazily.
He stared at the map, letting the silence settle over him. "So, where should I install myself ? In which continent, which country, which city ? "
A sudden idea struck him. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a sleek black knife made from his magical power. Tossing it into the air up and down, he closed his eyes and threw it. The blade twirled gracefully before plunging into the map with a satisfying thunk.
Shadow opened his eyes and leaned forward. The knife had landed squarely in the Kingdom of Fiore, its point embedded in the city of Crocus.
"Crocus, huh? Not bad at all," he said, his lips curling into a grin. "The perfect place for a mob character to blend in while secretly becoming the eminence in the shadows. It's settled!"
With renewed purpose, Shadow rose from the chair, his excitement rekindled. It was time to journey to Fiore and begin the next phase of his plans.
The dimly lit corridor trembled as the distant echoes of battle reverberated through the bandits' hideout. Ultear pressed herself against the wall of her cell, her sharp ears catching the occasional crash and muffled shouts. Her gaze shifted to the shimmering door of her prison—a magical barrier inscribed with glowing runes that kept her confined.
The runes, once steady and vibrant, flickered erratically, their light dimming with every rumble. Ultear's heart skipped a beat as a particularly loud explosion rocked the building. The glow of the runes sputtered, and with a faint crackle, they fizzled out entirely.
She stared at the now-open space, wide-eyed. The chaos outside must have disrupted the enchantments. Her breath hitched as she stepped cautiously over the threshold, her bare feet touching the cold stone floor.
The sounds of fighting grew louder—sharp metallic clashes and bursts of magical energy echoed through the hallways. Whoever was attacking was powerful. Ultear's instincts screamed at her to run back and hide, but she clenched her fists. This was her chance. If she didn't escape now, she might never get another opportunity.
Tiptoeing through the corridor, Ultear kept to the shadows, her ears straining for any sign of pursuit. The fighting sounds became fainter and fainter with time, and for a moment, hope bloomed in her chest.
Suddenly, a loud crash erupted from a nearby hallway. Ultear froze, her heart pounding. Heavy footsteps echoed in her direction. She held her breath, debating whether to dart back to her cell, but it was too late.
A figure emerged from the smoke-filled hallway, a faint glow of magical residue clinging to his black cloak. His piercing eyes locked onto hers instantly, freezing her in place.
Shadow tilted his head, a bemused grin spreading across his face as he caught sight of her mid-sneak. The black blade in his hand pulsed faintly, still humming with residual magical energy.
"And where do you think you're going?" he asked, his voice low and playful.
Ultear instinctively stepped back, her body tense as she scanned him for any sign of hostility. "I... I was just escaping," she said cautiously, her voice trembling. She instantly recognized that he was not one of the researcher, and feeling the immense magical power he exuded, she guessed that he was the attacker and that he should have destroyed this place. She forced herself to meet his gaze, unsure if he was friend or foe.
"Hm, you're not one of them?"
"N-not at all!" Ultear stammered, waving her hands defensively. "I was their prisoner!"
"Well," Shadow said with a shrug, turning his back to her. "If you're escaping, you're free to go. There's no one left to stop you."
Ultear blinked, stunned by his nonchalance. "Wait," she called out, taking a hesitant step forward. "Who... who are you? And why are you here?"
Shadow paused, glancing back over his shoulder. His lips curled into a sly smile.
"I am Shadow. I lurk in the darkness and hunt the shadows. Oh, you who have been harmed by the seekers of history's shadows, if you seek justice, come find me in Crocus in the Kingdom of Fiore."
With a flick of his hand, he conjured a black token and tossed it to her. Before she could respond, he vanished into the shadows, leaving Ultear standing in stunned silence, equal parts relieved and mystified.
--
Ultear stumbled through the heavy snow, her feet raw and numb from the biting cold. Each step was a struggle, the icy wind stinging her cheeks and tearing at her thin prison rags. She hugged her arms tightly around herself, her breath coming out in short, misty gasps. The snowstorm raged on, each flake landing like a tiny, cold dagger on her skin.
Through sheer willpower, Ultear pushed forward, her body trembling violently with every step. The forest seemed endless, the skeletal trees looming above her like silent sentinels. She bit her lip to stifle a cry as her foot sank into a jagged patch of ice, the sharp pain shooting up her leg.
Finally, after what felt like hours, she reached the edge of a clearing. Ultear froze, her heart pounding. In the distance, she saw them.
Ur, her mother, stood at the center of the clearing, her tall figure illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight. She wore a thick, fur-lined cloak that billowed gently in the wind, her long, dark hair spilling over her shoulders. Her face was lit with a radiant smile, one that Ultear hadn't seen in what felt like a lifetime.
Beside her were two children, arguing.
The first was a boy with spiky white hair—Lyon. His hands worked quicly, creating a perfect ice sphere, his teasing eyes darting toward his companion.
The second boy, Gray, had jet-black hair that contrasted sharply with the pure white snow around him. He stood a little further away, his arms crossed and an annoyed expression on his face.
Ur laughed, her voice light and carefree.
The boys watched her intently, their bickering momentarily forgotten. The warmth in the scene was almost tangible, a stark contrast to the cold emptiness that Ultear felt deep in her chest.
Hidden behind a tree at the edge of the clearing, Ultear clutched the rough bark with trembling hands. Her teeth sank into her bottom lip as she fought back tears. The sight before her was everything she had longed for—her mother, surrounded by warmth and love.
But she wasn't part of it, her mother abandoned her and had replaced her.
Ultear's heart ached as she watched Ur laugh, her soft voice carrying across the snow. She wanted to step forward, to call out to her, but the sharp sting of rejection held her back.
She turned away, her body trembling, and leaned against the tree. Tears spilled down her cheeks, freezing as they fell. For a moment, she allowed herself to cry, her sobs muffled by the howling wind.
Then, with one last glance at the scene in the clearing, Ultear slipped back into the shadows of the forest, her fragile hope crushed beneath the cold.
"Shadow…"