The sun was high over Vorthas, though its light did little to banish the gloom that clung to the city. Kael moved through the winding streets of the slums, his hood pulled low to hide his face. The events of the past few days weighed heavily on him, his mind churning with questions he couldn't answer.
The Eclipse Codex stirred within him, a cold, steady presence that seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat. Every so often, he caught himself glancing at his shadow, watching the way it flickered and writhed as if alive.
He hated it.
Kael turned down a narrow alley, the walls on either side pressing close. His destination was a crumbling shop tucked into the corner of a forgotten street. The faded sign above the door read "Lorn's Curiosities", though the paint was so chipped it was barely legible.
He pushed the door open, the bell above it jangling softly.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of dust and old wood. Shelves lined the walls, cluttered with trinkets, books, and strange objects Kael couldn't begin to name. A woman stood behind the counter, her sharp green eyes flicking up as he entered.
"Well, well," said Silva, her lips curving into a smirk. "Back so soon? Didn't think you were the type to browse antiques."
Kael ignored her jab, stepping closer. "I need information," he said.
Silva raised an eyebrow. "Information costs, you know. And you don't exactly strike me as someone swimming in coin."
Kael set a small pouch on the counter. The faint jingle of coins inside made Silva's smirk widen.
"Alright," she said, leaning forward. "What are we talking about? Relics? Factions? Or maybe something a little more... dangerous?"
Kael hesitated, glancing around the shop. No one else was here, but the walls felt too thin, the shadows too deep.
"It's... complicated," he said finally.
Silva tilted her head, her expression curious. "Complicated, huh? That's usually code for 'I'm in deep shit.'"
Kael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't have time for games, Silva. I need to know about... shadows."
For a moment, Silva didn't respond. Her smirk faded, replaced by a look of wary curiosity.
"Shadows," she repeated. "That's... vague."
Kael clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "I'm serious. There's something—something inside me. It's not normal. And I need to know what it is."
Silva's eyes narrowed. "Inside you? You mean like a curse?"
Kael hesitated, then nodded. "Maybe. I don't know. It's... hard to explain."
Silva studied him for a long moment, her gaze sharp and calculating. Finally, she sighed and turned, disappearing into the back of the shop.
"Wait here," she called over her shoulder.
Kael leaned against the counter, his heart pounding. He hadn't planned to tell Silva anything, but he was running out of options. The Codex was growing stronger, its influence more insistent. If he didn't figure out what it was—and how to control it—he wouldn't just be a danger to himself.
The sound of footsteps brought him back to the present. Silva returned, carrying a small, leather-bound book. She set it on the counter, flipping through its yellowed pages.
"There's a lot of lore about shadows," she said. "Most of it's nonsense. Old stories, myths, that sort of thing. But there are some accounts—rare ones—about people who've... bonded with the dark."
Kael frowned. "Bonded? What does that mean?"
Silva shrugged. "It's hard to say. Some say it's a gift. Others call it a curse. Either way, it doesn't end well for most people."
Kael felt a chill run down his spine. "Why not?"
Silva's gaze met his, her expression serious. "Because shadows don't give—they take. The more you use them, the more they use you."
Kael swallowed hard, his hands tightening on the edge of the counter. "What if I don't have a choice?"
Silva raised an eyebrow. "You always have a choice, Kael. The question is whether you're willing to pay the price."
Her words hung in the air, heavy and ominous. Kael looked down at the book, its pages filled with faded script and strange diagrams.
"Can I borrow this?" he asked.
Silva snorted. "Borrow? You're cute. But no. If you want it, you're buying it."
Kael sighed, pulling out another small pouch of coins. Silva grinned, sliding the book across the counter.
"Pleasure doing business with you," she said.
Kael left the shop with the book tucked under his arm, his mind racing. The streets felt darker than before, the shadows deeper. Every step felt heavier, the weight of the Codex pressing down on him like a physical force.
He turned down a side alley, leaning against the wall to catch his breath. The book felt like it was burning a hole through his satchel, its presence almost as oppressive as the Codex itself.
"What the hell am I doing?" he muttered.
The shadows around him shifted, rippling like water. Kael froze, his heart pounding.
"You seek answers," a voice said, low and guttural.
Kael spun around, his dagger already in his hand. But the alley was empty.
"Who's there?" he demanded.
The voice chuckled, the sound echoing off the walls. "You know who I am."
Kael's grip tightened on the dagger. "Show yourself!"
The shadows coalesced, forming a tall, humanoid shape. Its features were indistinct, its body flickering like smoke.
"You cannot escape me," it said. "The Codex is a part of you now."
Kael took a step back, his breath coming in short gasps. "What do you want from me?"
The figure tilted its head, its voice cold and unyielding. "You will learn. You will grow. And when the time comes, you will serve."
Kael shook his head, his mind racing. "Serve who? Serve what?"
The figure didn't answer. Instead, it dissolved into the shadows, leaving Kael alone in the alley.
For a long moment, he stood there, his dagger trembling in his hand. The weight of the Codex pressed down on him, colder and heavier than ever.
"I won't be your puppet," he whispered.
The shadows didn't respond.
Kael returned home as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the slums into darkness. Lira greeted him with a smile, her worry hidden behind her usual optimism.
"You're late," she said, handing him a bowl of stew.
Kael forced a smile, sitting down at the table. "Got caught up," he said.
Lira didn't press him, but her gaze lingered on him longer than usual.
As Kael ate, the Codex stirred again, faint and insistent. He ignored it, focusing instead on Lira's humming.
For now, he could pretend everything was normal.
But deep down, he knew the shadows were waiting.