The Awakening Hall remained silent.
Evans stood in the middle of the magical circle, staring at the darkness swirling around his feet.
He could feel something inside him.
Something powerful.
Something that had been sleeping for fifteen years.
The shadows moved whenever he moved.
When he raised his hand, the darkness climbed up his arm like black smoke.
Evans quickly lowered it.
"I don't understand," he whispered.
The instructor approached cautiously.
"Don't move."
Evans froze.
The instructor looked at the crystal that had shattered above him.
"Do you know what you've awakened?"
"Shadow Power," Evans replied.
The instructor shook his head.
"Not ordinary Shadow Power."
The entire hall became even quieter.
"What do you mean?" Olivia asked.
The instructor looked at her.
"Your friend has awakened an ability that hasn't appeared for generations."
A student near the back whispered, "The Shadow Sovereign..."
Another student immediately replied, "Don't say that name."
Evans heard them.
"What's the Shadow Sovereign?"
Nobody answered.
He looked at the instructor.
"What happened to the last Shadow user?"
The instructor's expression changed.
"That is not something you need to know."
Evans frowned.
"Why?"
"Because some knowledge is dangerous."
Before Evans could respond, a loud voice came from the entrance.
"Move aside."
Everyone turned.
Three people entered the hall wearing black uniforms decorated with silver symbols.
The students immediately stepped away.
Olivia whispered, "Who are they?"
"The Royal Awakening Guard," someone answered.
The leader walked toward Evans.
He was a tall man with gray hair and a scar across his left cheek.
His eyes never left Evans.
"Boy," he said.
Evans remained silent.
"Come with us."
Olivia stepped forward.
"Where are you taking him?"
The man's eyes moved toward her.
"That doesn't concern you."
"It concerns me if you're taking my friend."
Evans looked at Olivia.
She was standing directly between him and the guards.
"Olivia..."
She didn't move.
The guard sighed.
"Your loyalty is admirable, but this is a royal matter."
Evans stepped forward.
"I'll go."
Olivia turned toward him.
"Evans, are you sure?"
He nodded.
"I need answers."
The guard turned around.
"Then follow me."
Evans began walking.
But before leaving the hall, he looked back at Olivia.
"I'll come back."
Olivia smiled.
"You better."
---
The Underground Chamber
Evans was taken beneath the Awakening Hall.
They passed through several stone corridors before reaching a massive metal door.
The guard placed his hand against it.
A magical symbol appeared.
The door opened.
Inside was a dark chamber filled with ancient books, weapons, and strange crystals.
Evans looked around.
"What is this place?"
"The Archive."
The guard walked toward a large table.
"This room contains records about abilities that the kingdom considers dangerous."
He picked up an old book.
Then he placed it in front of Evans.
The cover was almost completely black.
There was only one symbol on it.
A black crown.
Evans stared at it.
"What is that?"
"The symbol of the Shadow Sovereign."
Evans slowly opened the book.
The first page contained a drawing of a man surrounded by darkness.
Beneath the drawing were three words:
THE FIRST SHADOW.
Evans turned the page.
The next page contained a warning.
«"When the Shadow awakens again, the world will stand at the edge of destruction."»
Evans stared at the words.
"That's ridiculous."
The guard didn't answer.
Evans looked up.
"You actually believe this?"
"I don't believe legends."
The guard pointed toward Evans.
"But I believe what I saw today."
Suddenly, Evans felt something move behind him.
He turned.
Nothing.
Then the shadows beneath his feet began moving.
They stretched across the floor.
The guard immediately grabbed his weapon.
"Control it!"
"I don't know how!"
"Focus!"
Evans closed his eyes.
The darkness continued spreading.
His heart began beating faster.
Then he heard a voice.
Not from the guard.
Not from Olivia.
A voice from inside his mind.
"Finally..."
Evans opened his eyes.
"Who said that?"
The guard stared at him.
"What?"
Evans looked around.
The voice came again.
"You have awakened me."
Evans stepped backward.
"Who's there?"
The shadows suddenly rose from the floor.
They formed the shape of a gigantic hand behind him.
The guard raised his weapon.
"Evans!"
The shadow hand disappeared.
Everything became silent.
Evans stood frozen.
The guard lowered his weapon slowly.
"What did you hear?"
Evans hesitated.
"I... heard a voice."
The guard's expression became serious.
"What did it say?"
Evans looked at the shadows around his feet.
"It said..."
He swallowed.
"Finally."
The guard's face went pale.
For the first time, Evans realized that the man wasn't afraid of his power.
He was afraid of something living inside it.
---
Meanwhile
Olivia sat alone outside the Awakening Hall.
She stared at her hands.
Golden light flickered between her fingers.
She smiled.
Then the light suddenly turned dark.
Olivia's smile disappeared.
"What...?"
A black mark appeared briefly on her palm.
Then it vanished.
She stared at her hand.
She didn't know what it meant.
But deep inside, she had a terrible feeling.
Evans wasn't the only one whose awakening had been unusual.
And whatever was coming for him...
might be coming for her too.