Riven entered the village. Everyone was silent.
He opened the door to his house, stepped inside, and sat down on his chair.
For a moment, he closed his eyes — his thoughts were tangled, restless.
> "Who were they? That feeling of power… that aura… it felt like mine."
Among the hum in his mind, he muttered to himself:
> "Damn it… I finally met enemies worthy of me. But they ran away…"
Suddenly, he raised his head.
"Darel!" he shouted.
Darel rushed inside.
"What is it, Riven?"
Riven turned his eyes toward him.
"How many sword masters do we have in the village right now?"
Darel thought for a moment.
"Three, my lord. They're skilled."
Riven grumbled.
"Three? Not enough… I need more. Bring them here."
"Yes, my lord!"
Darel left and soon returned with three warriors.
Riven stood up, his gaze sharp as steel.
"Your names?"
The first man stepped forward.
"I'm Max, my lord. It's an honor to meet you," he said, kneeling.
The second spoke right after.
"I'm Mex, my lord. My brother and I serve together."
Finally, a woman came forward, her eyes cold and steady.
"I'm Melya. Pleased to meet you."
Riven locked eyes with her.
"Melya… come here."
She hesitated, then took a step forward.
Riven lifted his hand — his eyes turned black.
In an instant, Melya fell to her knees, trembling in terror.
> "Ahhh! I'm dying! Help me!" she screamed.
Mex froze.
"What's happening?! He didn't even touch her!"
Max's voice was tense but calm.
"No… it's an illusion. She's seeing death itself."
Riven nodded slowly.
"Good mind, Max. I like that."
He released the pressure from Melya's throat.
"When you speak to me, watch your tone," he said coldly.
"The next time, you won't just see death — you'll meet it."
Melya bowed her head, trembling.
"I'm sorry… my lord…"
Riven turned to Darel.
"I forgive her. But it won't happen again."
Then he faced the three warriors.
"I heard you're skilled with swords. Good. I have a task for you — find the best sword masters and bring them to me. Max, you'll lead them. Train them well."
Max knelt. "Yes, my lord."
Riven turned to Darel.
"You too — focus on getting stronger. Train hard. Soon, every one of you will be tested."
Silence filled the room.
Riven sat back down, clasping his hands together.
His voice dropped to a whisper:
> "New enemies… I'm waiting for you."
"...You may leave now," he added.
The trio left quietly. Once the door shut, Riven closed his eyes again, sinking into his thoughts.
> "My heart's getting colder… my emotions are fading," he murmured.
"Am I really becoming a monster? Damn it… but somehow… it feels good."
Then a voice from his past echoed in his mind:
"Riven… my brother!"
Riven froze.
"What the hell? My sister?" he muttered.
Another voice followed — soft, feminine.
Images of his mother and sister flickered in his mind.
"My sister… is she calling me?"
Even through the coldness of his heart, something inside him stirred — a faint warmth that refused to die.
---
Memories Behind the White Eyes
Riven left the village.
He thought to himself, "Is she here? Or in another place? If I find her, maybe I'll finally understand."
Then — a scent. Blood.
He followed it, only to find a group of bandits.
"Have you seen someone with white eyes?" he asked, voice sharp as a blade.
One of them smirked.
"And who the hell are you? What's with those eyes? You think you can scare us?"
Riven's eyes darkened.
"I'll ask one more time. Did you see her?"
They lunged at him.
Riven moved like lightning — and within seconds, they were all down.
"Foolish humans," he snarled.
"Kneel before me!"
One trembling bandit whispered, "I… I saw her…"
Riven crouched beside him.
"Where?"
"There was… a carriage. They were taking her away…"
Riven's anger flared.
He waved his hand — shadows rippled — and the bandits were gone.
He took a deep breath, whispering,
> "Ahh… this feels… perfect."
But even then, one thought lingered:
> "Where did they take her?"
---
The Reunion
The forest was silent under the moonlight.
And there — chained to a tree — a young woman struggled to lift her head.
Her eyes… white as snow.
Riven froze.
"Sister…?"
She smiled weakly.
> "Riven… you finally came…"
He stepped closer, but noticed dark symbols etched across her body.
"What is this? Who did this to you?"
> "I did," she whispered. "To protect you. That power… it would've killed you. But now, you've embraced it, haven't you?"
Riven's expression darkened.
"Yes… and now I can't control it anymore. Everything burns… even me."
She tried to move, the chains rattling.
"Listen, Riven. There are others… searching for you. That aura — it's not just yours. Our blood… carries a curse."
Riven's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?"
Tears fell from her pale eyes.
"Our bloodline comes from a god.
And you… are his chosen shadow."
Silence. Then Riven clenched his fist, eyes blazing.
> "Then I'll find him. That god — and this curse."
His sister smiled faintly.
> "Don't lose your heart, Riven. If you do… I'll never find you again."
Riven cut her chains and caught her as she fell into his arms.
He whispered:
> "I promise… I'll break this curse. But first, I must find him."
The wind howled. Moonlight shone in Riven's eyes — a mix of pain and fury.
And in that moment, something within him changed.
For the first time, his rage had a purpose.
---
The Night Within
When Riven returned to the village, the silence was heavy.
His sister was waiting at the door, blind but smiling faintly.
> "Why did you leave me… I missed you so much.
Please… don't leave me again.
They hurt me, Riven. They bullied me…"
Riven's voice grew dark.
"Bullied you? Who did it? Tell me!"
She wept, placing her trembling hand on his face.
> "Don't worry… you're here now. Don't go deeper into the darkness, Riven. You're still light."
Riven smiled faintly — but it wasn't warmth. It was sharp, broken.
> "Sister… I am the darkness now. I've changed myself. I've grown stronger. No one can defeat me anymore."
She stroked his hair.
> "Then be wise, not just strong. Because the darkness is calling for you."
He inhaled deeply, then barked an order:
> "We've arrived. Clear the way!"
The villagers moved aside.
Riven carried his sister inside, laid her gently on the bed.
> "Rest now. I'm here."
Then he turned to his soldiers.
> "Bring me the old woman. Now. My sister must be healed!"
Corven stepped forward.
> "I'll bring her, my lord."
Riven nodded.
> "Good. Go."
When the door closed, Riven slumped over the table.
Sleep took him — and the nightmares returned.
Dark symbols, burned corpses, screams of children…
> "Cursed child! Die! You don't belong here!"
Riven's eyes glowed even in the dream. He laughed, wild and dark.
> "Hahaha! You weaklings! Kneel before me!"
Then — pain.
A sharp ache in his chest.
> "Ahhh…"
And from the shadows, a voice — cold and familiar.
A silhouette appeared, smiling faintly.
> "Hey, kid…
Did you really think you could kill me?
Wait for me… I'll be back.
The curse… is mine."
Riven jolted awake, gasping for breath.
A dim light came from his sister's room.
He whispered:
> "Who… was that?"
The darkness didn't answer.
But deep down, Riven already knew — that voice wasn't a dream.
It was the true master of his curse.
---