The wind howled across the broken hills of Aetheria, carrying whispers older than time itself.
Kael stood alone at the edge of the village, his dark eyes fixed on the horizon. The others avoided him — not because he spoke strange words or did anything wrong… but because something about him felt wrong.
"Why don't you have a shadow?"
That question had followed him since childhood.
Even now, under the golden light of the setting sun, where every object cast its mark upon the earth… Kael stood untouched.
No shadow.
No past.
No family.
Only silence.
"Kael!" shouted Mira, running toward him. "You're late again. The elders are calling everyone."
Kael turned slowly. "Did something happen?"
"They found something in the forest… something big."
Something in her voice made his chest tighten.
And for the first time… he felt fear.