...Morning settled over Luntian like nothing had changed....
...The market buzzed with life—vendors shouting prices, fishermen hauling in nets, children weaving through the crowd with laughter echoing in the air. The scent of salt and fresh catch filled every corner of the town....
...But Kael couldn’t shake the feeling....
...Something was wrong....
...He walked through the busy street, the Star Blade hidden beneath layers of cloth on his back. Even concealed, it pulsed faintly—uneasy....
...Restless....
...As if it sensed something approaching....
...Kael tightened his grip on the strap. “Why won’t you just stay quiet…?”...
...The blade answered with another pulse....
...Stronger this time....
...A chill ran down his spine....
...He stopped walking....
...Slowly, he turned....
...Across the street, beneath the shade of a tall palm tree, stood a girl....
...She wasn’t from Luntian....
...Kael was sure of it....
...Her long dark hair swayed gently with the breeze, and her eyes—sharp, unreadable—were locked onto him. She didn’t look curious like the others....
...She looked certain....
...Like she had already found what she was looking for....
...Kael’s chest tightened....
...“…Who is she?”...
...The girl stepped forward....
...One step....
...Then another....
...Each movement calm, controlled—like a hunter closing in on its prey....
...People passed between them, unaware of the tension building in the air....
...When she finally stopped in front of him, the noise of the market seemed to fade....
...“You’re Kael Reyes,” she said....
...Her voice was quiet, but firm....
...Kael blinked. “…Yeah. Do I know you?”...
...Her gaze flickered briefly to the blade on his back....
...Then back to his eyes....
...“So it’s true,” she murmured....
...Kael’s grip tightened. “What are you talking about?”...
...She stepped closer, lowering her voice....
...“My name is Lira,” she said. “And last night… you made a mistake.”...
...Kael frowned. “What mistake?”...
...“You pulled the Star Blade from its resting place.”...
...His heart skipped....
...“How do you know about that?”...
...Instead of answering, Lira glanced past him—toward the edges of the village....
...Her expression darkened....
...“…They’re early.”...
...Kael followed her gaze....
...At first, he saw nothing....
...Then—...
...the shadows shifted....
...Not from the sun....
...From movement....
...Dark figures began to form between buildings, stretching unnaturally along walls and ground. Their shapes twisted, growing taller, thinner… wrong....
...Kael’s breath caught....
...“…What are those?”...
...“The ones drawn to the blade,” Lira replied calmly....
...One of the figures stepped forward into the light....
...Its body was barely human—long limbs, cracked surface, and eyes that glowed like dying embers....
...It turned its head slowly....
...Directly toward Kael....
...The Star Blade pulsed violently....
...Kael staggered slightly. “Why can’t anyone else see them?!”...
...Around them, villagers continued as normal—laughing, talking, completely unaware....
...“They exist between layers,” Lira said. “Only those connected to the blade can see them clearly.”...
...More shadows emerged....
...Three… five… maybe more....
...Closing in....
...Kael’s heart pounded....
...“They’re coming for me…?”...
...“No,” Lira corrected, stepping beside him....
...“They’re coming for that.”...
...She tapped the blade on his back....
...Kael swallowed hard....
...“…Great.”...
...The nearest Shadow took another step forward....
...Then another....
...Its mouth stretched into something that resembled a smile....
...Lira rolled her shoulders slightly, as if preparing....
...“Well,” she said calmly, “this is where you decide.”...
...Kael glanced at her. “Decide what?”...
...She smirked faintly....
...“Whether you’re worth the blade… or just another corpse.”...
...The shadows lunged....
...Kael’s eyes widened as he reached for the sword....
...And in that moment—...
...everything began....
...End of Chapter 5 ⚔️🔥...
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