NARIO

### **Synopsis:**

**Title: "Dominion of the Monstrous"**

Dominic never believed in monsters—not the way the old tales spoke of them. But everything changes when his father, in his final moments, reveals a chilling secret: Dominic possesses a rare gift—the ability to control the very monsters that have haunted humanity for centuries. 

After his father's death, Dominic is thrust into a world of danger and uncertainty. A massive, deadly beast, whom he names Nightshade, begins following him, obeying his commands with eerie loyalty. But as the creatures around him grow more aggressive, Dominic discovers the deeper truth of his lineage: he's the last of an ancient bloodline capable of controlling these beings, and his power runs deeper than he can imagine.

As he struggles to understand his newfound abilities, Dominic finds himself torn between using this power for good or succumbing to the dark forces that seek to use him as their weapon. When his father mysteriously returns—not as the man Dominic remembers, but as something twisted by the very creatures he controlled—Dominic is forced to confront the truth about his family's legacy and the monsters that are drawn to him.

Now, with enemies closing in and monsters lurking at every corner, Dominic must master his gift before it consumes him, or he risks becoming the very thing he fears. But the line between control and destruction is razor-thin, and the fate of both humanity and the monstrous world rests on his shoulders.

**"Dominion of the Monstrous"** is a tale of power, legacy, and the cost of control, set against a world where the line between monster and man is not as clear as it seems. Can Dominic survive the power within him, or will the monsters inside and out claim him forever?

dominion of the monstrous

The tension in the air had been building for hours. Ember was leading us through the forest with her usual fiery determination, while Kael stayed close to me, his presence steady but distant. Nightshade padded beside me, its golden eyes flicking between us as if sensing the unease.

But I was tired—of the running, the constant threats, and especially of Ember.

"I'm telling you, we should've gone left back there," I said, breaking the silence. "This path is taking us in circles."

Ember whipped around, her staff glowing faintly. "Oh, I'm sorry, did you suddenly become an expert on forest navigation? Last I checked, you were busy almost getting eaten by Stalkers."

I rolled my eyes. "And last I checked, you were supposed to be the one helping us, not leading us to who-knows-where."

Her eyes narrowed, and I could practically see the flames behind them. "Do you ever stop complaining? Maybe if you focused on staying alive instead of whining, we'd get somewhere!"

"Whining? I'm trying to keep us from walking into a trap, Ember!"

Kael sighed audibly, stepping between us. "Enough, both of you."

Ember threw up her hands. "Oh, look, the voice of reason finally decided to chime in."

"Stay out of this, Kael," I snapped, crossing my arms.

Kael turned to me, his expression infuriatingly calm. "Dominic, you're acting like a child."

"Oh, so now I'm the problem?" I shot back, my voice rising. "Maybe if you actually did something instead of lurking in the shadows, we wouldn't be in this mess!"

Kael raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "And maybe if you stopped trying to pick a fight with everyone who's trying to help you, we'd make some progress."

I took a step closer, the heat of my frustration bubbling over. "Don't talk to me like I'm some helpless kid, Kael. You don't know what it's like to—"

Kael's hand connected with my cheek, the sound sharp and final. My head snapped to the side, my skin stinging instantly as a red mark began to bloom.

For a moment, everything was still. Even Ember looked shocked, her eyes wide as she stared at us.

Kael's voice was low and measured. "You done?"

I touched my cheek, my anger surging to a boiling point. "You didn't just—"

"I did," Kael interrupted, his tone calm but firm. "Because clearly, words weren't getting through to you."

My fists clenched, but before I could say anything else, Kael grabbed my arm—not roughly, but firmly—and pulled me a few steps away from Ember.

"Listen to me, Dominic," he said quietly, his voice steady but unyielding. "You're frustrated, I get it. But you're letting your emotions control you, and that's going to get us all killed. You want to argue? Fine. Argue with me. But don't take it out on her."

His words hit harder than the slap. My anger wavered, replaced by an uncomfortable mix of shame and defiance.

"I—" I started, but he cut me off.

"You're tired, you're scared, and you're overwhelmed," Kael said, his voice softening slightly. "But you're better than this, Dom. Prove it."

The nickname again. It felt different this time, more personal. I looked away, unable to meet his steady gaze.

Kael let go of my arm, his expression unreadable. "We'll take a break here. Cool off."

He walked back to Ember, who was still watching us with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

Nightshade nudged my hand, its golden eyes full of quiet understanding. I sighed, sitting down against a tree and rubbing my burning cheek.

Maybe Kael was right. Maybe I needed to prove it—not just to him, but to myself.

The argument