The shadows

I sat on the sofa, my gaze flickering uneasily between Himari and Elara, seated across from me.

"Uh, I don't appreciate you being this close to me, Captain Hikari," I muttered, leaning slightly away from her.

She grinned and inched closer. "Drop the formality—just call me Hikari." A smile was placed on her face.

Before I could respond, Elara's sharp voice cut through. "Elias! Get over here! We're waiting for you."

From the kitchen, Elias's voice called back, accompanied by the clink of teacups.

I glanced at Elara. "Thanks for before"

She turned towards me. "Yeah of course it was no problem."

Hikari tilted her head, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "Kain, are you from out of town?"

"You could say that," I replied curtly.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "What's with the shadows? I've never seen magic like that before."

Before I could answer, the sharp sound of glass shattering interrupted us.

"Oops! Sorry about that!" Elias called sheepishly from the kitchen. Moments later, he appeared, carefully balancing a tray of tea. Setting it on the table, he sat down and smiled.

"I think I can explain the shadows," he said confidently.

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Enlighten me."

"Your shadows come from a rare technique—something only one person has mastered. A mage from the Ten, who defeated the Queen of Darkness, Gylor."

At the mention of the Queen, Elara's grip on her cup tightened.

"Alright," I cut in, sensing her discomfort. "Let's shelve that for now. What are you doing here, Captain Hikari?"

Hikari smirked. "A friend in the royal army asked me to meet you and bring you to Aeloria."

My brow furrowed. "Who's this friend?"

"I can't say. But they mentioned they have something you're looking for."

Something I'm looking for? Could it be Danté?

Elias interrupted before I could press further. "Kain stays with me. He's my lab assistant and isn't going anywhere until I say he's ready."

Hikari glared. "That's not your call."

Their argument became background noise as I stood and stepped outside. The spot where the Dagon wolf had fallen was now empty, its body gone.

The cold night breeze was calming, reminiscent of home. After a few minutes, Elara joined me.

"Oh, hey. You're here," she said.

"Yeah, just… thinking."

"About what?"

"The shadows. The way they transformed into a sword."

Elara tilted her head. "I've never seen anything like it either."

I sighed. "I don't know what to do anymore. I came here looking for my brother, Danté, hoping for answers."

"You have a brother?"

"Yeah. The last time I saw him…" My voice faltered as the image of Danté in a pool of blood flashed in my mind.

Elara's expression softened. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

I shut my eyes tightly before opening them. "He might… be dead. But I'm not sure."

"I'm sorry, Kain."

"No need to apologize. I just… don't know anymore."

"Kain," she said firmly, "whatever you choose, stick to it. Live without regrets."

A faint smile tugged at my lips. "Thanks, Elara."

She grinned smugly. "Don't worry about it. So, why are you here with Elias?"

"I was looking for a job after I left the bar and stumbled into his shop."

"Shop? That rundown place?" She laughed, and I found myself smiling too.

Taking a deep breath, I asked, "Why did you come out here?"

"To check on you."

"Me? You didn't have to."

"Of course I did. You looked tired back there. They mean well, but the choice is yours."

"I just want to go home with Danté… but I'm all alone out here." I slid to the ground, sitting against the wall.

Elara sat beside me, about two feet away. "Like I said, it's your choice. Don't live with regrets—I've made too many of those already."

"You're right. So, tell me about yourself."

Her face lit up. "About me? Didn't you ask Edward already?" She burst into laughter.

I turned away, embarrassed. "I sensed something about you."

"Oh? What was it?"

"I don't know. That's why I asked."

"Well," she teased, "you'll have to be my friend first."

"I thought we already were."

"Already?" Her cheeks flushed red.

Grinning, I said, "We fought that wolf together, didn't we?"

She turned away. "Fine! We're friends."

I stood, a new determination surging within me. "Then it's settled—I'm going to Aeloria."

"Wait, what? How does that settle anything?"

"Because I don't want to regret my choices."

"You'll have to explain that someday," she said with a sigh.

I smiled at her, my resolve firm. I didn't know why, but I felt that going to Aeloria was the right choice—the only choice to find my brother and the truth behind the shadows.