rest

A screen popped up in front of me, it looked like a computer that only the richest of the rich could obtain.

The most a commoner could afford was a few lines of code, but, this, this was different.

A whole User-Friendly UI.

With all the basics that a smartphone would have, it was pretty nice to see this light.

It even had TUBE, a platform for watching videos that was used back in the thirties before the trip to Mars was made.

One thing was different, the videos it showed were tutorials on some secret skill that some people have been trying to obtain.

The skill was called [AFTER SHADOW].

Nothing was known about it, people just wanted it because it sounded cool.

And all of them shared the same creator, who was creating content about it and getting called a hypocrite for it.

I had a goal.

Obtain the legendary super rare ultra shadow secret skill.

Was there a reason behind setting that as my new goal after reaching my family, absolutely not, It only sounded cool.

Kind of like a certain popular trading card game, where all the fans unanimously chose a certain card and decided it was rare just because it looked cool.

The system even has a front camera, that also makes you want to puke after you look at yourself, my beard was wicked, it looked like I was an old man, even though I'm going to be turning eighteen in two months.

I have to return to my family before my birthday, that's a must.

The screen flickered for a moment before stabilizing. The UI was smoother than anything I had ever seen, almost surreal in its responsiveness. Every tap, every movement—it was like interacting with something beyond human technology.

I swiped through the interface, scrolling past dozens of tutorial videos on [AFTER SHADOW]. Each one had cryptic titles like "The Art of Moving Without Moving", "Mastering the Void Between Seconds", and""Why [AFTER SHADOW] is More Than Just a Name."

The comment sections were a battlefield of speculation.

"This guy is a fraud. No one's ever actually seen [AFTER SHADOW] in action.""I swear I met someone who could do it. It's real.""If this works, I'll delete my entire account."

The creator's name stood out at the top of every video: Shadow_000.

I tapped on one of the videos. The screen went dark for a moment, and then—static. A deep, distorted voice came through.

"You seek [AFTER SHADOW], but do you even understand what it is? It is not a skill. It is not a power. It is a state of existence. If you truly wish to obtain it… then prove it."

The screen glitched, and a single line of text appeared.

TASK: Find the Door of Shadows.

No location. No hints. Just that.

I exhaled sharply. This was ridiculous. Was it an elaborate joke? A hidden test? Or something more?

But deep down, I already knew my answer.

I wanted it.

Not because it would help me find my family. Not because it was logical.

But because it sounded cool.

I shut off the screen and took a deep breath. First things first—I had to return home before my birthday. That was non-negotiable.

But if I just so happened to stumble upon this Door of Shadows along the way?

Then I wouldn't hesitate.

I asked the woman if she knew about the Door of Shadows, and she did not know, I asked mike, and he did not know either, I returned outside and asked Illya, and she surprisingly knew.

She told me it was something her father constantly told her about, and that's all they knew.

So I returned back to the village of four houses, I entered Illya's father's house.

Illya didn't do anything but search for her father everywhere, even in the drawers in their bathroom.

An arrow pierced my whole body in every single point at once.

"Where's dad" she asked, "I can't find him anywhere."

'Should I break the truth to her, NO, that would completely destroy her, I'm going to lie.'

"Your father doesn't want you".

I said with might.

"Yes, he does"

She replied even mightier.

"No, he doesn't".

I said with a voice crack.

She slapped me into the wall.

"From now on you're under my care," I said, "Okay?'.

Illya glared at me, her small fists clenched tightly. "You're lying," she muttered, her voice shaking.

I let out a deep sigh, rubbing my face where she slapped me. "Look, Illya, I don't have all the answers. But your dad isn't here, and we need to move forward."

She turned away, staring at the empty house, her breathing uneven. The silence between us was heavy.

After a long pause, she finally spoke. "Fine. But I'm not just gonna sit around doing nothing."

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

She wiped her eyes quickly like she didn't want me to see any weakness. "If my dad's not here, I'll find him. No matter what."

I exhaled slowly. There was no stopping her now.

I asked her if there was a basement and she said yes.

I went to the basement.

I found a single note on a broken table with the following written on it.

All hope is lost.

Light is lost.

All is lost.

The only one who can save us now is God Almighty.

And then a location was written down.

The City of Shadows, CAFE OF DOOM, DESPAIR AND EVERYTHING UNFAIR.

'What a nice and wholesome name' I thought as I said a prayer and set out to the city of shadows once again.

I stood in front of the café, scanning the area. It looked the same as before—worn-out sign, cracked windows, and a faint smell of something burnt in the air.

Illya tugged on my sleeve. "Are we going in or what?"

I nodded and pushed the door open. The inside was dimly lit, a few flickering lights barely keeping the shadows at bay. The same broken tables, the same old counter. But this time, something was different.

There were people here.

Not just customers—figures sitting in silence, staring at nothing, their faces unreadable. Some had drinks in front of them, untouched. Others just sat there, as if waiting for something.

I walked up to the counter. The bartender, an older man with deep lines on his face, glanced up at me.

"Looking for something?" he asked.

I hesitated. "Yeah. The Door of Shadows."

The room went quiet. Every head in the café turned slightly in my direction.

The bartender sighed. "You one of those, huh?"

"One of what?"

"Another fool chasing a myth." He wiped the counter with a rag, not looking at me. "You know how many come in here asking about that door? None of them ever find it."

I crossed my arms. "Does that mean it doesn't exist?"

He stopped wiping and looked at me, really looked at me this time.

"It means if you're looking for it, you'd better be ready for what you might find."

He reached under the counter and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper, sliding it toward me.

I picked it up and unfolded it. A single sentence was written on it.

"Find the man with no shadow."

I glanced back up at him. "Who is he?"

The bartender shook his head. "That's for you to figure out."

I exhaled sharply and turned back to Illya. "Looks like we've got a new lead."

She nodded. "Then let's start looking."