The Shadow Crown

Chapter 7: The Shadow Crown

The black car pulled up in front of the Umbra Division, an obsidian-glass complex pulsing with life in the heart of Elysium City. Within its dark halls, power changed hands through sweat, blood, and coin. Here, fortunes were made in the racing circuits, horse duels, underground fighting arenas, and the high-stakes betting halls that ran like veins beneath the city's skin.

Kael Theodore Nightshade stepped out of the vehicle, sleek in a charcoal-black coat that shimmered faintly under the overhead lights. The Nightshade family ring glinted on the back of his hand—a silent reminder of a legacy too long buried under scandal and silence.

Though the Nightshades were once among the most powerful old families in the Elyrian Union, time and tragedy had thinned their bloodline. Now, their once-mighty lineage was reduced to a single branch. Fewer descendants. Fewer protectors. But their business empire still stood tall—thanks to his mother, who had shouldered the burden when his father was injured. The Nightshade Consortium remained a titan in finance, logistics, and high-end weaponry.

As Kael entered the Division, murmurs spread like wildfire.

> "Is that… Kael Nightshade?"

"He vanished for years."

"He looks... dangerous now."

Inside the main arena, tension was thick as oil.

A familiar sneer broke the silence.

"Well, well. The disgrace returns," said Lucien Vortan, heir to the Vortan Syndicate. Tall, smug, and wrapped in a navy combat coat with golden trim, he stood like a self-declared king.

"You've got nerve showing your face here," Lucien said. "The Umbra Division is under Vortan control now."

Kael's eyes were cold and amused. "Control? You've mistaken squatting for ruling."

Lucien stepped closer. "This place runs on merit and coin. Your family has neither."

Kael raised his hand. Just one motion—calm, deliberate.

A pulse of suppressed aura energy rippled outward. Subtle but suffocating. A few fighters nearby staggered, their instincts screaming danger.

Kael's tone was low, but it cut like obsidian.

> "This is Nightshade territory. This arena, this circuit, this system of power—it was ours before you knew how to walk in boots. You don't dictate terms here. I do."

Lucien opened his mouth—then thought better of it. He stepped back, fuming.

Kael turned without sparing him another glance.

The Division had been warned.

---

Nightshade Estate – Hours Later

Kael returned to his private villa on the east wing of the estate, where the walls were lined with antique weapons and shelves of ancient martial manuals. The place had been empty too long—but now, it would become his war room.

Still in his coat, he made his way to his father's study.

There, Leonhart Nightshade stood beside a floor-length window, the moonlight tracing lines over his still-powerful frame. Though injured during a fateful battle to save Kael and his mother, Leonhart was no cripple. His presence still carried the weight of a peak-level Auror—one whose martial path had merely been paused, not extinguished.

"You're back early," Leonhart said without turning.

Kael nodded. "Umbra Division is mine again. Vortan's brat tried to posture. I shut him down."

Leonhart smiled faintly. "Sounds like you."

Kael stepped forward, his tone shifting. "I need something else."

Leonhart raised an eyebrow.

"Call her back," Kael said. "Call back my Shadow."

A long pause followed. Leonhart's expression darkened slightly. "She's still out in the west, chasing ancient remedies… for you."

"I don't need a cure anymore," Kael said firmly. "I need protection. I need someone I trust. And there's no one more capable than her. Bring her home."

Leonhart looked his son over carefully. He didn't see the reckless boy from before. What stood before him now was someone with a storm in his chest—and a plan.

"I'll send for her," Leonhart said. "She'll return."

Kael nodded, then walked toward the small cabinet near the fireplace. He paused. "There's one more thing."

"I'm listening."

"I want access to the family vault. I need seed funds. I'll rebuild our businesses, but I'll also start my own—foundations that don't rely on favors or history."

Leonhart turned fully this time, surprised. "You? Business? You used to say that trade was for merchants and cowards."

"I still believe that," Kael said dryly. "But power takes many forms. Wealth is one of them. If I have to deal with politics, contracts, and snakes in suits to get stronger… then so be it."

Leonhart gave a nod of approval, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You sound more like your mother every day."

Kael smirked back. "She'll probably try to make me run for a council seat."

"She might win."

A moment passed between father and son, forged in silence but full of understanding.

"You'll have what you need," Leonhart said finally. "Just remember—you don't walk this path alone. Your mother and I are still here."

Kael gave a short nod, the fire in his eyes unwavering.

"I know. But from now on, I'll be the one leading."

To be continued...