EPISODE 2: CHILDHOODS BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS

At the top of the golden mountains, where the sun's rays never ceased to shine, the Kingdom of Light celebrated the birth of its heir to the throne. The Celestial Palace gleamed in golden hues, as if the very essence of light had gathered there to welcome the newborn prince.

His name was Neythan. From his first cry, his presence illuminated the great hall; his skin glowed like dawn, and his eyes sparkled like stars, reflecting hope and energy. King Solarius, proud, held his son in his arms and proclaimed to the entire kingdom:

— He will be the light that guides our people.

Far away, under a moonless sky, the Shadow Palace in the Kingdom of Darkness remained silent. Amid the black veil of night, Henrique was born—the prince destined to rule the shadows. Unlike Neythan, his arrival was quiet, almost imperceptible, but his presence was dense and profound. His eyes reflected a dark glow, not of empty darkness, but of the vastness of the cosmos—a gaze of wisdom and mystery.

King Umbra observed his son with silent pride.

— He will be the one who knows the secrets of the night and hears what others ignore.

Two princes were born on opposite sides of the world. One in the vibrant brightness; the other in the mystery of the darkness. But fate was already weaving the threads of their lives, preparing a meeting that would change everything.

Two Paths, One Destiny

In the Kingdom of Light, Neythan grew like an uncontrollable flame. From a young age, he ran through golden fields, challenged the guards in sword training, and laughed loudly, ignoring the palace rules. He was a free spirit—impulsive and full of energy. To him, light meant movement, warmth, and life.

Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Darkness, Henrique learned that shadows were not an absence, but a refuge. While Neythan trained under the sun, Henrique wandered through the vast corridors of the palace, listening to ancient whispers and understanding the secrets hidden in the twilight. He learned that darkness was not meant to hide but to protect, calm, and observe. Unlike Neythan, he did not rush—he waited for the right moment to act.

Two princes, two opposing paths. But destiny was already preparing to cross them.

The Meeting in the Forest of Echoes

At the age of seven, Neythan and Henrique met for the first time in the Forest of Echoes—a neutral land where light and darkness intertwined in perfect harmony. It was a sacred place where both kingdoms avoided conflict, and where the golden sunlight merged with the cool shadows of the night.

Neythan arrived first, as always. He ran through the shining trees, leaving a golden trail behind him.

Henrique arrived later, silent as a shadow gliding across the ground.

— How long will you keep arriving after me, Henrique? — Neythan teased, crossing his arms with a playful grin.

Henrique observed him for a moment and replied with a subtle smirk:

— Someone has to make sure you don't knock down half the forest on the way.

Neythan laughed. He liked Henrique's calmness, his enigmatic and analytical nature. Henrique, on the other hand, admired Neythan's energy, his courage, and impulsiveness. Despite being so different, something connected them: a mutual curiosity, an unlikely but powerful friendship.

That day, under a sky blending light and darkness, the two princes made a silent pact—they would return there whenever possible.

And so they did.

Year after year, Neythan and Henrique secretly met in the Forest of Echoes. They talked, trained together, shared stories of their kingdoms, and learned from each other. Neythan taught Henrique to fight with passion and emotion, while Henrique taught Neythan to think before acting.

And thus, two heirs of opposing realms became brothers at heart.

The First Challenge

One night, while exploring the forest, the princes heard a strange sound. A deep, guttural howl echoed through the trees. Then, from the darkness, a shadowy wolf emerged, its eyes glowing red and its body covered in a dark mist.

Neythan instinctively drew his sword of light.

— Get ready, Henrique! That thing doesn't look friendly.

But Henrique didn't draw his weapon. Instead, he observed. He felt something different about the creature.

— Wait! Don't attack. Something is wrong…

The wolf advanced, and Neythan, acting on instinct, raised his blade to block. But before the strike, Henrique lifted his hand, channeling his shadow energy. The wolf stopped.

— He doesn't want to attack us, — Henrique said. — He is trapped between light and darkness, corrupted by the Void.

Neythan hesitated, then lowered his sword.

Together, the two princes combined their powers. Neythan channeled his light, while Henrique used his darkness to stabilize the creature. The fusion of opposite energies created a perfect balance. Slowly, the dark mist around the wolf vanished, revealing a magnificent guardian with silver fur.

The creature looked at the princes, then bowed its head in reverence. They had saved a lost soul—not with force, but with balance.

At that moment, Neythan and Henrique understood.

Neither light alone nor darkness alone could save the world. They needed each other.

A Promise for the Future

That night, sitting in a clearing illuminated by the starlit sky, Neythan looked at Henrique.

— You know our fathers will never accept this, right?

Henrique nodded.

— I know. But the future doesn't have to be as they want it to be.

Then, they extended their hands to each other and made a silent oath.

"No matter what happens, we will never let light and darkness become enemies."

They didn't know it yet, but that pact would change the fate of their kingdoms.

But before that, they still had many battles to face… together.

TO BE CONTINUED IN EPISODE 3…