Fushiro

Elian was one of the most powerful warriors of his time. His best friend, who had been through so much with him, became his brother in spirit and an ally in battle. But one day their paths diverged. Elian became too dangerous — not only for the world, but for himself. In a battle where they faced each other, his friend, realizing that Elian could destroy everything around him, made a decision: to seal him in a barrier created specifically for him.

This barrier was not just a prison, but a space where time did not exist. Elian was locked in a void where he neither aged nor lived. His mind changed, and his body became something else. He communicated with shadows and entities within the barrier that altered him. He was neither human nor something entirely foreign.

One day, the barrier shattered. The reasons behind this remained a mystery. Perhaps Elian had grown stronger than the barrier, or perhaps someone from the outside deliberately destroyed it. The world he knew had changed. He found himself in a place where no one remembered him. But his enemies — those who had sealed him — were still alive, and they were beginning their hunt.

Elian was no longer sure that his release had been a blessing. He could not forget his friend, who had become his enemy. His goal was to find the one who had sealed him, to understand why it had happened and what lay behind that decision. But with every passing moment, he realized that his power and his transformations were unsettling him. He was no longer human, and his path now might lead to the destruction of everything.

Elian — a prisoner who had become something else — and his return marked the beginning of a new era. Sometimes, It seems that Elian is not from this world.

Beyond the Barrier

With the phone in hand, Elian continued walking through the city. He didn't really know what to do with it, but he understood it was a useful tool. As he turned the device on, he was instantly bombarded with notifications, ads, and a multitude of features he had no clue about.

— Damn, does anyone even know how to use this thing? — he muttered, frowning.

He didn't feel like figuring it out right now, so he just shoved the phone into his pocket and kept walking.

Elian was strolling through a park when he suddenly heard a familiar voice:

— Long time no see.

He turned sharply.

Standing before him was the man who had helped him at the very beginning of his journey.

Elian narrowed his eyes.

— What are you doing here?

Arden smiled calmly.

— Let's talk somewhere else.

They headed to a small café and took a seat at a table in the back.

Leaning back in his chair, Elian asked again:

— So, what are you doing here? And how did you find me?

Arden took a sip of coffee and smirked.

— I had a feeling.

— What did you want to talk about?

Arden met his gaze with a serious look.

— They're already here.

— The Circle of Guardians. They're on your trail.

— How do you know?

Arden calmly set his cup down.

— I knew you destroyed the Guardians' estate. And I knew they'd come for you.

Elian was stunned. How could Arden possibly know that? How did he know the Guardians had arrived?

But he didn't ask any more questions.

— Do they know who I am? Even if I wear a mask?

— Yes, Arden replied. I don't know how, but they've learned your identity. But don't worry — they can't reveal that information. It's classified.

Elian silently considered what he'd heard. Then he looked up.

— Can I trust you?

— That's for you to decide.

Shadows That Follow You