Palace of Shadow

As Shiro followed Hinata deeper into the woods, his thoughts began to churn with confusion.

How the hell do I have 108 ribs?

Doesn't the human body only have 24 ribs, forming a cage around the heart?

He tilted his head, glancing up at the filtered sky through the canopy of trees.

Maybe humans do have 108... I really should've paid more attention in biology class.

Just then, a voice echoed inside his head — sudden, sharp, and far too familiar.

"Took you long enough to notice…"

Shiro nearly tripped over his own feet. His mind froze for a second before he responded silently, his thoughts laced with alarm.

Starila? What are you talking about? I broke 108 ribs? That's not even anatomically possible. Male or female, humans have 24 ribs — that's basic biology.

Her voice returned with an almost musical quality, light and laced with amusement.

"Then listen closely, and try not to get distracted."

She paused, as if savoring the moment, before continuing with disturbing cheerfulness.

"Let's say, hypothetically, you had a natural respawn ability. The moment you die in this world, you come back instantly. Again and again. So when I said you broke 108 ribs… I meant you were crushed that many times.

Picture this: you died five times. In four of those, all 24 ribs were shattered. That's 96 right there. The fifth time? You woke up just before the rest of your ribs could be broken, so the final number didn't quite reach 120.

See? Beautiful, isn't it? You only truly died once, but the damage? It adds up rather nicely."

She let out a soft laugh, satisfied.

"Anyway, that's all. Try to survive a little longer this time. Make things interesting."

Before he could reply, the connection snapped. Her voice vanished, leaving behind a hollow silence.

Shiro clenched his fists, calling her name in his mind — but no response came.

A moment later, Hinata turned his head slightly while continuing forward, his voice calm.

"We're almost there," he said, gesturing toward a clearing ahead. "You'll see it soon — that dark stretch between the trees. That's the place."

As they approached the veil of cursed darkness stretching across the clearing, Shiro instinctively reached out, pulling Hinata back. He stepped forward, eyes locked on the inky void pooled across the earth like a trap waiting to be sprung.

The darkness didn't just sit there—it pulsed, almost breathing, as if it would devour anything that dared to step onto it.

Shiro narrowed his eyes, voice low and tense.

"You're kidding me... If this isn't cursed, then what is it? That stuff's covering the whole place. Step on it, and I swear we're getting one-way tickets to hell."

Hinata simply smiled and placed a calming hand on Shiro's shoulder.

"Haha… I knew you'd say that."

He stepped past him without hesitation, kneeling at the edge of the cursed ground. His fingers hovered above it, then slowly traced symbols into the air.

"But as I said before… it only harms those whose hearts are stained by darkness. For people like us, it's harmless."

As his fingers danced through the air, the darkness rippled—then split open, revealing a path. A hidden entrance now lay before them, carved straight into the void like a secret doorway.

Shiro's eyes widened, disbelief scrawled across his face.

"Yo—what?! That's… insane. This is so damn cool."

Hinata stood and gestured for him to follow. Shiro hesitated for a heartbeat, then stepped forward, curiosity outweighing fear.

They descended a staircase formed entirely of flowing water—its surface solid beneath their feet, yet rippling as if alive. The path led them to a massive door, crafted from deep-sea stone, weathered, ancient, and glowing faintly with bioluminescent veins.

Hinata placed his hand gently against it. Without a sound, the door opened.

Shiro turned, only to see that the entrance behind them had vanished, swallowed by the darkness once more.

He faced forward, and his breath caught in his throat.

Eyes wide. Mind blank.

What he saw beyond that door shattered every idea he had of what "darkness" meant.

As Shiro stepped in, his eyes widened with awe.

Water stretched across the entire floor like a glass mirror—clear and shimmering, yet firm beneath his feet. Beneath the surface, vibrant fish drifted lazily, weaving through coral-like roots and soft underwater plants. It was like walking on a living ocean, but without getting wet.

Everywhere he looked, there was beauty—trees heavy with glowing fruits, delicate flowers blooming in impossible colors, and soft grass that shimmered faintly under the light. Birds with sapphire-blue feathers fluttered gently overhead, while small, harmless animals—foxes with leaf-like tails, glowing rabbits, floating jellyfish the size of apples—moved freely without fear. Even the insects sparkled faintly, gliding through the air like tiny living lights.

The ceiling overhead was covered in flowing water, like a reverse waterfall suspended in the sky. It rippled gently but reflected no faces—only the light and movement of the garden itself.

And filling the space, almost like magic, was a sound—not music, not silence—but something in between. A soft hum in the air, like the gentle echo of a far-off stream or the wind gliding over water. It wrapped around the ears, calming the heart, like a lullaby whispered by the world itself. It wasn't loud or silent—it was simply… there. Perfect.

Shiro couldn't even form words. His soul felt lighter just being here.

He turned to Hinata to ask what this place even was—but before he could, Hinata stepped forward, smiling faintly.

"This is…" he paused, soaking in the view before finishing,

"The Palace of Shadow."

Shiro stood frozen, mouth slightly open, eyes wide with awe. Before he could say anything, Hinata leaned in and whispered,

"Let's go. Time to introduce you to everyone."

As they stepped forward, the girl in the white dress stood up. The kids around her—two girls and a boy—followed, standing politely behind. She approached and bonked Hinata lightly on the head with her palm.

"You went to the upper world again," she said in a sweet, scolding voice. Then, with a sigh, she added, "How many times do I have to stop you, idiot?"

Hinata just smirked. "What? Worried about me?"

A blush crept onto her cheeks, but she turned her head with a huff. "If you fell off a mountain and died, I'd still sleep fine. I'm only worried someone dangerous might follow you here. This place isn't safe for the kids if you keep dragging strangers in."

She turned to face Shiro, eyes narrowing with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.

"Anyway. Who's this?"

Hinata scratched the back of his neck, laughing awkwardly.

"Ah… right. I kinda forgot to ask his name. Haha…"

Bonk! Another hit landed square on his skull.

"You let someone in without even knowing who he is?!"

Shiro chuckled under his breath, watching their bickering with a grin.

"You two argue like a married couple."

The girl spun toward him with a fiery glare.

"I'd rather eat a dead mouse floating in sewer water than marry him."

She crossed her arms, clearly repulsed. "Now shut up and explain yourself."

Shiro blinked, low-key terrified but still grinning like a dork.

"I'm Shiro—Shiro Takahashi. But you can call me Dreamer."

Then, he asked in one breath, "Who are you, who are they, and what is this place?"

Hinata placed a hand on Shiro's shoulder, speaking calmly.

"Let me explain."

He pointed at the girl in white.

"This is Emma Inoue. She's from a once-powerful samurai clan—the Inoue. The kingdom wiped them out. I found her unconscious, same place I found you. There was a sword planted in the ground with her hands gripping the hilt like she'd been holding on for dear life."

Then he gestured toward the three kids nearby.

"These are Emi, Aoi, and Hana. We found them collapsed in the forest—starving, alone. We took them in."

His voice softened.

"No matter how much we fight, we're a family here."

Then he turned to Shiro and smiled.

"And now, you're part of it too."

Shiro turned slowly, his eyes drifting up to the shimmering ceiling above—liquid light reflecting like moonlight on water.

He whispered, "Who made this place…? Do you know anything?"

Hinata stepped past him, a faint grin tugging at his lips.

"This place was created by…" he paused, then looked over his shoulder, locking eyes with Shiro.

"Naiadine. The Lady of Water."

Shiro furrowed his brows. "Who?"

Emma spoke next, her voice soft, almost reverent.

"Naiadine. The Lady of Water."

Her smile didn't fade, but there was something distant in her eyes—like the name carried weight even she didn't fully understand.

Shiro turned back to Hinata, confusion painted across his face.

"Can you explain that a little more clearly?"

Hinata knelt beside the glowing stream and dipped his fingers into it, sending soft ripples across the surface.

With a playful smirk, he said,

"Honestly? We're not sure ourselves. Some say she's a goddess. Others think she's a fairy—or maybe just… something else entirely."

He looked up at Shiro, eyes glinting with something unreadable.

"You'll see. She'll come to you soon enough."

The air grew still. The gentle, ever-present hum of flowing water filled the silence, like a lullaby from a world just beyond reach.

And somewhere, in the farthest part of the shimmering garden... something stirred.

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