**Chapter One: The Rune-Bound Shadows**
The moon hung low over Elarion, casting a silvery glow on the cobblestone streets of Grayvale, a forgotten village on the outskirts of Sylvaris. Shadows danced with a life of their own as they intertwined with Aris, the Rune-blind assassin, cloaked in darkness. They whispered secrets of the elite, those whose blood pulsed with power—powers that had cursed him to a life far removed from nobility.
As she sharpened her blade in the flickering light of a candle, a soft rustle caught his ear. "You're getting better at this, Aris," murmured Jessa, Aris's only companion, stepping from the shadows. Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief. "Tomorrow's mark won't know what hit them."
Aris looked up, a faint smile breaking the grim lines of her face. "Better yet, he'll think he's surrounded by ghosts. The nobles believe that they are a step above the vermin."
Jessa laughed, a sound like tinkling silver. "And what does that make us? The invisible vermin?"
"Something like that," she replied, humor masking the sting of truth. Elarion's Rune-bearers consumed, extinguishing lives like mere flickers of candlelight. "Just remember, we strike at night. At dawn, shadows are less forgiving."
With that, they melted into the night, two figures bound by fate, unseen in a world of power and privilege. As they moved through the dark alleys, the weight of the kingdom's disdain pressed heavily on Aris's shoulders, but the thrill of the hunt ignited a fire within her that no noble could ever extinguish.
In the distance, the grand spires of Sylvaris loomed, a reminder of the life she could never have. "Do you ever wonder what it's like?" Jessa asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "To be one of them?"
Aris's grip tightened around her dagger. "Not for a second. Their power blinds them to the suffering they cause. I'd choose this darkness over their light any day."
Jessa nodded, understanding in her gaze. "Then let's make sure they remember our names."
"Agreed," Aris said, a fierce determination igniting in her chest. With every step, she drew closer to the heart of the kingdom, ready to carve her own legacy in the shadows of Elarion.
YOU ARE READING
Shadow of a God
خيال (فانتازيا)In a realm where ancient runes hold immense power, two species of humans coexist: the Rune-Bearers, who can harness the magic of the runes, and the Rune-Blind, who cannot use them. But what will the rune blind do when they grow tired of being treate...
