In Her Shadow (Kanojo no Kage Nite)

Chapter 1 : "A ** Path"

The dim torchlight in the temple flickered as the old man's story concluded. The children began to walk out, their hushed whispers carrying the weight of the tale. Morgath lingered, his gaze fixed on the statue of the goddess. A question burned in his mind, one that the old man's words had only stoked further.

As he turned to approach the old man, the two figures bumped into him—Lucian Vaelore and his sister, Liliana Vaelore. Lucian's reserved demeanor and watchful eyes hinted at a sharp intellect, as though he was always calculating the next move. He didn't speak often, but when he did, his words were deliberate and carried weight.

Liliana, on the other hand, was his opposite in many ways. She had an aristocratic charm, her every gesture poised and precise, but beneath her polished exterior burned a 'fiery energy'.

Liliana smirked as she steadied herself after bumping into Morgath. "Careful there." She says, folding her arms. "You'll need better footing if you want to uncover the mystery of the goddess."

Morgath straightened, meeting her gaze. "I'll be the one who becomes the goddess's successor." he said confidently.

Liliana's eyes gleamed as her smirk widened. "You? The successor? Please, you can't even walk without tripping. Maybe you should leave this kind of thing to someone who's actually capable."

Lucian, quiet until now, crossed his arms. His piercing gaze met Morgath's as he added, "She's right. You're all talk. You wouldn't last a day in the places marked by the Void."

Morgath clenched his fists, stepping forward. "I don't care what either of you think. If anyone can find the truth, it's me. I'll prove it."

Liliana leaned closer, her voice taking on a teasing tilt. "Big words, I hope you're not just saying that to impress us." Lucian raised an eyebrow and added coolly, "Or yourself."

"I mean it!" Morgath shot back. "I'll find the shard. I'll face the Void. I'll—"

Before he could finish, Lucian started laughing, "You? A commoner could only dream of facing the Void." Lucian's expression remained calm, his posture unshaken, but Liliana frowned, her teasing demeanor faltering. "Lucian—" she began, her tone uncertain.

"Enough!" the old man's voice cut through the air, sharp yet calm. He stepped closer, his gaze shifting between the three of them. "What is this? Squabbling like this over a tale? Have I taught you nothing?"

Lucian took a step back, his expression unreadable. Liliana's arms dropped to her sides, and she avoided the old man's gaze, suddenly looking small under his disapproving glare.

Morgath, getting serious again asks. "Old man... you must know something more. About the shard. About the goddess." The old man's stern expression softened, "YOU!" The old man softly hits Morgath in the head with an angry face. "I've told you many times not to call me an old man." Morgath narrowed his eyes, his frustration clear. "You do. Don't you?"

The old man chuckled softly, turning back toward the statue. "The world is full of secrets, Morgath. Some are meant to be uncovered. Others... are best left buried. You'll have to decide for yourself which kind these are."

The room fell silent. Morgath stared at the old man, his mind racing, while Lucian and Liliana exchanged a glance. The torchlight flickered, and for a moment, it seemed as though the shadows in the temple deepened, drawing the children closer to the unspoken truths hidden in the story.

Finally, the old man turned, his gaze sweeping over the three of them. "What lies ahead is not a race or a competition. It is a path you must each choose to walk—or leave behind."

Morgath's determination only grew stronger. Somewhere, beyond the temple walls, the shard and the Void awaited. He wasn't just chasing the old man's words; he was chasing the truth of who he was destined to become.

Lucian broke the silence with a low chuckle, his arms still crossed. "Choosing to walk that path is easy to say. But surviving it? That's something else entirely."

The old man turned to Lucian, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You doubt your own strength, Lucian? Or do you think the path belongs only to those of noble blood?"

Lucian shrugged: "Strength has nothing to do with blood. But it does take more than big dreams and bold words to survive the Void."

Liliana shifted uncomfortably, glancing between the two. "Enough already," she muttered, her earlier teasing replaced with unease. "None of us know what lies out there. Talking about it like it's some game isn't going to change that."

Morgath's fists tightened, but his voice was calm when he finally spoke. "That's why I have to find it. The shard, the truth—it's not just about the goddess's story. It's about understanding why she turned her back on the world, why she left it behind. Maybe if we know that, we'll know how to fix it."

Liliana frowned. "Fix it? What do you mean?"

Morgath hesitated, his eyes distant. "The land... the scars. It's all still here. It never left. Maybe... maybe the shard is the key to undoing it. To making things whole again."

The old man's expression softened as he watched Morgath. "And what if uncovering the truth brings more harm than good? What if the answers you seek tear apart what remains of this world?"

Morgath looked at him, his jaw tight but his eyes resolute. "Then I'll face it, no matter what!"