Asuka: Island of Shadows

Chapter 1

Prologue

In a world filled with Darkness . . . trapped inside the fear of a once strong people, a Nameless King hides. He knows of the dangers his people face, and he knows that he should help them.

But he cannot. Instead he watches as his people fall apart under his reign. He listens to the rumors in his palace, and he hears the thoughts of those around him.

In the year of his birth, the kingdom had fallen in darkness, following a prophecy given to the Oracle when his father, Itachi, had been seeing an answer, and a cure for his wife's sickness.

The Oracle spoke, and told him of the prophecy, trying to soothe his fears, but when his son was born, and the Kingdom of Asuka fell to shadow, the King, Itachi, grieved.

He prayed to the God he knews, the creator of all, and pleaded with him, hoping that his son was the one foretold. But received no answer, and his people, believing that he had hidden the prophecy from them, became outraged, and threatened him. The Queen, horrified by the anger of her people, was made Regent until her son was old enough to take the thrown.

She dies two days after he was made King, and he shut himself in the high tower to grieve.

Many years passed, and no one knew their King's name. No one knew what he looked like. And so the Nameless King was born.

The Namless King sat in his high tower, watching over his people, and listening to the horrible rumors the nobles spread among themselves.

When dealing with matters of the Kingdom, he would speak through the door, or raise a curtain, and hide himself when his counselors came to him.

No one saw his face. Few knew his name, and those who did, wouldn't say.

And no one knew if their King was the cursed child from the Prophecy. And so the Dark came to the Kingdom, and the Namless King watched and waited for the day when the Prophecy would come true. Waiting for a child of light.

And one day, when he rose in the morning, he felt the shadow lifting. One day, he knew he must begin his preparations.

So the Nameless King disguised himself, and made his way through the palace.

For since no one had ever seen him, no one would know it was he.

 For that was the day when the light began to return to the island of Shadows, and when a Nameless King shed his cloak of secrets to enter the world of men.