𝗝𝗲𝘂 𝗱𝘂 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗴 (𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 )

❛ 0 1 ❜

The sound of the waves and the warm sun accompanied the ship on its quiet journey. Only yesterday it sailed back out to sea, with the goal of reaching Obsidian within a few days.

But of course this was not easy, because the ship was known to take those with it, who were not welcome anywhere. It could be seen from afar, anyone would recognize the unwanted ship because it's sail was pitch black, just like the coats of the five men who often used this means of transport.

One of them could feel the crew's eyes on him as they looked at him in wonder, but he didn't care. It was not as if they were staring at him, they only looked at him occasionally to see if he had jumped off the ship, just like many before that didn't protect themselves from the deep sea shadows; but he wouldn't.

He was engrossed in his fantasies while listening to the lost souls of the sea, the feared shadows of the deep, but he was not under their spell. None of these five men were influenced by their voices, but they enjoyed the soft voices in contrast to the crew, who only wished that these beings would finally disappear. But they had too much fun singing to Jongho.

He was so captivated by their lullaby that he did not notice how someone approached behind him, only when the person stood right next to him he noticed him, but did not give him a glare.

"They're beautiful, aren't they?" he was always on the quiet side, but whenever they went by boat, he was much calmer and enjoyed the peace he had for the limited days. The other Shadow Man also leaned on the railing and looked down like the younger one. "They are," answered the youngest.

They swam beside the ship, their playful manner and the way they smiled now and then and giggled so freely seemed so friendly and peaceful.

Jongho was always fascinated by the way the voices of the men and women harmonized with each other, sometimes he sang with them, but only when he was alone on deck.

It was ironic how he wished to be as free as they were, even though he knew they were not. They were bound to the sea, coming ashore was only a painful death for them. They laughed and giggled in the brightest way, but their souls were darker than the depths of the sea.

He watched as one of the men jumped out of the water and clung to the ship. The two watched as his skin turned grey under the sunlight, and his handsome face turned into a horrible one that chased sailors in nightmares.

The siren cried out as he steamed and the sun burned itself more and more into his skin. But they just stood there and watched him go further and further back into the water. Jongho decided that he had had enough of these sirens and stepped back.

"Arrival at Obsidian will follow in just a few hours!" a voice announced.

The remaining hours passed slowly. The shadow men had known each other for years, but they weren't exactly what you'd call close friends; at least that's what they made their bond look like. They let the world think they were just a few men with similar backgrounds and characters that differed like water and fire, brought together by Norns threads.*

But even though they were so different, if fire and water have their similarities and can harmonize with each other, Shadowmen can also work together to achieve their goal, even if they are afraid of the thought that it will all end at some point, they stood strong together. The unknown must not be scary, it can be pure darkness but also the bright warm light.

Like Obsidian. A land that is seen for what they have and how they work together. But many don't dare to go there either, because of the central black castle. Legends among the peoples say that an amulet is hidden in the heart of the castle, which is the reason for the existence of these bloodthirsty beings. It is said that the castle is filled with them, that everyone who entered the castle never returned.