Chapter 5: Her Wish

"What do you seek?"(Shadow)

Shadow Stared with the eyes ready to devour the whole world on a whim. Feeling the mighty predator she is kneeling on the ground before, Alexia's voice trembled, but she knew she had to speak.

"I seek strength," she managed, her voice shaky but filled with determination. "Strength to save my sister, my kingdom... to fight the cult."(Alexia)

Shadow remained silent, his gaze intense.

"Cult?"(Shadow)

"No matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice, I will protect those I love."(Alexia)

"Strength demands sacrifice.....Why would a princess of the kingdom seek the darkness?"(Shadow)

From the depths of darkness, a voice calls out in the moonlit night. His long coat sways as he turns towards her.

"T-The shadows h-hold.....the answers I seek,"(Alexia)

Her voice echoing with determination.

"Once you step into the shadows, there is no turning back. You will be vilified, misunderstood, and forever bound to the darkness."(Shadow)

"I understand the risks, but I cannot stand idly by while my kingdom suffers. If embracing the shadows is the price of protecting those precious to me, then so be it. I choose to walk this path, no matter the hardships it may bring."(Alexia)

Alexia's plea to Shadow reveals a torrent of emotions on her face. Where once her eyes blazed with unyielding determination, they now shimmer with a subtle fear, reflecting the moonlight like liquid silver. Wide and unblinking, they convey a depth of emotion that words cannot express. The corners of her eyes betray the hint of tears, a testament to the vulnerability she feels in this moment. Despite this, her jaw remains firmly set, and her brow furrows with unwavering resolve. Her eyes speak volumes of her love for her kingdom and her sister, and her plea resonates from the very depths of her soul.

"As you wish."

A voice emerges from the depths of the abyss, echoing in the night. As Shadow lifts his head slightly, Alexia finds herself unwittingly locking eyes with him. His gaze, now a fiery crimson, seems to intensify, exuding a presence as chilling as death itself. A wave of fear washes over her, causing her entire body to tremble involuntarily.

Shadow raises his right hand, and as his blood-soaked sword disappears into thin air, a purple flame appears in his palm. The immense magical power emanating from his hand is suffocating, crushing Alexia's soul as if a mountain is descending upon her. She instinctively moves backward, her hands raised defensively, feeling as though the power could devour an entire country.

"Wha-tttt!!" Alexia exclaims, her voice trembling with awe and fear.

Suddenly, Shadow closes his palm, causing the flame to disappear. But before Alexia can react, her body is engulfed by the purple flame.

As the purple flame engulfs her, Alexia feels a surge of power unlike anything she's ever experienced. It courses through her veins, invigorating her, and filling her with an indomitable strength. The flame dances around her, but it does not burn. Instead, it wraps her in a warm embrace, comforting yet empowering.

With a deep breath, Alexia embraces the power, accepting it wholly. She feels a connection to the shadows, to the darkness that has always lingered at the edge of her vision. It whispers promises of strength, of protection, of a new purpose.

Slowly, the flame subsides, leaving Alexia standing there, transformed. Her eyes, once filled with fear, now shine with determination. She looks at Shadow, whose expression doesn't even flinch. Suddenly, Shadow vanishes with a very calming gust of wind under the soothing moon.