After a long silence stretched between us, the only sound was the soft clatter of our chopsticks as we finished our dumplings. Ray watched me adjust my wooden blade at my hip, his expression changed as if he were trying to push past the lingering awkwardness.
"Brother, aren't you wielding two blades before?" he asked, his tone held a casual but curious in it
I looked at him in silence for a moment before responding flatly, "What? Why?"
"You know," Ray continued, leaning forward slightly, "I've noticed during your training sessions. You wield two blades, but now you only have one."
I remained expressionless, but my fingers stilled on the hilt of my wooden blade.
Ray grinned and stood up, brushing the crumbs from his clothes "Come on. I know someone who might help."
"The King expects us for dinner," I stated, my voice as even as ever.
Ray let out an exaggerated sigh. "Hey... Brother... What do you think I am? In just a few hours, you're going to vanish from here, and you're still saying things like that."
Ray's grin widened. "Since when did you become the responsible one?"
From the shadows, Master Edhir stepped forward. "Your Highness"
"Just a small detour," Ray assured him. "You can tell Father it was my idea if we're late."
As we walked for a while the weapons shop was tucked away in a narrow alley off the main market street, its weathered sign creaking gently in the evening breeze. A crossed sword and hammer, barely visible in the dying light, hung above the heavy wooden door.
"This is Master Karem's shop," Ray said as we approached inside the shop . "He forged my first real sword when I was five." He paused, his expression growing serious. "He's... different from other craftsmen. Just be yourself with him. He has a way of seeing through pretense, and he doesn't like it when someone pretends to be something they're not."
As we entered the shop, the dim interior was illuminated by the orange glow of the forge's embers and scattered lanterns. Weapons of every description lined the walls, their shadows was in the flickering light. The air was thick with the scent of hot metal and leather
An old man sat hunched over a workbench, his scarred hands moving methodically over a blade. Without looking up, he growled, "We're closed."
"Even for an old friend?" Ray asked.
The smith's head up, his single good eye widening in recognition. "Prince Ray?" A smile cracked his weathered face. "Never thought I'd see you venture out again." His gaze shifted to me, something sharp and knowing entering his expression. "Ah. The younger prince. I've heard... interesting things about the new prince."
I began to bow, my practiced mask of formality sliding into place, but Ray's gentle touch on my arm stopped me. Straightening, I let my face return to its natural, emotionless state.
"It's Better," Karem said " even when someone fake the smile eyes always tell the Honest , emptiness over false feeling," He set aside his work and "Now, what brings the princes to my humble forge?"
"My brother needs a blade," Ray said"
"A second one, to match his build."
Karem's gaze locked onto me with unsettling intensity. "Dual wielding, is it? Show me your current blade."
I drew my wooden blade with fluid precision. Karem studied it closely, his hands hovering just above the wood as if feeling its essence.
"Interesting," he murmured. "Very interesting. Wait here." He disappeared into the back of the shop, the sound of shifting metal and muttered curses drifting out.
When he returned, he carried a cloth-wrapped bundle. "Been working on this for months," he said, carefully unwrapping the layers of fabric. "Never knew why. Until now."
The blade that emerged was unlike anything I had seen before. Shorter than my primary sword but longer than a dagger, with a slight curve to its razor-sharp edge. The metal had a strange, smoky hue not the bright shine of normal steel "Starmetal," Karem said i call it noting my focused examination. "Fell during the Night of Falling Stars. Stubborn stuff resists a lot Took three attempts to shape it properly"
I reached out, my fingers touching it just above the blade. "May I?"
The moment my hand closed around the grip, it fit perfectly.
"By the gods," Master Edhir whispered from his position near the door.
"Well now," Karem said softly. "That's not something you see every day. This wooden blade of yours is an unusual one too."
I moved through my basic form, the new blade felt like a liquid shadow. When I drew my original sword as well, the two weapons moved in perfect harmony, as if they had always been paired then i nodded at ray agrring to buy it
"How much?" Ray asked instantly
Karem shook his head. "This one's not for sale." Before Ray could protest, he continued, "It's a gift. Payment enough to see Prince Ray once again." With His single eye he was looking at me "But remember, young prince a blade is just a tool. Like any tool, its nature is determined by the hand that wields it Choose whom to use it on" and he smiled looking at me
As we left the shop, I adjusted both blades at my hips and wear the earrings of uekra. Ray smirked. "Wow, brother, those earrings look good on you."
"Uh… Really?" I murmured
"Brother," Ray said seriously, "just remember I am your brother Know that."
A sudden gust of wind blew through the alley, and i gave him a look i couldn't understand what he meant that movment but who knew I was going to change... with the air , I vanished, leaving Ray behind.
"What...What... Where?!" A sudden realization struck me, and as i looked around, my voice grew sharp. "Now what the hell is this?!"
In the blink of an eye, I found myself in another world "The World of 48H"
Shock? No, I wasn't shocked. Shock wasn't meant for me. Even when I realized I couldn't leave this world, I wasn't afraid. No, fear wasn't the right word. I wasn't afraid of this world or being alone. I was afraid of something else
What if I couldn't handle my incompleteness? That was what I was afraid of , I knew myself best I was weak Staying calm was the only thing I could do in every situation Even when I was weak , I wanted to survive hear with nothing but Monsters
And I didn't know why. Why did I want to live?
Life needs goals. To live means to hold something worth striving for. But for me? I held nothing. I was an empty shell. Even then, I wanted to live, thinking I was too small to have grand ambitions.
I let go of those thoughts.
This place... was filled with nothing but creatures and monsters. Humans did not exist here ,As I came out of my thoughts, I looked ahead and saw nothing but water stretching endlessly. No matter where I turned, there was only water. But on the opposite side of me, towering trees stood like colossal buildings. Their massive trunks reached high, their branches heavy with flowers. Even from this distance, I could see those flowers as clearly as if they were right in front of me.
I took a few more glances before moving toward the trees. But as I walked, a deep sound started ringing through the air. It was distant at first, like a soft rumble beneath my feet. But the closer I got, the louder it became.
With every step, the noise grew stronger, vibrating through the air. I knew now it was coming from behind the trees , I pushed forward, weaving through the massive trunks, and finally saw what was making the sound
" A waterfall "
But it wasn't flowing from a cliff or rock. Instead, water gushed from an enormous skull one that creepyly resembled a human's. Vines and trees clung to it like nature itself had claimed the bones. Water poured from its empty eye sockets and open mouth, cascading down in a way that made it look as if the skull itself was crying.
I stepped closer, staring down at the water. It was clear so clear it reflected everything like a perfect mirror.
A small sense of relief settled over me. If this water is drinkable, then at least I don't have to worry about that…
"Hey, Jaipa…" I called out without thinking only to remember that he wasn't here.
I paused, my own voice ringing in the silence. How long has it been since I last heard him?
I sighed, shaking the thought away. There were more pressing matters. I crouched down, reaching out to check the water, but before I could
Something moved from behind me
A slow, deliberate sound " Footsteps" i muttered
My senses had sharpened from before if I had to say the reason behind it i will say it was because of that black fog apperence
Those Footsteps were heavy and slow
I tensed. The size…from its footsteps i could tell it was big maybe it was atleast 15 meters tall
A split second later, a massive mouth filled with jagged teeth lunged straight at me.
My body reacted before my mind could think. I was ready to run, but there was nowhere to go. I couldn't charge forward, and the water behind me it was too unnatural to get into it , I couldn't tell if it was safe so i choose be on the land
In that moment, I had only one option.
I spread my wings and shot into the air, forming the square in the air gave me two ways to run if i couldn't run i could avoid the attack using the square technique But even then, it wasn't enough. The creature, even though it was smaller than the one from before, was still massive.
I barely had a second before its mouth was right in front of me again I had no choice I waited just for the right moment the instant its jaws were about to snap shut, I twisted in the air and landed on its back.
Beneath my feet, its scales gleamed a deep, unnatural black. Not just dark, but something beyond black They didn't just reflect the absence of light they were eating it, creating patches of swirling emptiness around them For a brief moment, I stood still.
Then a sound of roar came
KRRRRRRRRR!
A deafening roar exploded from its throat, loud enough to make my ears ring.
Then it started thrashing the creature went wild, tearing through the deep forest, crashing into trees, trying to shake me off. I held on, my mind racing for a way to escape
But just as I steadied myself, my eyes locked onto something ahead.
A another larger shadow Emerging from the darkness , A another Shadowmancer