The Awakening of Shadows

Prologue – 1230 BC

A blood-red dawn stretched across the battlefield, casting long shadows over fallen warriors. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the acrid sting of burned earth.

Seven warriors stood in a broken circle, their armor cracked, their bodies trembling with exhaustion.

The Devil God loomed before them—an ancient, monstrous entity, its form shifting between solid and shadow. It let out a guttural laugh, the sound vibrating through the ruined land.

“You cannot kill me,” it whispered, voice like rusted metal grinding against stone.

The leader of the warriors, Elder Xiang, tightened his grip on his staff, golden runes flickering weakly along its surface. “Then we will do the next best thing.”

The warriors raised their hands in unison. A chant, ancient and powerful, wove through the air, the very fabric of reality trembling beneath its weight.

The Devil God screamed, thrashing against the magic pulling it into the abyss. Its claws tore into the ground, but the spell held firm.

One by one, the warriors collapsed. Their life force drained into the seal, ensuring its power would last.

As the final words of the incantation fell from Elder Xiang’s lips, the battlefield fell silent. The Devil God was gone, locked away.

But as the last warrior took their final breath, Elder Xiang whispered a prophecy—one that would echo across centuries.

“When the shadows rise again… so too shall the person who can end them.”

Chapter 1 – Present Day, December 10, 2040

The scars of The Bloody War remained, woven into the fabric of history. Humanity had advanced, merging magic with technology to rebuild civilization, yet shadows still lurked in the corners of the world. Devils and demons—remnants of the past—had not been entirely vanquished. The Academy of Magic was established to train warriors, the last line of defense against the growing darkness.

The Academy divided its warriors into four factions, each mastering a unique discipline:

Healers (The Revivors): Guardians of life, their magic mended both flesh and spirit.

Mages (The Spell Crafters): Scholars of arcane energy, bending the elements to their will.

Warriors (The Eradicators): The frontline fighters, swift and unyielding in battle.

Defenders (The Supporters): The shield of the Academy, reinforcing allies and fortifying defenses.

Riverstone High School – 10th Grade, Class A

“Xie Lin, stop talking! Go stand at the back!” Sensei’s sharp voice echoed through the classroom.

The room erupted in laughter as Xie Lin groaned, dragging her feet to the back. She slumped against the wall, glaring at her best friends, Xi Lu and Xi Min, who were struggling to suppress their laughter.

During lunch break, they gathered under the old sakura tree.

“Don’t be mad,” Xi Lu teased. “Sensei just likes you too much.”

“Yeah, like a drill sergeant likes their weakest recruit,” Xie Lin muttered, taking a bite of her sandwich.

Xi Min changed the subject. “Forget that. Did you see the news last night?”

Xi Lu’s eyes lit up. “Sir Xian Li, the S-rank warrior, fought a demon live on air! He was incredible!”

Xie Lin grinned. “Imagine how cool it’ll be when we awaken and join the Academy of Magic!”

Xi Min’s expression darkened. “That’s a dream for nobles and bloodlines tied to ancient warriors. Our families have been ordinary humans for generations. It’d take a miracle.”

Xie Lin sighed, watching the sky. Little did she know, fate had already set its course.

Bastar Academy of Magic – The War Council

In the heart of the Academy, twelve S-rank warriors sat around a grand circular table. Tension crackled in the air like an impending storm.

Ye Lim, the S-rank Defender, sighed dramatically. “Why drag us here during lunch? This better be important.”

Siu Men, the S-rank Mage, shot him a glare. “Maybe because the fate of the world is at stake?”

Gu Min, the S-rank Warrior, rolled his eyes. “Here we go again.”

“Honestly, they act like an old married couple,” Fi Ye, another Defender, whispered to Ru An, the Healer, who chuckled under her breath.

A sudden hush fell over the room as Elder Yin, the head of the Academy, entered. His presence commanded instant respect, his aged face etched with concern.

“History repeats itself,” Elder Yin’s voice was grave. “The Devil God’s seal is weakening.”

A cold silence followed. The room felt smaller, the air heavier.

Ye Min, a battle-hardened warrior, narrowed her eyes. “That’s impossible. The seal was meant to last forever.”

Ru An’s voice was steady, but laced with unease. “We thought the same centuries ago.”

Elder Yin’s expression darkened. “There have been signs—dark omens, tremors, and an increase in demonic activity. The Dragon Seal cannot hold much longer.”

Siu Men clenched her fists. “Then we must prepare. We cannot allow another Bloody War.”

Elder Yin’s gaze swept across the room. “There is… another matter.”

A new voice cut through the tension. “Are you going to tell them about the person?”

Everyone turned toward Elder Bei, the Academy’s advisor.

Xian Li, the S-rank Warrior, leaned forward. “What person?”

A heavy silence filled the grand chamber as Elder Yin hesitated before speaking. His voice, though steady, carried the weight of something ancient—something foreboding.

“According to legend,” he began, his gaze sweeping across the gathered warriors and scholars, “when the Devil God reawakens, a person with immense power shall be born in the West. The person alone will possess the strength to defeat it.”

The room erupted into murmurs. Some whispered in disbelief, others in cautious intrigue. Prophecies were often riddles wrapped in uncertainty, yet the weight of this one settled upon them like an unshakable truth.

At the center of the gathering, Siu Men’s eyes gleamed with determination. The golden runes faintly etched on her fingertips pulsed as she tightened her grip on her staff. “If this person exists, we must find him/her before the darkness does.”

Fi Ye, ever the skeptic, crossed his arms. “And has the person been identified?”

Elder Bei shook his head, his expression grave. “Not yet.”

Elder Yin turned to two of the most promising warriors in the room—Xian Li and Gu Min. “I want you both to travel West. Find the person before the enemy does.”

Gu Min, who had been leaning lazily against a pillar, straightened with a groan. “The West? You do realize how big that place is, right? It’s mostly humans! We’d be searching for a needle in a haystack.”

Siu Men chuckled softly, an amused glint in her eyes. “Leave that to me.”

She closed her eyes, exhaling slowly. The air shifted. A golden light flickered to life around her, weaving delicate patterns in the air before swirling toward the enchanted map stretched across the table. Energy pulsed through the room—calm yet undeniable, like ripples on the surface of a still lake.

Then, Siu Men’s eyes snapped open. “Rubel City.”

The golden light faded, the energy dissipating into the air. She tapped the map, her voice unwavering. “I sensed an unusual fluctuation in that area. It’s faint, but it’s definitely not ordinary magic. Whatever we’re looking for, it’s there.”

A moment of silence followed as the gathered warriors studied the map. Gu Min exhaled, shaking his head. “Alright, even if we start at Rubel City, where exactly should we begin? That place isn’t small, you know. This could still take forever.”

Elder Bei leaned forward, his fingers tracing a point on the map. His voice was firm. “We don’t have the luxury of time. The weakening of the seal began seventeen years ago—meaning that’s when the child should have been born, as foretold by the legend.”

He paused, letting the realization settle in before continuing. “If she’s around seventeen now, she’s most likely a student. The best place to start… is the city’s only high school.”

Gu Min let out a low whistle. “So we’re basically playing detective at a human school? This is going to be interesting.”

Siu Men gave a knowing smile. “A school may seem like an ordinary place, but don’t underestimate it. Power can awaken anywhere.”

Xian Li, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke. His voice was measured, unreadable. “We don’t know who the child is yet. We should be careful.”

Xian Li, his sharp eyes remained fixed on the glowing mark on the map, thoughts already racing ahead.

Far away, in the quiet town of Rubel City, Xie Lin’s heart pounded in her chest as an unfamiliar sensation surged through her veins. It was distant, yet undeniably present—like a whisper at the edge of her consciousness.

She had no idea that her name was already written on the pages of history—waiting to be revealed.

The First Awakening

Xie Lin’s dreams were filled with strange visions—flashes of crimson skies, a looming dark figure, and an ancient voice whispering her name. She gasped awake, her body drenched in sweat. Something inside her felt… different.

Her hands trembled as she reached for the glass of water on her bedside table. The moment her fingers brushed it, the glass shattered into tiny shards, sending water spilling over the floor.

Her heart pounded. This wasn’t normal.

“What the hell…” she whispered, staring at her shaking hands.

A knock at the door startled her. “Xie Lin?” It was Xi Min’s voice. “Are you okay?”

She hesitated. “Y-Yeah. Just a bad dream.”

Xi Min paused. “Sensei told us there’s an announcement tomorrow at school. Something about new potential recruits for the Academy of Magic.”

Xie Lin frowned. The Academy never scouted students from their town.

“Get some rest,” Xi Min added. “See you tomorrow.”

As Xie Lin lay back down, she felt the whispers return, stronger this time.

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