Chapter 4 – A Cradle of Shadows and Light

– A Cradle of Shadows and Light

> “Even a flower born from blood-soaked soil can carry the scent of hope.”

— Old Saying from the Yen Jui Sect Archives

The Message Arrives

A week passed since the attack that reduced a village to cinders.

At the outer branch of the Yen Jui Sect, the scout Kaiven had sent a full report, sealed with urgency.

It described dark flames, a child who miraculously survived, and faint traces of a forbidden power once feared by even the gods —

Void Flame.

When the elders received it, silence fell like a slab of stone.

No argument. No discussion.

Just a simple, chilling response:

> “Let the matter die with the village. The name ‘Void Flame’ must not be spoken.

It is a curse older than this continent. Forget it ever happened.”

Kaiven stared at the reply, his jaw tight.

> Kaiven (in his mind):

“You're afraid… of something long buried. You'd rather ignore the demon than face its whisper. Cowards.”

But he had no power to oppose the council.

He only had one thing left to do — keep his promise to the boy.

---

A Widow and a Gift of Life

That evening, under an amber sky, Kaiven arrived at a small cottage at the edge of a peaceful village.

There, in a quiet garden surrounded by wilting herbs, sat Mira Elowen — a widow, wrinkled by age, softened by sorrow.

She had lost her husband in the last regional war.

Her only child to fever.

Her home was quiet now — too quiet.

When Kaiven entered, she rose slowly, startled.

But then she saw the child in his arms — wrapped in a cloth burnt at the edges, eyes blue like forgotten oceans… silent, watching.

> Kaiven (softly):

“This is Shaho. He has no one. No name, no family, no past that can return.

But he is alive… and he needs someone.”

He placed the child into her arms.

Mira held him.

She trembled.

Not from weakness — from disbelief.

> Mira (choked whisper):

“The gods… they took everything. And now… they gave me this?”

Tears she hadn’t shed in years ran freely.

> Kaiven:

“Raise him. Love him. That will be enough. That is all I ask.”

And with that, he turned, vanishing into the trees — a shadow melting into dusk.

The Flower and the Ashes

Everyone thought it was over.

That the massacre was a tragedy — one of many that scar the borderlands.

But the truth was heavier than what their hearts could bear.

That night, Shaho's divine armor, the one bestowed by the gods themselves, had been consumed.

The price?

The lives of his parents.

The souls of villagers who stood to protect the innocent.

> “Nature gives with one hand and takes with the other.”

Even the Ancient Void Sect, sealed away in myth, had stirred slightly at the power released.

They had felt it.

Something was coming.

And it had a name — Shaho.

The Smile That Feared the Void

Mira cradled him daily, singing old lullabies in a shaky voice.

But every time she looked into his blue eyes, she saw… something.

Not innocence. Not just that.

Memories. Silence. Power.

As if he had died once… and came back.

Sometimes in sleep, his back would shudder, and faint pulses of blue light would hum through his skin.

Once, Mira even saw a ghostly outline of broken wings — like something that had once existed, now burned away.

But when morning came, he’d smile.

He’d giggle at butterflies.

He’d grasp her fingers like any normal child.

> Mira (whispering one night):

“You may have come from fire and blood, little one…

But I will teach you peace. Even if the world doesn’t let you keep it.

The Storm That Slept

Kaiven, now riding through old paths back to the sect, stopped at a hill one last time.

He looked back at the smoke-thin village where Shaho now lived.

> Kaiven (to himself):

“The elders are fools. The Void Flame has returned.

And that child… he's not an accident. He’s a warning.”

But no one would listen.

Not yet.

Not until it was too late.

🌌 Final Scene: Shadows Still Watch

Far in the mountains, beneath catacombs carved by forgotten gods, the remains of the Ancient Void Sect stirred.

A masked figure stood before an altar, whispering:

> “The seed survived. Even with the flame. The boy is alive.”

Another voice growled from the dark:

> “We failed to erase the curse. It will return.”

And in that very moment, back in Mira’s home,

Shaho smiled in his sleep…

as a single blue spark danced above his chest —

a whisper of the power he was born with.

♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️

The Calm Before Venom

Nighttime – Mira's Hut

The stars glittered high above the village of Eldervale, their light spilling through the wooden slats of a small hut nestled near the edge of the forest. Inside, a soft oil lamp burned gently, its flicker casting golden hues on the faces of Mira and the young boy curled beside her — Shaho.

Wrapped in a blanket stitched from old memories, Shaho lay with his head on Mira's lap, his eyes wide with wonder as she told the stories she had memorized by heart.

> “Once, long ago,” Mira began softly, brushing Shaho’s hair,

“The Dragon Emperor Kairoth turned the flaming mountains into his throne.

The Beast King Lio, a lion with golden mane, ruled the deserts with thunder.

The Great Aap, the Gorilla Sage, built a fortress in the clouds with bare hands.

The Panther King, known as the Night’s Edge, could run faster than lightning...”

Shaho's eyes sparkled.

> “What about the snake people, Maa?” he asked.

“You said there was a queen...”

Mira smiled faintly.

> “Yes, my son. The Medusa Queens. Warriors so beautiful, even gods averted their gaze.

One glance from them… and even mountains turned to stone.”

He gasped.

> “And demons?”

Mira’s expression hardened a bit.

> “They’re the most feared. Mentor King of the Seven Depths...

Scorpion Lord Varnis, whose sting killed a continent.

And yet... even they feared the gods.”

“Who rules the world now?” Shaho asked, more serious now.

Mira’s voice lowered.

> “The world is not ruled by kindness, Shaho.

The one who holds the greatest power... rules.

And right now, the empires are preparing for war.

Only the strongest stand above. The rest... survive below.”

Shaho stared at the flickering flame, his mind buzzing.

A moment passed before he whispered, “One day... I’ll be stronger than them all.”

Mira kissed his forehead.

> “Maybe you will. Or maybe... you already are.”

---

Next Morning – The Hills of Eldervale

The sky was painted in golden orange. Dew still clung to the leaves, and a gentle wind swayed the tall grass. Mira and a group of village women walked the hillside, gathering herbs for potions and trade.

Shaho, now 10 years old, danced ahead of them — barefoot, his laughter echoing through the valley as butterflies chased him.

> “Shaho, come back here, you little whirlwind!” one woman laughed.

“Let him play,” Mira said fondly. “He works harder than any of us.”

His sky-blue eyes, radiant and ancient, caught the morning sun.

Many of the women paused to watch him. His presence felt... blessed.

But then—

A sudden chill swept across the hill. Birds stopped chirping.

The wind froze.

The air thickened.

And then—

BOOM!

A violent quake tore through the earth.

Cracks zigzagged across the hill as the ground exploded.

> From beneath, with a roar that shook the mountain,

a massive black serpent burst into the sky.

> Xel’Zir — The Breathless Death.

Level: 30 | Age: Over 1000 Years | Origin: Void Scar Mountains

Title: Calamity of the Black Flame

> Its scales shimmered with void-black fire, venom dripped like acid,

and its eyes—deadly purple orbs—locked directly on Shaho.

Women screamed. Flowers withered. Trees shriveled.

> “Everyone RUN!” Mira shouted.

Her warrior instincts kicked in. She pulled Shaho to her back, activating a protective rune etched into her bracelet.

The air around them flared with silver light, barely blocking the first poison burst from the serpent.

But the beast was relentless.

It slithered across the earth like a tidal wave, venom spewing in every direction.

> Shaho’s eyes suddenly shimmered—his Legendary Eye had triggered again.

> “Identifying Threat: Xel’Zir. Fatal Class Detected. Escape: Impossible. Initiate Analysis.”

Shaho trembled, not from fear—but from the overwhelming energy reading flooding his mind.

> “We... we can’t outrun this,” Mira gasped.

“Then I’ll face it.”

She turned to the other women.

> “Take Shaho. Go to the village. Call for help.”

Some women refused, but she glared them down.

> “NOW!”

Two women grabbed Shaho and started running.

He screamed, “MAA! NO! PLEASE—”

Mira didn't turn around.

She faced the serpent, whispering to herself:

> “If death comes today... it will have to earn me.”

Her blade glowed, etched with forgotten runes.

The serpent hissed again—lunging.

And the battle began.

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