The Forgotten Shadow

Julian stopped in the middle of the room, his heart filled with hesitation and his mind clouded with chaos. In front of him stood the enigmatic man named Albus, steady and confident, as if he knew everything about Julian. The look in his eyes held a mix of wisdom and danger, a combination that unnerved Julian and made him question Albus's true intentions.

"What do you want from me?" Julian finally spoke, attempting to mask his fear.

Albus gave a faint smile, then leaned toward the table where he placed a small, seemingly ordinary book. Its cover was plain black, but as Julian approached it, he noticed something strange about it—an aura as though it pulsed with hidden energy.

"A very good question, Julian," Albus said, locking eyes with him. "I want you to read this. You'll find answers to some of the questions that plague you. And after that… we'll see if you're ready for the next step."

He dropped the book onto the table, the sound of it hitting the wood echoing strangely through the room.

Julian hesitated for a moment before asking, "Why does it feel like this book is… alive?"

"Because it's not just a book," Albus replied in a steady tone. "It's a key. A key to understanding part of the truth… but also a door. Read it carefully; not everything you'll find inside will be what you expect."

Then, Albus abruptly turned toward the open window. He stopped before leaping out, glancing back at Julian with glowing eyes.

"Oh, one more thing…" he said in a low, almost warning voice. "Don't tell Adair about me. Not yet."

And with a single leap, Albus vanished into the darkness, leaving Julian alone to confront the mysterious book.

Julian sat on the couch, staring at the book that seemed to pulse with a strange energy. He could feel it was no ordinary object—something that could change his life forever.

"You're part of something bigger," Albus's words echoed in his mind, stirring a mix of fear and curiosity within him.

After a moment of stillness, he reached for the book, feeling a faint warmth radiate from its surface. He opened it cautiously, revealing pages filled with strange symbols and ancient texts written in an unfamiliar language. He began to read:

"This world was shaped by six eras. Five have been swallowed by oblivion, and what remains is our present, shrouded by the shadows of the past."

The First Era: The Age of Chaos

"In the beginning, there were no laws, no order. The world was turbulent, ravaged by merciless forces. Destruction was the only rule, and survival belonged to the strongest."

The Second Era: The Age of Darkness

"Out of the chaos emerged a superior race known as the Elves. They ruled the world with an iron fist, enslaving humans and many other races. Civilization reached its peak, but it was built on the bones of the weak."

The Third Era: The Human Revolution

"Amidst the darkness, a great leader named Sordel arose. He was the first king of humans, leading a revolution that ended the Elven reign. It is said he wielded a mysterious power—one not of human origin—that allowed him to alter the course of history."

Julian froze at the name Sordel. It sounded familiar, but he couldn't place where he had heard it before. He whispered to himself, "I've heard that name before…"

As he read, the text on the pages began to fade, replaced by a cryptic map filled with strange symbols. The map pointed to various, unfamiliar locations.

Determined to make sense of what was happening, Julian closed the book, grabbed his long coat, and left his house, heading to the old library on the outskirts of town. This library was a mysterious place—abandoned and filled with books no one cared to remember.

When he entered, he was greeted by a heavy silence and the smell of aged paper. The dim oil lamps cast flickering shadows on the dusty shelves. Julian began searching the shelves for anything that could help him decipher the map.

He rummaged through the decaying shelves, looking for clues to understand what he had read in the black book. After a few grueling minutes, his eyes landed on a book with a title etched into its old leather cover: The Forgotten Legends.

He carefully pulled it out, fearing it might fall apart in his hands. It was strangely heavy for its size. Opening it on a nearby table, he found handwritten texts and odd symbols resembling those in the black book.

Among the pages, Julian found texts discussing forgotten ages and their myths:

"There are epochs of history spoken of only in whispers. Legends buried under the ashes of time, mentioned only by those who seek hidden truths."

Julian cautiously flipped through the pages until he stopped at a section about the legendary king, Sordel.

"Sordel… the mythical king who rebelled against the Elves. He was a figure of legend, wielding a mysterious power that allowed him to stand against the Elves. It is said this power was not of human origin.

Everything he had read in the two books felt real to him. The forgotten legends began to intertwine with his reality, and the fortress of Arcania became a destination he couldn't ignore.

Julian read the words, muttering, "Intriguing myths…"

After hours spent in the library, Julian returned home and collapsed onto his bed, exhausted but unable to sleep. His mind was consumed with the legends and the map. He felt as if everything was converging toward a critical point.

Everything felt real to him. The forgotten legends began to intertwine with his reality, like threads weaving a tapestry that had been lost to time. The world around him, once familiar and safe, now seemed to pulse with secrets, each shadow carrying a whisper of something far more ancient and powerful than he had ever imagined.Everything he had read in the two books felt real to him. The forgotten legends began to intertwine with his reality But one question haunted him:

"Who is Albus? And what awaits me?"