CHAPTER FOUR: SHADOW REALM

Seth stood outside the cave, gathering his thoughts. He took a deep breath and entered.

"I knew you'd come back soon," Liam said from inside.

"No welcome back gifts?" Seth asked.

Liam emerged with an old picture of his mother, Seth, and another woman.

"I've seen your face before. Is this you?" Liam asked, handing Seth the picture.

Seth's expression softened. "This makes my work easier."

"What work?" Liam's curiosity grew. "You know my mom, don't you?"

Seth's voice filled with emotion. "She's my elder sister. Your mother."

Liam's expression remained neutral, masking his turmoil. "That makes you my uncle."

Seth chuckled. "You could've pretended to be excited. Am I that boring?"

Liam's tone hid his pain. "Yes, you are."

Seth grinned, unaware of Liam's internal struggle.

Liam's thoughts swirled: _Why should I trust him? He's from the Shadow Realm, the place that abandoned me._

Seth continued, "Your mother named you Liam, by the way."

Liam's façade cracked, revealing a hint of vulnerability. "You're too lame to come up with a cool name like that."

Seth laughed. "Ouch! That hurt."

Liam's mask returned. "So, how old were you when she… died?"

"I was ten," Seth replied.

Liam's eyes narrowed. "Then how didn't you know your own name?"

Seth explained, "I jumped from orphanage to orphanage. Maybe she used that technique on you."

Liam's distrust deepened: _He's hiding something._

Seth asked, "Why did I come back?"

Liam's voice barely above a whisper, "To take me away from the only home I've ever known."

Seth's expression turned serious. "To take you home, Liam. To the Shadow Realm."

Liam's fear spiked: _I won't belong. I'll be an outcast._

"What do you mean 'home'?" Liam asked, stalling.

Seth emphasized, "The Realm, where our people live. You'll learn about your family, your heritage."

Liam's loneliness overwhelmed him: _I've never had a family. What if they reject me?_

"I'm not going," Liam declared, shielding himself from potential hurt.

Seth's eyes narrowed. "You don't trust me?"

Liam's voice laced with desperation. "It's not that. Why would I want to go? You're asking me to leave everything I know."

Seth pressed on, "You have a family, Liam. My daughter, Selena, is around your age."

Liam's doubts consumed him: _I'll never fit in. They'll see how broken I am._

Seth added, "Come, learn about your family and your mother."

Liam stood firm, protecting himself from the unknown. "Family means nothing to me."

Seth countered, "It should. Your mother cared deeply for her family."

Liam insisted, "Everything about her is in her journal."

Seth revealed, "I can teach you to control Shadows."

Liam demonstrated his shadow manipulation skills, seeking validation.

Seth impressed, "Okay, I believe you. But you need Kovo supervision for training."

Liam asked, "What's Kovo?"

Seth proudly declared, "The Kovo: The blade that shines through the night. The strongest Shadow in the Realm."

Liam teased, "So you're that good?"

Seth grinned. "I'm amazing."

Liam decided, "I'll pass."

Seth dropped a bombshell: "I know who killed your mother and who your father is."

Liam's eyes locked onto Seth's, his heart racing.

"Who killed Mom?" Liam asked, his vulnerability exposed.

Seth coerced, "Come with me, and I'll tell you."

The silence between them was palpable.

Liam's thoughts screamed: _Don't trust him. Don't go._

But a glimmer of hope emerged: _Maybe I'll find answers. Maybe I'll belong._

Finally, Liam broke the silence: "Lead the way."

Seth smirked. "It's not a place you can walk to, dumbass."

A portal formed, mesmerizing Liam.

Seth promised, "You'll learn to make one."

Liam eagerly asked, "You'll teach me?"

Seth teased, "Ain't you the one pretending to know everything?"

Liam pleaded, "But…"

Seth kicked Liam into the portal, walking in majestically with hands in his pockets. The portal spat me out, and I tumbled through the air, landing face-first in the Realm's damp soil. The earthy scent filled my nostrils as gritty dirt grated against my skin.

"Welcome to the Realm, kid," Seth said, his voice dripping with amusement, an evil smirk spreading across his face.

I lifted my head, spitting out dirt and glowering at Seth. The Realm's twilight sky stretched above, casting an eerie glow over the unfamiliar landscape.

The air vibrated with an otherworldly energy, and I sensed the weight of the unknown.

Seth's chuckle echoed through the silence.

As Liam stood up, dusting himself off, he gazed around in awe. The Realm's twilight sky seemed to pulse with an ethereal energy, casting long shadows across the landscape.

"Where are we?" Liam asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Seth grinned. "Welcome to the Shadow Realm's outskirts. Our city, Tenebrous, lies ahead."

Liam's eyes widened as they walked toward the city. Towering spires and grand architecture materialized from the darkness, illuminated by soft, luminescent orbs.

"This is… incredible," Liam breathed.

Seth chuckled. "You've never seen anything like it, have you?"

Liam shook his head, drinking in the sights.

As they entered the city, Liam encountered beings with striking features: piercing eyes, dark skin, and hair that seemed to shimmer like shadows.

"Who are these people?" Liam asked, feeling out of place.

Seth introduced Liam to various inhabitants, explaining their unique abilities and roles within the Realm.

Liam struggled to keep up, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of new information.

Seth noticed Liam's confusion and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Take your time, kid. You'll learn."

Liam nodded, determination burning within.