CHAPTER SEVEN: SETH REMMICK

Seth stood at the cliff's edge, the wind whipping his spiky hair into a frenzy. He gazed out at the breathtaking vista, the sun casting a golden glow over the landscape. A figure appeared beside him, and Seth turned to see a blond-haired boy with a scowl on his face.

"Yo!" Seth said, grinning.

The boy turned to him, his eyes narrowing. "What?"

Seth chuckled. "With that attitude, you're not gonna get any girl to fall for you."

The boy ignored him, fixing his eyes on the horizon. Seth felt a pang of curiosity and sat down beside him.

"I'm Seth Remmick, but you can call me Seth," he said, extending his hand for a handshake.

The boy didn't respond, didn't even acknowledge Seth's gesture. Seth felt a twinge of disappointment but didn't let it deter him.

"What's your name?" Seth asked, his eyes locked on the boy's profile.

The boy finally turned to him, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "If you don't want to die, I suggest you move."

Seth's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Make me move. That's if you're as tough as you sound."

The two boys locked eyes, the air thick with tension. Seth felt his heart pounding in his chest, but he didn't back down. Finally, the blond-haired boy stood up and walked away, leaving Seth watching him go.

"That went well," Seth said to himself, chuckling.

Two weeks passed since the two boys met. Little did they know their fates were tied together.

Seth stood in an open field, perfecting his Shadow Leap technique. His master, Sage Henri, watched him with a critical eye.

"If you want to perfect the leap, you need to visualize it before making the leap," Henri said.

Seth fell to the ground, exhausted, his clothes dirty and torn from the hard training. "That makes no sense," he said, trying to steady his breathing.

Henri sighed. "If you want to make a successful leap, first have your destination in your mind."

Seth rubbed his sore muscles. "I keep appearing in wrong places."

Henri raised an eyebrow. "Like where?"

Seth grinned mischievously. "Like where the girls bathe."

Henri chuckled. "Idiot, you should concentrate."

Just then, Steve walked past the training area, drawing Seth's attention like a magnet.

Seth turned to Henri, curiosity getting the better of him. "Hey, Sage, who's that kid?"

Henri followed Seth's gaze. "Oh, that's Steve Nazar."

Seth's eyes narrowed. "Why does everyone in the Realm hate him?"

Henri's expression turned serious. "Because he's the only one in the Realm who can't control shadows."

Seth's eyes widened in surprise. "Whoa! How is that possible?"

Henri shrugged. "I don't know. He's just born different."

Seth felt a shiver run down his spine as he watched Steve walk away. There was something about the boy that drew him in, something that made him feel like he was staring into the abyss.

"Not different—special," Seth said, his voice barely above a whisper. "He's special."

Henri's eyes locked onto Seth's, a hint of concern in his expression. "Be careful around him, Seth. There's something about Steve that doesn't feel right."

Seth nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on Steve's retreating figure. He felt an inexplicable pull towards the boy, a sense that their fates were intertwined in ways he couldn't yet understand.

..... ✍️

Helen asked, "Where did you say your brother is?"

"He's probably with the Sage learning a new technique or out there being a pervert," Shayla replied.

Helen's eyes sparkled. "He's so dreamy. I wish he would make me his bride."

Shayla raised an eyebrow. "Who, my brother?"

Helen nodded. "Yea. He's funny, talented, cute—"

Shayla cut her off. "He's a pervert, Helen. Your crush is a pervert."

Helen looked disgusted. "Nobody is perfect, my dear."

Shayla smirked. "Your taste in men is laughable."

Helen shot back, "And you are one to talk?"

"What's that supposed to mean!?" Shayla retorts almost immediately

Helen's eyes narrowed. "I mean Steve. You have a crush on him."

Shayla's expression turned defensive. "I wouldn't use the word crush. I just like his person."

Helen raised an eyebrow. "I might have a crush on a pervert with bad naming skills, but I think yours is worse."

Shayla asked, "How is mine worse?"

Helen's expression turned serious. "In a Realm full of Shadow users, he is the only one that can't control Shadows…"

Shayla finished her sentence, "Instead of being like everyone, he chose to be different, and that's a good thing. Being different is a good thing. To hell with normalcy."

Helen smiled. "To hell with being normal?"

Shayla nodded. "Yea. By the way, I feel my brother approaching."

Helen's expression turned nervous. "Then it's time for me to take my leave."

Shayla asked, "Why? I thought you wanted to see him?"

Helen's voice dropped to a whisper. "I do, but I don't have the courage to stand before him yet."

She disappeared through her shadow.

...….. ✍️

Seth and Steve faced off, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. The air was electric with tension as they circled each other, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Steve snarled, "You think you're better than me? You think you can defeat me?"

Seth smiled calmly. "I don't think I can defeat you, Steve. I know I can."

With a fierce battle cry, Steve launched himself at Seth, his fists flying in a flurry of punches. Seth dodged and weaved, his movements lightning-fast as he avoided Steve's attacks.

But Steve was relentless, his anger and frustration fueling his movements. He unleashed a devastating kick, but Seth was ready for him. With a swift motion, Seth formed a shadowy shield around himself, deflecting Steve's kick.

The shield shattered, but Seth was already moving, his body a blur as he launched himself at Steve. The two clashed in a flurry of punches and kicks, their movements so fast they were almost invisible.

Steve stumbled back, his eyes widening in surprise as Seth landed a series of swift kicks. But Steve refused to give up, his determination and anger driving him forward.

With a fierce roar, Steve unleashed a massive wave of energy, the blast sending Seth flying across the battlefield. Seth struggled to get to his feet, his body battered and bruised.

But Steve was already moving, his eyes blazing with fury as he launched himself at Seth. Seth raised his hands, forming a shadowy shield around himself.

The shield held strong, but Steve's attack was relentless. He pounded against the shield, his fists flying in a flurry of punches. Seth stumbled back, his shield weakening under Steve's onslaught.

But Seth refused to give up. With a fierce cry, he summoned all his strength, his shield glowing with a fierce, shadowy energy. The shield exploded, sending Steve flying across the battlefield.

Steve struggled to get to his feet, his body battered and bruised. Seth stood over him, his chest heaving with exhaustion.

"It's over," Seth said, his voice firm. "You've lost."

Steve's eyes blazed with fury, but he knew he was beaten. With a snarl, he turned and fled, leaving Seth victorious but battered.

As Seth stood there, catching his breath, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Steve's anger and frustration had been palpable, and Seth knew that this wasn't the end of their conflict. Steve would be back, and next time, he would be ready.

Few days later, Seth stood outside Steve's house, his hand hesitating over the door handle. He had been thinking about their fight for days, and he knew he needed to apologize.

He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Steve answered, his eyes narrowing as he saw Seth.

"What do you want?" Steve growled.

Seth held up his hands in a peaceful gesture. "I came to apologize. I was out of line during our fight."

Steve's expression softened slightly, and he stepped aside, allowing Seth to enter.

The two boys sat down in Steve's living room, their guards dropping as they began to talk.

Seth asked, "Why are you so aggressive, Steve? What's driving you?"

Steve's eyes flashed with anger, but then his expression calmed, and he looked away. "I'm just tired of being treated like I'm not good enough. I'm tired of being seen as weak."

Seth nodded understandingly. "I get it. But being different doesn't make you weak, Steve. You're special because you can't control Shadows. That doesn't mean you can't be the Kovo."

Steve's eyes snapped back to Seth's, a glimmer of surprise in their depths.

Seth continued, "I have a dream, Steve. A dream to one day be the guardian and Kovo of the Shadow Realm. I want to protect our people and keep them safe."

Steve's expression changed, a look of longing crossing his face. "I have the same dream," he said quietly.

Seth's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

Steve nodded, a small smile playing on his lips.

The two boys sat in silence for a moment, their minds racing with the possibilities.

Time skip: Five years later…

The sun shone brightly on the day of Seth's wedding to Helen. Steve stood by Seth's side, serving as his best man.

As they exchanged their vows, Steve couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. Why did Seth get to have everything he wanted?

A year later, Seth was made Guardian and Kovo of the Shadow Realm. Steve's jealousy boiled over, causing a rift in their friendship.

Another year passed, and Steve's anger and resentment had grown. He stood before Seth, his eyes blazing with fury.

Shayla stood before Steve, her eyes filled with concern. "Steve, please don't do this. You're throwing away everything we had, everything we could have had."

Steve's expression was cold, his eyes empty. "You were a mistake, Shayla. A weakness. I need to trash these useless feelings."

Shayla's face paled, her eyes widening in shock. "A mistake? A weakness? You're talking about our child, about the love we shared."

Steve's voice was brutal, his words cutting deep. "I'm talking about a mistake. A mistake I made by loving you. A mistake I made by thinking I could be with someone like you."

Shayla's eyes filled with tears, her voice shaking. "Steve, please… don't say these things. You're hurting me."

Steve's expression didn't change, his eyes still empty. "I'm just telling the truth. And the truth is, I need to get rid of these feelings. I need to get rid of you."

Shayla's face crumpled, and she turned away, fleeing from Steve's brutal words.

The scene shifts to the battle between Seth and Steve:

Steve stood before Seth, his eyes blazing with fury. "I'll destroy the Shadow Realm," Steve snarled. "And I'll make sure you're the first to fall."

Seth's expression was calm, but his eyes were sad. "Steve, stop. This isn't you."

But Steve was beyond reason. He launched himself at Seth, who was forced to defend himself.

The battle was intense, the two boys clashing in a flurry of punches and kicks. Steve's anger and frustration fueled his movements, but Seth's training and determination kept him ahead.

In the end, Seth emerged victorious, standing over Steve's defeated form.

Seth's expression was filled with sorrow. "Why, Steve? Why did you have to go down this path?"

Steve's eyes flashed with anger, but then his expression crumpled, and he looked away.

Seth's expression softened, and he reached out, placing a hand on Steve's shoulder.

"I'm sparing your life, Steve. But next time, it won't be so easy."

Steve looked up, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and gratitude. "I'll be back," he snarled. "And next time, I won't be so easy to defeat. I'll destroy this Realm, and I'll destroy you."

Seth's expression was calm, but his eyes were firm. "I'll always be here to stop you, Steve. Not as an enemy, but as a friend. Because no matter what you've done, I still consider you my friend."

Steve's expression twisted in anger, but Seth just smiled sadly.

"I'll always be here for you, Steve. Even when you're trying to destroy everything I care about."

........... ✍️

"If I knew this was going to be a long story, I would have stayed with Selena."

Seth chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Come on, didn't you enjoy it?"

Liam's expression turned wistful. "I did not. His eyes lit up with curiosity. Tell me a story of my mother."

"Some other time, Liam," Seth replied, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

Liam's face scrunched up in frustration. "Why didn't you kill him?"

Seth's eyes clouded over, his voice barely above a whisper. "I made a promise to your mother before she died."

Liam's eyes narrowed. "What promise?"

Seth's expression turned resolute. "That I will not look for your father to kill him."

Liam's face twisted in disgust. "That's nonsense."

Seth's eyes locked onto Liam's, his voice firm. "I won't force you to understand. I made the promise, and I will keep it. Your mother never wanted you to live a vengeful life."

Liam's eyes dropped, his voice barely above a whisper. "Nothing goes as planned in this world, right, Uncle?"

Seth's expression turned somber, his eyes piercing as he stared at Liam. The air was thick with tension, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves in the wind.

Seth's eyes snapped back up, a hint of defiance in his voice. "I want you to become the Guardian after me."

Liam's eyes widened in surprise, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "What?" Liam asked, laughing.

Seth's expression turned serious, his voice filled with a sense of urgency. "Nobody lives long in this world. It's been three years since I brought you here. Everyone accepts you, you are bound to surpass me and your mother soon—"

Liam cut him off, his voice firm. "I will do no such thing."

Seth's eyes locked onto Liam's, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Liam—"

Liam's expression turned stubborn. "Let Selena become the Guardian after you kick the bucket."

Seth's face fell, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. "She has her heart set on becoming the Sage. Please, Liam, the Realm needs you."

Liam's voice was cold, his eyes flashing with anger. "No. To hell with the Shadow Realm."

Seth's eyes followed Liam as he turned and walked away. "Liam, wait!" Seth called out, his voice filled with a sense of desperation.

But Liam ignored his calls, disappearing into the distance. Seth's eyes dropped, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

He stood there for a moment, the silence between them palpable. Then, he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible, "I've failed you, sis."

...….. ✍️

Two and half years had passed since I last spoke to Seth. I had been training tirelessly with Seth's clone, honing my skills and building my strength. Selena, on the other hand, was still at her mother's, pursuing her dreams of becoming the Sage.

But on this particular day, a sudden explosion rocked the Shadow Realm. The ground trembled beneath Seth's feet, and the skies grew dark as if night had fallen in an instant. The sound of the explosion echoed through the air, a deafening roar that seemed to shake the very foundations of the Realm.

Seth rushed to the scene, his heart pounding in his chest. As he arrived, he saw a figure sitting on a rock, playing with pebbles in his hand. It was Steve, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous spark in the fading light.

Steve's face was illuminated only by the faint glow of the Realm's energy, casting eerie shadows on his features. His eyes seemed to bore into the distance, his expression unreadable. Yet, despite his calm demeanor, Seth could sense a hint of excitement, of anticipation, emanating from Steve.

"Now that should have woken them," Steve said, his voice low and menacing, sending a shiver down Seth's spine.