Darkness Beckons

The palace grounds had never felt so quiet. As Ciara walked through the corridors, her footsteps echoed against the stone walls, each step punctuating the silence that lay like a shroud over the entire palace. Since her training with the Shadow Sentinels, her dreams had taken on an intensity she hadn't expected. The visions had become stronger, vivid flashes that pulled her into a dark, uncharted part of her past. She'd wake, drenched in sweat, the words of the dark figure echoing in her mind: "You belong to me."

That morning, Ciara had sought out Akira, hoping for clarity and guidance. The memory of Akira's voice, firm and steady, resonated as she replayed their conversation in her mind.

"Akira," Ciara had asked, a note of urgency in her voice, "who was that figure in my vision? This creature of darkness—it feels as if it has a claim on me."