The Vatican Shadows

Kael Drakonis stood amidst the remnants of the battlefield, his chest heaving with the exertion of the fight. His friends—Lyra, Kieran, Alina, and Jax—had been transformed into shadow entities under his command. The air was thick with the energy of their shared victory, yet something gnawed at Kael's consciousness. His vision blurred, the adrenaline that had fueled him now fading. With the last of his strength, Kael turned to his friends, their forms dark and ethereal, and then the world around him spiraled into darkness. He fainted, his body collapsing to the ground, lifeless and still.

Morning broke, casting pale light over the glade. The once chaotic battlefield was now eerily silent, the only sound being the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. Unbeknownst to Kael, the glade lay within a forbidden zone, a place avoided by all who lived in the village of Draconis.

It was during the routine patrol of the village's guards that Kael was discovered. A group of heavily armored men, clad in dark green and silver, entered the glade. Their leader, a stern-faced captain, immediately recognized the significance of where they stood.

"Captain! Over here!" one of the guards called out. The captain hurried over, and his eyes widened at the sight before him. Kael lay on the ground, unconscious, his body covered in bruises and dirt. But more troubling was the fact that the boy had trespassed into this forbidden place, a place that no one should have survived entering.

"By the gods," the captain muttered. "This is the Forbidden Glade. How did this boy end up here?"

The guards exchanged uneasy glances. No one knew what to do with a child found in such a place. The captain knelt beside Kael, checking his pulse. It was faint but steady. Without a word, he gestured for two of his men to lift the boy. Kael's friends, though standing nearby, were invisible to the guards' eyes, mere shadows in the early light. Lyra reached out to touch Kael, but her hand passed through him like smoke.

"Kael...," she whispered, her voice trembling with concern. But there was no response.

The guards carried Kael through the village streets, his limp form swaying between them. Villagers stared in shock, whispers spreading like wildfire. "He was found in the Forbidden Glade," they murmured. "That place is cursed! What does it mean?"

Their destination was the Vatican of Shadows, the highest seat of religious and mystical power in the village. The Vatican was a grand structure, towering above the rest of the village with its obsidian spires and ancient stone walls. It was a place of reverence, fear, and power, where the High Priest resided—a man said to be in communion with the gods themselves.

As the guards brought Kael into the Vatican, they were greeted by a group of monks, all cloaked in dark robes that seemed to absorb the light. The monks led them through a series of winding corridors until they reached the heart of the Vatican—the Chamber of Oracles.

The High Priest, a tall, gaunt figure with piercing blue eyes and a bald head, awaited them there. His robes were a deep crimson, and a long staff made of twisted black wood rested in his hand. He watched silently as the guards laid Kael on an altar in the center of the chamber. The room was filled with strange symbols carved into the walls, the air thick with the scent of incense.

"High Priest," the captain said, bowing deeply. "We found this boy in the Forbidden Glade. He appears to have survived something... extraordinary."

The High Priest's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer to Kael, studying him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "The Forbidden Glade... How curious," he mused, his voice soft yet commanding. "This boy has violated sacred ground. Yet he lives. This is no ordinary child."

Kael stirred, his eyelids fluttering open. His vision was hazy, and his body ached from head to toe. Panic surged through him as he remembered the battle, the dark entity, and his friends. He tried to sit up, but the pain was overwhelming. "Where... where are my friends?" he gasped, his voice weak.

The High Priest's eyes glinted with interest. "Your friends? Tell me, child, who were you with in that forbidden place?"

Kael's heart raced. He struggled to form the words. "The... the dark entity... It tried to kill us... My friends, they... they were with me, but..." He looked around the room, his eyes wide with fear. "Where are they? What happened to them?"

The High Priest exchanged a glance with the captain. "There were no others," the captain said flatly. "You were alone when we found you."

"Impossible!" Kael cried, his voice rising with desperation. "They were there! They fought with me!"

The High Priest raised a hand, silencing Kael. "Calm yourself, boy. You speak of things beyond your understanding. The Forbidden Glade is not a place for mortals. It is where the boundary between our world and the shadow realm thins. The fact that you survived is... unusual."

He leaned closer, his eyes boring into Kael's. "Do you know why that place is forbidden?"

Kael shook his head, too overwhelmed to speak.

"The Forbidden Glade," the High Priest began, "is the site of a great tragedy. Centuries ago, this land was home to a monastery, where monks devoted themselves to the worship of light and purity. But their peace was shattered by the arrival of Igis, the God of Shadows. He descended upon the monastery with unimaginable fury, massacring all who dwelled there. The monks, who had dedicated their lives to the light, were consumed by darkness. Their souls were twisted, transformed into shadow entities that now roam that cursed place."

Kael's blood ran cold as he listened. "Igis... the God of Shadows..."

The High Priest nodded solemnly. "Yes. The very essence of darkness itself. The Forbidden Glade is a remnant of his wrath. Those who enter are either consumed by the shadows or emerge... changed. You, boy, are the latter. But this does not absolve you of your crime."

Kael's heart sank as he realized the gravity of his situation. "Crime? I didn't know... I just..."

"You trespassed on sacred ground, and for that, there is a price to pay," the High Priest declared, his voice cold. "The penalty for such a violation is severe. You will be sent to the Eden Kingdom."

Kael's eyes widened in horror. He had heard of the Eden Kingdom, a place where the worst criminals were sent to fight in brutal arenas until death. It was a hellish domain, a kingdom where only the strongest survived, and mercy was a foreign concept.

"No... no, please!" Kael pleaded, his voice trembling. "I didn't mean to... I don't want to die!"

The High Priest's expression remained impassive. "Your fate is sealed, boy. The shadows have marked you, and now you must face the consequences."

Two guards stepped forward, grabbing Kael by the arms. He struggled weakly, but there was no escaping their iron grip. They blindfolded him, plunging him into darkness. Kael's heart pounded in his chest, fear gripping him as the reality of his situation set in.

"Take him away," the High Priest ordered, turning his back on Kael as if he were nothing more than a passing thought.

As the guards dragged him out of the chamber, Kael's mind raced. He couldn't stop thinking about his friends, their dark forms burned into his memory. "Where are they?" he whispered to himself, the words barely audible. "Lyra... Kieran... Alina... Jax..."

### **3. The Journey to Eden Kingdom**

The guards led Kael through the winding corridors of the Vatican, their pace brisk and unrelenting. Kael's senses were heightened, the blindfold amplifying every sound. The heavy footsteps of the guards, the clinking of their armor, the echo of their passage—it all melded into a cacophony of fear.

They exited the Vatican and entered a narrow alley, where the morning light had yet to reach. Kael could feel the cold, rough texture of the stone walls as they dragged him along. Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded in his side as one of the guards struck him with the hilt of his sword.

"Move, boy!" the guard growled, shoving Kael forward.

Kael staggered, his body already weakened from the battle. Another blow landed on his back, forcing him to his knees. The guards showed no mercy, kicking him until he struggled to his feet.

"Please... stop..." Kael gasped, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. The beating continued until he was barely able to stand, his breath ragged and labored.

Finally, they reached the village gates, where a large, armored carriage awaited. The guards threw Kael into the back, the impact. ..