Shadowless Land. A place that knows no day or night, only shrouded in a faint light that hangs in the air. This is where Raka was born, amidst the ruins of an ancient civilization long abandoned by history. Her parents were the guardians of this land, protectors of the balance between the human world and the forces hidden in the shadows.
Since childhood, Raka has always been curious. He often ran through ruins, explored dark caves, and collected strange objects that he found. "One day, you will be a guard like us," said his father, Darya, a sturdy man with a sharp gaze. "But not just a guard. You can be someone greater if you find your own path."
However, fate did not give him time to choose his own path.
The Coming of Darkness:
On what should have been a normal night, the air in the Shadowless Lands changed. A black mist began to creep across the ground, obliterating the light that always hovered in the sky. Screams could be heard in the distance. Raka, who was ten years old at the time, hid behind some rocks, seeing a sight he had never imagined.
Black, mist-shaped creatures with glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness. They are not just shadows, they are the void itself, everything they touch vanishes without a trace.
Darya and his wife, Kirana, stood at the forefront, fighting with all their might. Her father wielded a light sword that had been passed down through generations, while her mother controlled magical powers that could create protective shields. However, they were outnumbered.
"Raka, run!" shouted his mother.
Raka didn't want to leave. He wanted to fight. He wanted to help. But his little body couldn't move. He could only watch as the Darkness swallowed his parents into emptiness.
And that night, the Shadowless Land disappeared from the world.
Destiny of an Adventurer:
Raka woke up in the middle of ruins, alone. Nothing was left but fragments of memories and the anger burning in his chest. He didn't know how he survived. He didn't know where to go.
But he knew one thing. He had to find answers. He had to find a way to defeat the Darkness.
With the remains he found, Raka begins his journey. The world outside the Shadowless Land is much larger than he thought. He must survive among treasure hunters, criminals, and creatures even more terrifying than the Darkness itself.
***
Fifteen years have passed since that terrible night. Raka is no longer a scared boy who lost everything, he has grown into an artifact hunter known throughout the region. His face is hard, his eyes are sharp, and his body is covered in scars from the long journey he has taken.
With a sword on his back and an old map scroll in his hand, he walks through the black market in Luthar City, a place where the law does not apply and anyone can die if they are not careful enough.
"Hey, Raka! I heard you're looking for something related to the Shadowless Land." An old man with a scarred face approached him. His name was Burhan, an information trader who had long worked in the underground world.
"I'm looking for an artifact," Raka answered matter-of-factly. "Something that can bring me closer to the Darkness."
Burhan chuckled. "You're crazy. But I have something for you." He opened a small wooden box, inside which was a black crystal stone that seemed to pulsate like it had a life of its own. "This is called the Darkness Fragment. It was found in an ancient ruin in the north, near Mount Ardent."
Raka's eyes narrowed. "What do you want for it?"
"Ten gold pieces," Burhan answered casually.
Raka snorted. "Five pieces."
"Eight."
"Five and I won't destroy your stall if it turns out to be fake."
Burhan chuckled and handed over the stone. "Okay, five. But be careful, Raka. That thing is not a toy. I don't know where it came from, but three people have died after touching it for too long."
Raka did not answer. He took the stone, wrapped it in cloth, then put it in his pocket. If this object was really related to Darkness, then his journey had just reached its first bright spot.
But he did not realize that since he touched the Fragment of Darkness, something had begun to rise from the shadows.
Something that had been waiting for him for a long time.
---
That night, Raka sat inside a small inn on the outskirts of Luthar City. His hand held the Fragment of Darkness, watching its surface pulse softly like the heart of a living creature. The stone emitted a cold aura that crept onto his skin, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"So, this thing can lead me to the answers I seek?" he muttered.
He unrolled an old map he had obtained from the ruins of an ancient civilization. Mysterious signs were carved on it, mentioning places long since abandoned by humans. One of them was the Twilight Shrine, an ancient temple believed to be the first place where the Darkness appeared.
But before he could think further, his ears caught a strange sound.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Light but threatening footsteps. His reflexes were sharp, he immediately grabbed his sword and turned around.
But all he saw was a shadow.
Whoosh!
A cold wind blew, and suddenly the oil lamp in the room went out. Dark. Silent.
Then, a whispering voice came from the corner of the room. "Finally… you touched it…"
Suddenly, a black hand came out of the shadow, grabbing Raka by the neck! He gasped, trying to free himself, but the creature's strength was far greater than he had expected.
Without thinking, he drew his dagger and stabbed the hand. A terrible scream was heard, and the creature disappeared into the black mist.
Raka gasped for breath, his body still shaking. The creature… was not human.
He knew, from now on he could not go back. The Fragment of Darkness was not just a stone, it was a key. And he had just opened something more dangerous than he thought.
Chase on the Streets of Luthar City:
Without waiting any longer, Raka rushed out of the inn. He walked quickly through the dark alleys of Luthar City, but his feeling told him that he was being followed. And sure enough.
Two pairs of red eyes emerged from the shadows. Two humanoid figures with jet-black bodies and expressionless faces darted towards him!
"Damn!" Raka ran, jumping over wooden baskets and breaking through the almost deserted market. He couldn't face them here, too many people could get involved.
But the creatures were faster. One of them jumped and clawed at his shoulder! Raka fell, blood pouring from his arm. But he was not one to give up easily. Quickly, he drew his weapon, a short sword made of orichalcum that he had forged himself, and slashed upward!
Sraaatt!
One of the creatures split into two and turned into black mist. But the other one was already attacking from behind.
Bang! A blow hit his back, sending him flying into the stone wall. Raka growled in pain, but his eyes remained sharp.
"I need another way… not just fighting blindly."
He remembered something from one of the ancient books he had read about the creatures of Darkness. "They cannot be destroyed by ordinary weapons… but they fear true light." His eyes glanced at a torch mounted on the wall.
With all his might, he grabbed the torch and threw it at the creature. Fire engulfed its black body, and a shrill scream filled the air! The creature shook violently before finally dissolving into dust. Raka gasped for breath, blood still flowing from his shoulder. But at least he was safe. For now. He had to get out of this city immediately. And his destination was clear... the Twilight Temple. That was where all the answers awaited him.
--- To be continued...