Chapter One: The Road to the Unknown
The sky was unusually dark, as if the night had decided to choke every ray of light trying to pierce through the clouds. The wind screamed through the trees, producing sounds that resembled strange whispers, sometimes calling my name, as if warning me of something I could not comprehend. I had no idea why I was here, or how I had arrived at this narrow path between the dense trees. All I knew was that I had received a message a few days ago—a mysterious message written in a handwriting I did not recognize:
"If you seek the truth, follow the path no one knows."
I could never have imagined that such simple words would lead me to a place that seemed out of time, hidden from every map. My steps were hesitant at first, each tiny movement echoing through the eerie silence of the forest. A shiver ran down my spine with every whisper that came from between the trees.
After a few minutes of walking, I noticed a faint light filtering through the branches, flickering like the fleeting glance of a hidden eye. The light was not steady; it moved mysteriously, as if beckoning me to continue. I felt a mixture of fear and curiosity, yet something inside me, something I did not understand, pushed me forward.
Each step I took made different sounds: the creaking of branches, the rustling of leaves, even echoes of footsteps that were not my own. It felt as if the path itself was testing me, as if the city I was about to enter was choosing who was worthy of entry.
After a long distance, a massive building appeared before me—larger than the mind could imagine. Its walls were covered in shadows, as if a living being was watching me. The front door was made of old wood, engraved with strange script:
"Welcome to the City of Shadows. Whoever steps in will not return the same."
I stood there for a moment, watching the shadows dance on the walls, hearing sounds I could not pinpoint, feeling cold creeping through my veins. I felt an urge to run, yet my curiosity was stronger. Something inside me whispered: "If you do not enter, you will never know the truth."
I slowly opened the door. The interior was dark, but I could see shadows moving along the walls. A strange scent mixed with dust and dampness, as if the place had not been touched for centuries. The floor was paved with large stones, some broken, others gleaming under faint light seeping through small cracks in the ceiling.
Then I heard a voice, faint but clear:
"You have chosen the path. Now you must see what no one else can see."
My hands trembled, but curiosity drove me forward. Every step inside revealed increasingly bizarre details. On the walls were strange paintings, depicting people in odd postures—some smiling in a terrifying way, others seemingly screaming silently.
At the heart of the building were stairs leading to the upper floor. Each step echoed deeply, as if the building itself were breathing with me. I reached the top and found a room dimly lit, with an old wooden table at its center, atop which lay a large, dust-covered book.
I opened the book cautiously. Each page was filled with symbols and strange words I could not understand, yet I felt they carried a message for me, whispering my name. Suddenly, I sensed another presence in the room. I turned quickly, but no one was there. The voice returned, this time inside my head:
"The city chooses who it trusts and who loses the way. Are you ready to learn its secrets?"
I said nothing, for the words would not come. A strange current ran through my body, as if the city itself were trying to pull my soul. Yet a strange desire for knowledge made me continue, exploring every corner, every shadow, every whisper.
Hours passed—or maybe minutes. I no longer knew; time here was unlike anything I had known. The room shifted with me, shadows changing shape—sometimes resembling real people, other times inhuman creatures. Then I heard footsteps approaching from the lower floor. They were not ordinary; heavy and synchronized, shaking the floor beneath them.
I approached the door and opened my eyes wide. There stood a tall man in a black cloak, his face hidden in shadow. He looked at me and smiled—a smile impossible to describe—and said in a calm yet overwhelming voice:
"Welcome to the City of Shadows. My name is Cylian, and I will be your guide here."
I shivered, yet something inside made me listen. I did not know whether to trust him, but everything here was so strange, every step plunging me further into a world I had never known existed.
Cylian gestured to the table, inviting me to sit. He said:
"In this city, nothing is as it seems. Shadows conceal the truth, and the truth is hidden behind the shadows. Everyone who enters finds themselves forced to confront what no one dares to face in the outside world."
Then he took out a small key from his pocket and said:
"This key will take you to a room no one knows. There, you will find answers—but every answer will cost you something. Are you ready?"
I sat quietly, studying every word he spoke, every movement he made. I felt that the next decision I took would determine my entire fate. The city was not just a place; it was a living entity, testing all who entered, revealing the hidden depths of the human soul.
Suddenly, I felt something touch my hand. I looked up, but saw nothing. The voice returned, this time stronger and clearer:
"Take the key, and begin your journey. The city has been waiting for someone like you for years."
I grasped the key, knowing there was no turning back. Everything—from the mysterious message, the path, the building, the shadows—had led me to this moment. The city was about to reveal its secrets, and I was about to face what I could never have imagined existed.
And so began my true journey in the City of Shadows, where every step holds a puzzle, every shadow hides a truth, and every whisper could be the key to my destiny—or a trap I could never escape.