In the forgotten town of Eldermoor, where fog never fully disappeared, lived a 17-year-old boy named Arin.
Arin always felt different.
Not stronger.
Not smarter.
Just… watched.
Every night at exactly 3:17 AM, the shadows in his room moved — even when there was no light.
One night, the shadow on his wall didn't copy his movements.
It stepped out.
Chapter 1 – The Shadow That Spoke
Arin froze as the shadow formed into a tall, hooded figure.
"You are the last one," it whispered.
"The last what?" Arin's voice trembled.
"The last Keybearer."
The figure reached forward and placed something cold in Arin's hand — a black key glowing faint purple.
"The Shadow Realm is breaking. And only you can lock it… or unleash it."
Before Arin could ask anything else, the shadow disappeared.
But the key remained.
Chapter 2 – The Hidden Door
The next day, strange things began happening in Eldermoor.
Birds flying backward.
People forgetting their own names.
Time freezing for seconds.
Arin realized the key reacted whenever darkness touched it.
That night, the key pulled him toward the old abandoned clock tower at the center of town.
Inside the tower, behind layers of dust and broken gears, was a door.
A door that hadn't existed before.
And it had no handle.
Only a keyhole shaped exactly like the one in Arin's hand.
Chapter 3 – The Shadow Realm
When Arin inserted the key, the world cracked like glass.
He fell into a place made of floating islands, black skies, and glowing rivers of light.
Creatures made of smoke watched him.
A giant creature with glowing red eyes stepped forward.
"I am Morvath," it said.
"I was sealed by your ancestors."
Arin's heart pounded.
"You are the final Keybearer. Break the key… and I will give you power beyond imagination."
The key grew hotter.
Arin saw visions:
•Fame
•Strength
•Control over time
But then he saw something else.
Eldermoor destroyed.
His family gone.
Chapter 4 – The Choice
Morvath roared, "Choose!"
Arin realized something.
The key wasn't meant to unlock power.
It was meant to lock darkness away — forever.
He slammed the key into the ground.
The key shattered.
Light exploded across the Shadow Realm.
Morvath screamed as the world collapsed into silence.
Chapter 5 – The Cost
Arin woke up in the clock tower.
Morning sunlight filled the room.
The door was gone.
The key was gone.
But so were the strange events.
Eldermoor was normal again.
Almost normal.
Because when Arin looked at the ground…
His shadow didn't follow him anymore.
It stood still.
And it smiled.