The Path of the Forsaken

Kai sat against a crumbling wall in a dark alley, his small hands clutching his empty stomach. His battle with Rai and his gang had left him exhausted, but he had won.

That meant one thing—he could survive.

But survival wasn’t enough.

I need power.

He had no noble title, no magic, no allies. If he wanted to rise, he had to find another way.

The streets of Eldoria were merciless, but they were also full of opportunity. Somewhere in this rotten city, there had to be a path forward.

And fate, it seemed, had been watching.

A Stranger in the Dark

As night fell, Kai remained in the alley, his sharp crimson eyes scanning his surroundings.

That’s when he felt it.

A presence.

A faint shift in the air, like a predator moving through the shadows.

Kai’s instincts screamed at him.

Someone was watching.

Then, from the darkness, a voice spoke.

“You handled yourself well today, boy.”

Kai’s body tensed. His fingers curled into fists, ready to fight if necessary.

A figure stepped forward, cloaked in black, a silver mask hiding their face.

The man’s aura was suffocating. Not like a noble’s overwhelming mana, but something far worse—controlled, lethal, precise.

A killer.

Kai didn’t flinch. Instead, he met the man’s gaze fearlessly. “Who are you?”

The masked figure chuckled. “A survivor, like you.”

Kai didn’t trust him, but he didn’t have the luxury of choices.

“What do you want?”

The man tilted his head. “You. I see potential, and I make investments in potential.”

Kai narrowed his eyes. “You think I’ll just follow you?”

The man knelt to Kai’s level, his voice dropping into a whisper. “No, boy. I think you want revenge. And I can help you get it.”

The Hidden World of Eldoria

Kai followed the man through winding streets, deeper into the underbelly of Eldoria. They passed abandoned buildings and entered a hidden passage beneath the city.

Torches lined the walls of an underground sanctuary of criminals, mercenaries, and assassins.

Kai’s eyes widened slightly.

This was not a place nobles spoke about. It was a world that thrived in darkness—a world where power was earned through blood.

And at the center of it all was this man.

The stranger finally stopped before an old wooden table. “Sit.”

Kai hesitated, then obeyed.

The man removed his mask, revealing a sharp-featured face with piercing golden eyes.

“My name is Lucian. I lead the Shadow Fang, a network of assassins and spies. And I am offering you a place among us.”

Kai’s heartbeat quickened.

This was it. A path forward.

But he wouldn’t accept blindly. “Why me?”

Lucian smirked. “You survived five years in a noble house as a ‘failure.’ You walked out of a massacre alive. You took down street rats with nothing but instinct. That’s enough for me.”

Kai’s fingers tightened around the table. “What do you want in return?”

Lucian’s smirk widened. “Your loyalty. And in exchange, I’ll teach you how to survive. How to kill. How to make them fear your name.”

Kai didn’t hesitate. “Fine.”

Lucian’s golden eyes gleamed. “Then welcome to the shadows, Kai Valeria.”

As the torches flickered, Kai’s mind echoed with a single thought.

This is just the beginning.

TO BE CONTINUED…