The capital of the empire was quite than usual. All the shops and restaurants are already closed for the night, the streets were empty and eerily quiet. Only a few guards were patrolling the city, as it waws already midnight and the occasional passerby or drunkard stumbling home. The moon shone brightly, casting a soft glow over the city as if the city was in a deep sleep.

  In such pce, a knight wandered through the dark and narrow streets. Her pte armor lightly cnking as she walks, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any suspicious movements. The quiet night is interrupted only by the occasional sound of a passing carriage or a guar's footsteps. The knight knew that the city is not as safe when the sun sets, but as a knight, she knew how to defend herself.

  As the knight walked through the darkened streets, she came across a shop that stood out amongst the rest. One of the reasons it stood out in the middle of the night was that it was the only shop still open, even though it was already past midnight.

  The shop was small, almost impossibly so for its location, tucked in a shadowed nook. It seemed like an illusion—like it had materialized out of the night itself, as if the moonlight was too afraid to touch it. The windows were hazy, obscured by yers of dust, but the faint glow of something within seemed to pulse in rhythm with her heartbeat, drawing her in.

  The knight felt a shiver run down her spine as she approached the shop. Yet, despite its sinister appearance, she found herself drawn to it. She couldn't take her eyes off as they seemed to call out to her, beckoning her closer. The knight knew that it was unwise to enter a pce so clearly suspicious, but the allure of the shop was too strong to resist. The faint sound of an eerie melody lured passersby closer, enticing them, as if the shop itself was whispering to them to come inside. It was as if the building was a portal to another world, a world that was both intriguing and terrifying.

  As she neared the shop, a sign above the door caught her eye, its letters written in an unknown script that seemed to have emerged from nowhere. The mysterious and illegible nature of the sign gave the shop an aura of secrecy, as if it were guarded by a hidden nguage that the city could not decipher. The knight found herself drawn to the sign, her curiosity piqued by its impenetrable writing.

  Her breath caught as her eyes locked onto the door, an intricate wooden thing with carvings that seemed to move in the shadows, like eyes watching her. The longer she stared, the more she felt as if the shop itself was breathing, as though it were alive in a way no pce should be. There was an undeniable pull, an unspoken invitation that beckoned her forward, enticing her to step inside, to uncover whatever y behind the mysterious veil.

  As the knight slowly stepped inside the shop, she felt as if she had crossed into a different world. The interior was dimly lit, with shadows dancing in the corners like spirits of the night. She looked around the shop, taking in the strange and mysterious wares that filled the shelves; exotic trinkets and objects from distant nds, each one possessing its own hidden history and untold secrets.

  A mysterious girl, dressed in a flowing cloak, was sitting across the room, calmly waiting. The girl's features were striking; her red eyes glimmering in the dim light with a supernatural glow, and her long bck hair framing her face like a curtain of shadows. She was beautiful, her features too perfect to be natural, her presence exuding an air of mystery and enchantment.

  The mysterious girl spoke, her voice as melodious as a song and yet filled with a chilling undertone.

  "Welcome, dear stranger. What brings you? What do you seek in this shop of shadows? But first, tell me your story."

  The mysterious girl's smile was subtle, almost imperceptible, yet it sent a shiver down the knight's spine. The small window of the shop allowed a faint ray of moonlight to pierce through, and as the girl's eyes glowed brighter under the pale light, it was as if a cold and unearthly presence had come alive. The knight shivered, not from the chill of the room, but from the uncanny and unsettling aura that emanated from the mysterious girl's smile.

  The mysterious girl gestured to a nearby chair, motioning for the girl knight to sit. Then she offered her a pte of exotic snacks, each morsel a treat to the eyes and the palette. The knight hesitated for a moment before taking a seat, her curiosity piqued by the girl's unexpected kindness.

  The knight’s hands moved instinctively to the straps of her helmet, her fingers trembling slightly as if removing it was an act that symbolized something much deeper. With a sharp tug, the metal csps gave way, and she loosened the helmet, lifting it from her head.

  As she brushed against her face, her long, flowing blonde hair tumbled down in soft waves, catching the moonlight which slip through the window with an almost ethereal glow. The pale strands framed her face like a golden halo, the same light that had once reflected off her armor, now revealing a gentler side of her.

  Her blue eyes, the color of the deepest ocean, held a quiet intensity beneath the surface—eyes that had witnessed far too much. They shimmered with unspoken emotions, now fully visible as the weight of her helmet was lifted. Her gaze was sharp, yet filled with a vulnerability that only those close enough would ever notice.

  As she settled herself down, the shift from the fierce warrior to the person behind the armor was evident. She sat with a quiet grace, her posture still commanding, yet her eyes softened, for just a moment, as they met the mysterious girl’s gaze. The beauty of her hair and eyes could rival any legend, yet it was the depth behind them—the sorrow, the fire, the untold story—that made her truly remarkable. It was a beauty that came second only to the enigmatic girl before her, whose own mystery seemed to echo in the space between them.

  The knight couldn’t shake the feeling that the mysterious girl before her held no ill intent. It was a strange sensation, one that contrasted sharply with the tension and battle-readiness that usually dominated her thoughts.

  As she studied the girl, there was something about her—a subtle aura of calm, a quiet confidence—that reassured her. The way the girl stood, unarmed and unthreatening, her eyes wide but not fearful, seemed to promise no harm. The knight’s sharp instincts, honed through years of battle and survival, told her that this girl wasn’t here to bring danger. There was no malice in her gaze, no hint of deceit or hidden agendas.

  It was as if the mysterious girl's presence was working some kind of enchantment upon her, drawing out her deepest desires and making them seem reachable. She was compelled to open up to the girl, to reveal her heart's most hidden wishes, almost as if she believed that the girl could grant them all somehow.

  The knight, who had been hesitant to try the exotic snacks, was surprised to find that they were unlike anything she had tasted before. Each morsel was a symphony of fvor, a burst of sweetness and spice that danced on her tongue. She couldn't help but let out a soft moan of pleasure, almost forgetting her quest for vengeance in the face of such deliciousness.

  She hesitated, her voice barely above a murmur. "I... I..." she began, her tongue suddenly loosened by the girl's influence.

  The knight started her tale, her voice heavy with emotion as she recalled the shocking scene she experienced once. "I come from a pce few know, a secluded nd hidden away from the eyes of the world. My cn... we were different. We possessed powers that others would give anything to have—gifts passed down through generations, secrets that made us both revered and feared.

  I was miles away when it happened, traveling back home without a hint of the tragedy that awaited me. I thought I’d return to the same familiar sights—our vilge cradled between the ancient trees and the towering mountains. But when I arrived, what I found was unrecognizable. The nd was hauntingly still, an unnatural silence that seemed to swallow the air. The ughter that once filled the space was gone, and the familiar scent of cooking fires had faded into the void. No children’s voices echoed through the trees, no bustling sounds of life. Only silence. And then, I saw it—something that shattered everything I once knew.

  What remained of my cn was not the thriving, sacred pce I had known. It was a nightmare. The once-beautiful vilge was reduced to ruins—homes burned to the ground. Bodies y scattered among the rubble, twisted in ways that no warrior should ever have to witness. The stench of death hung thick in the air, mingled with the faint traces of smoke from the fire that had ravaged everything we had built."

  As the knight continued her tale, her expression shifted from sadness to anger. The memories of that fateful day, the image of her home in fmes and the lifeless bodies of her loved ones, filled her with a burning rage. Her eyes darkened, and her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

  “I stood amidst the remnants of my shattered world, my gaze falling upon the crest of the empire that y untouched amidst the wreckage. It glimmered tauntingly, a cruel reminder of the power that had brought about my cn's downfall. This single clue was all I had, all that remained of my once-vibrant home, and it fueled my burning desire for revenge.

  I became a knight for one reason, and one reason only. I was away during the attack, but I could never forget the image of my home in fmes and the lifeless bodies of my loved ones scattered in the aftermath. The rage and desire for vengeance have fueled my journey ever since."

  With her face now revealed, the girl knight continued her story, her voice shaking with anger as she relived the horrors of that fateful day. She described the brutal attack on her cn, the fmes that engulfed her home, and the carnage left in the attackers' wake. The mysterious girl listened intently, her gaze never leaving the knight's face, taking in every nuanced expression that flickered across her features.

  As the knight finished her story, the mysterious girl smiled faintly, her expression is unreadable. "Your resolve is truly admirable," she said, her voice as soft as silk. "To pursue your quest for revenge despite all the obstacles in your way. It's a rare trait to have. I can help you,” she said, her tone neither forceful nor comforting, but somehow carrying the weight of something unspoken.

  The air grew still, almost too still, as the girl extended her hand toward the knight. The atmosphere shifted, dark and heavy, like the shadows themselves were bending toward her. A low hum, barely perceptible, seemed to vibrate in the very fabric of reality as the mysterious girl summoned something.

  Then, without warning, a dark, sinister aura began to swirl around the girl’s fingers. It twisted like tendrils of shadow, each pulse growing stronger, more intense. The air seemed to grow colder, the light around them dimming as if the very essence of night itself had come to life in the girl’s hands.

  The knight’s eyes widened, instinctively taking a step back, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away from what was happening. The power that the girl was wielding was unlike anything she had ever felt.

  In a fluid motion, the girl’s hand opened fully, and out of thin air, a card appeared, floating weightlessly in front of her. It was sleek and bck, with intricate, unreadable markings swirling on its surface. The edges of the card shimmered with an ominous glow, and the air around it seemed to hum with power, as though it was alive.

  “This card,” the mysterious girl’s voice broke through the silence, soft yet unyielding, “will guide you. It holds the key to understanding... and perhaps a way for your salvation.”

  The knight’s heart raced, the weight of the card’s dark power settling over her like a heavy fog. She was uncertain, wary, but there was something undeniably compelling about the girl’s offer—something that hinted at a way forward, a path that could finally lead her to the answers she sought. But the question lingered: Could she trust this mysterious stranger?

  The card, suspended in mid-air, seemed to pulse with a dark promise, the choice now lying squarely in the knight’s hands.

  The mysterious girl extended her hand, the dark card floating between them like a strange invitation. The intricate markings on its surface seemed to shimmer, almost alive, as if they were shifting, watching the knight with an unsettling intelligence.

  The knight hesitated, her fingers hovering just inches from the card. She had trained herself to never trust easily, especially not after everything she had endured. Her instincts screamed at her to remain cautious, to not fall for the allure of something so obviously dark. "What is this?" she thought, her gaze narrowing as she observed the sinister energy radiating from the card.

  And yet… despite the warning bells ringing in her mind, something deep inside her stirred. A pull. Almost like an invisible thread drawing her in, an undeniable force that tugged at her very soul. She felt it, this strange compulsion, like the card was meant for her, like it was calling to her in a way she couldn’t expin.

  Her heart raced as she reached out, the air around her growing thicker, more charged with the dark power emanating from the card. It was as if the world around her had gone silent, all her senses focused on the single object that now seemed to hold her entire attention. The card’s glow pulsed like a heartbeat, and for a moment, the knight wondered if she could even resist the pull.

  "No," she thought, "I shouldn’t."

  But it was too te. She couldn’t help herself. She realized, her own thoughts feeling distant, almost foreign as her fingers finally brushed against the edges of the card. It was warm to the touch, humming with energy, and the moment her skin made contact, a jolt of power surged through her, igniting a strange, unfamiliar sensation in her chest. It was like a door opening, or a connection being made—one she hadn’t known existed.

  The knight felt her breath catch in her throat, her pulse quickening, as she closed her fingers around the card. The allure that had pulled her in was still there, stronger than ever, and now that she had it, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her fate had just been irrevocably altered.

  The mysterious girl’s expression was unreadable as she watched the knight take the card, but there was something in her eyes—something knowing, almost as if she had expected this very moment.

  "It’s yours now," the girl said softly, her voice ced with a quiet certainty. "It will show you the way. But be careful... what you seek may not always be what you find."

  The knight tightened her grip on the card, her heart pounding, as the weight of the decision settled over her. She had taken the first step, whether she was ready for it or not. And now, there was no turning back.

  The knight stared down at the card, her fingers still trembling from the strange jolt of energy that had coursed through her when she touched it. As she gazed at its surface, she saw a figure, etched into the bckness of the card. It was a dark, ominous silhouette, an eerie fusion of shadow and form, its features both humanoid and abstract, with shifting geometric patterns that seemed to twist and turn with each gnce. The figure appeared as though it was made of shadows, but somehow, it was solid—its edges blurred, as if it existed in a space between the physical and the ethereal. The presence of the illustration felt otherworldly, unnatural, yet undeniably captivating.

  Its eyes, hollow and empty, stared back at her, an abyss that seemed to pull at her very soul. It was a being of darkness, one that could not exist in the light, moving between the worlds in a way that defied understanding. The knight could feel a coldness radiating from the image, as if the very essence of the construct had been etched into the card itself.

  Around the figure, strange symbols and letters were inscribed in an ancient, unknown nguage. They curled along the edges of the card, like a chain of forgotten words, pulsing with an eerie, rhythmic energy. The letters were unlike anything she had ever seen before—alien and foreign, their meaning beyond her comprehension. It felt as though the symbols were alive, almost sentient, as if they were watching her, waiting for her to understand them.

  The knight’s gaze lingered on the cryptic writing, a sense of dread rising within her as she tried to make sense of the symbols. But no matter how hard she focused, the words refused to align into anything recognizable. They were a puzzle, an enigma, with no key to unlock their meaning.

  For a brief moment, she almost felt as though the illustration on the card was moving, shifting in the corner of her vision. Her heart pounded in her chest as a wave of unease washed over her. The illustration didn’t feel like a mere image—no, it felt like it was waiting, watching, observing. The energy emanating from it was dark, unfamiliar, and deeply unsettling.

  "What is this?" the knight whispered to herself, her mind racing with questions she couldn’t answer. She had taken the card, but now she wasn’t sure if she had invited something far more dangerous into her life than she had ever anticipated.

  Despite the fear gnawing at her, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the card. There was something mesmerizing about it, something that pulled at her in a way she couldn’t fully expin. A silent promise seemed to linger in the air—something was about to change, and the card, the dark power it held, would lead her down a path she hadn’t yet fully understood.

  But one thing was certain: her journey had just taken an unexpected and ominous turn.

  The mysterious girl gestured toward the door, her crimson eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion. “It’s time for parting,” she said softly, her voice almost melodic, yet final. “My shop must close for the night.”

  The knight looked around, feeling an odd sense of reluctance to leave. Despite the unsettling aura that surrounded the girl and the strange card now in her possession, something in her gut told her that this was not just an ordinary encounter—it was a turning point.

  She stepped toward the door but turned back to the girl. “Can I… can I come back?” Her voice held a mixture of uncertainty and a silent plea for reassurance.

  The mysterious girl smiled, her expression both serene and enigmatic, as if she already knew the answer. “My shop is always open for anyone who needed my gift,” she replied, her tone gentle but ced with an almost hidden meaning.

  A sense of relief washed over the knight at her words. There was comfort in knowing that the path back would always be avaible, no matter what she discovered in the future. But something still lingered at the edge of her thoughts. The knight hesitated for a moment longer before she finally spoke the question that had been on her mind ever since they met.

  “What… what should I call you?”

  The girl’s smile softened, and for a brief second, there was an air of mystery about her that made her seem more like a shadow than a person. “You can call me… ‘the Guide.’” Her voice was calm, almost ethereal, and it felt like her very presence shifted as she spoke. The name felt right—almost as if it was meant for her, a fitting title for someone whose purpose seemed to be leading others down paths unknown.

  The knight nodded, feeling the weight of the moment pressing on her chest, but she knew it was time to leave. She gave one st gnce toward the girl—the Guide—before stepping out of the shop and into the cold night.

  As the knight walked away, the door of the shop creaked shut behind her, and the sound echoed in the quiet, empty street. The shadows of the night seemed to deepen, and the girl, now alone, let out a soft, almost imperceptible sigh.

  Her smile was sinister, yet innocent, as if she held a secret the knight could never fully grasp. She stood there for a moment, watching the knight fade into the distance, her eyes glinting with something far beyond mere curiosity. “I already set the stage,” she muttered under her breath, her voice carrying a note of quiet excitement. “Show me your revenge. Your py. Your performance.”

  And with that, the girl’s figure seemed to dissolve into the shadows, vanishing as effortlessly as a dream. The darkness seemed to swallow her whole, leaving no trace of her existence except for the quiet promise of something far rger unfolding.

  From the depths of the shadows, a pair of eyes watched the knight’s departure. "The game has begun," the mysterious girl whispered, her voice lost to the night as she vanished completely, leaving only the lingering tension of what was to come.