The morning after the Trial of Fire felt strange. The town was calm but for Coker, inside was a storm. He was happy he passed the test but still confused about the shadow power inside him. It felt alive, almost like it was thinking for itself.
He went to training ground early. The sun was just rising and painting the sky orange. Lira was there waiting, practicing water magic. She smiled when she saw him.
"Good morning, shadow boy," she teased softly.
Coker laughed, "Not funny. I don't even understand my shadow."
Lira sat beside him. "Maybe it's not just shadow. Maybe it's something more."
Coker frowned. "More? Like what?"
Lira looked serious. "I heard old stories. Shadows once ruled the world before demons came. They say shadows have memory, power, and feelings. Maybe your shadow is last of that line."
Coker's eyes widened. "Last shadow? That's why I feel different?"
Lira nodded. "Yeah. But you must be careful. Shadows are powerful but dangerous."
They trained together all morning. Coker tried to control his clones better, making them move and fight as one. It was hard but he felt little progress.
Suddenly, Captain Veyr approached. His face was serious.
"Coker, come with me. We need to talk."
Coker felt nervous but followed. They walked to a quiet part of town, near the old library. Inside, the captain showed him ancient books and drawings of shadows.
"These shadows were protectors long ago," Veyr explained. "But they vanished after the great war. Only legends remain."
Coker touched one drawing. It looked like a shadow warrior with glowing eyes. "Is this like me?"
Veyr nodded. "You are vessel of this power. It's both blessing and curse."
Coker felt the weight of those words. A curse? What does that mean for him?
Back outside, Lira waited with a worried look.
"What did he say?" she asked.
"That my shadow is more than just magic," Coker said slowly. "It's like a part of an old world."
Lira took his hand. "We will face it together."
But not everyone was happy with Coker's new power. Rumors spread fast. Some students started avoiding him. Even Reko, his brother, seemed distant.
One afternoon, Reko came to Coker with a cold face.
"You don't belong here," Reko said. "Your power is dangerous."
Coker's heart broke. "I want to protect you all. Why you say that?"
Reko looked away. "Because I fear what you can become."
That night, Coker sat alone, thinking about everything. His shadow moved softly around him like a silent friend. He whispered to it, "I don't want to be alone."
The shadow seemed to pulse gently, like it understood.
The next day, Coker woke up ready. He knew the road ahead was hard but with friends like Lira and his own shadow power, he believed he could become the hero the town needed.
The war was coming, and the last shadow vessel was ready to fight.