Elias awoke to the muffled hum of Grimwald outside his tenement, the city's fog coiling like restless spirits across the canals. Shade stirred beside him, its dark form shifting fluidly as though breathing. Its pinprick eyes glimmered faintly, alert to his every movement.
He rubbed his eyes. Yesterday had been chaos—Ashen Guild enforcers, the Codex's whispers, and the first taste of command. Now, with the Codex under his coat and Shade at his side, Elias felt a mix of exhilaration and unease. He had power—but raw, unrefined, like a blade forged but not yet sharpened.
It is time to understand, the Codex whispered, or be consumed.
---
Training the First Shadow
Elias stood in the alley behind his tenement, Shade coiling at his feet. The shadow pulsed faintly, responding to his heartbeat. He had learned yesterday that giving it a name allowed it to obey—but now the Codex demanded more.
Command with precision. Desire is not enough.
Elias took a deep breath. "Shade… reach out and touch the wall over there."
The shadow slithered forward, tendrils extending like black liquid. They brushed against the brick wall and solidified into spiky, claw-like extensions, embedding lightly into the mortar. The bricks vibrated, and a section of the wall cracked.
Elias's eyes widened. It can manipulate objects…
Yes. That is its first ability. Tendrils for offense and manipulation. But there is more if you learn to guide it.
He frowned. "More?"
The Codex hummed. Observe. Think. Command. The shadow can evolve, learn, and adapt. But only if you do not falter.
Elias spent hours in that alley, testing Shade's abilities. He learned:
Tendrils: Can grab, bind, or tear objects.
Mimicry: Can partially mimic other shadows it touches, learning minor abilities.
Observation: It senses movement and danger nearby, even through walls.
By nightfall, he realized Shade was no longer just an obedient companion—it was an extension of his own will.
---
The Shadow Market Returns
The next day, Elias returned to the Shadow Market, intent on learning more about shadow binding and Grimwald's hidden power networks. Shade slithered beside him, barely noticeable to passersby, blending seamlessly into the gray streets.
The market was more crowded than yesterday. Hooded figures whispered over tables of rare artifacts, enchanted weapons, and scrolls that promised power at a cost. Elias approached the same merchant as before.
"You returned," she said, eyes scanning his coat. "And you've grown."
Elias hesitated. "I… I think I understand a little more. My shadow… it can do things."
The merchant nodded. "Yes. Shadows are like mirrors of the soul. Some obey. Some resist. Some… transform."
She slid a small vial across the table. Its contents swirled like liquid smoke. "This is an Essence of Binding. It will allow your shadow to grow, but only if you are ready. Mistakes can be… painful."
Elias weighed the vial. The Codex pulsed in approval. Yes. Use it. Learn the cost and the gift.
He uncorked the vial. A tendril of smoky darkness drifted into Shade, merging seamlessly. Shade quivered, then stabilized, its tendrils now sharper, faster, and more responsive. Elias felt a surge in his chest, a subtle echo of the power flowing through the shadow.
This is the beginning, the Codex whispered. One shadow grows, many more await. Each bound will test you, shape you, and demand payment.
---
A Warning from Corvan
As he left the market, Elias sensed someone following him. Pale eyes, silent footsteps, a presence that chilled the skin. It was Corvan, the stranger from earlier.
"You progress quickly," Corvan said, stepping from the shadows. "But remember: growth attracts attention. Guilds notice change in power levels. Shadows are not toys. They are tools… and weapons. Use them recklessly, and you will be consumed."
Elias nodded. "I understand. But I cannot hide forever. I need to grow, or I will die."
Corvan's lips curved faintly. "Good. Ambition is the only currency that lasts. But beware—the first bound is easy. The second, third, and beyond… each brings greater challenge. Some shadows will resist. Some will demand more than you are willing to give."
The words hung in the alley like smoke. Elias felt the weight of the Codex heavier against his chest.
---
First Encounter with a Minor Threat
On the way back, a street urchin tripped over his foot, a small dagger flashing in the dim light as it fell. Elias's reflexes were faster than expected. He instinctively raised Shade. The shadow surged forward, tendrils wrapping around the dagger before it hit the ground, freezing it mid-air.
The child's eyes went wide, and he scampered away, leaving Elias alone.
Your first command under stress. Successful, the Codex whispered. The shadow learns with every act. Its abilities will mirror your intent and will.
Elias exhaled slowly. He understood now: the shadow was both tool and teacher. Its power grew only as he learned to focus, to think, to control.
---
Nightfall – Reflection
Back in his tenement, Elias placed the Codex on the table and Shade at his side. He closed his eyes, trying to absorb everything he had learned.
One shadow bound. One shadow growing. Ninety-nine remain.
A distant sound echoed through the streets—the low hum of machinery, the whispers of unknown guilds, the shuffle of shadows unseen. Grimwald was vast, dangerous, and unforgiving.
And Elias was only beginning.
The Codex pulsed, a heartbeat in the dark. Power demands patience. Shadows demand obedience. And the city… watches all.
Elias clenched his fists. "I will grow stronger. Shade and I… we will survive. We will dominate. And no one… no one will stand in our way."
Outside, the fog shifted, curling like living fingers. Somewhere in the darkness, eyes gleamed—other shadows, other bearers, other trials waiting.
Elias's journey into the shadows of Grimwald had only begun.