The dark sky is not night but an open wound.
From the center of the eclipse, black light falls to the earth like upside-down rain.
Each drop is not water but a crying shadow.
Harith stands on the ground that is not the ground.
Its surface is smooth as glass, but when he looks down, he sees millions of human faces staring up from below the world.
"We have arrived…" Rai's voice echoes in the air.
"Welcome to the Shadow World, where all humans who have lost their souls gather."
Aina stands next to Harith, her body shivering.
"This place… is like living but dead."
"This is where all shadows stay when their masters die," Harith says slowly. "And each one of them… still remembers."
They step forward.
The world has no direction, no sky.
The floating buildings are upside down, the highway forms a spiral into the sky and from afar, they see a large tree whose roots spread across the horizon… that is the Eclipse Tree.
---
BENEATH THE ECLIPSE TREE
Every step they took became heavier.
The shadows around them began to move, whispering Harith's name slowly
"Eater... Shadow..."
"Replacement... Master..."
"Link..."
Aina held Harith's hand.
"Why do they call you that?"
"Because I have two souls now. This world considers me like a king."
When they reached the root of the tree, something moved underground, the root opened like a mouth and inside, there was a large stone door inscribed with the old symbol of the eclipse.
The door glowed slowly, as if recognizing Harith's blood.
"This is the true door between the human world and the shadow world," Rai said.
"But this door can only be opened by two bloods...Heir of Light and Heir of Shadow."
Harith looked at Aina.
Aina fell silent.
"You mean..."
"Yes," Rai continued, "your blood, Aina."
---
AINA'S SECRET
Aina began to weaken, but a soft shadow of light emerged from her chest, shaped like a symbol similar to Harith's, but golden white in color.
"I... the heir to the light?"
Rai nodded. "You are the grandson of the first guardian of the eclipse pact. Your blood holds half of the light in this world."
Harith stepped forward.
"In that case, we can use both of our bloods to combine and close this door."
Rai quickly stopped him.
"If you do that, one of you will disappear forever. This world cannot accept two opposing energies at the same time."
Aina smiled thinly, her eyes watering.
"Maybe that's the price to pay."
Harith was shocked.
"Don't say that."
"Harith..." she held Harith's face gently, "since we were little, I've always seen shadows following you. But I've never been afraid, because I know that one day, you will be a light for everyone. If I have to disappear for you to live, I'm willing."
Harith held her hand tightly, tears falling unconsciously.
"I've lost enough people I love. I won't let you go."
Rai lowered his head, his voice low.
"Time is running out. The eclipse is complete. The world above has begun to turn upside down."
---
DOOR OPENING
Harith and Aina stood in front of the stone door.
Both placed their hands on the eclipse symbol in the middle.
White and black light began to spin, spin, merge between their palms.
"Aina, if anything happens…"
"I know," he replied with a smile. "I've been ready for a long time."
The door began to crack, a loud bang was heard,
black and white light exploded out simultaneously, forming a large vortex.
Harith screamed, but his voice drowned out.
Aina's body began to be slowly absorbed by the white light,
while Harith's body was surrounded by black smoke.
They clung to each other, but could not hold on tightly.
"HARITH!"
"AINA, DON'T!"
A huge explosion occurred.
The door to the shadow world opened completely.
And when the dust settled... only Harith was still standing.
In front of him was only a soft light in the shape of Aina's silhouette that was fading.
"You succeeded, Harith," Aina's voice echoed.
"Now... the human world can breathe again."
Harith fell to his knees, his hands clutching the empty air.
"Don't leave me... don't."
The shadow behind him stood upright, looking at Harith's now empty face.
"He has become the light of this world, Harith. But you... you still have unfinished business."