The next morning, Arin tried to tell himself it was all a dream. The pendant sat on his desk, harmless-looking in the sunlight.
But deep down, he knew something had changed.
At school, the air felt different. Every shadow seemed to shift unnaturally, every whisper made him flinch. And then it happened.
During history class, when the teacher's voice blurred into background noise, Arin felt a pull in his chest. He didn't know what it was—until a textbook on his desk levitated, spinning slowly in midair.
"Whoa!" he gasped, and the book dropped with a loud thud. Heads turned.
"Are you okay, Arin?" his best friend Lyra asked, eyes wide.
Arin's heart pounded. "I… I don't know. Something weird happened."
Later that day, Kael appeared. The same cloaked figure from last night—though now more human, less shadow.
"You've awakened," Kael said simply, voice calm but firm. "The pendant chose you because you are the heir. It's time to understand your powers."
"Powers? Heir? What are you talking about?" Arin stammered.
Kael's hood fell back slightly, revealing sharp features and eyes that seemed to see through everything. "You are the last living descendant of the Shadow Throne. Your family's kingdom was destroyed decades ago. Those who betrayed it are still alive… and they are coming for you."
Arin's mind spun. Betrayal, enemies, a lost kingdom… it sounded impossible. And yet, the visions, the pendant… it all felt real.
"Where do I even start?" Arin asked, gripping the pendant.
Kael stepped closer, placing a hand over his shoulder. "We train. Your powers are raw, unstable. If you don't learn control, you won't survive the dangers coming your way."
As Arin followed Kael out of town into the nearby forest, a chill ran down his spine. Somewhere beyond the trees, he felt it—a presence, watching, waiting.
And in that instant, he realized: this was only the beginning.
Thank you for reading Chapter 2 of Legacy of the Shadow Throne!
Arin has begun to discover the true power of the pendant, but danger is already closing in.
Stay tuned for Chapter 3 — more secrets, magic, and threats await!
I'd love to hear your predictions in the comments — who do you think is watching Arin from the shadows?