The night was thick, almost palpable. The shadows in the Court were usually my allies, but tonight they trembled. I felt it in my bones, in my skin; even the magic around me had become more... alert. I sat in my chamber, a piece of parchment with a mysterious message lying before me like a relic. The words written on it were older than most of the languages I knew, but their meaning was clear—someone or something knew of my presence. Someone who should not have access to the Court.
[Active Mission: Shadow of Light]
Objective: Identify the source of the message.
Reward: Hidden ability | +1 to all perception-related stats
I began my investigation at the most obvious place—the Library. I knew that every entry in the books left a magical trace. Tracking such traces required a high level of "Stream Reading" skill, but after weeks of intensive training, I had some experience.
When I placed my hands on the stone desk and closed my eyes, the runes on the parchment reacted. I saw a vision. A figure, blurred and wrapped in light, standing amidst the shadows. It did not belong to the House. It was not one of us.
"An outsider..." I whispered.
The system flashed:
[New Information: Energetic disturbance detected in the Eastern Tower sector]
I immediately headed there. The Eastern Tower was a part of the Court that had remained closed for centuries—ruined during one of the ancient magical wars. But it was not dead.
When I crossed the threshold of the ruined meditation hall, the world around me trembled.
[Random Event: Gates of the Enchanted Void]
The ground split open, revealing spiral stairs leading downward. The walls were covered in runes that even "Stream Reading" could not immediately decipher. I felt the magic at work, pulsing in sync with my heartbeat.
At the end of the corridor, I found a chamber. And within it—a being. It had no human body, strictly speaking. It was a form of light and shadow, pulsating, shifting shape, constantly transforming.
It spoke without a mouth:
"Child of the House... I noticed you too soon. But since you are here... choose."
[Path Choice: Confrontation or Understanding]
1. Accept the offer of contact — risk losing control over magic, but possible discovery of hidden knowledge.
2. Attack — risk injury, but the possibility of taking control of the being's magical core.
I couldn't afford to be ignorant. I chose Understanding.
I sat in a meditative position. After a moment, the being began sending images—memories from times before the creation of the House. Parallel worlds. Other shadow beings. Old Alliances that existed before anyone spoke the word "wizard."
[New Skill Unlocked: Primordial Vision]
Allows one to see the truth hidden behind the illusion of reality.
I understood. The shadow I knew was only one aspect. There were other Shadow Families—forgotten, hidden, or perhaps... exterminated.
When I opened my eyes, the being had vanished, but its echo remained within me. I knew this was just the beginning.
The system displayed a message:
[Shadow of Light Mission — Completed]
Reward: +1 to all perception stats | New Skill: Primordial Vision
I clenched my fists. At that moment, I understood that my journey wasn't just about cultivating power. It was a war for knowledge. For what had been forgotten.
And I... would be the one to uncover it.
Days passed in the Court of Shadows, and I delved deeper into the mysteries I uncovered. Yet, despite my growing power, I felt that something still eluded me. Shadow beings were as foreign to me as other Families, and their techniques and magic, though fascinating, were still just the beginning of something larger.
The approaching storm wasn't just a weather phenomenon. It was a signal. There was a force whose existence I did not understand, but whose presence I sensed in every fiber of my being.
It began in one of the deeper chambers of the Court of Shadows. I was in the middle of practicing new spells when I felt a sudden pressure on my consciousness. The shadow around me trembled. My system reacted immediately:
[Active Mission: Inner Storm]
Objective: Understand the cause of magical disturbances.
Reward: Unlock the skill "Harmony of Shadows" | +1 to all magic stats.
I quickly headed toward the chamber where the other books of the House were kept. I used my new skill "Primordial Vision" and immediately noticed fragments of energetic disturbances stretching across the entire complex.
[Energetic Disturbance: Eastern Tower]
I made my way toward it, knowing it wouldn't be as easy as before. Along the way, I encountered resistance—slight but perceptible. I felt something opposing my progress, as if an invisible force was trying to stop me.
When I reached the Eastern Tower, I felt my whole body vibrate under the influence of magical disturbances. Protective spells that hadn't existed before were now active, palpable, as if someone had decided to secure this place from my arrival.
I entered the chamber where I had previously encountered the light-and-shadow being. This time, instead of seeing it in full form, I immediately found ruins. The place was deserted, and the energy that had filled it just moments ago seemed to have been burned out, as if something had scorched all its power.
Suddenly, I heard a voice—a quiet, barely audible sound, like the rustle of wind.
"You are straying from the path. Returning is impossible."
I looked at the wall from which the voice emerged, and my senses were immediately pulled into a trance. I understood that this wasn't just magic. This was a truth that had no shape.
[Hidden Mission: Inner Opponent]
Objective: Identify the source of magical disturbances in the Court of Shadows.
Reward: +10 to all internal stats | Unlock the skill "Opponent Mastery."
Suddenly, the image shifted. In the place of the previous emptiness, a shadow appeared, one I couldn't take my eyes off. Its shape was strangely familiar. It was like the reflection of my own fears.
"Who are you?" I asked, feeling the magic begin to pulse in my veins.
The shadow responded, though it made no sound:
"I am what has been forgotten. What you may become if you are not careful."
The system displayed a notification:
[Opponent Identified: Shadow of Yourself]
Description: The shadow before you is a powerful manifestation of your own fears, ambitions, and power. What has been abandoned seeks to consume you.
This was a confrontation I wasn't prepared for. The shadow I saw was a part of me. My inner opponent.
For a moment, I hesitated. Then the shadow attacked. Dark lightning emanated from its body, striking me with full force. I felt my will tremble, as if it were about to break.
Everything within me screamed to surrender.
But I wasn't going to.
[Battle with the Inner Shadow: Duel for Control]
I began to fight, using my newly acquired skill "Harmony of Shadows." As my body synchronized with the shadows, I felt a power I had never experienced before. The duel lasted long, but eventually, the shadow disappeared into the depths of darkness, leaving only echoes of its words.
[Mission Completed: Inner Storm]
Reward: +10 to internal stats | New skill "Opponent Mastery"
I rose to my feet. I felt my body transform, as if it had become tougher, stronger. The shadow I had fought wasn't something external. It was a part of me. I had defeated it, but I couldn't forget what it symbolized.
It was only the first step on my journey.
---
With the newfound power I felt after defeating my own fears, I was finally ready to face the challenges that awaited me in the Court of Shadows. However, I knew that the fight for control over myself was just the beginning. There were secrets I didn't understand, and the answers to them were encrypted in the ancient books of the House.
I began to spend more time in the Library, searching through forgotten texts and records. Each page was soaked in magical energy, but not everything was clear. I felt that my goal was not just to deepen my knowledge—I had to uncover something that would not only help me in the future but change my entire perception of reality.
One day, while searching through one of the oldest books, I came across a note that seemed different from all the others. The text spoke of the Stone of Destiny—an artifact that could supposedly change the course of history. Its power was unimaginable, but just as dangerous.
[Active Mission: Stone of Destiny]
Objective: Obtain the Stone of Destiny, if it exists.
Reward: New skill | Powerful magical power.
I read the description, which sounded like a legend, about a mysterious stone hidden in the ruins of a forgotten civilization. It had the power to shape destiny. I knew that if it truly existed, it had to be found—not just for the House of Shadows but for me. If I could obtain it, I would be able to shape not only my fate but the fates of those who stood in my way.
I didn't wait another moment. I gathered the most necessary items and a few books that might prove useful on the journey. I knew I was venturing into the unknown, with nothing but uncertainty ahead of me.
After many days of travel, I arrived at the place described in the texts. The ruins were hidden deep in the mountain peaks, and their remains looked as though time itself had forgotten this place. The stones were covered in strange runes, and the air was thick with ancient magic.
[Energetic Disturbance: Stone of Destiny