Title: Shadow of the Eternal Flame - Chapter 2 : Origin of Shadow and Encounter with Fire

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71DEOvwl25

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRgyXf79S9

......... Three years had passed since that night…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uk531Qcdq

The night when Khaled changed from a child who lost his parents…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBSqlxJjBo

Into someone who now lived inside the echo of words that never left him.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yKyosEs53

“Become stronger…”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJdQBapYXr

“Do not let your father and mother’s sacrifice be in vain…”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGiHKVOPHa

* A Life Under the Shadow *

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNylbrmZV8

In the village of Aros, the wise man Saif silently watched Khaled.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcQTCm9FEg

Saif was not just a sword trainer…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW69a9gXEa8

He was the village elder, and a former warrior who understood combat more than magic itself.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZz2lBBtPee

From the very beginning, he decided that Khaled, who possessed no magical talent, would be forged as a sword fighter.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bjiIosQWr

“Not all strength comes from magic, Khaled…”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIJTdcS0r7

“Some people are born to fight with their will, not their abilities.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV76NdGRU3

But the night had a different opinion.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LRHDsO9hy

Khaled was not an ordinary child.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL9bjWWlOH

Khaled was no longer normal.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOQ7WduWi6

He had become…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8sqQpIBpX

broken, hopeless, his face carrying no expression.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJU1HkEdJ3

Darkness surrounded him, and the atmosphere was silent.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqfJV76rUj

He did not fear it… he considered it his only companion.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofeCGprGVp

He looked at his hand and drifted back into a memory… the moment of farewell.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGnNMW33Qv

“You held my hand… but I couldn’t do anything.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PjmI0zGv6

“You asked me to become strong, but I am weak.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YCnZ241IQ

He clenched his fist and said:

“Why… why me… why.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7sRUdZCAy

Then he said:

“I won’t even try… what’s the point.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaYqHCzobr

Tears fell from his eyes one after another.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaN0TFpBhG

…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxhV5DB54f

Then suddenly he stopped and said:

“No… no. If you saw me like this, you would’ve slapped me.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNhXZiQAO7

Yes… just like you always said with my father…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWRwMIBqhn

“A hero is not a hero if he surrenders.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBg4OToOKm

Yes… “A hero never gives up.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrqtNqC1lF

Khaled stood up and clenched his fist again, but this time he said:

“I promised you… and I will fulfill it.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoe6jbZG0m

After that moment…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoK3k0cvFy

Saif noticed something unusual.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynXt8S7dpx

Khaled’s training was not like others.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lAlX5KMTF

Something was moving inside him.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimDfV31lFN

Something invisible… yet deeply felt.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGa3IZEaYx

Saif decided to test his energy.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybXPZSx4Oo

He placed his hand on Khaled’s body…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO40M7B3wsW

Then suddenly stopped.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxm5Pzh89t

“This… is not normal.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fsMh5SO8A

The truth was revealed.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXup36TPhu

Shadow Magic.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzo2wolDpni

A rare power… that only appears from deep pain.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnX9m738EBf

Saif looked at him seriously:

“You are not like anyone else, Khaled.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjOw7kbrdB

“But the problem… is that this power is unstable.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwsFPSqUlW

Then he said the words that changed everything:

“If there is someone who can understand what lies inside you… it is him.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gHZSOf7WX

* Zira — The Sage of Shadow *

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIzXDPosYV

Zira is the sage of Shadow Village.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHh8z85d7Ch

A secluded village rarely mentioned in Aros…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iAHGbP1II

But known among warriors as the source of

all shadow magic.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxjih32geT

Zira is not just a teacher…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rGl8ibCdi

He is one of the strongest shadow users in the known world.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUajGn1P86

“He is the only one who can understand this power…”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj17o2pZWps

“Because he lived it before he taught it.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvbORcYUdM

After days of travel…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwkC6rl8FE

Khaled left Aros for the first time, looking back:

“I will return as soon as possible, Aros.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjfbezOMCd

* The Forest — The First Encounter *

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaEe4kQuFn

One day, near Shadow Village…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEym0Qtxu03

Khaled heard the sound of battle in the forest.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpy5v5SMvl

He moved carefully between the trees…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WbLQd6gUr

And saw a boy about his age, around

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqYhmUjIX2

seventeen.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwAhWWR9uq

He was shooting fire from his hands while running.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6WR6HMDUk

“Stay away from me!”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbOowjOoEd

But behind him…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUuGoTYrPY

Ice Knights.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxcJCCUang

Warriors who use water and freezing magic.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBu0atq4La

Khaled immediately noticed something.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSguuyZiUam

The boy wasn’t fighting at full strength…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaD38AR9iF

It was as if he was afraid to fight.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvIAXm7406

Before the scene ended…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODeI8YeNqU

Khaled moved from the shadows.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bNY2xRvJn

“That’s enough.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRmC7fsNvq

Everyone stopped.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzr0b2xHup

No one understood who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuZlVp48kV

But his presence… was different.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0Gs8gy5eu

The battle began.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7rCwEKEIF

Fire against ice…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0vyqEFDuk

But this time…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDECHLsbFt

Shadow appeared for the first time in Khaled’s hand for real.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf4ZaxN62x

Khaled used his power for the first time, and the ground around him cracked.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNjc50658D

The boy was shocked:

“What is happening… what is this power?”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDgVR8qOIW

Black chains erupted from the ground, binding the warriors as the boy struck them with fire.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrlwqDQqmf

Khaled’s magic was awakening.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4RANvy7Lx

Not complete…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTm6SJzbA9

But rising.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQekX8TYsJV

After moments of battle…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmageRHtSKF

Some knights fell.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpiibRRNpC

The rest retreated.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerNKd6KrYH

But the commander did not give up.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojh71T6HB1

When Khaled restrained him and the fire attack came, the knight blocked it using water magic, broke the chains, and said:

“I will never be defeated.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENDc0ahLYp

Khaled replied:

“If you won’t be defeated by magic, then I will defeat you with swordsmanship.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdkjlKFebj

The commander laughed:

“It’s impossible for a boy like you to match me.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiaonfMcn9

In an instant, Khaled was at his neck.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99F09CJew7

“I won’t count this as a victory. Let’s begin.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIXpX6bf33

He stepped back, shocking everyone with his speed.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJcdVDRmYe

Silence filled the battlefield.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5xtRO7Mty

Then the true Ice Commander appeared.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHLNYw5xDV

* The Ice Commander *

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuwLKfIXkr

“So… you are the ones who defeated my soldiers.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAQTwWplOn

Khaled didn’t respond.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gG6hiSKbB

He placed his hand on his sword.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ7adD0uSV

The commander vanished.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZK7oIaAAC

“Too slow.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2DkpCYBlI

A voice behind him.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4h0PWRIYJ

A strike hit Khaled’s back, sending him to the ground.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvm9CEdr0X

“The cold… slows me down.”

“I won’t lose…”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj73ZWDl9Ur

Shadows rose beneath him.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqq9ocnlTg7

Then—

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPUs0ZNXo5

They exploded.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorAh1EFMKG

Black chains shattered the ice.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzXF7zamlh

For the first time, the commander stepped back.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyL5I3GX1XO

“So this is his power…”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ph7GM1Xzo

Khaled rushed forward.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVJhHDgqpl

Sword and shadow combined.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVqYWdJtF4

Steel clashed.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhUrQNaJZb

A wound landed.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFCpufUsQz

Then ice returned stronger, freezing the battlefield.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJ48l8gVQQ

Khaled slipped again.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAs2MSBGqgr

The commander struck—

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡek39xsNAUN

But shadow chains grabbed his arm.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzczS6jdjL

Khaled pulled him in:

“I won’t make the same mistake.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcCMsMOCmS

He moved behind him…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKAE2GXnkV

Sword at his neck.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyiJc8cGZC

Silence.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7msHsyeiY8

The fight ended.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SoPDA7ULE

The commander withdrew after losing.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8omUnZhPm

The Ice King would hear of this.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjllkvRRSF

He looked at Khaled:

“You are truly strong.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JYXDvzuWD

And left.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KaVJ7IEQt

The boy asked:

“Who are you?”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdzc3vF15d

“I am Khaled, from Aros.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1Xe8hetcu

Later…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuqV4VkUf7

“I’m hungry.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpzuzyAYR7

“Come.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJvIrtOCkf

“Where?”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUVMgKj5Mv

“Food competition.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIN4lYYZJAT

“You’re weird… I accept.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzxawrfqhk

“I was actually heading to the Sage of Shadow.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAylv7LfgEs

“My name is Abdulrahman.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8xTogLzmk

* In Shadow Village *

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYCqgnpysE

Zira looked at them.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PrHETHx3X

His expression changed.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9LiMrXRhn

A mark on Abdulrahman’s neck.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Sg9b8SKWy

“A Flame Tribe symbol…”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6wSkDNSmf

“Are you Abdulrahman?!”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLX8VGJbte

“Yes, my old master.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbIFJTNtI6

They reunited.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVpSBcW9AA

Saif explained Khaled’s training.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ195lR8SnCg

Zira agreed:

“They will train together.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaKJygQfwd

He thought:

“So… fire and shadow finally meet, just as the legend said.”

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSl7t0sRb3

And deep within Khaled…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoLikCQkA4

Something awakened.

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWvq1qEPXC

Not just power…

194Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwMKEPSDlL

But a path no one could see the end of.

.................................

To be continued…

(But what is Abdulrahman’s story? What is that legend? Who is the Ice King? And what awaits our two heroes? All of this and more will be revealed in the next Chapter.

ns216.73.217.15da2

Reading Theme:

Font Size:

Line Spacing:

Paragraph Spacing:

Load the next issue automatically