Dawn in Fort Luxen was a whispered welcome and a tremor of fear. Under the first rays, the streets filled with curious onlookers who regarded DdD as a prodigy… or as a vengeful shadow.
The Weight of Their Gaze
As he left the Citadel, DdD walked among groups of merchants and refugees.
"Is it true he mowed down an entire platoon by himself?" an old man whispered.
"They say his sword cleaves the body without touching the soul," a soldier asserted, his face pale with terror.
"And what is he called?" a young girl asked, peeking her head out from the crowd.
He took a step forward, letting the silence grow for a few instants. Then he raised his voice, clear and serene:
"Call me Shadow."
The girl repeated the name with awe:
"Shadow? It sounds… unstoppable."
He nodded and, in a low but firm voice, added:
"I lurk in the shadows; my justice does not fail."
The crowd recoiled, impressed by the elegance of his words and the composure with which he uttered them.
Lyra waited for him by the central well.
"Some venerate you… and some fear you more than the Demon King," she whispered. "They wonder if you're our savior or a threat."
Shadow clenched his jaw.
"How to judge a world where even my allies distrust me?"
The Mission of the Innocents
At midday, in the temple of the Church of Luxen, Cleric Armand received him with a grave expression.
"A village to the east implores your aid," the old man said. "A dark cult has unleashed plague and death, and sacrifices children. Only Shadow possesses the necessary strength to stop them."
The promise of a balanced judgment shone in DdD's eyes.
"I will depart immediately."
Lyra and four escorting soldiers joined the caravan. They rode at dusk, navigating ravines and silent forests. The atmosphere was tense: the soldiers on guard, Lyra clutching her spear, Shadow silent, listening to the murmur of his inner power.
The Ambush of Betrayal
Under the full moon, they crossed a narrow defile. Suddenly, torches appeared aligned between the rocks.
"Halt!" a forceful voice vociferated.
A knight in silver armor emerged: Sir Morvin, Paladin of Luxen and Lyra's old comrade.
"The Crown has decreed: every wielder of dark magic shall be judged by the sword," he announced, unrolling a sealed parchment. "You, 'Shadow'... you are the first."
Lyra clenched her jaw:
"Morvin, stop! He saved us from a massacre."
Morvin raised his voice, firm:
"It doesn't matter what he has done. No one wields forbidden arts with impunity. Better one less traitor than a power usurper in our ranks."
Duel Under the Moon
Shadow planted himself in the center of the defile. The escort recoiled; Lyra clutched her spear in anguish.
"I do not wish to fight you," he said, his voice firm. "But if you attack me, I will defend my life."
Morvin charged without hesitation. His sword struck a veil of shadow that enveloped Shadow; the steel rebounded without harming him.
"Obscurement."
Shadow's body became intangible, and the blow passed through only air. With a precise gesture, he emerged next to Morvin and raised his hand:
"Marks of Judgment."
Four black runes burned on the paladin's armor like frozen embers. Morvin recoiled, disconcerted.
With his Shadow Blade, Shadow traced a cut in the air. The silver shield screeched, splintering, and the impact sent the knight two steps back.
"Lyra, stop!" Morvin shouted. "There is no clemency for the heretic."
Lyra raised her shield, pleading:
"Please!"
Shadow took a deep breath and put away his sword. With a gentle gesture, he erased the runes; the darkness receded from the armor.
"I seek no more human blood," he declared. "Your loyalty is respectable, but misguided."
Morvin clenched his fists, re-reading the parchment.
"I will return with the Law," he threatened. "This is not over."
He turned and disappeared among the shadows of the rocks, leaving behind the echo of betrayal.
The Path of Understanding
Lyra approached with hesitant steps.
"Why didn't you kill him?" she whispered.
Shadow looked at her with melancholy:
"Because he is not a monster. Before destroying… I must understand."
The echo of the duel and the shadow of betrayal intertwined in his mind. The mission, born in justice, had been tinged with fear and politics.
"This world doesn't just need power. It needs judgment… and mercy."
As dawn broke, they resumed their journey towards the cursed village.
The Judgment was still far from concluded, and the true shadows awaited beyond the next hill.