The Graveyard of Shadows. The ruins of the battle had faded, and the ground once soaked with blood and storms now stood silent. But this silence was not born of fear or defeat; it was the start of a new phase. A phase of rebuilding what had been shattered and restoring what was lost.
Sajibro, having ended his last battle, stood at the heart of the devastation. He looked down at the earth cracked beneath his feet, at the ruins that once bore the weight of his kingdom. He felt something unfamiliar—something akin to sorrow, but without regret. A deep sadness for what was lost, and a new dream of restoration.
Around him stood his commanders: Musayuki, Kain, Kuruma, and Arthur. Each of them bore a sharp, determined look—one of revival. The entire realm seemed to declare the dawn of a new era, an age of creation rather than destruction.
"We've lost so much," said Musayuki in a quiet but resolute voice, "but we won't let these sacrifices be in vain."
The commanders' eyes turned to Sajibro, who lifted his head and let out a deep sound—not just an acknowledgment of what had happened, but of what needed to be done.
"Everything in this kingdom must be rebuilt. That includes hope," said Sajibro, his voice filled with a sternness that left no room for compromise.
Hope had begun to gather. They had to rebuild the Palace of Shadows first. But this time, Sajibro didn't intend to rebuild it as before. It had to become a symbol of wisdom and unity—not just a grand governmental stronghold.
The Shadow Commanders, waiting for Sajibro's signal, began drafting plans to rebuild the destroyed cities and villages and to reopen fronts to bring life back to the lands ravaged by war.
But as they advanced with their rebuilding plans, something unexpected began to surface. Among the ruins, humans slowly started to appear. They were survivors from shattered villages—people who had managed to survive the war and the wrath of the shadows—emerging slowly from their hiding places. They carried with them the memory of lost peoples and an urgent need to rebuild what had been destroyed.
Kain was the first to notice them. "Those... are humans?" he asked quietly.
It was the first time humans had appeared since the long war. Their emergence signaled to the shadows that this kingdom wasn't solely theirs; it also had roots among the humans who had always been part of this land, even if they had been ignored for years.
Arthur, burdened with the weight of his mission, didn't hesitate to approach them. He was surprised that the humans had survived despite everything. "We didn't expect this… but we must help them," he said.
The humans carried with them a new hope. Though broken, they were willing to fight for life. They gathered around Sajibro, who looked at them with eyes full of wisdom.
"You are here to start anew," Sajibro said quietly, his words bearing the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders. "This kingdom needs you now, just as you need it."
Humans began to gather in the central square where the commanders were assembled, mingling with the loyal shadow soldiers. This moment marked the beginning of an unexpected alliance between shadows and humans.
But amidst this surge, something stranger began to manifest. Among the humans, a few began to show unique abilities—though weak compared to those possessed by the shadow commanders. These were beginner-level powers: uncoordinated, unstable, and at times uncontrollable.
"Those..." said Musayuki as he noticed one of them slightly move objects, "are the Awakened."
The Awakened, as they came to be known, were a rare few among the humans who found themselves imbued with budding magical abilities. Some could ignite a weak flame; others could move small objects short distances, but unreliably.
Sajibro observed these Awakened with contemplation before declaring firmly, "They were born among us, and they are part of this kingdom now. But they are not yet ready to fight beside us. They must undergo strict training before they can join the kingdom's army."
The selection process for the Awakened began, training them in the techniques used by the shadow army. Their abilities were weak, and they would have to work hard to refine and control them if they wished to become part of the shadow force.
"They need time," said Musayuki as he watched one Awakened struggle to spark a small flame. "But if they pass the training trials, they may one day be part of the Shadow Army."
While the Awakened endured their harsh trials, humans and shadows together laid the foundations for a new future—united in the face of whatever threats may come.
End of Chapter 26