messing with Madness

Since the dawn of history, the sun had been the primary source of life and energy upon which humanity relied. Cities were built from its light, sciences advanced, and civilizations flourished, until all of existence became tethered to that radiance descending from the sky. But everything changed in a moment that no one understood. The sun did not vanish… but it began to wane. Its light grew dim, as if slowly retreating before something unseen. At the same time, something else appeared in the world—a power not recorded in any ancient book, nor known to any scientific theory. A strange energy appeared in scattered places across the Earth, as if flowing beneath reality itself. Humanity gave it one name: "The Eternal." At first, it was merely a mystery. It was a substance unlike fire, electricity, or any known form of energy. But as time passed, cities learned how to harness it. New factories were built, technologies emerged that were once unimaginable, and wars changed, just as life itself was transformed. However, the true change was not only in the world… but in the humans themselves. Every person, from the moment of birth, began to carry something else with them—something invisible to the naked eye: The Shadow. The shadow was no longer a mere reflection as it had been in the past. It was an entity that lived with its owner from the moment of birth. Some shadows were calm, weak, doing nothing but following their owners. But others… were conscious. They thought. They moved. And they protected… or killed. In time, dealing with shadows became as much a part of human life as breathing. But every power has a price. Those who drew too close to their shadows began to lose pieces of themselves. Some vanished entirely, as if the shadow had simply taken their place. In the sky, the stars were no longer what they once were. The moon itself had ceased to be a moon; it had transformed into a massive black hole, slowly devouring the light and drawing the remnants of planets around it like objects suspended in an endless cosmic funeral. Across from it, the sun resisted. Its light grew weaker day by day, yet it held on, as if refusing to acknowledge the end. It was surrounded by glowing golden rings, like shackles of fire, preventing it from extinguishing completely… or perhaps forcing it to remain alive despite its death. The entire world lived between two forces: a sun dying slowly… and a darkness expanding ceaselessly. In the heart of this world, in the capital of the Natayo Empire, the Ruling Council was in session. The hall was massive, its walls made of black stone, its pillars adorned with ancient carvings telling the history of wars and kings. The faces within the hall were heavy and weary, as if they had never known rest. In the center of the hall, the main throne sat empty. Everyone was waiting. Then, the man entered. His entrance was not loud, yet it was enough to make the silence deepen. King Aldrian—a man whose features no longer knew the meaning of joy. His face was etched with sternness, and his eyes carried the exhaustion of an entire nation. His long black hair fell over his shoulders, and his thick beard added an undeniable sense of majesty. He sat in his place and said in a steady voice: "Let the meeting begin." The council bowed in respect, yet the tension remained. Voices began to overlap: "The Azure Maritime Kingdom continues to sell new weapons to the Kingdom of Fars…" "And they claim to be neutral!" "This is a clear violation of the laws!" One noble laughed mockingly: "If it were difficult for the Mion family, they would have left it to others from the start." Anger flared in the hall: "You speak of failure as if your own family hasn’t profited from the Empire’s riches!" The voices clashed until the voice of a military commander rose above them: "My King, a peace envoy has been sent from the Radiant Throne Union. An agreement has been reached between several nations to sign a treaty ending the war between the Shadow Kingdom and the Eastern Tribes, after a hundred years of fighting." One noble sneered: "Peace? After a hundred years? With mere words?" But the commander did not back down: "This time it is different. There is pressure from illegal migrations and the spread of unknown diseases…" Whispers rose once more. Then, King Aldrian said with decisive calm: "We will receive all the delegations. And we will prove that Natayo remains the center of balance in this world." Silence fell. Then, one of the leaders added: "The envoy who will witness the treaty is… Leila Leon." The atmosphere in the hall shifted suddenly. One whispered: "Leila Leon?" Another said in astonishment: "Isn't she the one who negotiated with the Crater Union alone?" A heavy silence ensued. It was no longer just a treaty… it was a single name that had altered the mood of the hall. The Natayo Council meeting ended after a long discussion filled with conflicts between nobles and leaders regarding wars and alliances. As the attendees began to leave the hall one by one, King Aldrian remained in his place in a moment of silence. He raised his hand slowly and said to his advisor: "Have they all come?" The advisor replied quietly: "Yes, my Emperor." Aldrian said: "Summon the princes." Minutes later, the heavy doors of the hall opened. Four young men entered, each carrying a presence entirely different from the others: Arkan: The war leader, standing with the steadfastness of mountains. His features bore the marks of battles more than his age, and his eyes knew no retreat. Felix: The second prince, handsome in a way that stirred chaos before he even entered, yet behind his smile lay a sharp political mind. Elias: The dangerous scientist, his gaze distracted as if he lived inside a laboratory rather than a palace. Some saw him as a genius… others as a coming catastrophe. The three stood in a row. But there was a fourth… Sadeem: He entered with a quietness different from them all. No war-like aura like Arkan’s, no political brilliance like Felix’s, and no scientific madness like Elias’s—just a calmness that felt like a shadow that goes unnoticed… yet is always there. A heavy silence filled the hall. It was not just a silence of respect… but one of comparison. The King asked them to sit. He gazed at them all—each from a different mother, a different tribe, each holding his own status among the people. He saw them all the same… except for Sadeem. Sadeem was not an official heir. No noble accepted him as a future emperor. But Aldrian never saw him that way. He was the son of the woman the King truly loved… the only woman who wasn't from politics, nobility, or war. A woman of the people… the only one who could make the King an "human" before he was a ruler. And Sadeem… was the last trace of her. That was why he wasn't kept in the palace as an ordinary prince, but appointed as the head of Imperial Intelligence—a protection from his brothers, from the nobles, and sometimes from the Empire itself. But the real reason? Because the King… could not bear to lose him as he had lost his mother. Arkan said in a low voice: "Summoning all the princes… means there is a war coming." Felix smiled mockingly: "Or a fake peace. You war-lover." Elias looked at the ceiling and said calmly: "Why am I here anyway? I don’t care for your empty talk." Felix replied: "You mad inventor, when I become king, I will lock you up with your inventions!" Elias laughed: "Then I am the first who will vote for you to be king." He then looked at Arkan and said: "Sorry, brother, but he will achieve my dreams." Arkan replied calmly: "I am the Crown Prince, so the dreams of fools are impossible to realize." Felix grew angry, feeling insulted, and before he could respond, the King slammed his hand on the table to silence them. Aldrian knew that each of them saw himself as the rightful heir in his own way. King Aldrian: "I did not summon you for war… nor for peace." He stood slowly from the throne. "I summoned you because the Empire of Natayo is about to receive an event that will change everything." Arkan (sharply): "An event? Do you mean the envoy?" The King was silent for a moment. Then he said: "Leila Leon." The atmosphere changed instantly. Felix (with a lighter smile): "Ah… the woman who made half the kingdoms sign agreements without firing a single arrow. Interesting." Elias: "I heard she doesn't rely on force, but on understanding people. That is more dangerous than a sword." Arkan (in a low voice): "Or just political propaganda." The King looked at them all and said seriously: "You will attend the meeting with her. And you will receive the delegations." A heavy silence fell. Felix (with suppressed anger): "We, the princes of the Empire, receive an ambassador?" Elias: "The problem is not who she is… the problem is why the Union chose her." Everyone looked at the King. King Aldrian (in a lower voice this time): "Because the world no longer relies on force alone." He paused for a moment. "But on who can use their other expertise." A heavy silence. Arkan clenched his fist. Felix smiled an unreadable smile. Elias continued to stare into the void. Then the King said suddenly, lifting his eyes specifically toward Sadeem: "Sadeem… you will be responsible for receiving her." Arkan (in a low but sharp voice): "Why him?" Felix (looking at Sadeem with a faint smile): "An interesting choice…" Elias kept watching and did not comment. Sadeem was silent for a moment. Then he said calmly: "As you command, Father." The word froze in the air. "Father." No one else used that word in the hall. Felix (in a low voice): "He still calls him that…" The King looked at them all and said firmly: "This meeting is over. But what began today… will not end easily." He added in a softer voice, as if to himself: "Especially after this stupid treaty."