The Shadow On The Shor
Chapter 1: The Shadow on the Shore
The site was a masterpiece of untouched nature—ancient trees, a whispering creek, and a silence so deep it felt holy. This was the land Luvia had purchased.
A group of construction interns stood at the edge of the clearing, clutching rolled-up blueprints. They were young, fresh-faced, and nervous. Luvia didn't hire experts for this phase; she preferred beginners, believing they still had the capacity to learn empathy.
"She’s just... living there?" one intern whispered, looking at the small cabin.
"Yes," the lead intern replied. "And Luvia was very clear. No shouting. No force. We explain, we offer help, and we wait. Luvia doesn't believe in breaking people—she believes in moving them."
They all shivered. Even though Luvia was the kindest boss they had ever had, her name carried a weight that made their lungs feel tight. Her power wasn't a loud roar; it was the heavy, silent pressure of the ocean.
The Encounter with Eliza
As the interns approached the cabin, the door creaked open. Eliza stepped out. Under normal circumstances, Eliza was the definition of "sweet." She had a soft voice and eyes that looked like they had never seen a day of malice.
The interns spoke gently, explaining the situation—that the land was owned by Luvia’s group and they needed to begin the survey. Eliza listened, her hands trembling slightly, but she didn't fight. She spoke with such "sweet words" that the interns felt guilty for even asking.
"I understand," Eliza whispered, her voice like velvet. "I'll try to find a way."
The interns left with empty hands. They couldn't force a girl that kind to leave. They walked back to the headquarters to report to Luvia.
The Breaking Point
But the peace didn't last. A few days later, Eliza was forced to meet with her parents. It was a meeting she never wanted. The air in that room was thick with old wounds and sharp tongues. By the time Eliza returned to her cabin in the woods, she wasn't the "sweet girl" anymore. She was a glass bottle filled with gasoline, waiting for a spark.
When the interns returned that afternoon, hoping for a final answer, they found a different Eliza.
"Miss Eliza? We have the paperwork for the relocation—"
"GET OUT!"
The scream shattered the silence of the forest. Eliza’s face was flushed with a blind, uncontrollable rage. She didn't see the interns; she saw her parents. She saw every person who had ever pushed her.
"I said leave me alone! Do you think you can just take everything? Do you think I'm nothing?"
She shouted until her throat was raw, hurling words that felt like stones. The interns backed away, faces pale, feeling a mix of sadness and genuine fear. They had never seen someone break so completely.
Luvia Decides to Move
Back at the office, the interns sat in silence, shaken. Suddenly, the temperature in the room seemed to drop. The door didn't slam; it opened with a slow, deliberate click.
Luvia walked in.
She didn't look angry. She wore a soft, elegant suit and a calm expression. She looked like a woman who would give you her last dollar, but the interns couldn't even look her in the eye. Her aura was a physical force, a reminder that she controlled everything within her sight.
"She shouted?" Luvia asked. Her voice was low, melodic.
"Yes, Ma'am," the intern stammered. "She was... she was different. Frustrated. She’s not moving."
Luvia looked out the window toward the forest. A small, unreadable smile touched her lips. "Everyone has a breaking point. It seems she has reached hers. I will go myself."
"Alone, Ma'am?"
"Alone," Luvia replied. "It’s time I met the girl who refuses to move."
