Chronicles Of The Shadow Sovereign

There were various expressions on their faces confusion, nervousness, fear shifting into even more complicated emotions as they processed the situation.

Levi, noticing their uneasy gazes, simply said, "Turn around."

They instinctively turned, and what they saw made their breath hitch. Seven ancient gates stood before them, their material unknown, radiating an eerie presence.

Each gate bore a unique symbol on its surface, and between them lay a gap of precisely seven steps, forming a mysterious pattern.

Dorian's throat went dry as he took a step back. "Levi... what is this?" he asked, his voice laced with fear.

They were in the dream realm. And the figure standing before them, one eerily resembling Levi had just uttered a chilling truth: they weren't here to become mere echoes but something far more dangerous. They were to undertake the trial of becoming Anchors.

Dorian's breathing turned ragged. His mind raced. The weight of that revelation sent shivers down his spine.

He clenched his fists before suddenly slapping himself once, twice desperate to wake up from what had to be a cruel trick of the dream realm.

"No, no, no—I'm trapped in a dream in dream realm!" he gasped, his body trembling, his horror evident in his wide, panic-stricken eyes.

Anderson's eyes narrowed as Dorian's panicked words echoed in his mind.

Something clicked. He recalled Levi speaking earlier but to whom? No one had been there.

His gaze hardened, unwavering. "You're not Levi." His voice carried the weight of certainty. "You can't deceive me. I've already seen through your true colors."

Unlike the Dorain, there was no fear in Anderson's eyes. His blood surged, his body brimming with raw energy, demanding only one thing, a fight.

A sharp smirk tugged at his lips. "No illusion is flawless. You made a mistake." His grip tightened. "You was talking to someone... but there was no one there."

With that, Anderson's hand shot to his waist, unfastening the rune-etched belt that secured his weapon.

He drew a knife, a fierce, lethal blade forged for battle, not mere ceremony. As Levi's servant, he had been entrusted with a weapon worthy of his loyalty.

And without hesitation, he moved. His body blurred, muscles coiling like a predator striking its prey. In that moment, he saw only an enemy standing in Levi's place.

They began to question if they had been trapped in an endless dream illusion for eternity.

The sheer weight of that thought sent Dorian into a panic, his mind spiraling. Meanwhile, Anderson's spirit surged through his body like a raging storm, every fiber of his being screaming for battle

Elrya watched it all unfold, her expression unreadable calm amidst the chaos.

But silent tears traced down her cheeks, glistening in the dim light. Not from fear of death. Not from the horror of the trial.

No, her sorrow was deeper, more piercing.

She had lost. She had gambled everything... and lost.

A broken whisper left her lips. "I lost the gamble."

Her tears weren't for herself. They were for something far more precious, her sister.

The warmth of her little hand. The soft giggles that once brightened her days. That innocent, radiant smile... one she would never see again.

Anderson lunged forward, his knife glinting under the eerie glow of the dream realm. His movements were swift, relentless, each strike aiming straight for the imposter before him.

"You made another mistake, fraud!" he snarled mid-attack. "My young master is the most selfish man in this world, he would never, ever help anyone!"

Levi, effortlessly parrying each strike, sighed inwardly. "These guys…" he muttered in his mind, dodging another aggressive thrust.

Then, his voice cut through the chaos.

"Dorian, I spoke with you at the campsite by the lake. Do you really think the dream realm could have known that?"

Dorian froze. His breath hitched as doubt clawed at his panic-stricken mind.

Levi's sharp gaze shifted to Anderson. "And you, I gave you three letters, each meant for different people. Tell me, can the dream realm possibly know that?"

Anderson's blade hovered inches from Levi's skin but in that moment, he faltered.

Dorian and Elrya also halted, their breathless movements giving way to stunned silence.

Elrya's lips parted, her voice a whisper. "Are you… real?"

Levi exhaled, straightening. His gaze met theirs, firm and unwavering.

"Yes," he said simply. The single word carried the weight of truth, grounding them back to reality.

"What were the words of my letter, if you're the one who sent the letter."said elrya to levi with curious eyes

"Elrya Moretheine this world has given you nothing but pain and suffering."

Elrya folded her arms, cutting Levi off before he could say anything more. "Fine. It's confirmed, you're the one who wrote the letters. At the very least." She wasn't ready to admit outright belief, but her tone held less suspicion than before.

Then, after a pause, she glanced at the other two and asked, "So, what now?" Her gaze sharpened. "And from the looks of it, you invited both of them here as well. Why?"

Dorian and Anderson, momentarily distracted, turned their full attention to Levi, curiosity flickering in their eyes as if they had momentarily forgotten the tension from earlier.

Levi let out a quiet chuckle, his lips curving slightly, a rare sight. His gaze swept over the three of them, holding their attention before he finally spoke.

"Your trial will take place here."

His words hung in the air like an unshakable truth.

"What?"

Their confusion was immediate, but before they could demand an explanation, their surroundings shifted—the seven ancient gates standing tall before them, each one exuding a presence beyond comprehension.

Their mouths fell open, the sheer magnitude of what lay before them stealing their voices.

These were no ordinary gates.

Each gate was a domain—the embodiments of the seven fundamental pillars of existence.

Pain, Suffering, Fate, Destiny, Time, Life and Death.

And at the very end, beyond them all, stood the Throne of Wisdom—the silent ruler that presided over these domains in the heart of the dream realm.

The air around them grew heavy, an invisible force pressing against their chests as they took in the sight before them.

This was no ordinary trial.

This was a test of their very existence.

One face lit up with unmistakable joy, excitement, hope, and relief shining through.

But the other two?

For a moment, flickers of emotion crossed their faces hesitation, longing but just as quickly, they vanished, snuffed out like a fire struggling against winter's cold grip.

They were commoners.

Even if they stood in a place greater than the Temple of Erytheia, it didn't change one truth, they weren't prepared.

No matter how strong their will, they lacked the knowledge to face the trials ahead. And knowledge... was something no one would ever hand them.

No one would ever share this knowledge with them, because doing so would mean going against all of humanity.

Who would dare defy all of humanity for the sake of commoners?

People like them were seen as nothing more than insects born, struggling, dying insignificant. No one would take that risk.

Levi saw the weight settle in their eyes the sadness, the quiet despair, the creeping regret.

Without hesitation, he spoke.

"I will teach you both how to pass the trial. Don't worry."

Silence stretched between them.

Then, as if brushing the moment aside, he added, "No need to thank me. We don't have much time, save it for later."

Before Levi could even finish his sentence, Anderson and Elrya turned to him.

Anderson's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, emotions raw and unguarded. But Elrya? She remained silent.

She had long forgotten how to show emotion on her face.

After a moment of thought, she finally spoke.

"Kid, I've never seen you before today, but let me give you some advice." Her voice was calm, steady. "I appreciate your kindness. But you're making a mistake, one that your entire Veyrathis family will pay a steep price for."

She met his gaze, unwavering.

"Don't let yourself be swayed by empty words and throw yourself into saving commoners out of pity."

Her tone turned colder, more resolute.

"Because this kind of motivation? It's fleeting. But the consequences? They'll last forever"

Elrya knew all too well how nobles behaved—how they cloaked themselves in righteousness, draping their actions in the guise of selflessness.

But deep down, she understood the truth. When the fabric of that false virtue grew worn and faded, when the world began to forget their grand gestures, they shed that cloak. And in its place? They would slip on a new mask, one designed to catch the attention of the next crowd.

She didn't want this boy to make the same mistake to let his sense of righteousness lead him down a dangerous path, one that could bring nothing but trouble for him and his family.

"Lady Elrya, you still haven't changed. Always caring about others, even when danger is staring you in the face." Levi's words broke through her thoughts, his tone oddly calm. He added, almost to himself, "I need people like you to stand beside me."

Elrya's gaze softened, but her concern remained sharp.

Levi, sensing her unease, responded with quiet conviction. "Don't worry. I'm not doing this to quench any self-righteous thirst." He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "When the time comes, not just you, but anyone will have access to this knowledge."

Elrya's eyes widened, the weight of his words sinking in. The idea of making Echoes knowledge public, it was revolutionary.

Even if it was still just a few words of a growing boy, the sheer confidence in his eyes was enough to plant a seed of hope deep in her heart.

And then, it struck her: This boy wasn't ordinary.

There was something in him. A presence. A force of will. Perhaps even the courage to sit on the Throne of Sovereign.