Rain swept across the rooftops of London, turning the skyline into a blur of metal and light. Beneath the glimmering haze, Lucian Vale stood in his apartment, staring at the map projected across his wall.
It was ancient—stitched together from forgotten scrolls, digital satellite overlays, and unverified ruins. At its heart was a blinking dot: Babylon.
"Iraq," he muttered. "Right in the middle of political chaos, buried history, and restricted zones."
Beside him, Seo Yena adjusted her pendant. "We won't make it there quietly. The Crowned Shadow will know we're coming."
Lucian turned to her. "Then we don't go quietly. We go first."
Yena tilted her head. "That's a bold plan for someone still learning what his powers even are."
Lucian glanced at the glowing glyph on his palm. "I learn fast."
Before Yena could answer, the lights flickered.
Then—darkness.
All power drained from the room in a single, unnatural breath.
Outside, the city plunged into a localized blackout. Blocks went dark in a radius around Lucian's apartment. Only the amber glow of emergency exit lights flickered in the hallway.
Lucian stepped to the window.
A shadow moved across the street.
Not walked—glided.
Tall. Cloaked. It passed beneath a flickering lamp, and for a moment Lucian saw the face beneath the hood: pale skin stretched over bone, no eyes—only black sockets that shimmered with violet flame.
"Shadowkin," Yena whispered.
Lucian grabbed the torc from his shelf. "How many?"
She didn't answer. She was already moving—drawing her moonblade, sliding a dagger into her boot, eyes blazing.
"Get to the roof," she said. "We don't fight them in enclosed spaces."
Lucian nodded, grabbing the tablet and sealing it in a reinforced satchel.
They burst into the hallway and took the stairwell three steps at a time. Lucian's mark was already burning, the sigil reacting to whatever force had entered their world.
---
Rooftop — 11:04 PM
Rain poured down like judgment.
Lucian and Yena emerged onto the rooftop, boots splashing against puddled concrete.
The moment they reached open air, they felt it.
A pulse.
Like thunder without sound.
The Shadowkin appeared—six of them. Cloaked in black, faces hidden, moving with a weightless glide that made them almost seem like smoke.
Lucian raised his hand. His mark flared. "You came a long way for a fight."
One of the Shadowkin hissed, voice like shattered glass. "Firebrand. Hand over the tablet. Or burn."
Yena stepped between them, her blade humming.
"Try it."
No more words.
The Shadowkin surged forward.
Lucian barely had time to react before the first one swung a curved obsidian blade straight at his chest. Instinct took over. The mark on his hand flared, and a blast of fire erupted from his palm, deflecting the strike and throwing the creature back.
He stumbled. "That was new."
"Don't stop," Yena snapped, engaging two more with a blur of strikes, her blade leaving glowing trails in the air.
Lucian turned as another Shadowkin advanced. It raised both arms and summoned chains of shadow, lashing toward him. He ducked, rolling beneath the strike, then focused his mind.
Burn.
The mark answered.
Flames surged from his feet upward in a spiral, wreathing him like armor. His body burned—but it didn't hurt. It belonged.
He launched toward the creature, fist connecting with its chest. It howled, evaporating in a burst of black ash and flickers of violet light.
Yena dropped one of her opponents with a clean sweep of her blade, then spun and shouted, "Behind you!"
Lucian turned—too late.
A Shadowkin blade slashed across his shoulder. Pain exploded.
He fell to one knee, gritting his teeth.
The creature raised its blade to finish him.
Then a howl split the air.
Silver fire exploded across the rooftop.
The Shadowkin screeched in pain as a massive wolf—glowing, ethereal, eyes like twin moons—leapt between Lucian and the attacker, driving the creature back.
Lucian stared.
The wolf turned to him, intelligent eyes locking onto his.
It bowed its head.
Then vanished.
Yena stood frozen. "What… was that?"
Lucian touched his shoulder, the blood already cauterized. "I think… it's protecting me."
"The stars," Yena muttered. "The wolf constellation. You saw it too."
Lucian nodded slowly.
The remaining Shadowkin hissed something in a forgotten tongue and vanished into mist, retreating.
Rain fell again, heavy and cold.
Lucian collapsed to one knee.
Yena ran to him, checking the wound. "You're lucky. That cut was meant to take your arm."
Lucian grimaced. "Shadowkin don't play."
"No," she said. "They don't."
---
Later — Inside the Apartment
Lucian sat with his shirt off as Yena cleaned and dressed the wound.
"You did well," she said, tying the last bandage. "Most people would've been dead in seconds."
Lucian chuckled softly. "Thanks. That's the most flattering thing you've said so far."
Her lips twitched in the faintest smile.
He looked at her. "You've fought them before."
"Once," she said. "Three years ago. They came for a Mythborne in Busan. I was too late to save him."
Lucian stared at the floor.
"They're going to come again, aren't they?"
Yena nodded. "Now that your power's waking up… you're a target."
Lucian glanced at the satchel holding the tablet. "Then we go to Babylon. Before they do."
Yena didn't argue.
But her eyes held something close to fear.
Not for herself.
For him.