Chapter 3 Awakening Shadows

The morning sun filtered through Scott's window, casting golden streaks across his cluttered desk. Today was his birthday-eighteen at last. But the excitement he thought he'd feel was tangled with nerves he couldn't shake.

At school, Max and Jamie threw a surprise party in the cafeteria. Balloons, cake, laughter-all a blur around Scott as he tried to focus on the strange tingling in his fingers.

Later that night, alone in his room, Scott felt drawn to the old mirror hanging by his dresser. As he gazed into it, the reflection wavered-his eyes shimmered an unnatural shade of blue, glowing faintly in the dim light.

Suddenly, a whisper filled the room, ancient and commanding: "You are the last heir, Scott. Your destiny awaits beyond this world."

His breath hitched. Memories not his own surged through his mind-castles of crystal, roaring battles, and faces of strangers who called him "Prince."

He stumbled back, heart pounding. Everything he knew was a lie. He was no ordinary boy. And the crown waiting for him was more than a symbol-it was a burden, a challenge, and a key.

As shadows crept along his walls, Scott realized his life would never be the same.

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Scott stared at his reflection, breath held. The boy in the mirror looked like him-same tousled hair, same brown eyes-but the shimmer in those eyes wasn't there before. For a moment, the room was silent. Then, like a low hum vibrating through the walls, a voice echoed from nowhere and everywhere at once.

*"He has awakened."*

He stumbled back, heart racing. "What the hell was that?"

The mirror trembled. A crack formed-thin, spidering from the center outward like a starburst-and from it, a faint light bled. It wasn't just a crack in glass. It felt like a tear in reality. The air shifted, heavier now, as if the room itself was holding its breath.

Then the vision came.

Scott dropped to his knees, clutching his head as images flooded his mind-his body standing tall in silver armor, wielding a glowing sword. A throne carved from obsidian and fire. A woman with golden eyes whispering his name. A shadowed figure reaching for him with hands like smoke. And an ancient voice, deep and commanding:

*"Born under the moon of Solarex. Guarded by blood. Uncrowned until the time of purity. The Prince must remain untouched-unspoiled-until his eighteenth rise."*

The vision snapped away. He gasped for air.

There was a knock.

Scott scrambled to his feet. "Y-yeah?"

It was his mom. "Honey? Dinner's ready."

He opened the door slowly. Her warm, familiar smile greeted him, but her eyes-why did her eyes suddenly feel... watchful?

"Are you okay?" she asked, tilting her head. "You look pale."

"I-I'm fine. Just tired."

She gave a soft hum and nodded. But something in her glance lingered too long. Like she was studying him.

At the dinner table, Max and Jamie texted him jokes about turning eighteen and still being a virgin. *"Any action tonight, Prince Chastity?"* Max had written.

He would've laughed. Normally he did. But tonight? The word *Prince* hit differently.

Scott barely touched his food. He could still hear the echo of that voice. Still feel the heat of the sword in his hand.

At midnight, he woke again-sweat clinging to his skin. But the room wasn't the same.

The mirror pulsed softly with silver light.

Scott stepped closer, drawn like a moth to flame. The crack had widened. A breeze, impossibly cold, blew from it. And then-without warning-the mirror *sucked him in*.

He screamed, but it was swallowed by the wind.

Then... silence.

He landed in a forest of silver trees under a dark violet sky. Moons-two of them-hung above. Strange creatures skittered away at his feet.

And in front of him stood a man clad in obsidian armor, his face hidden beneath a horned helm.

"You're late," the man said. "The kingdom has waited long enough."

Scott staggered back. "What... what kingdom?"

The man knelt before him.

"Ours."

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