Class shades

The shadows were watching them. Every step Arian took, every whisper from Aline, angered the shadows that lurked in the darkness. The ancient city was shrouded in mystery. The narrow, deserted streets held secrets that even the winds feared to touch. The moon lit up the dim sky, but the light that filtered through the closed windows was instantly lost in the dark corners. The city was breathing, and every stone in it told an ancient story, a story that related to Arian's fate.

Aline suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. "Arian, we don't know exactly what we're facing here. But we can't escape something bigger than ourselves."

Arian looked at her with tired eyes. Questions were crowding his mind, but he had no answer. "Aline, do you think we're in danger? Or is there something else waiting for us in this place?"

Aline's expression changed, her bright eyes showing concern. "I think we're here for a reason too big to ignore. The book you're holding isn't just any ordinary thing, Arian. It can open doors that shouldn't be opened."

Arian shook his head, trying to hide the worry that was starting to creep into his heart. "I know. But are we ready for what we might discover?" He looked at the book in his hand, which was pulsing violently as if it held a soul inside it.

"Nothing in this world allows you to be fully prepared. But we must prepare ourselves first."

And then, a huge silence. Ancient voices filled the place, invisible whispers lurching around them as if they were approaching the heart of truth. Suddenly, a strange shadow appeared on the horizon. It oscillated between light and dark, indistinct, but Arian felt it. There was someone, watching them.

A strange figure suddenly emerged from the dark alley ahead of them. His face was covered, but the moonlight reflected some of his blurry features. His hands were fixed on a strangely shaped metal knife.

"Do you really know what you're after?" The mysterious voice asked quietly, the features of the face hidden behind the mask.

Aline raised her eyebrows and said, "Who are you? And what do you want from us?"

The shadow smiled, his smile was faint, as if he enjoyed playing with them. "You are chasing something that may be much bigger than you. The book you are carrying, Ariane, is just the beginning. But what awaits you after it is something that the human mind cannot bear. You are searching for something that may burn this world."

Ariane was silent for a moment, but he felt his heart racing, his mind swimming in thoughts. "Who are you?" The question was repeated, but this time in a more insistent tone.

"You are not ready to know the answer yet. But you will find it soon. The book is not the end, but rather the beginning of a series of doors that will open. Doors that no human feet have ever touched before."

Ariane's heart was beating violently. "Then why are you chasing me? Are you part of those who want to kill me?"

The shadow laughed slightly. "Killing? No, that's not what we do. We're looking for something else. Something bigger than you can comprehend. But in the end, you'll have to choose. There will come a time when you won't be able to escape."

Aline slowly raised her sword, and Arian stood beside her. The eyes that followed them disappeared into the darkness. "If that's what you're thinking, we're ready to face it."

But before the shadow could respond, the place suddenly shook. A strong wind swept through the narrow streets, blowing from one side, as if trying to push them away. But there was something else in the wind. Something very strange. It was like whispers, unintelligible words moving with the wind.

"You'll have to choose, Arian. Truth or survival?" The shadow said as it disappeared into the darkness, as if the wind had swallowed it whole.

Aline looked at Arian and said in a low voice, "We've already begun our journey. But we have to be careful. Someone is watching us. It's not just a book or old myths anymore. There's something else, something betting on our existence."

Arian looked at the book in his hands again. "If this book is the key… what does it hold for me?"

"We are all part of this story. Every step we take brings us closer to the truth. But the truth, Ariane, may be too much to bear."

Then, there was silence between them. There was a strange feeling, a feeling that they were standing on the edge of something profound, something that might be the beginning of the end or the beginning of something else entirely. There was no going back.