Planet Xyloria: The Witches' Island

The suns of Xyloria rose in a tri-colored symphony, painting the sky in hues of amethyst, emerald, and gold. Damian stirred in his bed, the soft glow of the morning light filtering through the sheer curtains of his room. He stretched, his limbs heavy with the remnants of sleep, and was about to swing his legs over the side of the bed when a furry cannonball launched itself at him.

"Fenrir, you overgrown furball!" Damian yelped, stumbling backward as the massive wolf-dog collided with his chest, knocking him back onto the mattress. Fenrir barked triumphantly, his tail wagging like a metronome set to "play."

From his perch on the windowsill, Umbra, the Shadowfang Wisp, let out a low, disapproving screech. His glowing black eyes narrowed at Fenrir's antics before he stretched his lithe, shadowy body and leapt gracefully to the floor. With a flick of his razor-sharp tail, he abandoned the scene, leaving Damian to deal with the furry tornado that was Fenrir.

"Alright, alright, I'm up!" Damian groaned, shoving Fenrir off him. The wolf-dog bounded off the bed, his maroon mini-shirt (complete with a black bow) somehow still intact despite the morning's shenanigans. Damian rubbed his eyes and stumbled toward the bathroom, muttering under his breath about "overexcited canines" and "why did I even agree to this?"

As Damian brushed his teeth and splashed water on his face, Umbra sauntered into the bathroom with the grace of a creature who knew he was the true ruler of the household. Without so much as a glance at Damian, Umbra leapt into the tub and began his daily bathing ritual, licking his shadowy paws with the precision of a feline aristocrat.

"Of course, why wouldn't you bathe in the tub I'm about to use?" Damian muttered, rolling his eyes. But he couldn't stay mad at Umbra for long. The Shadowfang Wisp was too regal, too aloof, and frankly, too cute to hold a grudge against.

After finishing his morning routine, Damian snapped his fingers, and his clothes magically appeared on his body. Today, he'd chosen a black and burgundy shirt that clung to his frame, offering a glimpse of his toned midsection. Over it, he wore a black velvet corset adorned with silver chains and hooks that accentuated his curves. His slim-fitting black skinny jeans completed the look. He glanced at himself in the mirror and smirked. "Damn, I look good."

Fenrir barked in agreement, his tail thumping against the floor. Umbra, now finished with his bath, leapt out of the tub and strutted over to Damian, his mini maroon shirt and black bow perfectly in place. The two of them looked like they were ready for a high-fashion photoshoot, not a day of kingdom-building.

"You guys ready to wake Papa up?" Damian asked, scooping Umbra into his arms. Fenrir barked excitedly and bolted out of the room, his claws skidding on the polished floor as he made a beeline for Emrys's bedroom.

Damian followed at a more leisurely pace, Umbra perched on his shoulder like a tiny, judgmental shadow. When they reached Emrys's room, Damian paused in the doorway, taking in the sight of his father. Emrys lay sprawled across the bed, his long silver hair fanned out around him like a halo. His features were delicate, almost ethereal, and for a moment, Damian wondered if his father had somehow absorbed all the femininity in the universe.

"Who even is my mother?" Damian muttered under his breath, shaking his head. "Not my problem."

He climbed onto the bed and shook Emrys's shoulder. "Wake up, Papa. We have to eat and then finish our buildings today. We're halfway done."

Emrys groaned, his ruby eyes cracking open to glare at Damian. "Nirthil, go away," he mumbled, swatting at Damian's hand.

Damian sighed. "You leave me no choice, Papa." With that, he elbow-slammed Emrys in the ribs.

"Ugh, what the FUCK, Damian!!???!!" Emrys shot up, his eyes wide with indignation. He grabbed Damian and threw him across the room like a ragdoll. Damian flew through the air, his trajectory aimed directly at Basi, who was innocently wandering into the kitchen.

Basi's eyes widened as he saw Damian hurtling toward him. With a yelp, he leapt out of the way, and Damian slammed into the kitchen wall with a loud thud.

"I TOLD YOU TO STAY OUT OF THE KITCHEN, BASILIOUS!!!" Emrys bellowed, his voice echoing through the house. Basi tucked his tail between his legs and slunk back to his room, his ears drooping.

Damian lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling. "No, I probably deserved that," he muttered, brushing himself off.

---

Later that day, Damian and Emrys stood in the heart of Xyloria, surrounded by half-finished buildings and the hum of magical energy. Emrys placed a hand on Damian's shoulder, his voice calm and steady.

"Now, I want you to focus. Take a deep breath," Emrys instructed. "Feel the surge of energy that flows around you. The energy that hums with power."

Damian closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, letting the magic of Xyloria wash over him. He felt it—a thrumming, almost electric sensation that pulsed through his veins. He tilted his head slightly, his fingers twitching as he focused on the energy.

"Now, with your hands, this will help you learn control," Emrys continued. "Feel the motion, and gradually push that energy out."

Damian's hands moved in a blur, his index finger slightly bent as obsidian smoke began to swirl around them. In front of them, a towering structure of obsidian and sodalite began to rise, twisting and turning as it reached for the sky. The tri-colored suns of Xyloria reflected off its surface, casting shimmering rainbows across the land.

Emrys watched with a proud smile as Damian's magic took shape. The obsidian and sodalite structure slowly transformed into opal and chrysocolla houses, their massive forms radiating a calming, peaceful energy.

"This is... relaxing," Damian admitted, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I didn't think building kingdoms with my papa would be so peaceful."

"Papa?" Damian looked up at Emrys, his brow furrowed. "Don't we need aliens or creatures to have a true kingdom?"

Emrys blinked, then burst into laughter. "You're correct. Absolutely correct, Nirathil."

With that, Emrys raised his hands, and a swirl of crystal vapor and darkness surrounded him. He began to sing, his voice soft and melodic, as the magic wrapped around him.

"Beneath Xyloria, where shadows hide, new beings rise with magic's tide."

As his song echoed through the air, the ground began to shake and tremble.

Emrys's eyes glowed a pure ruby red as he swayed gently, his voice weaving a spell of creation.

"Hush now, dear, the time is near. For wonders strange and wondrous, dear. From soil and stone, they come to light. Awakening from endless night."

The crystal smoke spread across the ground, seeping into the soil. All around them, lumps began to form in the earth, growing larger and more defined.

"Lullaby, lullaby, new life springs on Xylorian wings. With ancient power in their hearts, they rise to claim their destined parts."

The soil disappeared, revealing the slender, prismatic bodies of the Xylorians. Their ethereal forms pulsed with a dull brilliance, their eyes closed as they slept. Children, teenagers, adults, and even newborns lay scattered across the ground, each one belonging to their own family.

"Papa, what the fuck?" Damian stared at the scene, his eyes wide with astonishment.

Emrys grinned, his ruby eyes sparkling with mischief. "We need Xylorians, so what better than to make them all? Makes sense to me if I do say so myself."

With a snap of his fingers, Emrys transported all the Xylorians to their new homes. "WELP. Nap time, son."

Damian looked at his father, seeing him in a whole new light. "You're terrifyingly efficient, Papa."

---

As the moons rose high in the night sky, casting a silver glow over Valyndris (a name Emrys had obviously come up with), Damian and Umbra found themselves bored. Everyone—Fenrir, Basi, and even Emrys—was asleep, leaving the kingdom eerily quiet.

"Let's explore," Damian said, scooping Umbra into his arms. The Shadowfang Wisp screeched softly, his large, curious eyes scanning the shadows for adventure.

They wandered through the kingdom, the moonlight illuminating the crystals that adorned the buildings. Eventually, they found themselves in the depths of the Jade Forest, the air alive with the sounds of unseen creatures.

"This place is beautiful, isn't it, Umbra?" Damian whispered, his voice filled with awe.

Umbra screeched softly before strutting ahead, his claws clicking against the forest floor. But suddenly, he stopped, his razor-sharp claws extending as he let out a low, warning screech.

Damian frowned. "What's wrong?"

Before Umbra could respond, the ground gave way beneath their feet, revealing a hidden staircase. Damian stared at it, then at Umbra. "You dumb if you think I'm going down there."

Umbra gave him a "you serious?" look before rolling his eyes and descending the stairs. Damian groaned, stomping his foot, and followed.

The air grew cooler and heavier as they descended, the walls lined with glittering crystals. At the center of the cave was a pool of shimmering water, its surface glowing with an otherworldly light.

"I don't like this, Umbra," Damian muttered, his unease growing.

Umbra screeched at him, rolling his eyes as if to say, "Stop being a coward."

Before Damian could retort, the water in the pool began to ripple and swirl. A beam of light shot up from its depths, engulfing Damian in a cocoon of radiant energy.

"Woah! WOAH! WHAT THE FUCK!!??" Damian screamed, trying to escape, but the light held him fast. He felt a burning sensation, his skin ashing away as the light consumed him.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Damian screamed in horror, his body engulfed in flames.

Umbra screeched in panic, hiding behind a rock as the blinding light filled the cave. When the light faded, Damian lay motionless on the ground, his body charred and lifeless.

Umbra crept out of his hiding place, his screech soft and mournful as he nuzzled Damian's chest. But there was no response.

Right when Umbra was about to claw his own face in despair, Damian awoke with a harsh breath, his eyes wide and colorless.

"What the fuck were you about to do?" Damian asked, his voice hoarse.

Umbra stared at him, his eyes wide with relief before he scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Wait, you can't ju—" Damian's words were cut off as his hair began to change, one side turning white, the other black, growing to his shoulder blades. His head tilted slowly, and lost souls began to swarm around him.

"Close your eyes, my weary souls," Damian whispered, his voice echoing with power. "Feel the power, make you whole. Whispers, secrets, ancient might. Awaken now, and take flight."

Shadows and souls intertwined around him, their groans filling the cave.

"Lullaby, lullaby, let strength abide. Mighty power, deep inside. Hear the echoes, lost in time. Wisdom of the divine. Sing the words, let them ring, unlock the power it will bring."

The souls and shadows faded away, leaving Damian standing in the cave, his eyes glowing with newfound power.

"....Great, now I have siren power like papa....UGHHHHH!" Damian groaned, slumping to the ground.

Umbra screeched in amusement, strutting over to him with a smug look on his face.

"Shut up, Umbra," Damian muttered, but he couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips.