Prince of Song - a Shadow slave Fanfic

Waking up, Aelan found himself floating on a piece of wreckage. He slowly rubbed his eyes—his body ached, his head spun, and his lips were parched from the sun and seawater. Looking around, he saw only more debris scattered across the water. Grindewald and Rozwuld had lost the battle against the Kraken—most likely, they were dead, along with most of the crew.

But why had he survived? Why hadn't the drowned dragged him into the depths? Gazing at his reflection in the water, Aelan noticed that the memory preventing his aging was still intact. That meant Olivel might still be alive as well... But there was no sign of him or any other survivors.

He surveyed his surroundings. Endless water stretched as far as the eye could see. All he had left was a small, dull kitchen knife. His thoughts raced, but one thing mattered above all: *getting out of here.*

Aelan drifted with the current. By the next morning, he had managed to catch a small fish—he grabbed it with his knife, gutted it, and, overcoming his disgust, began eating the raw flesh. The sun burned mercilessly, leaving blisters on his skin. The heat during the day was unbearable, while the cold at night was just as harsh. He stripped off his clothes during the day and put them back on at night, but it barely helped.

Several days passed like this. In the distance, he saw nightmare creatures gliding through the water—dark silhouettes resembling orcas, but much larger and more terrifying. With only a knife, he had no chance against them.

One dark night, he spotted an island in the distance. A bonfire burned brightly on its shore, flames dancing in the wind. Aelan's heart pounded faster. Summoning the last of his strength, he dove into the water and swam toward salvation.

As he neared the shore, his eyes caught a familiar figure. It was Olivel! The ship's captain stood on the beach, looking straight at him.

"I didn't think anyone else survived the wreck," Olivel said with a warm smile.

Aelan crawled onto the shore, panting heavily. Water dripped from his hair and clothes.

"I don't even know how I made it. Just luck, nothing more," he replied, catching his breath.

"I was damn lucky too," the captain chuckled. "I arrived here just a few hours ago."

Olivel helped him to his feet, and they made their way to the fire. The captain sat down with a weary sigh and was silent for a moment. Aelan sat across from him, watching the flames dance.

"We lost everyone," Olivel said quietly. "Rivalen, Grindewald, Rozwuld... They're all dead."

"Maybe not all," Aelan replied, though doubt filled his voice. "If we survived, maybe someone else did too..."

"Hope all you want, but the sea rarely leaves witnesses," the captain said bitterly. "I... I gave them my word that I would get them to their destination. That we would find that cursed Well of Wishes. And now they're dead."

Aelan stared into the fire in silence. He knew there was no point in telling the captain it wasn't his fault. They had both survived—and now they had to figure out why.

"We need to find out what this island is," Olivel said. "At dawn, we'll start searching."

After a moment of silence, Olivel asked,

"Nikel, why did you join the ship's crew?"

Aelan hesitated. This wasn't his body, nor his fate. He couldn't tell the truth. So, he had to lie.

"I want my parents to be proud of me. I won't let them down," he answered, avoiding the captain's gaze.

Olivel nodded, as if he knew it was a lie but chose not to press the matter. Instead, he spoke again.

"Do you know what *I* want?"

Aelan shook his head.

"Freedom..." Olivel paused for a moment. "After I killed my brother, I was branded an outcast. That was before I received the memory. I will build a new world, and for that, I need power."

Aelan didn't ask why Olivel had killed his brother. That wasn't what mattered to him. Perhaps this entire nightmare had been created to prevent the captain from reaching the Well of Wishes.

They talked a little longer before deciding to sleep by the fire. The past days had been exhausting for both of them.

---

When Aelan woke up, Olivel was already awake, shaking him gently.

"This is the island where the Well of Wishes is," he said.

Aelan said nothing, but a cold dread filled his chest. If the Well existed, then so did this nightmare. And he understood one thing clearly—Olivel could not be allowed to make a wish.

They began their journey inland. Aelan knew he had to act.

It didn't take long. Soon, an ancient stone well appeared before them. Olivel stepped forward, eyes wide with wonder.

"I've dreamed of this moment for a year..." he whispered.

But he never got the chance to say anything more.

Cold fingers closed around his head. Another hand gripped a knife. In one swift motion, the blade slashed across the captain's throat. Olivel choked, blood spilling down his neck, but he could say nothing. His eyes froze in shock.

Aelan looked at him with disdain.

"This is for the best," he murmured.

He glanced down at his hands. They were trembling. Something inside him was changing. A strange coldness spread through him. He rushed to the well and peered inside.

In the dark water, his own reflection stared back at him.

He waited for the Well to speak. But the reflection only watched.

Watched as he aged.

As his face changed, becoming a withered shadow of what he once was.

It remained silent.

[Your nightmare has ended.]