Prince of Song - a Shadow slave Fanfic

Aelan sat in the spacious dining hall of the Awakened Academy, observing the other heirs. Here, the descendants of the greatest warriors had gathered whose power surpassed human comprehension. Many remarkable individuals stood out, but only a few truly caught his attention.

Caster—a smug young man with a mocking smile who constantly provoked those around him.

But above all, Nephis, the Daughter of the Immortal Flame, stood out the most. She ranked above everyone else, and no one had ever defeated her in duels. Every challenger found themselves on the ground within moments.

Finishing his meal, Aelan headed to his room. On the way, he noticed Caster taunting a short boy with black hair.

'Hey, Leprechaun, where's your pot of gold?' he sneered.

Aelan snorted at his own thought. 'He had just come up with how he would joke in such a situation.'

Days passed. At last, the moment had arrived.

In the immersion hall, dozens of capsules glowed with a soft light. Aelan lay inside his, feeling the metallic shell close around him. His heartbeat remained steady, but deep inside, a faint sense of unease lingered.

His eyes shut. Darkness consumed him.

A moment later, Aelan realized he was falling. Wind howled against his face, the sky twisted, and—

Clouds.

He was piercing through the clouds, plummeting at an unimaginable speed.

Water.

Far below, an ocean stretched endlessly. But it was too far away…

He wouldn't make it.

A scream tore from his throat, but in the next instant—impact.

Everything disappeared.

It felt like only a moment had passed. But when he came to, eerie sounds filled the air. Heavy footsteps. The deep, guttural breathing of creatures lurking in the distance.

Aelan sat up abruptly, freezing in place.

Two hundred meters away, monstrous beings moved—creatures whose dorsal fins resembled jagged blades. Their jaws held rows of massive, meter-long teeth.

He swallowed hard, struggling to understand what was happening.

Why had he survived?

The world around him felt alien and terrifying. A gloomy gray sky and blackened earth created the perfect backdrop for a crimson sea of twisting coral blades. In the distance, he could make out labyrinths descending into the ground, but right now, they didn't matter.

Aelan summoned his rune panel, hoping for an explanation.

Everything remained unchanged.

Except for one thing.

'Attribute: Oblivion — You have inherited the body of a Daimon.'

Aelan frowned.

'…What?'

Aelan assumed that this is why he is now alive.

Stepping carefully over the stones, Aelan spotted a group of Sleepers as he descended from the high ground, approaching the battling figures. From afar, he recognized familiar silhouettes.

Nephis moved with terrifying precision, her sword leaving a shimmering trail behind. A short young man dodged the creatures' attacks with uncanny agility, using the shadows as an extension of his body. And just behind them stood a girl with a blindfold over her eyes.

Aelan frowned. He hadn't noticed her before. Perhaps she had been hiding nearby, waiting for the right moment.

They had already finished dealing with the nightmarish creatures.

Deciding not to delay, he quickened his pace toward them.

"Ahaha, hey there!" he called out cheerfully as he approached.

Nephis instantly raised her sword, watching him with suspicion. Sunny glanced at him briefly but said nothing, merely continuing to assess their surroundings.

"Who are you?" Nephis asked coldly.

Aelan raised an eyebrow.

"Aelan. Figured I shouldn't stay alone. It's easier to survive in a group..."

He nodded toward the blindfolded girl. She tilted her head slightly in his direction, her expression calm.

"Cassie," she introduced herself, her voice soft but confident.

"Sunny," the boy said shortly, his gaze never leaving the surroundings.

Nephis didn't lower her sword just yet.

"And why do you think we'd accept you?"

Aelan shrugged.

"Well, either we work together, or we all die alone. Which option do you like better?"

Nephis narrowed her eyes but seemed to find his reasoning sound. She finally lowered her sword, though her expression remained wary.

Aelan smirked.

"Deal."

Cassie gave a small smile, while Sunny just snorted, unimpressed.

Aelan glanced back at the distant silhouettes of monsters lurking among the coral labyrinths. He still didn't know what part of the Dream Realm this was, but at least now, he wasn't alone.