The morning sun cast a pale light over the city, but it did little to chase the shadows that clung to Arin's thoughts.
The encounter from the previous night replayed in his mind—the cloaked stranger, the blade, the disappearing figure. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being hunted, and that every step he took drew him closer to danger.
Arin returned to the alley where the crash had occurred. Boxes still lay scattered across the cobblestones, but something unusual caught his eye: a small folded piece of parchment tucked under a crate. Carefully, he picked it up. The message was written in a shaky hand, ink smudged by haste:
"Trust no one. The pendant is not yours alone. They are watching. Beware the shadows in your own circle."
A chill ran down his spine. Someone knew about the pendant and—more terrifying—someone close to him might already be compromised. Arin's mind raced.Who could he trust? His friends? His neighbors? Even the scholar he had met days before? The city that had always felt safe now seemed like a maze of secrets.
The pendant pulsed faintly in his palm as if acknowledging the warning. Arin clenched it tighter, feeling a strange warmth spread through his fingers.
He had to understand its power before the watchers made their move.
He decided to seek out the stranger who might have left the note. His journey led him to a quiet courtyard behind the market, where shadows gathered beneath the arches. A figure stepped from the darkness—the same cloak, the same hidden face.
"You read the note," the figure said, voice low but urgent. "Good. That means you are ready to hear the truth."
Arin's heart pounded. "What truth?" he demanded.
"The pendant you carry belonged to the last heir of the Shadow Throne," the stranger explained. "And there are those who will stop at nothing to claim it. You are the only one who can protect it… and the only one who can awaken its full power."
Before Arin could respond, the stranger vanished, leaving behind a faint trail of smoke and the distant echo of footsteps. The city seemed quieter now, almost holding its breath. Arin stood alone, the weight of the message pressing on him. He had to move carefully—every choice could mean life or death.
Thank you for reading Chapter 4 of Legacy of the Shadow Throne!
Arin has discovered the warning about the pendant and realizes danger may come from those closest to him.
Stay tuned for Chapter 5—secrets of the pendant will begin to unfold!
Who do you think is watching him? Leave your predictions in the comments!