Messing with Madness

Since the dawn of history, the sun had been the primary source of life and energy upon which humanity relied. Cities were built from its light, sciences advanced, and civilizations flourished, until all of existence became tethered to that radiance descending from the sky.

But everything changed in a moment that no one understood. The sun did not vanish… but it began to wane. Its light grew dim, as if slowly retreating before something unseen. At the same time, something else appeared in the world—a power not recorded in any ancient book, nor known to any scientific theory. A strange energy appeared in scattered places across the Earth, as if flowing beneath reality itself. Humanity gave it one name: "The Eternal."

At first, it was merely a mystery. It was a substance unlike fire, electricity, or any known form of energy. But as time passed, cities learned how to harness it. New factories were built, technologies emerged that were once unimaginable, and wars changed, just as life itself was transformed.

However, the true change was not only in the world… but in the humans themselves. Every person, from the moment of birth, began to carry something else with them—something invisible to the naked eye: The Shadow.

The shadow was no longer a mere reflection as it had been in the past. It was an entity that lived with its owner from the moment of birth. Some shadows were calm, weak, doing nothing but following their owners. But others… were conscious. They thought. They moved. And they protected… or killed.

In time, dealing with shadows became as much a part of human life as breathing. But every power has a price. Those who drew too close to their shadows began to lose pieces of themselves. Some vanished entirely, as if the shadow had simply taken their place.

In the sky, the stars were no longer what they once were. The moon itself had ceased to be a moon; it had transformed into a massive black hole, slowly devouring the light and drawing the remnants of planets around it like objects suspended in an endless cosmic funeral. Across from it, the sun resisted. Its light grew weaker day by day, yet it held on, as if refusing to acknowledge the end. It was surrounded by glowing golden rings, like shackles of fire, preventing it from extinguishing completely… or perhaps forcing it to remain alive despite its death. The entire world lived between two forces: a sun dying slowly… and a darkness expanding ceaselessly.

In the heart of this world, in the capital of the Natayo Empire, the Ruling Council was in session. The hall was massive, its walls made of black stone, its pillars adorned with ancient carvings telling the history of wars and kings. The faces within the hall were heavy and weary, as if they had never known rest. In the center of the hall, the main throne sat empty. Everyone was waiting.

Then, the man entered. His entrance was not loud, yet it was enough to make the silence deepen. King Aldrian—a man whose features no longer knew the meaning of joy. His face was etched with sternness, and his eyes carried the exhaustion of an entire nation. His long black hair fell over his shoulders, and his thick beard added an undeniable sense of majesty. He sat in his place and said in a steady voice:

"Let the meeting begin."

The council bowed in respect, yet the tension remained. Voices began to overlap:

"The Azure Maritime Kingdom continues to sell new weapons to the Kingdom of Fars…"

"And they claim to be neutral!"

"This is a clear violation of the laws!"

One noble laughed mockingly: "If it were difficult for the Mion family, they would have left it to others from the start."

Anger flared in the hall: "You speak of failure as if your own family hasn’t profited from the Empire’s riches!"

The voices clashed until the voice of a military commander rose above them: "My King, a peace envoy has been sent from the Radiant Throne Union. An agreement has been reached between several nations to sign a treaty ending the war between the Shadow Kingdom and the Eastern Tribes, after a hundred years of fighting."

One noble sneered: "Peace? After a hundred years? With mere words?"

But the commander did not back down: "This time it is different. There is pressure from illegal migrations and the spread of unknown diseases…"

Whispers rose once more. Then, King Aldrian said with decisive calm: "We will receive all the delegations. And we will prove that Natayo remains the center of balance in this world."

Silence fell. Then, one of the leaders added: "The envoy who will witness the treaty is… Leila Leon."

The atmosphere in the hall shifted suddenly. One whispered: "Leila Leon?" Another said in astonishment: "Isn't she the one who negotiated with the Crater Union alone?" A heavy silence ensued. It was no longer just a treaty… it was a single name that had altered the mood of the hall.

The Natayo Council meeting ended after a long discussion filled with conflicts between nobles and leaders regarding wars and alliances. As the attendees began to leave the hall one by one, King Aldrian remained in his place in a moment of silence. He raised his hand slowly and said to his advisor:

"Have they all come?"

The advisor replied quietly: "Yes, my Emperor."

Aldrian said: "Summon the princes."

Minutes later, the heavy doors of the hall opened. Four young men entered, each carrying a presence entirely different from the others:

Arkan: The war leader, standing with the steadfastness of mountains. His features bore the marks of battles more than his age, and his eyes knew no retreat.

Felix: The second prince, handsome in a way that stirred chaos before he even entered, yet behind his smile lay a sharp political mind.

Elias: The dangerous scientist, his gaze distracted as if he lived inside a laboratory rather than a palace. Some saw him as a genius… others as a coming catastrophe.

The three stood in a row. But there was a fourth…

Sadeem: He entered with a quietness different from them all. No war-like aura like Arkan’s, no political brilliance like Felix’s, and no scientific madness like Elias’s—just a calmness that felt like a shadow that goes unnoticed… yet is always there.

A heavy silence filled the hall. It was not just a silence of respect… but one of comparison.

The King asked them to sit. He gazed at them all—each from a different mother, a different tribe, each holding his own status among the people. He saw them all the same… except for Sadeem.

Sadeem was not an official heir. No noble accepted him as a future emperor. But Aldrian never saw him that way. He was the son of the woman the King truly loved… the only woman who wasn't from politics, nobility, or war. A woman of the people… the only one who could make the King an "human" before he was a ruler. And Sadeem… was the last trace of her. That was why he wasn't kept in the palace as an ordinary prince, but appointed as the head of Imperial Intelligence—a protection from his brothers, from the nobles, and sometimes from the Empire itself. But the real reason? Because the King… could not bear to lose him as he had lost his mother.

Arkan said in a low voice: "Summoning all the princes… means there is a war coming."

Felix smiled mockingly: "Or a fake peace. You war-lover."

Elias looked at the ceiling and said calmly: "Why am I here anyway? I don’t care for your empty talk."

Felix replied: "You mad inventor, when I become king, I will lock you up with your inventions!"

Elias laughed: "Then I am the first who will vote for you to be king." He then looked at Arkan and said: "Sorry, brother, but he will achieve my dreams."

Arkan replied calmly: "I am the Crown Prince, so the dreams of fools are impossible to realize."

Felix grew angry, feeling insulted, and before he could respond, the King slammed his hand on the table to silence them. Aldrian knew that each of them saw himself as the rightful heir in his own way.

King Aldrian: "I did not summon you for war… nor for peace." He stood slowly from the throne. "I summoned you because the Empire of Natayo is about to receive an event that will change everything."

Arkan (sharply): "An event? Do you mean the envoy?"

The King was silent for a moment. Then he said: "Leila Leon."

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Felix (with a lighter smile): "Ah… the woman who made half the kingdoms sign agreements without firing a single arrow. Interesting."

Elias: "I heard she doesn't rely on force, but on understanding people. That is more dangerous than a sword."

Arkan (in a low voice): "Or just political propaganda."

The King looked at them all and said seriously: "You will attend the meeting with her. And you will receive the delegations."

A heavy silence fell.

Felix (with suppressed anger): "We, the princes of the Empire, receive an ambassador?"

Elias: "The problem is not who she is… the problem is why the Union chose her."

Everyone looked at the King. King Aldrian (in a lower voice this time): "Because the world no longer relies on force alone." He paused for a moment. "But on who can use their other expertise."

A heavy silence. Arkan clenched his fist. Felix smiled an unreadable smile. Elias continued to stare into the void.

Then the King said suddenly, lifting his eyes specifically toward Sadeem: "Sadeem… you will be responsible for receiving her."

Arkan (in a low but sharp voice): "Why him?"

Felix (looking at Sadeem with a faint smile): "An interesting choice…"

Elias kept watching and did not comment.

Sadeem was silent for a moment. Then he said calmly: "As you command, Father."

The word froze in the air. "Father." No one else used that word in the hall.

Felix (in a low voice): "He still calls him that…"

The King looked at them all and said firmly: "This meeting is over. But what began today… will not end easily."

He added in a softer voice, as if to himself: "Especially after this stupid treaty."

In a distant corner of the Natayo Empire, where secret passages intersect with the palace’s heavy breaths, there was an entry not recorded in any official log… as if it never happened. Aser did not use the main gate, and he did not pass through the palace guards or the reception ceremonies. That was unnecessary for him. He knew the palace well… perhaps better than the palace knew itself. He moved through narrow corridors behind the walls, passages used only by those who knew the "voids" between the breath of the stones. His footsteps were quiet, calculated, as if leaving no trace on the floor. He was not in a hurry… but he was not late either.

Aser was a young man with calm features that revealed little. His hair was dark black, falling beneath a simple black cap that hid part of his eyes, as if the shadow were a natural part of his appearance. His clothes resembled an ancient noble's attire, but without ornaments or brilliance. Dark, light, practical fabric… it suggested discipline more than wealth.

He stopped near an upper corridor leading to the inner hall. From there, he could see the palace in motion: the nobles, the guards, and the delegations arriving from abroad. But his gaze was not on them. He was looking for a "moment." Just one moment.

Inside, everyone was busy with ceremonies and delegations. But Aser was not there for ceremonies. His eyes moved slowly, following a specific path inside the palace, not as one searching for a person… but as one who knew exactly where the event would occur before it happened.

When the moment he had been waiting for passed, something in the air changed. A slight movement in one of the lower corridors, a minor disturbance that no one noticed… but Aser noticed. He did not hesitate. He descended lightly via the side staircase. There was no rush.

He stopped in front of an old door behind a wall. He looked at it for a moment; it looked neglected, covered in dust and the traces of corroded iron. Then he said in a low voice, unheard by anyone:

"The time is right."

And the rest of the palace above… continued to celebrate, unaware that something below had already begun to move.

The doors of the Grand Hall in the Natayo palace swung wide open, and golden light rushed out as if welcoming the entire world at once. Silence fell for just a moment… then Leila Leon entered.

She stepped firmly into the hall, not turning to look at the whispers of the nobles saying, "Look at her, she is wearing a military uniform, yet she is from a noble family." Leila Leon stood out among all the nobles and clans, as if she were a piece carved from the finest marble; a knight wrapped in ice, her presence unlike anyone else's in the hall. Her cold, violet eyes hid ancient secrets, as if they were layers of a history no one dared to approach or reveal. Her long, silver hair fell behind her in a calm flow, like a steady stream of light, while part of it was braided with meticulous care that reflected strict discipline and a personality that knew no chaos. She wore a majestic military uniform, designed with striking delicacy, as if not trying to hide her status but to confirm it; a snow-white jacket wrapped around her body like a second layer, combining sternness and elegance.

The guards stepped forward, but stopped immediately. Because someone else had already preceded them.

Sadeem was standing in the middle of the hall, waiting for her. He did not move fast, and he showed no rush. He just stepped forward with steady, calm steps, as if he knew the moment was precisely calculated. His features were as they always were… calmer than necessary. That calmness made people think he didn't see much… while in reality, he saw everything. He stopped directly in front of her and said with formal respect:

"Welcome to the Natayo Empire, Peace Envoy Leila Leon."

Leila answered with a slight diplomatic smile: "It is an honor to arrive here. Natayo is always known as the land of balance and the center of rational decisions in this world." She added, looking around: "You have succeeded in reducing wars in the East and receiving refugees despite the chaos… this is no simple matter."

But Sadeem did not smile. He did not show rejection or acceptance. He stepped just one step closer… so that no one but her could hear. Then he whispered in a very low voice:

"Beautiful… but you speak of Natayo as if you only read about it in external reports."

Leila's smile froze for a fraction of a second. He continued with the same calmness:

"If you had been here for years… you would have known that this place does not protect peace… but buys it at a price that is not spoken of publicly."

Leila's eyes widened slightly, but she maintained her composure. "What do you mean?"

He did not raise his voice. His expression did not change. But his words came quieter… and heavier:

"I mean that Natayo is not presented to the world as an empire of peace…"

He paused for a short moment, then added:

"But as an empire that knows exactly when to appear as one."

In that moment, a small part of the image Leila had drawn in her mind about this young man vanished. He was no longer the "calm prince" as she had heard in the reports. There was something else behind this calmness… something that didn't look like kindness. Something that looked like control.

Sadeem smiled a very slight smile, then stepped back as if nothing had happened. His voice returned to normal in front of everyone:

"Welcome to the palace. I hope your stay is comfortable."

But Leila remained looking at him for a moment longer than necessary. Because she realized one thing:

This man… does not say everything he knows. And he does not show everything he is.

And behind that calm gaze that everyone saw… Sadeem had placed the first stone in a game whose rules Leila had not yet begun to understand.

The nobles, the leaders, and the clan representatives were all looking toward the central platform. Then Leila Leon stepped forward. She walked with steady steps, neither rushing nor hesitating, as if she knew that every eye in the hall was weighing every move she made. She stopped at a position on the platform beside the representatives of the warring states.

She raised her head calmly, then looked at everyone. One of the leaders said in a low voice: "She is too young to carry this kind of responsibility…"

Leila took out some papers and asked the representatives of the states to start signing while she began to speak. Her voice was not loud, but it was clear, forcing everyone to listen:

"For many long years, we have grown accustomed to considering war a part of this world… as if it were a law that could not be broken."

She paused for a short moment.

"But the truth is not so."

Her eyes moved slowly between the attendees.

"War is not destiny… but a result."

"A result of fear, misunderstanding, and a desire for control."

Some of the nobles began exchanging glances. But she did not stop.

"Today, we are not just signing a piece of paper for peace…"

"We are testing a completely different idea."

She stepped one step closer to the central table.

"The idea that nations can remain strong… without killing each other."

The hall was silent for a while. Then she continued in a quieter voice:

"Peace is not weakness."

"But it is a decision that requires a force greater than war itself… the force of discipline, trust, and the ability to control oneself when revenge is easier."

At that moment, some of the attendees no longer saw her as a "young envoy." But as an unfamiliar voice in their world. She held the treaty document up before them.

"This is not the end of one war."

"But the beginning of a long test."

Then she added, in a slightly heavier tone:

"And if we fail… it will not be because peace is impossible."

"But because we were not prepared to understand it."

Even the most hardline nobles found no direct response. Only silence. It seems they realized one thing: This girl is not speaking just to convince those present, but to reshape their way of thinking. She will be the reason for changing everything they have planned for years.

Finally, Leila signed the document. Then she placed it in the center.

"In the name of all those who were lost because of these wars… today, we begin something different."

And at that moment…

What happened was not just the signing of a treaty.

But the beginning of a change in the balance of the world itself.

At that old iron door, Aser said in a faint voice:

"Rise, Shadow."

In that moment, the shadow under his feet… smiled.

Then it suddenly shrank. A heavy silence fell over the place, before the darkness exploded upward as if the earth itself had felt a slight tremor.

The shadow separated from its owner; it was no longer following him, but became an entity standing beside him. Features formed… eyes that reflected nothing… and a body that did not adhere to laws.

Suddenly, it appeared. It did not appear as a monster nor as a soldier…

But as an elegant man wearing a full black suit, as if he had come from a noble meeting. White gloves, black hat—when you saw him for the first time, you would think he was a nobleman, but he wasn't. He was a shadow in noble clothes, walking like a human.

He smiled. A wide smile… somewhat annoying.

"Oh? You finally summoned me? I thought you had forgotten me, Prince Aser."

His voice was not deep nor scary… but light, fast, and full of laughter. He circled around Aser lightly, as if provoking him with his movement. Aser sighed and said: "Finish your mission and return."

His features showed annoyance, and he said playfully: "What? Do you want me to break this door for you? Have I become worthless to you? Why didn't you summon me when you were fighting those men?"

He pointed behind him, where the palace guards were strewn like dolls in a sea of blood.

Aser said without looking at him: "Listen, Mero, break this door, and I promise you will enjoy this day."

Mero laughed wickedly and said merrily: "As you wish, Prince."

And with a flick of his tail, he broke the door into small pieces, as if it had never existed.

The humidity in the palace dungeon was suffocating, and the smell of ancient stone blended with the scent of iron. The absolute silence was broken only by the sound of metal chains: clack… clack, hitting the cold floor with every convulsing movement "Hikayat" made.

The shackles held a tight grip on her small wrists, and her torn dress testified to the harshness of the days she had spent in this place. She raised her head slowly, and her eyes, which resembled the black "void," reflected a mix of pain and wounded pride, only to find a shadow in front of her.

Aser stood there with his calm features hiding his mystery. He said nothing; he just knelt before her to be exactly at her eye level.

Their eyes met. Hikayat was panting, her gaze loaded with questions she could not utter, while Aser contemplated the mark the days had left on her small face. Slowly, and with a movement lacking any noise, Aser reached out his hand and placed it on her head.

It was not an ordinary touch; it was a promise of salvation. Hikayat's shoulders trembled under his hand, as if that touch had broken the barrier of endurance she had built around herself.

Aser whispered in a faint voice that did not break the sanctity of the moment, but carried the weight of the world: "I am late for you, but these chains will no longer be shackles after today, future Empress. I will take you with me into the light."

She whispered in a tired voice: "Wh… who… are… you?"

He smiled and said: "Your brother, Aser, my Empress."