Chapter 213: Your names?

Chapter 213 – Your names ?

While all this was happening inside the Elysiari Realm, outside, in the Shadow Realm, Eric finally reached a city.

But not just any city.

This was the main city of the Corrosive Original’s domain—the City of Corrosion.

And as he looked at the tall black walls ahead, hiding behind some shadowy trees, Eric couldn’t help but wonder if Shadeva was okay in the head.

’Did she really send me into the heart of the domain?’ Eric thought, and dread immediately crept up his spine.

We’re talking about a city filled with beings that could kill him with a snort.

So yes, he was feeling damn nervous.

Even if he knew this was where he could get the most information, a little power-up in one of the lower difficulty cities would’ve been nice before diving straight into a boss fight.

But Eric knew that complaining wouldn’t change shit. Hell, it’d only make him more fearful the more he thought about it—and in the end, that fear would wreck his performance.

So, without wasting any more time whining about the situation, Eric pulled himself together and started thinking.

He couldn’t just walk in there without a plan—he needed at least a vague outline.

’So... what’s my goal?’ Eric thought inwardly.

Information.

’And what’s the fastest way to obtain information in a place like this?’

Infiltrate the high circle. Get close to them.

Because the closer you are to people with power, the more you learn.

Then came the next question—

’How the hell do I get close to someone like that?’

Eric didn’t know yet.

But he’d figure it out once he got inside.

He stood up slowly and started walking toward the wall.

The Shadow Realm was vast—very vast—and finding wandering shadows wasn’t uncommon. At least that’s what Shadeva had told him. And as Eric had no choice but to put his trust in her...

He walked forward, confident.

In no time, he stood before the massive gates—blocked by two guards.

"A wandering shadow?" one of them asked, tilting his head.

He didn’t look human at all. No. He looked more like a beast—a minotaur, made entirely of shadows. So when he tilted his head, it didn’t look cute. It looked disturbing.

’Some beings really need to stop doing things that don’t suit them,’ Eric grumbled internally, before nodding respectfully to the guards.

"Yes. I am," he said with a calm tone.

The guards didn’t look surprised. The minotaur raised a beastly hand, and a scroll made of condensed shadows materialized in his palm.

"You need to be registered if you want to enter. And once you do, you’ll no longer have the freedom you had while wandering."

He paused, locking eyes with Eric as a threatening tone crept into his voice.

"This is the domain of Lord Mortis. Especially his main city."

"I don’t need to explain the consequences of causing problems for the Originals... do I?"

Eric nodded, his expression solemn.

Seeing that, the guard continued his duty.

"So. Your name?"

Eric almost slipped up and said his real one. But he held himself back.

Here, in this Shadow Realm, in this city—he was no longer Eric, heir of the Shadowbounds.

Here, he was—

"I am... Duskworn."

...

And just like Eric had finally reached his destination—

Ester and Sari reached theirs.

And just like him, they had also arrived at a main city.

The Puppet’s City.

The central domain of the Shadow Puppeteer.

And right now, like Eric, they were organizing their approach before going inside.

"First, we have to be careful about Sylphira’s ability. She can control anything that has a shadow... so by extension, she can control beings of shadow too."

That conclusion was an obvious one. And it made their situation all the more dangerous.

Because neither of them was delusional enough to believe they could resist her possession if she found them.

We’re talking about an Original’s will here. A being that had lived through eons.

Compared to them—what, thirty? Forty years at best?

Yes. Let’s not fool ourselves.

Which meant—they had to be very careful not to get found out.

And what a damn coincidence—

Ester and Sari were two of the stealthiest among Noah’s people.

So—

"We enter... and we make sure we stay low profile as much as possible," Ester said softly.

"The gathering of information?" Sari asked, clearly letting her daughter take the lead.

After all, she believed that with everything Ester had experienced at Noah’s side, she was more seasoned for this kind of task.

Sari’s life had always been in Selene’s shadow, running chores in silence.

And Ester didn’t disagree.

So—

"For the information..." Ester smiled.

"Aren’t we shadows? Aren’t we supposed to be the stealthiest things in existence?"

"Then let’s act like it, Mother."

"Let’s gather all the information. Spy on every last one of them—from the mundane to the highest rank," Ester said, her voice burning with quiet resolve.

It was time.

Time to prove herself worthy of what Noah had planned for her.

After all, if she wanted to rule a realm one day—to be a Queen like Shadeva or the others originals...

She had to become something worthy first.

And...

"I’m ready," Ester muttered before slowly standing up and walking toward the guards.

Sari watched it all in silence. And without saying a word, she followed.

She wasn’t like her daughter. She didn’t have grand ambitions or lofty goals.

She was here for one reason—because Noah told her to be.

And she would do her best to fulfill the mission he’d given her.

Nothing more.

When they reached the guards, the same process as Eric’s began.

And when it came time—

"Your names?" the guards asked.

Just like Eric, Ester and Sari gave names that weren’t their own.

"I am Silentshade," Ester said, her face once again emotionless.

"Shadeveil," Sari replied soon after.

Each infiltration team member had now entered their respective territory.

Even Shadeva—

Now deep inside Ebony’s domain, having slipped in without ever passing by the gates.

And so—

It begins.

—End of Chapter 213—