Celestial Emperor of Shadow

Snow drifted lazily from the night sky, the crescent moon hanging like a sliver of silver above the Greenhold Academy's master residence. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of winter pines and the distant echo of snow crunching beneath footsteps.

A soft, resonant melody cut through the silence. It was the sound of a guitar, each note delicate, pure, and serene. The music seemed to float, bending the cold night into something almost tangible.

Kai Dawnsworn was drawn to the sound. He left the study where he had been poring over spell scrolls and walked toward the main hall, the snow underfoot muffling his steps. There, bathed in the pale moonlight, Michael Swift plucked at the strings of his guitar, his posture relaxed, his every movement graceful.

Kai could almost see the music itself—a stream of silver threads winding through the night air, weaving light and sound together. The FreeMind Meditation stirred within him automatically. His eyes closed, he lowered himself to sit in the snow, letting the world fade away. The moonlight poured over him, a cool cascade that seemed to wash the body and soul alike.

The music flowed into him, entering his war soul palace. There, the World Tree began to stir, leaves trembling with life as if dancing to the rhythm of the guitar. Slowly, the notes swirled, forming shapes and patterns until a perfect image emerged: the guitar itself, hovering and alive within the mind.

Kai sank deeper into the melody. The music became the only thing that mattered. All worries, all thoughts, were pushed into the distant corners of his consciousness.

When the last note faded into silence, Kai still had his eyes closed. Within his war soul palace, a third type of war soul had manifested, joining the Natal Spirit and the World Tree Spirit. This new presence shimmered faintly, ethereal, and wholly unfamiliar: the Guitar Spirit.

Kai's eyes opened slowly, astonishment flickering across his golden irises. He knew that even under the FreeMind Meditation, war souls could only be created under the most extraordinary conditions. Yet all it had taken to form the Guitar Spirit was a single piece played by Michael Swift.

"Master… what piece was that?" he asked, his voice low, reverent.

"Purification of the Night Moon," Michael replied simply, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Kai's hands flexed with newfound energy. "After hearing you play, Master, I felt a shift within myself. My ability to perceive mana has strengthened. I want to learn… to play the guitar myself."

Michael nodded approvingly. "Very well. Let's begin with the basics. Maya, bring the sheet music. You will guide Kai."

Maya blinked in disbelief, looking at her father in distress. "Me?" she asked.

"Be a good girl," Michael said smoothly, his tone leaving no room for refusal. She huffed softly and left to fetch the sheet music. Kai's heart swelled with quiet gratitude. His master truly cared for him.

The moonlight bathed the courtyard as Maya returned, elegant and poised, seated gracefully before the guitar. Reluctantly, she began instructing Kai.

"Hey, Fox, how do I play this note?" Kai asked, pointing at the score. In the dim light, his hand accidentally brushed against Maya's.

She looked at him sharply, only to be met with his earnest explanation. "Sorry, it was an accident. It's too dark for me to see properly."

Maya's smile softened, though a mischievous glint remained. "How many 'accidents' have you caused already?" she teased. Her hand lingered on Kai's waist, pinching lightly as she gave him a playful warning. Kai gasped, caught between pain and admiration, secretly enjoying the proximity to the beauty before him.

Kai proved a fast learner, absorbing the fundamentals with surprising ease. Within hours, he was able to play full pieces, each note precise, each movement flowing naturally. The night deepened, yet Kai's focus never waned.

Michael had long since retired to his chambers, leaving Maya beside Kai, watching the progression of his skill. As Kai's hands danced over the strings, a faint, radiant aura began to emanate from him. Each pluck resonated with life, harmonizing with the Guitar Spirit within, sending shivers down Maya's spine.

She watched, mesmerized, as Kai's eyes remained closed, entirely immersed. The music wove around them, the snow, the moonlight, even the air itself vibrating with each note. Slowly, her tension melted, and she drifted into sleep, still seated in the snow.

From his window, Michael Swift observed the scene with quiet satisfaction. "A prodigy," he murmured, allowing himself a rare smile before surrendering to slumber, lulled by the melody.

Kai, lost within the music, felt no fatigue. Only clarity, only the pure joy of creation.

Morning came gently, light spilling over the courtyard, the snow now glistening under the sun's early rays. Kai opened his eyes and felt a profound shift within. Using FreeMind Meditation to perceive the mana of Heaven and Earth, he realized he had broken into the eighth plane of Awakening for sorcerers. A smile touched his lips—a mix of triumph and excitement.

His gaze fell on Maya, sleeping peacefully in the snow, her body partially covered by a jacket now soaked with melted snow. Gently, Kai approached and lifted the jacket, careful not to disturb her. Maya stirred, her eyes fluttering open to meet his golden gaze.

Kai smiled warmly and retracted his hand. "The jacket's wet… I didn't want you to catch a cold, so I took it off for you."

"Really? You didn't have any other intentions?" she asked, a faint, playful smile curving her lips.

"Am I that kind of person?" Kai replied, stepping back slightly, his grin matching hers.

"What do you think?" Maya teased, laughter dancing in her blue eyes.

At that moment, the door to Boomer's room creaked open. He stepped out and froze, taking in the scene of Kai and Maya standing close, the morning light illuminating their faces.

"I'm going to leave now. Please, carry on with whatever you were doing," Boomer said, striding away with exaggerated long steps. They were clearly flirting right in front of him early in the morning—how inconsiderate!

Kai chuckled, shaking his head. Maya laughed softly, brushing snow from her lap, both of them basking in the gentle intimacy of the moment.