Shadows of the Sunless Sky

The slums of Wuji Province were a festering sore on the edge of civilization, a place where the strong preyed on the weak, and hope was a fragile thing crushed beneath the weight of despair. Lian Hua and Jian Yu had made their home here after fleeing the countryside, finding refuge among the tangle of bamboo huts and makeshift shacks that leaned against each other like broken teeth.

For Lian Hua, every day was a battle to ensure Jian Yu's survival. She scavenged through garbage heaps, traded what few belongings they had for scraps of food, and endured the scorn of those who considered her nothing more than another slum rat. But no matter how hard life became, she never let Jian Yu see her break.

Jian Yu, now ten years old, had grown into a boy with sharp eyes and a quick mind. He had learned how to navigate the chaos of the slums, slipping through narrow alleys and scaling walls to avoid the gangs that roamed the streets. He never complained, though he often caught his mother staring at him with a mix of pride and sorrow.

"Stay close, Yu'er," Lian Hua said as they ventured into the market one morning.

The market was a chaotic battlefield, with desperate people fighting over scraps thrown from the merchant carts that arrived from the manors of the Lords of Light. These lords, born with the rare ability to create light, had risen to power after the sun's disappearance, ruling over the remnants of society with an iron grip.

Jian Yu's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for an opening. When a merchant tossed a half-rotten turnip onto the ground, a fight broke out almost instantly. Without hesitation, Jian Yu darted forward, weaving through the throng of bodies with the agility of a cat. His small hands closed around the turnip just as a larger boy grabbed him by the collar.

"That's mine!" the boy growled, his fist raised to strike.

Jian Yu twisted free with a quick, practiced motion, landing a sharp elbow to the boy's ribs before darting back to his mother's side.

Lian Hua sighed, her expression a mixture of pride and frustration. "I told you not to take risks like that," she scolded gently, though her voice lacked conviction.

"If I don't, we don't eat," Jian Yu replied, his tone matter-of-fact.

Lian Hua placed a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm despite her exhaustion. "You're better than this place, Yu'er. One day, you'll see."

---

That night, as darkness swallowed the slums, Jian Yu sat outside their shack, staring up at the black void where the sun had once reigned. The moon offered little comfort, its pale light barely cutting through the gloom.

He stretched out his hands, feeling the faint warmth that had always been with him, a flicker of something deep within. It was as if a tiny ember burned in his chest, waiting for the right moment to ignite. But no matter how hard he concentrated, it never grew.

"You're going to hurt yourself if you keep doing that," Lian Hua said, stepping out of the shack with a tired smile.

Jian Yu looked at her, his brows furrowed. "What is it, Mother? Why do I feel this... warmth?"

Lian Hua hesitated, then sat beside him, her hands folded in her lap. "It's time you knew the truth," she said softly.

She told him everything—the night she was taken by the Lord of Wuji, the birth of his twin brother, and how the soldiers had taken the glowing child away, leaving Jian Yu behind.

"Your brother was special," she explained, her voice trembling. "The moment he was born, he glowed like the sun. They called him a gift, a savior for the Lords of Light. But you... you were different. Quiet. Hidden. They didn't see your potential, and for that, I'm grateful. They left you with me."

Jian Yu stared at his hands, the warmth within him stirring faintly. "So he's alive? My brother is out there?"

Lian Hua nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Yes, but he's not the boy I gave birth to. They've taken him, molded him into one of them."

Jian Yu's fists clenched, a spark of anger flaring in his chest. "Then I'll find him. I'll bring him back."

Lian Hua's eyes widened. "No, you mustn't. The Lords of Light are too powerful. They'll kill you if you try."

"Then I'll fight them," Jian Yu said, his voice steady and determined. "I'll fight until the sun comes back."

---

Their conversation was cut short by the sound of shouting in the distance. A deafening crash followed, shaking the slums to their foundations.

"The soldiers," Lian Hua whispered, her face pale with fear.

Jian Yu stood, his heart pounding. The Lord of Wuji's soldiers often raided the slums, searching for anyone who dared to oppose their rule. They left destruction in their wake, taking what little the people had.

"Hide," Lian Hua urged, pulling him toward the shack.

But Jian Yu shook his head. "I'm not running."

Lian Hua grabbed his arm, her voice fierce. "You're not ready. Promise me you'll stay hidden."

Reluctantly, Jian Yu nodded and slipped into the shadows of the shack. Through a crack in the wall, he watched as soldiers stormed through the slums, their torches casting eerie shadows.

The raid was brutal and swift. Families were dragged from their homes, their belongings seized or destroyed. Cries of anguish filled the air, mingling with the soldiers' laughter.

When it was over, Jian Yu emerged from the shack, his fists clenched. The warmth within him burned hotter than ever, a flicker of light sparking in his palm.

"One day," he said, his voice low and steady, "they'll pay for this."

Lian Hua placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression weary but resolute. "Promise me, Yu'er. Promise me you won't lose yourself to hate."

Jian Yu nodded, but deep down, he knew that the road ahead would be paved with darkness.

---