The Last Shadow: Legend of the Black Veil

The rain had slowed to a drizzle by the time Rai woke. The storm's relentless fury was gone, leaving behind a heavy silence. He lay curled in a rocky alcove, his body stiff from the cold and exhaustion. Every muscle ached, but it was nothing compared to the hollow pain in his chest.

His father was gone. The Black Veil Academy, destroyed.

For a moment, Rai considered staying where he was, letting the wilderness claim him. But then, the memory of Kael Drakos rose in his mind—his cruel smile, the blade that had ended Master Shin. A spark of anger flickered within Rai, pushing him to his feet.

The boy who had fled in terror last night would not survive long. If he wanted to live—and avenge his family—he needed to become something more.

---

The mountain was vast and unforgiving. With no supplies or shelter, Rai relied on the lessons he had once considered mundane. His father's voice echoed in his mind:

"The wilderness offers everything you need if you know where to look. Trust your instincts."

He scavenged for food, recognizing edible roots and berries from his training. He fashioned a crude spear from a broken branch, its tip hardened with fire. Days turned into weeks as Rai wandered deeper into the wilderness, his survival instincts sharpening with each passing day.

But the nightmares remained. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the faces of his fallen comrades, the fire consuming the academy, and his father's final moments.

---

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Rai stumbled upon a small clearing. In the center stood a cabin, its wooden structure weathered but sturdy. Smoke curled from the chimney, and the faint scent of roasted meat filled the air.

Rai approached cautiously, his makeshift spear held at the ready. His father had always warned him: "Kind faces can hide cruel hearts."

The door creaked open before he could reach it. A man stepped out, his presence as commanding as a storm. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his long hair streaked with silver. A scar ran from his temple to his jaw, giving him a permanent scowl.

"Lost, boy?" the man growled, his voice rough but not unkind.

Rai tightened his grip on the spear. "Who are you?"

The man raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. "You're bold for someone half-starved and outmatched. My name is Tenzai. This is my land. Now, tell me—what's a kid like you doing this far from civilization?"

Rai hesitated, but the hunger gnawing at his stomach made the decision for him. "My home was destroyed. I have nowhere else to go."

Tenzai studied him for a moment, then stepped aside. "Come in. Eat first, talk later."

---

Inside the cabin, the warmth of the fire was a welcome reprieve from the biting cold. Tenzai handed Rai a bowl of stew, and though Rai hesitated at first, the rich aroma quickly overpowered his caution.

"You're no ordinary boy," Tenzai said, watching him eat. "Your stance, your eyes… You've been trained."

Rai swallowed hard. "My father was Master Shin of the Black Veil Academy."

Tenzai's expression darkened. "The Black Veil… I've heard of it. A noble place, or so they said. What happened?"

Rai clenched his fists, his appetite vanishing. "They were attacked. By a group called the Dark Fang. They killed everyone."

Tenzai leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "Dark Fang. That explains the rumors I've been hearing."

"What rumors?" Rai asked, leaning forward.

"They're more than assassins. They've been experimenting with something unnatural—using forbidden alchemy to create soldiers that aren't entirely human. Wolf-men, some call them. Beasts with the strength of ten men and the mind of a predator."

Rai's blood ran cold. "I saw them. They… they tore through our defenses like we were nothing."

Tenzai nodded grimly. "If what you say is true, the Dark Fang isn't just hunting power—they're building an army. And they won't stop until anyone who opposes them is wiped out."

---

For weeks, Rai stayed with Tenzai, learning everything the older man was willing to teach. Tenzai was a hunter, but not an ordinary one—his prey was far more dangerous than any beast. He specialized in tracking and killing the wolf-men that now haunted Rai's nightmares.

Under Tenzai's guidance, Rai's skills grew sharper. He learned to craft weapons from the wilderness, to move silently even on unstable ground, and to set traps that could bring down creatures far larger than himself.

But it wasn't enough. Rai could feel it in his bones—if he wanted to stand a chance against Kael Drakos and his monstrous creations, he needed more.

---

One stormy night, Rai sat by the fire, sharpening a blade Tenzai had given him. The older man was cleaning a crossbow, his movements deliberate and precise.

"Tenzai," Rai said, breaking the silence. "Teach me how to kill them. The wolf-men."

Tenzai looked up, his expression unreadable. "You're not ready for that."

"I have to be," Rai insisted. "They destroyed my home. My family. If I don't stop them, they'll destroy everything else, too."

For a long moment, Tenzai said nothing. Then he sighed, setting the crossbow aside.

"All right," he said. "But understand this, boy: killing a wolf-man isn't just about strength or skill. It's about understanding what they are—what they've become. And if you're not careful, the darkness that drives them will find its way into you, too."

Rai met his gaze, his jaw set. "I don't care. I'll do whatever it takes."

Tenzai's eyes softened, just for a moment. "Then we begin at dawn."

As the storm raged outside, Rai felt the faintest flicker of hope. For the first time since the night of the attack, he wasn't alone. And with Tenzai's help, he would prepare for the fight of his life.

But in the shadows beyond the cabin, unseen eyes watched. The wolf-men were never far, and they were always hungry.