Kage No Noroi
Kage No Noroi.
Chapter One: The Broken Beginning
The sky was painted in crimson, a fiery red that mirrored an unending inferno. A grand palace and an open courtyard, both consumed by black flames, their tongues of fire dancing in an eerie, silent rhythm. Flickering images of screaming shadows, distorted faces vanishing into darkness, and rain—an unnatural, blood-colored rain—poured relentlessly, drenching the ground. Fragmented visions of alien worlds appeared and disappeared, a chaotic jumble of incomprehensible scenes.
Amid this turmoil, one voice pierced through, sharp and unmistakable: “Subaru! Wake up!”
The Nightmare and Reality
Subaru jolted awake as if dragged from the clutches of death. His chest heaved, breath erratic, eyes wide with terror. Beads of sweat streamed down his face, mixing with tears that fell unconsciously. His body was stiff, paralyzed, as though the nightmare had chained him even in wakefulness. “Subaru!” The voice came again, firmer this time. It was Norikage, his twin and his shadow, standing beside him. His strong features betrayed a deep concern, though his voice carried a commanding edge. “The room’s on fire!”
These weren’t just terrifying words—they were true. The room was engulfed in black flames, the walls cracking, the ceiling on the verge of collapse.
Escape to the Road
The twins barely managed to escape the blazing house. Outside, the cold night air bit into their skin as the fire roared behind them. Subaru sat on the roadside, curled into himself, his face buried in his hands. Beside him, Norikage sat in silence, the ever-present shadow watching over him.
Eventually, Norikage broke the silence with a wry smirk: “So, where are we sleeping tonight?”
His words carried a hint of unease, though he masked it with humor. Looking at Subaru, he added with a small, knowing smile: “We can’t keep living like this. You need to control that power.”
Subaru lifted his head slowly, his voice barely audible: “Let’s go… Kenji and Ryoji are waiting.” He rose shakily, burdened by more than the nightmare—perhaps by the reality it represented. Norikage followed, stretching lazily but glancing at Subaru’s left wrist. There, the black flames had left a faint mark, a chilling reminder of what had just happened.
The Older Brother and the Shadow
As they walked, Norikage cast a sidelong glance at his brother and thought: “Kuroda Subaru… To the world, he’s the strong one. But I know the truth.”
He turned his gaze to the sky, carrying the weight of unspoken worries. With a quiet resolve, he murmured to himself: “I won’t let him face this alone.”
The end of Chapter 1!!