A SOUL WITHOUT A SHADOW

Hey, PhD Shadow, your colors are becoming so deep and vivid," Design Shadow whispered, looking at its friend.PhD Shadow smiled softly and replied, "Oh, Design Shadow, you are right. Honestly, I think it is time for me to say goodbye very soon. My dreamer is so close to reaching their ultimate goal.""But that is wonderful news for you!" Design Shadow said, its eyes gleaming with joy."Yes, it truly is," PhD Shadow murmured happily.As the two shadows shared this tender moment, Artist Shadow walked up to them, noticing the warmth in their voices. "Why are you two looking so happy today?" Artist Shadow asked.It was only then that PhD Shadow and Design Shadow noticed something beautiful—Artist Shadow was glowing with a bright, radiant light."Are you leaving tomorrow morning?" PhD Shadow asked gently, mesmerized by the glow.Artist Shadow looked down at its luminous form. and whispered, "Maybe. My time is near, too."Suddenly, a lively voice echoed through the kingdom. "Everyone, gather around!" called out Dance Shadow. Hearing the excitement, all the shadows rushed over to listen.Standing before them, Dance Shadow announced with immense pride, "I am leaving this very evening! My human has finally achieved her biggest dream."Far away in the human world, a young girl named Jenny stepped out of a grand building. She had just finished a crucial audition, and against all odds, she had successfully made it—she was now officially a professional dancer.With trembling, joyful fingers, Jenny dialed her mother’s number to share the magical news. As soon as she hung up the phone, a deep sense of pride filled her heart on her walk back home.Looking at the sky, Jenny remembered the difficult days. She remembered the intense hours of dance practice, and the painful moment she severely injured her left toe. That injury had kept her bedridden for an entire month, unable to move or dance. She remembered the heavy waves of frustration and despair that had washed over her back then. It had felt completely impossible.Yet, she had refused to give up. And tonight, she had finally turned her impossible dream into a beautiful reality. Back in the kingdom, Dance Shadow dissolved into the light, finally claimed by its dreamer.Back in the kingdom, Creative Writing Shadow sat all alone in a quiet corner. With trembling eyes, it looked down at its own body. The vibrant, glowing colors it once held were slowly fading away, turning into a dull, lifeless grey. As Dance Shadow dissolved into a brilliant, radiant light and happily said goodbye to the realm, Creative Writing Shadow felt a sharp pang of sorrow. It finally understood the cruel truth—its dreamer had failed. Its owner was running out of time.Far away in the human world, a young girl named Hitomori lay on a cold hospital bed. She was a passionate writer, but right now, she was counting the very last breaths of her life. Even through the immense pain, Hitomori’s mind was not on her illness; she was desperately thinking about how to write the final chapter of her story.Around her, doctors and nurses were rushing, doing everything in their power to save her. But Hitomori knew. With fading strength, she looked up at the nurse standing beside her and whispered softly, "My story... its final part is still unfinished, you know? But I think my time is up. I wished so deeply... to see this story published in the world."The nurse listened to her heartbreaking words with absolute devotion, silently watching themonitor as Hitomori's time slipped away. Moments later, Hitomori’s breathing stopped. The room went completely silent.Hitomori was a stranger to the nurse. Yet, as the machine flatlined, tears pooled in the nurse’s eyes, soaking the edge of her medical mask. Hitomori was gone, but her final, unfinished dream had left its touch on the nurse's heart forever.In a quiet corner of The Kingdom of Shadows, Photographer Shadow sat with its chin resting on its hands, looking completely puzzled. It stared at its illusory camera and sighed, "What is even the point of all this photography? Why do humans dream of capturing pictures?"Hearing these words, Creative Writing Shadow—now heavily faded—looked up from the dark grass. "It is because of passion," it whispered, its voice weak but certain. "These dreams give humans a deep sense of self-satisfaction and inner joy. Photography, writing... they are not just hobbies. They are unique talents that shape their souls."Photographer Shadow frowned, watching its own body alter in real-time. "I just don't understand my human anymore," it admitted anxiously. "One moment they capture an absolutely breathtaking photograph, and the next, they take something completely strange and chaotic. Look at me—my colors keep appearing and disappearing like a broken lightbulb!"Creative Writing Shadow gave a gentle, understanding smile. "Don't worry," it reassured. "Your human hasn't strayed from the path. They are simply experimenting, learning, and trying to reach their true goal. At least you still have your colors. But look at me..."Photographer Shadow turned its gaze to its friend and paused, noticing the alarming state of the other shadow. "Your color..." it mumbled, stepping closer."I don't know what is happening," Creative Writing Shadow said, its voice trembling as it looked down at its nearly transparent hands."Maybe... maybe no one wants you anymore," Photographer Shadow suggested softly, fearing the worst.Creative Writing Shadow looked away, a tear of pure sorrow forming in its eyes. "Just a few days ago, I was perfectly fine. I was glowing. I don't understand what went wrong... why did everything change so suddenly?"Far away in the bustling, neon-lit streets of Tokyo, we meet a young boy named Ren. He works at a local convenience store, and just by looking at him, you can tell how incredibly bored and exhausted he is. Scanning items, stocking shelves, and dealing with endless customers—this mindless routine consumes every single day of his life.When Ren finally returns home one evening, his throat is raspy and hoarse. Seeing this, his mother immediately places a warm, steaming bowl of soup in front of him. In the past, whenever Ren had a sore throat, he would stubbornly refuse anything but a hot cup of coffee. Sensing this sudden change in his habit, his mother looks at him curiously."You used to only drink coffee when you were sick, and now you want soup? I honestly thought you wouldn't even touch this," she says, gently pushing the bowl closer to him.Ren doesn't say a word. He sits in heavy silence, slowly finishes his soup, and quietly retreats to his bedroom.Inside his room, Ren switches on his bedside lamp, props himself up against the pillowsFar away in the bustling, neon-lit streets of Tokyo, we meet a young boy named Ren. He works at a local convenience store, and just by looking at him, you can tell how incredibly bored and exhausted he is. Scanning items, stocking shelves, and dealing with endless customers—this mindless routine consumes every single day of his life.When Ren finally returns home one evening, his throat is raspy and hoarse. Seeing this, his mother immediately places a warm, steaming bowl of soup in front of him. In the past, whenever Ren had a sore throat, he would stubbornly refuse anything but a hot cup of coffee. Sensing this sudden change in his habit, his mother looks at him curiously."You used to only drink coffee when you were sick, and now you want soup? I honestly thought you wouldn't even touch this," she says, gently pushing the bowl closer to him.Ren doesn't say a word. He sits in heavy silence, slowly finishes his soup, and quietly retreats to his bedroom.Inside his room, Ren switches on his bedside lamp, props himself up against the pillows, and opens the window to stare out into the cold Tokyo night. The question his mother asked still echoes in his mind. Looking out at the distant city lights, Ren finally whispers the answer to himself in the quiet room."It's not just the coffee..." Ren murmurs, his voice filled with a deep, aching sadness. "My habit of writing stories is completely gone too. I can't write like I used to anymore. And without my stories, even the coffee has lost its tasteRen stared blankly out the window, the cold Tokyo breeze hitting his face. He felt entirely empty. He didn't know that miles away, in the dark corners of The Kingdom of Shadows, there was no shadow carrying his name. Ren had no dream left, no goals, and no burning passion. And in this mystical realm, when a human completely gives up on their inner light, their dream shadow simply ceases to exist. Ren was alive in the human world, but in the kingdom of dreams, he was entirely invisible.