What if your shadow had a mind of its own? What if it suddenly began making demands? What if it started ordering you around? What if it expected YOU to follow it?
Most of us take our shadows for granted. Do you ever think about your shadow? It is with you every day, everywhere you go. Whether outside on a sunny day, or at night by candlelight, your shadow is there, imitating your every move. In the summer sun, your shadow is short and dark. In the slanting light of a sunset, it grows long, stretching out, following your stride. Your shadow is always changing, yet it is always exactly you. In fact, your shadow is the dark side of you. Do you ever wonder what your shadow is thinking?
This is the story of Ari, a young boy growing up in the village of Tenel. His destiny is to be swept away by an adventure that few could envision, and even fewer survive. The force that will drive Ari down this perilous road is now his shadow.
Around Tenel and neighboring villages, ghosts sometimes creep out of the dark forests to terrorize villagers. Some materialize into dangerous beasts that ambush unwary wayfarers. The truly unlucky are left stricken by ghostly curses that leave them in misery.
One night, Ari's sister Annie is found lying on the path to her house, cursed. In a desperate bid to save her, Annie's family holds a séance with a mystical bottle that Ari's father had mysteriously acquired. The ceremony resurrects a spirit from the bottle named Master Stanley HiHat Trinidad XIV. Stan, as he likes to be called, is the spirit of an Evil King. And he is Annie's only hope.
Centuries ago Stan was locked away in the bottle, where he languished while other free spirits fed on his power. Stan had prided himself on his ability to strike pure terror in all who fell under his gaze. But after so many lifetimes locked away, he has grown too weak to even travel on his own, let alone terrify anyone.
Stan informs Ari's family that he wishes to inhabit the shadow of a living person. By enslaving a human, he can carry out his campaign of destruction against the false Evil Kings who have stolen his power and hopes to then regain his original form.
The situation is desperate... and the decision harsh. But to save his sister, Ari makes a pact with the demon. In exchange for lifting the curse, Ari will allow the Evil King, Stan, to become his shadow and his master. In the candlelight, Stan comes to life and Ari becomes enslaved in his terrible gaze.
Ari is transformed into a warrior on a strange quest to destroy evil on behalf of evil. Throughout the land, spirits swarm like locusts, ghosts drift through fields in broad daylight and Evil Kings are rumored to inhabit nearly every village. Ari will do as he is commanded, and draw his sword against all enemies of his shadow master. Along the way, Ari will gather a party of eccentric but powerful warriors who will stand by him in combat. His abilities will grow powerful, matching every enemy spell with a deadlier magic. He must become the strongest force in the land — or forever live under the shadow of evil. Ari must escape his shadow by stepping out of the light and into darkness.
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