One could not escape it. It took up the smallest of spaces and covered the largest. It surrounded the largest embodiment of light, the celestial body known as the sun. It was in the minds of all, decaying everything in its path. Darkness. It was everywhere.
Hargeon was plunged in a darkness. Not a darkness that could decay, but a darkness that put towns to sleep. A darkness known as the night. With nightfall, the town was devoid of life and instead filled with a silent echo. The beach was no different.
The beach sang a silent song. A gentle breeze danced to the tune as the tide of sea swayed with each note. Watching this performance was Shin. He sat atop the sand, his amber gaze on the sea before him. His white t-shirt and blue denim jeans ruffled in the breeze as the sea kissed the soles of his feet ever so gingerly. He was the lonesome soul on this beautiful beach, taking in the darkness rather than avoiding it. The flame that once gave his eyes a fierce look had been doused. The light that once motivated him had been engulfed in darkness. The man that was once an embodiment of pride was no more. The phantom was drifting away.
Eyes closed, a breath escaped his lips, lingering in the air for a moment before fading into nothing. There was a darkness clawing at him. A darkness that had been long hidden. His mind was clouded with thoughts that he had been long avoiding. However, these thoughts were brought to life during the meeting at the lighthouse. These thoughts further dragged Shin into the darkness. With another breath, Shin looked to the moon as he opened his eyes. The beach served as the perfect metaphor. It was the place where Shin would wash the darkness away. The darkness that was everywhere.
These words continued to claw at his mind. The leader of Phantom Lord, the last line of defense for the guild, was no longer around. During the meeting, Shin's mind was clouded by this statement and it was no different now. The statement brought with it questions that currently had no answers. How did he die? Was his death a natural cause or was he murdered? If murdered, by who? Shin shifted his attention to the open sea before him. Phantom Lord had lost its most prominent member. The throne that he held was now vacant. A slight exhale escaped Shin's lips. The idea of being a guildmaster had never crossed his mind until the discussion at the lighthouse. Phantom Lord needed someone strong at its helm. Right now, Shin was not that person. He questioned his own decisions and was in a struggle with himself. He needed to detach himself from the darkness that he was drowning in. He needed to reignite his pride. Closing his eyes, he lay on his back and spread his arms to the side. He was a phantom. The darkness was a phantom's playground. Rather then escape the darkness, he would need to embrace it.