“Hello, Raven,” he greeted with a smile.

“Hey, Lucas,” she replied. “How was your morning?”

“Well, thank you. What about you? Was your sleep peaceful? And your breakfast? Was it to your liking?”

“Yes, I did and yes, it was.”

“I am very glad to hear that. Now,” he outstretched his hand. “if I may, I would like to escort you.”

“Escort me? Where?”

“To the land beyond my castle. I am sure you are curious. Are you not?” Lucas raised a brow.

Raven smirked and took his hand. “You know me too well.”

Lucas felt the warmth of Raven’s hand. She felt fragile, but at the same time gentle. His guilt continued its conquest, but for now, he wanted to make it up to her. Since she was trapped here, the least he could do was show her his realm.

“Now then, are you ready?” he asked.

“As I’ll ever be,” Raven said, feeling a bit nervous.

Lucas smiled once again and pulled Raven close. Her hands laid on his chest, his face only inches away. “Hold on,” he spoke softly.

With a meek nod, a small circle of gray light appeared around them. Her eyes looked at the light, while Lucas kept his eyes solely on her. The light consumed them, causing them to vanish.

“Think master’s gonna blow it?” asked Tyra.

“Tyra! I have complete faith in master! I know he will not make a fool of himself!” Tomi defended.

“So~…five minutes?”

“Give him 10.”

**

The gray light appeared and vanished leaving Raven and Lucas in a place she was unfamiliar with. Lucas still held her close, not wanting to let go.

“Um, where are we?” Raven asked looking around.

“You wished to see my realm, so now you will,” he smiled.

Before Lucas began the tour, he told Raven about the different sections of his realm. Each section was for shadows of different time periods. Some would be in the prehistoric territory, while others would be in the middle ages. The human girl relayed that Tyra had already told her this information, but Lucas only chuckled. The Shadow King told her it was the shadow’s decision to choose which era they wished to reside. At first, she didn’t understand.

“Raven, tell me. Would prefer to be in a time you are comfortable with or familiar with?” the king asked.

“I-I don’t know. If I’d rather be in a place I’m comfortable with, but if I’m not familiar with it…then what’s the point?” she answered.

“Exactly,” he grinned.

Raven expressed a strange look. She didn’t understand what he meant.

“I have told you about the connection a human soul and their shadow share, right?” asked Lucas.

Raven nodded.

“That connection is so strong that the shadow wants to stay in the time their human soul was alive in. The shadows have the choice to live in any time period they wish. However, they chose to remain in the time in which their human soul once resided.”

Raven gasped. This was amazing! She had no idea a bond could be that strong. Now she really wanted to see his world. “Let’s go, Lucas!” she exclaimed.

Lucas smiled, and the gray light caused them to disappear once more.