Summary
“Liam was always the shadow at my back, loyal, unshakable, almost as reliable as the everlasting snow… until he wasn’t. Until the night he left me to burn.
I thought ten years would be enough to forget him. I was wrong. One glance across a lively tavern was all it took to undo everything I’d worked for.”
Prince Talo was twelve when he lost his parents, his best friend, and the last of his trust, left only with an unfamiliar light thrumming beneath his skin.
Now, a decade later, all Talo wants is to be seen as a strong leader, a formidable foe, and most of all, to never be useless again. But all it takes is one reckless moment to shatter his hard-won respect and tear his life apart in more ways than he could’ve imagined.
Worse still, Liam, the boy whom he despises most, is tangled in the fallout. And he’s the only one who can help Talo piece it back together.
Working with Liam may cost Talo more than he’s willing to give. But if they fail, the regent will tighten his grip, the people will starve, and Talo will lose all he’s fought to become.
Surrender Only Longing
Shadow Onto Light may still be in development, but fear not for I have prepared a delicious meal to feed your brainrot! And it comes in the form of an Official Taliam Prequel Short Story!
Five years after their separation, Talo and Liam end up in the same place at the same time. But with the backdrop of Luminfall, a festival of anonymity, will they recognize each other? Do they even want to? Only time will tell…
Behind The Story
Shadow Onto Light is a fantasy BL story I’ve been diligently working on over the last few years.
But more than that, it’s my love letter to eternal winter. Not as a doomsday curse, but as something whimsical, gorgeous, and alive. I want to capture the magic of frost-bound forests, frozen lakes, cozy taverns, snow-dusted streets, and aurora-lit nights, while showing that beauty and hardship can coexist.
At its heart, this is a story about two boys who juxtapose each other in a thousand different ways, from their magic to their taste in food, struggling to find balance in their tilted lives. All while the fate of a kingdom that doesn’t know it’s dying rests in their hands.
But beyond kingdoms and magic, I want to show the beauty of small moments; the kind that pull you back to yourself when everything else is falling apart. Because while epic battles and betrayals may shape the world, it’s the stolen laughter, the warmth of a fire, or the soft press of hands in the cold that truly matter.
Support The Project
Find out how you can support the production of Shadow Onto Light here.
Notice any words you don’t know? Check out the term index:
₊⊹ Meet The Characters ⊹₊
Tap or hover to flip the cards!
Talo
Nightshade
Talo Nightshade
He/Him | 5’9 | 22yrs
Light Magic
Crown Prince of Kōri
Talo wears his rage more often than his crown, with a sharp-tongue and sharper strikes. His gift is light itself, searing and blinding in his hands, a force as volatile as his heart. Talo’s determination draws people in like the blazing sun, and those who get close know his blunt honesty cuts deep enough to burn. But every light has its shadow, and his might just be the haunted memory of flames and a heart of shattered trust.
Liam
Silverling
Liam Silverling
He/Him | 6’2 | 22yrs
Shadow Magic
Hired Thief
Liam is nothing but reckless flirtation and sly deception. Darkness bends to his will and he steps through realms where breath cannot follow. He plays the scoundrel as one might play with knives. Every action cuts him thinner as if disappearing piece by piece is exactly what he plans to do. But beneath all his charm lies a boy who simply gazes at the stars like they might give him the answers he’s too afraid to hear.
Skye
Lance
Skye Lance
He/They | 6’1 | 23yrs
Wind Magic
Tavern Owner
Skye moves like the wind he commands, untouchable, restless, and always stirring up trouble. Mischief clings to them like a second skin, whether it’s trickery, thievery, or reckless abandon. They treat danger like a game, laughing as the world scrambles to catch them. For Skye, life is a stage, where being well dressed is just as important as pretending there’s a moral to the story, and he’ll never be caught out of character.
Atlas
Bane
Atlas Bane
He/Him | 5’11 | 23yrs
Location Magic
Underground Teacher
Atlas sees the world in ways no one else can, every drifting snowflake, every heartbeat, every tiny movement around him. Due to this he often appears half-mad, walking barefoot in the snow, catching things before they even have a chance to fall, rambling about weather patterns and the molecular structure of ice cream. He speaks without thought to his audience, often missing nuance and social cues, but he teaches with the conviction that knowledge itself is survival.
Moonra
Blossom
Moonra Blossom
She/Her | 6’3 | 25yrs
Gravity Magic
Military Commander
Loud, laughing, and larger than life, Moonra commands her troops with the same ease she swings her colossal axe. Gravity obeys her every order, but she treats it like a toy more than a weapon, turning battles into brawls that almost feel like sport. Optimism radiates from her like the rays of the sun, impossible to dampen. If she carries grief, she buries it deep beneath ale, sunshine, and the steamy pages of her favorite romance novels.
Tealeaf
Nimris
Tealeaf Nimris
She/Her | 5’8 | 26yrs
Lifetrade Magic
Local Healer
Tealeaf lives in quiet defiance of her own power, refusing to let it be the dark thing it once was. Every act of healing leaves her wrapped in fresh scars and bandages, yet she offers it freely, stubbornly, even when it costs her more than most would ever give. She’s book-smart and sharp-tongued, known to throw things when her patience runs thin, but her heart is steady, plants, animals, and people alike flourish under her care, and no one will ever take that from her.
₊⊹ More Characters ⊹₊
Cassius
Palon
Cassius Palon
He/Him | 6’2 | 28yrs
Vine Magic
Captain of the Royal Guard
Cassius carries himself like the poisonous vines at his fingers, unruly and impossible to ignore. Once trained in medicine, he abandoned healing for the twisted artistry of pain, trading tonics and tinctures for thorns and steel, molded into a weapon by choice. Now Captain of the Royal Guard, Cassius wields his title with a sadist’s fascination, thriving on riches and power. He is unreliable to everyone but the crown and bathes in impracticality.
June
Palon
June Palon
He/Him | 5’4 | 20yrs
Plant Magic
Court Physician
June learned young that survival meant responsibility, healing the wounds others leave behind. Sharp-tongued, sharp-minded, and a little too short for his own liking, June balances brilliance with sarcasm and irritation with care. Plants bend to his will, knowledge stacks endlessly in his mind, and yet he remains someone who would rather observe than be observed.
Skorch
Nightveil
Skorch Nightveil
He/Him | 6’0 | 47yrs
Regent of Kōri
Regent Skorch is a man who leaves nothing to chance, he moves through the palace with measured intent, every gesture polished, every word chosen with care. He believes in structure and prides himself on practicality. Skorch inspires devotion through precise direction, cultivated worship, and the careful pruning of anything unnecessary. In his presence loyalty is currency and incompetence is unforgivable.
Diablo
Haze
Diablo Haze
He/Him | 6’0 | 23yrs
Marionette Magic
Prison Guard
Diablo’s world is threaded together by invisible strings. Cool, sarcastic, and perpetually unimpressed, he controls people and animals like marionettes, slipping behind their sight to borrow it as his own. A master of irritation and subtle cruelty. Most days, he prefers the company of mice or stray cats over people, at least they don’t complain when he cheats at cards.
Merlin
Amaryllis
Merlin Amaryllis
He/She/They | 5’7 | 29yrs
Illusion Magic
Rogue
Merlin lives for excess. Wine, fashion, men, women, power, they want it all, and they want it dazzling. His illusions blur reality and madness, warping minds until no one can be sure what’s true. Unpredictable and indulgent, Merlin delights in manipulation like others delight in music, weaving entire performances of lies and dreams. They change their appearance as easily as their whims, leaving only the certainty that boredom will never be in her presence.
Milky
Milky
She/Her
Snow Fox
Milky is a snow fox who decided, quite simply, that Liam belonged to her. Mischievous and affectionate, she’s equal parts guide, menace, and devoted companion. She likes fish, shiny things, burying herself in snowdrifts, and stealing the warmest spot in any room (usually Liam’s lap).
Get to know the world of Frost
Seasons | Map | Inhabitants | Culture
Frost is a planet that drifts just a little too far from the sun, its every season wrapped in snow. Beneath the glittering snowdrifts twirls the steady rhythm of magic, often unseen yet ever-present.
Talo and Liam’s story takes place in the Kingdom of Kōri, an island country with unforgiving mountains, rich beliefs, and a sprawling underground city.
The Seasons
Imbris
₊ ݁⋆”˚.ೃ࿔ 🌊*₊.”˚༄. ݁⋆
Snowstorms and high tides, monsoons and rain that needles rather than drizzles, glaze vipers curling around phoenix pine branches, whales calling from the ocean and frogs croaking from thawing ponds, seared fish and maple cider, ships creaking against the harbour, and hands are joined to put the world back together.
Spring equivalent; also known as the storm season, the drowning season, and the forming season.
The weather can be unforgiving but people are happy to be free from the darkness of Noctis, everyone works together to get through the storms Imbris throws at them.
Solis
ִֶָ𓏲⊹.˚☀︎ ₊ 🦋་.*˚☀︎⸝⸝𓏲⁺.
Glittering snow and fluttering moths, gentle winds but rolling avalanches, snowflake cookies and shaved ice with pine syrup, ermines bounding and snow birds chirping, snow foxes forage and polar bears wander, snow angels line the fields of snow, and touchless dancing fills the most sunkissed days.
Summer equivalent; also known as the fair season, the bright season, and the living season.
The busiest season of the year, people enjoy the reprieve from the harsher seasons, they hunt and harvest, they dance and marry, it always seems like the most important things happen during Solis.
Fractis
⋆｡*.❆:｡* 💠 : ❆˚*‧:｡⋆
Cracking ice and frostbitten mist, clicking and clacking of fur coated creatures breaks suffocating silence, cold snaps and brittle twigs, frost crawling up windows, cotton sealed doors and crackling hearths, walnut stew and dried meats and fruits, white haze fills cobblestone streets, and every breath is held as the final rays of sun say goodnight.
Autumn equivalent; also known as the dry season, the quiet season, and the dying season.
The less fortunate often migrate to Chorís Ástra for Fractis as their homes cannot protect them from the cold.
Noctis
˖°.☽⁺˖.*𖥔. 🌑 °˖.☾*:･⁺˖
Dark days and starlit nights, glowing eyes and cooing owls, ice-carved lanterns and rushing rivers, sweet tarts and root vegetable soup, luminescent beetles float amongst trees and iridescent jellyfish float along shores, snow crunches under booted feet, mulled wine is shared and merriment is had to beckon back the light.
Winter equivalent; also known as the dark season, the hopeful season, and the calling season.
People begin to reconvene after the deadly atmosphere of Fractis and there’s a hopeful mood in the air as they try to bring back the light.
The Map
The visual map of Kōri is still being drawn! However, the main regions are detailed below:
Glacier’s Crown: Nobles quarters, merchant streets, and common homes spiral around the Palace Mountains, which rise even higher than the enormous glacier surrounding most of the region. There is nothing you won’t find here, lively markets sell anything one could dream of, entertainment halls lay between noble streets, festivals are held in every square all throughout the year, and most grandly, the Royal Palace. The towering stone structure holds everything from banquet halls, ballrooms, and training grounds to courtyards, libraries, and observatories. And at its heart, the Royal Botanical Gardens, a marvel of glass and tropical plants that provide both awe and luxury.
Avalia: The frequent avalanches of this cliffed region leave everything blanketed in fresh snow more often than anywhere else, often burying smaller establishments. Little is ever built here outside of taverns and resting spots for travellers due the impermanence of the location. Not to mention the infamous ice spire forest, where countless snowbornes have never returned from… or have gone mad by the time they did.
The White Sea: A pure white landscape broken only by the fishing holes and outposts dotted around, there is no true sea here, only suffocating nothingness.
Ashfall: Vast groves of all kinds cover most of this region, making it the prime place for hunting. It’s one of the few areas in Kōri one can find spots of natural grass, or more often, marsh and moss, creeping around the exposed roots and trunks of Phoenix Pines, a tree which emits warmth year-round. Cobblestone bridges curve over the rivers smooth as glass that dissect the region, reflecting the sun like liquid fire by day, and the moon like molten silver by night.
Frosted Cradle: Along the far southern coast of this region lies Kōri’s only major harbor, a place overflowing with vibrancy. The scent of salt air and fish hangs thick as foreign ships unload their treasures and traders haggle through the rush. Musicians play at every corner, dancers perform on frozen docks, and laughter clatters across the waves like thunder. The whole region is practically built to leech coin straight from the pockets of travellers before and after their visit to Glacier’s Crown.
Chorís Ástra: Beneath all the regions sprawls a massive underground city. Labourers, merchants, and thieves alike walk the canal lined streets, mist swirling around their ankles. Everyone has something to do or somewhere to be, for any lingerers are sent straight to the Rings, if they cannot be of use the least they can do is provide entertainment. If Glacier’s Crown is where you’ll find everything you could dream of, Chorís Ástra is where you’ll find everything you should never want.
Take a short rest at Sol’s Winter Bakery?
The Inhabitants
Snowbornes
The people of Frost are a hardy and diverse kind, they aren’t quite human, though at a glance they may seem it. Their skin is thick against the cold, their canines sharp, their pupils narrow to slits in the sun and widen considerably in darkness. Some are crowned with horns or trailed by tails, many have hair or eyes with vibrant hues, hereditary traits of a wide variety spread throughout the populace, but rarely are they seen as unusual.
Magic flows differently through every snowborne, every gift is unique to the surroundings they were in when they received it, and some never receive magic at all. It’s often seen as a blessing to not have magic, as many believe it means a person has not been subject to hardship or horrors. A quiet proof that one’s life has not yet demanded such a desperate second chance.
Diurnals
Those who remain on the surface through every season are often referred to as Diurnals. They live by grit and ritual, building with stone, wood, and fur. They stay close to firelight and keep a sturdy faith in the Snow Goddess. To some they seem obtuse and inflexible, but their strength is what sees them through storms and harsher months.
Nocturnals
Deep underground lies Chorís Ástra, home to many Nocturnals. These people rarely walk the surface, choosing instead the cloaked safety of mist covered streets and dark canals. They keep an intense set of beliefs around stars and unseen magics. Over time, the air etches dark arcs beneath their eyes, a mark Diurnals call a curse, believing they’ve disrespected the Snow Goddess herself.
Flora + Fauna
In a land of endless snow, life thrives more than you’d expect. Plants and animals are stronger, sturdier, and highly adaptable. Common fauna like caribou, wolves, rabbits, and bears, roam alongside stranger creatures like glaze vipers and massive hoarfrost spiders. Polar bears are trained as common work animals and snow foxes as guides or couriers. Phoenix Pines stay warm to the touch unless cut, where their branches turn cold and their severed stumps burst into flames. And hardy flora, winter berries, and root vegetables flourish across the frozen expanse.
While Diurnals see the sky each day and take the stars for granted, Nocturnals from Chorís Ástra, who dwell beneath stone and shadow, regard the stars with reverence. Each rare glimpse is sacred; a fortune written in silver ink, a secret of the universe waiting to be read.
Shall we see what secrets the stars hold for you?
The Culture
Customs
Naming Conventions: Rather than taking on a spouse’s name through marriage, last names are often a combination of the parents names together.
(eg. Theo Nightveil + Zeniya Shade = Talo Nightshade)
Flairglaice: The act of securing a partnership of any kind by melting two slabs of ice tied together with ribbon.
Festivals
Stormfeast – A huge feast held at the first signs of light and storm after the quiet darkness of Noctis.
Sunshade Festival – A lively festival held during Solis, meant to be a reprieve from the warm weather.
Nocturne Revel – An inviting revel held in Chorís Ástra at the brink of Fractis, when those who cannot brave the harsh season migrate underground for the colder months.
Luminfall – A celebration held during the longest aurora of the year, falling sometime during Noctis.
Luminfall is a festival of anonymity, where crystal masks hide faces and the past can be forgotten, if only for a night. But when Talo and Liam cross paths under its colourful sky, five years after their separation, will they recognize each other? Or will the festival’s shadows keep them apart?
Food
A life of freezing temperatures and snowstorms demands resourcefulness, and snowbornes have grown skilled at coaxing warmth and sustenance from the cold. Tables are often set with fresh fish, rich bear meat, or hearty cuts of caribou. Dried fruit, nuts, and winter berries are popular snacks. While root vegetables and mushrooms add an earthy touch to stews served with bread.
Many regions bring their own flavour to the table too. In Chorís Ástra, candied beetles glimmer like sugared gems under lantern light. In the staggering heights of Glacier’s Crown, the Royal Botanical Gardens provide sweet tropical fruits, often reserved for nobles and grand feasts. And along the coast of Frosted Cradle, isopod stew is served steaming from the shell, a briny meal that’s said to taste like the ocean itself.
~ Keep the hearth lit ~
If you’ve made it all the way down here, thankyu. From the bottom of my heart, thankyu so so much for all your love and support for Shadow Onto Light, it means the world to me, truly.
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