The people work hard but don’t make a lot of money. They can’t afford to travel to nearby lands because it costs too much to fly a dragon. Instead, they have to wait for metal boxes to come pick them up and drop them off on the other side of the kingdom. The metal box is always late and runs too hot or too cold.

Although life in the kingdom is hard, the residents of Heirloom are happy because of one thing: everyone in Heirloom has their own personal sun. That’s why the people are called the Sun Bearers.

And with this magic they can summon joy from deep sadness, conjure herbs and oils to cure illness, and replenish their strength. But most importantly, the sun guides the Sun Bearers so they never get lost in the darkness.

One day, the Sun Bearers witnessed candy falling from the sky! But not just any candy—Dragon’s Teeth. Dragon’s Teeth is candy with colored jelly in the center. Some centers are green like money, some are Kool-Aid red, and others gleam like gold. The candy was so pretty and smelled so good that the Sun Bearers ate it.

It was better than anything they had ever had. It wasn’t just that it tasted good; it made them feel good. Some said it was like a hundred paydays back to back. Some said they felt like they had the power to control things around them. But what most people said about Dragon’s Teeth was that it set them free.

Sun Bearers couldn’t afford dragons, so they didn’t know much about them. They had no idea that when dragons shed their teeth, it turns into a hard candy with a poisonous center. And by the time they found out, it was too late. The more they ate, the dimmer their sun became. Until eventually, it faded. Sun Bearers who no longer had a sun would come to be called Shadow People.

Shadow People hang around in dark corners, thin and limp, like boiled spaghetti. They have black lips that don’t know how to smile and holes where their eyes used to be. There are small, dark dots throughout their bodies to remind them that they belong to the shadows. They spend the day scratching what’s not really itching and replying to questions no one asked. Some are angry and quick to fight. Some are slow and don’t remember how to use their necks to hold their heads.

They wander throughout the towers, looking for the only thing they care about—Dragon’s Teeth. But now the candy isn’t free anymore. It costs. So the Shadow People do anything to get their hands on some money so they can get more.

Shadow People surround the kingdom. They lurk in doorways, hallways, and sidewalks.