The Lorn camp slowly began to wake. Morning light filtered through the branches, casting long golden streaks across the tents. The knights had already resumed their posts. Some were checking the horses. Others were inspecting the area around the ruins they had discovered the previous day. Several nobles had left their tents and gathered around the central area. The night had been eventful. But no one yet knew exactly what Kael and his group had discovered beneath L-01. At the center of the camp, Crown Prince Lucien Arclight was speaking with Armand Caelis. Princess Elara stood a few feet away, accompanied by two Imperial Knights. Around them, several nobles from allied families watched the preparations with concern they were struggling to hide. One young noble finally asked: — How long are we going to stay here? Armand answered calmly: — Until Patriarch Veyron decides the area is safe. The noble frowned. — With all due respect, we've already lost an entire night in this forest. A voice came from behind him. — Then you can leave. The noble turned around. Kael had just arrived. He was still wearing his long dark coat. His expression was perfectly calm. Darius walked a few steps behind him. Ethan and Lysandra had also just stepped out of their tent. The noble immediately straightened. — Patriarch Veyron. Kael gave him a simple nod. — If you believe staying here is too dangerous, no one is forcing you to continue the expedition. The noble hesitated. — I didn't say that. — You just did. Noah, who was approaching with Adrian, suppressed a smile. Adrian gave him a look. Noah whispered: — I like it when Kael does that. Lysandra heard him. — Of course you do. Crown Prince Lucien approached. — Kael. Kael turned his head. — Your Highness. Lucien gave him a faint smile. — I think everyone is waiting for an explanation. Kael looked around. The nobles. The Imperial Knights. The Valennes. The Black Ravens. Elara. They were all waiting. Kael remained quiet for a few seconds. Then he answered: — We discovered something beneath L-01. Several people immediately exchanged glances. Lucien remained attentive. — Something dangerous? — Potentially. Elara stepped closer. — And you know what it is? Kael slightly shook his head. — Not yet. The princess studied his expression. — But you found something important. Kael nodded. — Yes. A murmur went through the group. Duke Valenne, who was standing not far from Marianne and Lysandra, then spoke. — Is it connected to the disappearance of your parents? Kael slowly turned his eyes toward him. The noble seemed to realize that he had just asked a particularly personal question. But Kael answered. — Yes. The silence that followed felt different. Heavier. Lysandra watched Kael carefully. She now knew what he had discovered. She also knew what he had gone through during the night. But she said nothing. Kael continued: — We also discovered the existence of a fourth origin. Lucien frowned. — A fourth? — Asteria. Veyron. Lorn. Kael paused. — And another region far to the north. Armand crossed his arms. — Do you know its name? Kael looked toward Eryan. The man was standing slightly apart from the others. He had agreed to speak in front of the group. — Auralis, Kael answered. The name immediately drew a reaction. An elderly noble standing near the fire suddenly looked up. — Auralis? Everyone turned toward him. The old man seemed to have lost some of his color. Kael approached. — You know that name? The noble hesitated. — Only from my family's records. Lucien looked at him. — What do they say? The old man took several seconds before answering. — That the territory no longer exists. Darius frowned. — Eryan just said otherwise. The noble looked at Eryan. — Then your friend is mistaken. Eryan didn't react. Kael, however, studied the old man carefully. — Why? — Because Auralis disappeared more than two centuries ago. Elara stepped closer. — An entire territory doesn't simply disappear. The noble lowered his eyes slightly. — That one did. Silence fell again. Kael immediately sensed that something was wrong. He looked at Eryan. The man avoided his gaze. Kael understood. There was still something Eryan hadn't told him. --- Later, the nobles gradually returned to their tents. Crown Prince Lucien ordered Armand to increase security around the camp. Elara remained near the center, speaking with several members of the Valenne family. The Imperial Knights and Black Ravens spread out around the perimeter. Kael moved away with Darius. Ethan joined them. — Did you see the old noble's reaction? — Yes, Kael answered. — He knew about Auralis. — Or he knows something about it. Darius crossed his arms. — And Eryan wasn't completely honest. Kael nodded. — Not completely. Ethan glanced toward Eryan's tent. — Are you going to ask him? — Yes. Darius sighed. — I have a feeling we're about to discover something else. Kael gave a faint smile. — That's usually what happens. They headed toward Eryan. But before they reached his tent, a voice interrupted them. — Patriarch Veyron. Kael turned around. Crown Prince Lucien was walking toward them. Elara was beside him. Armand followed a few steps behind. — Your Highness. Lucien stopped in front of Kael. — I've heard about Auralis. Kael didn't answer immediately. — And? Lucien exchanged a glance with his sister. — That name appears in Imperial records. Darius raised his eyebrows slightly. Kael remained perfectly still. — What kind of records? Lucien hesitated. — Classified documents. Kael immediately understood. — How long has the Empire known about this name? — For a long time. Elara spoke softly: — But we never understood why it appeared in certain reports. Kael looked at the prince. — And now? Lucien gave him a faint smile. — Now we have a reason to start asking questions. Darius spoke up: — The prisoners at Asteria knew about A-02. Armand nodded. — And they were looking for what lies beneath that level. Lucien frowned. — A-03. Kael looked at him. — You know that name? The prince didn't answer immediately. Then he shook his head. — No. Kael studied his expression. Lucien continued: — But I've seen a reference to a similar structure in Imperial records. — Where? — In a report from several decades ago. Elara added: — The report mentioned a network of ancient passages. Kael's attention sharpened. — Between which places? Lucien looked around before answering. — Asteria. — Veyron. — Lorn. Then he paused. — And Auralis. Kael remained silent. The fourth point wasn't an isolated discovery after all. The Empire knew about it. His family knew about it. His father knew about it. And now, someone was trying to reach those same places. Everything was connected. But why? --- A cry suddenly rang out from the other side of the camp. Everyone turned. An Imperial Knight was running toward them. — Captain! Armand straightened. — What happened? The knight stopped in front of him. — We found something in the forest. Darius immediately placed a hand on his weapon. — Something? — A trace. Kael stepped forward. — Show us. The knight hesitated. — It's better if you come with me. Kael gestured to Darius. — Let's go. Lucien exchanged a look with Elara. — We're coming too. Armand nodded. — Your Highness. The group set off. Several nobles watched them leave from the camp. Marianne Valenne approached Lysandra. — You're not going with them? Lysandra looked at Kael. Then at her father. — I think I'll stay. Marianne smiled faintly. — Are you sure? Lysandra nodded. But her eyes followed Kael until he disappeared between the trees. --- They walked for nearly ten minutes. The Imperial Knight led them to an area west of the ruins. The vegetation was much denser there. Darius stopped. — Nobody touches anything. The knight nodded. In the center of a small clearing stood a black stone. It was half buried in the ground. Kael approached. He immediately recognized the symbol carved into it. The incomplete circle. The vertical line. But something had changed. At the center of the symbol was now a small red mark. Kael reached toward it. Darius gently caught his wrist. — Wait. Kael stopped. — It just appeared. Armand stepped closer. — How do you know? Darius pointed toward the ground. The soil was still damp. The stone had been moved recently. Kael studied the ground. Then he noticed the tracks. Footprints. Several people. — They were here. Armand crouched slightly. — The intruders? Kael shook his head. — No. He straightened. — These tracks are different. Lucien looked around. — Then who? Kael didn't answer. Nyxara suddenly emerged from between the trees. She stopped in front of the stone. Her ears lifted. Her gaze remained fixed on the symbol. Then she growled. Not at the people. At the stone. Kael approached her. — You know this? Nyxara didn't move. She simply placed one paw in front of the stone. The symbol lit up. Everyone stepped back. A red line appeared across the ground. It started at the stone. And moved north. Kael followed its path with his eyes. Straight toward the forest. Straight toward the mountains. Straight toward the unknown territory shown on the map. Auralis. Elara whispered: — She's showing us a path. Kael nodded. — Yes. Lucien looked at the symbol. — But why now? Kael knelt. The light intensified. A second inscription appeared. L-04 Darius stared at the letters. — Another level. Kael slowly placed his hand beside the stone. An image appeared in his mind. His father. Younger. Standing in exactly the same place. Someone else stood beside him. A figure Kael didn't recognize. His father seemed to be speaking to the person. But no sound reached Kael. Then the image changed. The figure slowly turned his head. Kael saw his face. And his heart nearly stopped. He knew this man. Not personally. But he had seen his face before. In an old family portrait. Kael abruptly pulled his hand away. Darius turned toward him. — What did you see? Kael didn't answer immediately. Lucian watched him carefully. — Kael? He finally looked up. — My father wasn't alone when he came here. Ethan, who had just arrived with Lysandra, stopped. — Who was with him? Kael looked toward the forest. Then at the stone. — Someone from the Imperial family. Lucien froze. Elara frowned. Armand exchanged a look with the prince. — Who? Lucien asked. Kael didn't answer immediately. He still seemed to be trying to understand what he had seen. Then he spoke a name. — The former Emperor. Lucien's expression changed. Elara remained motionless. Even Armand looked surprised. The wind swept through the clearing. The red light went out. And the stone became black again. Kael looked at the prince. — Your family knew. Lucien remained silent. Then he answered: — Not everything. Kael held his gaze. — Then we'll have to find out the rest. Far away in the forest, another symbol lit up. Then a second. Then a third. A glowing path gradually appeared between the trees. Northward. Toward Auralis. And this time, Kael understood that they were no longer simply following his parents' trail. Someone seemed to be showing them the way. Someone who knew they would come. And perhaps this time... someone was already waiting for them.

The Fourth Point