The light that had formed on the stones remained visible for several minutes. Kael stood before the first stone. No one spoke. Around him, the Imperial Knights had formed a perimeter while the Black Ravens watched the surrounding forest. The nobles had stayed slightly farther back. Some whispered among themselves. Others simply watched Kael. Prince Lucien Arclight finally stepped forward. — This path wasn't on the Imperial maps. Kael looked at him. — Are you sure? Lucien nodded. — Absolutely. Elara joined her brother. She studied the glowing trail. — Yet it seems to have been activated recently. Kael lowered his eyes toward the stone. — It activated when I touched the mechanism. Eryan Valis, who had remained in the background until then, slowly approached. — Then I was right. Kael turned toward him. — About what? Eryan looked toward the glowing path. — Your father never finished his journey. Darius frowned. — What do you mean? Eryan took a few seconds before answering. — He discovered L-04. Kael froze slightly. — He went there? — Yes. Lucien Arclight stepped forward. — You saw him? Eryan turned toward the prince. — No. — Then how do you know? — Because he told me. Kael looked at Eryan carefully. — When? — The last time I saw him. Eryan paused. — He told me he'd found a path that went beyond Lorn. Kael looked at the glowing trail. — Auralis. — Yes. Elara stepped closer. — And what was in Auralis? Eryan shook his head. — He never told me. Noah, standing behind Adrian, muttered: — I'm starting to think Kael's father really did love keeping important information to himself. Adrian gave him a look. — This probably isn't the time. — I know. Noah lowered his voice. — Still doesn't make me wrong. Lysandra hid a smile. Kael had heard them. He didn't turn around. But the faintest smile crossed his face. Then it disappeared. His attention returned to the path. --- Aldren stepped forward as well. The old commander studied the stones with a grave expression. — We can't leave immediately. Kael looked at him. — Why? — Because we don't know what's waiting at the end. Darius nodded. — And because someone got here before us. He pointed toward the tracks they had discovered earlier. Fresh footprints. Some belonged to members of their group. Others were different. Smaller. And most importantly, they came from the north. Gareth crouched down. He moved two fingers over the ground without touching the tracks. — They're recent. Armand Caelis joined him. — How recent? — A few hours at most. Armand looked at Kael. — So we're not the only ones who know about this path. Kael nodded. — No. Prince Lucien studied the tracks. — Could someone have followed us from Lorn? Darius shook his head. — Possibly. — Or someone was already here before us, Gareth added. Kael looked toward the forest. The wind moved gently through the branches. Everything seemed normal. Too normal. He had learned to distrust that feeling. — We move. Aldren turned. — Now? — Not far. Kael pointed toward the first stone. — We'll follow the path to the next marker. No farther. Darius thought for a moment. Then nodded. — Works for me. Armand immediately gave orders to his knights. The Imperials spread out along the sides of the group. The Black Ravens did the same. The nobles were kept in the center. This time, no one objected. Even the most impatient among them understood that something had changed. They were no longer simply exploring the ruins of Lorn. They were following an ancient path. A path created for someone. And that someone was Kael. --- The group moved for about twenty minutes. The light continued appearing at regular intervals. Each new stone awakened as Kael approached. Sometimes it was enough for him to come within a few feet. Other times, he had to place his hand on it. Each activation produced the same symbol. An incomplete circle crossed by a vertical line. But at the fourth stone, something changed. Kael stopped. — Wait. Everyone froze. Darius approached. — What is it? Kael was staring at the ground. — This stone is different. Lucian stepped closer. — How? Kael placed his hand on it. Nothing happened. Then he turned toward the forest. — It doesn't react to me. Elara frowned. — Then why is it here? Kael didn't answer. Nyxara, who had been walking several yards behind them, approached. The Nocterys studied the stone. Then she raised her head. A low growl came from her throat. Darius immediately placed a hand on his weapon. — Something there? Nyxara stared into the trees. Kael followed her gaze. — Someone is there. The Imperial Knights drew their weapons. The Black Ravens shifted into formation. The nobles stepped back. A branch snapped. Then another. Kael raised a hand. — Don't fire. Darius looked at the trees. — You sure? — No. Darius gave him a faint smile. — At least you're honest. A figure finally appeared between the trees. A man. He wore a dark gray cloak. He stopped about thirty yards away. No insignia. No visible weapon. Kael studied him. — Who are you? The man didn't answer. He looked at the stone. Then at Kael. — You finally found the path. Darius stepped forward. — Answer the question. The man didn't seem to acknowledge him. His eyes remained fixed on Kael. — Your father was right. Kael immediately felt his aura react. — About what? The man smiled faintly. — You look like him. Darius partially drew his weapon. — Enough. Kael raised a hand. — Wait. He took a step forward. — My father knew you? The man shook his head. — Not me. — Then how do you know about his work? — Because I know the people who were hunting him. Kael froze. Prince Lucien Arclight stepped forward. — Who? The man turned his head slightly. His expression changed. — You. The prince remained still. — What? — Your family should have known. Elara stepped forward. — Known what? The man looked over the group. — What your predecessor did. A sudden silence fell. Kael immediately sensed that something had changed. He looked at Lucien. The prince had gone pale. — What are you talking about? he asked. The man answered: — The agreement. Lucien frowned. — What agreement? The man smiled without humor. — The one between the former Emperor and your father. Kael stopped moving. Ethan slowly turned toward his brother. Darius watched Lucien. Elara looked at the stranger in disbelief. — What agreement? Kael repeated. The man looked directly at him. — The agreement that allowed your father to continue his research without being stopped by the Empire. Silence. Even Noah had nothing to say. Kael looked at Lucien. — Is that true? The prince remained silent. Then he answered: — I didn't know about that agreement. Kael stared at him. — But you knew they worked together. Lucien clenched his jaw slightly. — I knew my predecessor had met your father. — That's not the same thing. — I know. Elara spoke quietly. — Lucien isn't lying to you. Kael turned toward her. — Are you sure? She nodded. — Yes. Then she looked at her brother. — We only discovered some of the Imperial records recently. Kael remained thoughtful. The stranger, meanwhile, looked almost amused. — You're all looking for answers in the wrong place. Darius frowned. — Then where should we look? The man looked toward the path. — North. Kael followed his gaze. — Auralis. The man nodded. — Yes. Then he took a step back. Darius tensed. — Wait. The man raised his hands. — I'm not your enemy. — That's exactly what people say before becoming a problem. The man gave him a faint smile. — You're right. Then he looked at Kael. — But I can't stay. Kael stepped forward. — Why? — Because they know you've activated the path. — Who? The man turned away. — Those who want to make sure you never arrive. An arrow suddenly shot through the trees. Darius reacted instantly, knocking it aside with a sharp movement. — Take cover! Everyone scattered. A second arrow struck the stone beside Kael. Nyxara leapt in front of him. Her fangs appeared. The Imperial Knights formed a circle around the nobles. The Black Ravens rushed toward the forest. — Left! Gareth shouted. Figures appeared between the trees. Six. Then eight. Kael's aura tightened. — Them again. Darius moved to his side. — Yeah. The first attacker charged. An Imperial Knight intercepted him. Their weapons clashed. Gareth engaged another. Armand immediately began issuing orders. — Protect the Imperial family! Elara moved beside Lucien. — I can defend myself. — I know, Armand replied. But this isn't the time. Noah backed away with Adrian. — I think our peaceful walk just ended. Adrian drew his weapon. — You can still consider it a guided tour. — I hate your guided tours. Lysandra raised her aura. — Noah. — Yeah? — Focus. — I am focused. A figure appeared behind them. Adrian spun around immediately. His attack forced the man back. Lysandra followed with a spell that locked his movement. Noah grinned. — This is why I stay with you two. — You could also help. — I was about to. --- At the center of the battle, Kael watched. The attackers weren't trying to kill them. They were trying to reach the path. More specifically, the glowing stones. Kael realized it after a few seconds. — Darius! — What? — They're trying to destroy the markers. Darius saw one of the attackers strike a stone. The light flickered. — Then we stop them. He immediately charged forward. Kael gathered his aura. A dark wave spread around him. Not enough to trigger the Echo of the Void. But enough to force two attackers backward. Nyxara leapt toward another. The man stopped abruptly. He took a step back. — A Nocterys... Kael approached. — You know what she is? The man didn't answer. Kael understood. They knew about House Veyron. They knew about the ancient systems. And now they knew about Nyxara. — Darius! The Black Raven commander turned. — What? — They knew she'd be here! Darius understood immediately. — They've been watching us since before Lorn. An explosion sounded farther away. The fourth stone cracked. Kael turned. The light went out. — No. He ran. Darius followed. But before they reached the stone, the man in the gray cloak appeared in front of them. He had a wound on his arm. — Kael. Kael stopped. — You're hurt. — It's nothing. — Who are you? The man looked at him. — Someone who knew your father. Kael frowned. — You said you didn't know him. — I didn't say I didn't know his story. The man looked at the cracked stone. — They'll come back. — Who? He hesitated. Then answered: — Rovenhart's men aren't the only ones searching for Auralis. Kael froze. Darius turned. — Rovenhart? The man stepped back. — You already have enough answers for today. Kael moved forward. — Wait! But the man disappeared into the trees. Darius started after him. Kael caught his arm. — No. — Why? Kael stared into the forest. — Because he wanted us to follow him. Darius stopped. — A trap? — Probably. Around them, the fighting was slowing. The remaining attackers were retreating. The knights didn't pursue them. Aldren ordered everyone to remain in formation. Within minutes, the forest was quiet again. But the path had changed. One of the stones was cracked. The light was fading. And someone had just confirmed that the name Rovenhart was connected to Auralis. --- Lucien approached Kael. His expression was grave. — Kael. Kael turned. — Yes? The prince looked at the destroyed stone. — We need to talk. — About the former Emperor? Lucien nodded. — Yes. Elara joined them. — And about what our family actually knew. Kael looked at the path. Then at his brother. Then at Darius. — Not here. Darius immediately agreed. — Back to camp. Kael nodded. He looked north one last time. The final active stone glowed faintly. As if the path were waiting. But this time, Kael had more than one question about his parents. He had another. Why had the former Emperor worked with his father? And more importantly... what had he promised in return? Kael turned. — Let's go back. Nyxara moved to his side. Lysandra walked a few steps behind him. Ethan joined his brother. Around them, both orders returned to formation. The path to Auralis wasn't over. But now Kael knew one thing. Someone, somewhere, was doing everything they could to make sure he never reached his destination. And this time... House Veyron might not be the only family involved.

The Path North