Kael remained still for a long time, staring at the glowing point. The projection had disappeared several seconds ago, but he continued looking at the place where it had been. Where he waits. Four words. Not enough to understand. But enough to give him a direction. Kael picked up the black crystal and turned it between his fingers. No light. No projection. Nothing. As if the crystal had never reacted. He opened his notebook and quickly drew the map he had seen. He had only caught a glimpse of it, but several details were still perfectly clear in his mind. A corridor. A circular room. Three passages. And, at the end of the last one, a symbol identical to the one engraved on the crystal. Kael stopped. He had just realized something. The map probably wasn't pointing directly to the Crown Crypt. It was pointing to a place before it. A location that might give him access to it. He wrote down the theory. Then another question came to mind. Who had sent the projection? Did the crystal belong to someone? Or did it simply react to his presence? Kael had no answer. Not yet. --- The next morning, Kael went to the library before classes began. He needed to check something. He found the old maps of Asteria and began comparing them with the one he had drawn. For almost an hour, he found nothing. The official plans didn't match. The known foundations were too simple. The area shown in the projection didn't exist on any recent map. Then Kael found a particularly old document. It was almost impossible to read. Foundation Plans — Imperial Revision, Year 47. Kael unfolded it. His eyes moved across the lines. Then he stopped. A small circular room was marked on the plan. Three passages extended from it. Exactly like the room from his vision. Kael immediately focused on it. He compared the two maps. They matched. Almost perfectly. He wrote down the location. Then he noticed an annotation in the corner of the document. “Area sealed following the Incident of the Crown.” Kael remained silent. Again. The Crown. He memorized the details of the plan before putting it back in its place. “I knew I'd find you here eventually.” Kael looked up. Noah stood in front of the table, his arms crossed. His hair was slightly messy, and he looked as though he had spent the last few minutes searching for someone. Kael stared at him for a moment. “Good morning to you too.” “I've been looking for you for almost an hour.” “Why?” Noah stared at him in disbelief. “Because you're my best friend, and you disappeared again without telling anyone.” Kael slightly raised his shoulders. “I was in the library.” “Yes, I figured that out. The problem is that you could spend three days in here without noticing.” Kael slowly closed the document. “That's an exaggeration.” “Last time, you forgot to eat for almost an entire afternoon.” “I was busy.” “That's exactly what I'm talking about.” An amused voice came from behind Noah. “I think he has a point.” Lysandra had arrived. Noah turned toward her. “Thank you. Finally, someone understands my problem.” Kael looked at the two of them. “Are you forming an alliance against me?” “No,” Lysandra replied with a smile. “We're just trying to stop you from turning into a library ghost.” Noah placed a hand over his heart dramatically. “I'm worried about the mental health of my best friend.” Kael stared at him. “You're particularly annoying this morning.” Noah smiled. “So you're doing fine.” Kael remained silent. Then a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips. --- Noah finally noticed the old plan on the table. “What is that?” Kael hesitated. He hadn't planned on telling him everything. But Noah was his best friend. And, more importantly, he knew Kael well enough to recognize when he was hiding something. Kael turned the document toward him. “An old plan of Asteria's foundations.” Noah leaned over it. “And why are you looking for this?” Kael answered calmly. “Because I think part of the foundations was deliberately forgotten.” Noah looked up. “And obviously, you want to go see it.” “Not now.” Noah sighed. “I really wish you'd stop saying ‘not now’ as if it means ‘never.’” Lysandra covered a small laugh. Kael gave her a look. “Very funny.” Noah looked at the map again. “All right. But if you're actually planning to go down there, tell me.” Kael hesitated. “Noah…” “No. I'm not asking you to tell me everything. But if you're going to do something dangerous, I'd rather know.” Kael remained silent. Then he nodded. “All right.” Noah smiled. “Perfect. Now come to class before the professor decides you've disappeared into the archives.” --- A few minutes later, the three of them joined the other students. The theory magic class began. The professor was explaining the properties of ancient imperial artifacts. “Some magical objects don't have a function of their own. Instead, they act as relays. They can respond to a presence, a magical signature, or even a particular intention.” Kael looked up. A relay. He immediately thought of the crystal. The professor continued. “In some cases, an artifact can remain inactive for several decades before reacting again.” Kael wrote down a note. Then he raised his hand. “Can an artifact recognize a person connected to its former owner?” The professor thought for a moment. “It is possible, but extremely rare. There would have to be a particularly strong magical connection. A bloodline, an oath, or sometimes an imprint deliberately left behind.” Kael's expression hardened. An imprint deliberately left behind. He thought of his father. Then of the crystal in his pocket. Noah, sitting a few seats away, noticed his expression. He said nothing. But he understood that the answer had caught Kael's attention. --- During the break, Kael went outside into the courtyard. He needed to think. Noah joined him a few moments later. “You're making that face again.” Kael looked at his friend. “What face?” “The one where you think so hard that you could forget other people exist.” Kael gave a faint smile. “You know me too well.” “Unfortunately.” Noah leaned against the wall. “Do you want to talk about it?” Kael hesitated. Then he took out the crystal. Noah looked at it. “Is that new?” “I found it yesterday.” “And you didn't show me.” “I'm showing you now.” “After how long?” Kael didn't answer. Noah sighed. “Fine. I'll accept that as a victory.” Kael looked at the crystal. “It showed me something last night.” Noah's smile disappeared. “What?” “A map.” “A map of what?” “Asteria's foundations.” Noah looked at the crystal. “And you think it came from your parents?” Kael remained silent. “I don't know.” Noah slowly nodded. “Then don't assume it's definitely them.” Kael looked at him. “You're right.” Noah smiled slightly. “I can be useful sometimes.” “Only sometimes.” “There you go. You're starting to sound like yourself again.” Kael put the crystal away. Then he felt something. A presence. He looked toward the gardens. A figure had just disappeared behind the trees. Kael straightened. “Stay here.” Noah immediately stood. “What is it?” “Someone was there.” Kael headed toward the gardens. Noah followed. “You just told me to stay here!” “I know.” “Then why am I following you?” Kael kept walking. “Because you never listen to me.” “Exactly.” They reached the trees. Nobody was there. Kael examined the ground. No footprints. He straightened. Noah looked around. “Are you sure you saw someone?” “Yes.” “Then they left quickly.” Kael looked toward the academy buildings. “Or they didn't want to be found.” --- After classes, Kael met Lysandra again. They walked together through the corridors. “Noah told me you found something,” she said. Kael raised an eyebrow. “He already told you?” “He mostly said that you found a map and that you should stop doing dangerous things alone.” Kael sighed. “He's starting to sound like Lucian.” Lysandra smiled. “Maybe because he's worried about you.” Kael didn't answer immediately. Then he said: “I know.” “You care about him a lot.” Kael looked ahead. “He's my best friend.” Lysandra smiled. “Then try to trust him a little more.” Kael thought about it. “I'll try.” --- That night, Kael went to Lucian's office. His uncle was reading when he entered. “You found something.” “Yes.” Kael placed the map on the desk. Lucian examined it. His expression immediately changed. “Where did you find this?” “In the archives.” “This map shouldn't still be accessible.” Kael frowned. “Why?” Lucian gently placed his hand on the document. “Because this area was sealed a very long time ago.” “Under the gardens?” Lucian nodded. “Yes.” Kael took out the crystal. “It showed me the way.” Lucian stared at the object. “Kael…” “I know. You're going to tell me not to go.” Lucian sighed. “I was actually going to tell you not to go there alone.” Kael remained silent. Lucian stood and walked toward a cabinet. He took out a small file. “Your father told me about this room.” Kael froze. “What?” Lucian opened the file. “I didn't know where it was. But he described a circular room beneath the gardens.” Kael's attention immediately sharpened. “What was he looking for down there?” Lucian shook his head. “He never told me clearly.” “But you knew it existed.” “Yes.” Kael stared at his uncle. “Why didn't you tell me before?” Lucian remained silent. Then he answered: “Because I wanted to be certain you were ready to hear the rest.” Kael lowered his eyes toward the file. “And now?” Lucian looked at him seriously. “Now, I think someone else has decided to show you the way.” Kael tightened his grip slightly around the crystal. “Then it's time I found out why.” Lucian slowly nodded. “We'll go together.” Kael looked up. He hadn't expected that answer. “You'll come with me?” “I certainly won't let you go beneath the gardens alone.” A faint smile appeared on Kael's face. “Thank you, Lucian.” His uncle returned his gaze. “But we're not going yet.” Kael sighed. “Why?” “Because if your father was right, that room isn't simply an old passage. It is hiding something.” Lucian closed the file. “And before opening a door, you need to know what's behind it.” Kael looked at the crystal. The sentence echoed in his mind. The door is not a door. He now understood why his father had written those words. But one question remained. Why had the crystal shown him this place? And above all… Who was really waiting there?

Where He Waits