The next morning, Kael woke before the first bell. He remained still for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling. The symbol was still in his mind. The crystal had shown him a direction. The gardens. Again. But this time, something was different. Someone had left traces. Someone had probably been watching the academy. And above all, someone seemed to know the same symbol as his parents. Kael slowly sat up. He grabbed his uniform from the chair and slipped the crystal into his inner pocket. When he entered the corridors, the academy was already beginning to come alive. A few students spoke quietly as they passed the Black Raven knights. The order's presence had already changed everyone's habits. Kael spotted two knights near the main staircase. They gave him a slight bow as he passed. — Patriarch. Kael acknowledged them with a nod. A few nearby students watched the exchange. Noah arrived a few seconds later. — You know they're eventually going to get used to this? — To what? — Seeing elite knights greet you like you're already in charge of half the continent. Kael shrugged slightly. — They're doing their job. — You could at least look impressed. — Why? Noah sighed. — Because I am. Lysandra arrived a moment later. — Good morning. — Good morning, Kael replied. Noah looked around. — Darius isn't with you? — No. — Surprisingly. — He probably has better things to do than watch me. A voice sounded behind them. — I can hear you. Kael closed his eyes for a moment. Darius had just appeared in the corridor. Noah immediately smiled. — I'm starting to think he appears every time we talk about him. Darius stopped in front of them. — That's simply because you talk too loudly. — Me? — Especially you. Noah placed a hand over his chest. — I'm deeply wounded. Darius ignored him. His gaze settled on Kael. — We checked the gardens. Kael immediately became more attentive. — And? — Nothing unusual last night. — The footprints? — They stop near the old wall. Kael frowned. — They stop? — Yes. Darius paused. — As if the person disappeared. Noah's smile faded. — Is that even possible? — With magic, Darius replied, a lot of things are possible. Lysandra crossed her arms. — Did you find anything else? Darius looked at Kael. — Yes. He pulled out a small folded piece of paper. Kael took it. He unfolded it. Inside was a drawing. A symbol. The same one as the crystal. But beneath it, someone had added a short inscription. “He is not looking for you.” Kael remained silent. Noah leaned closer. — What does that mean? Kael turned the paper over. Nothing. — I don't know. Darius watched his face. — That's exactly what was left near the wall. Kael looked up. — Why are you only giving it to me now? — Because I wanted to make sure it was a message meant for you. — And? Darius shook his head. — I still don't know. Kael folded the paper. A strange sensation passed through his hand. The crystal. It was vibrating. Again. Kael tightened his fingers slightly around the paper. Darius noticed. — Is it reacting? Kael nodded. Noah looked at the crystal uneasily. — It's reacting to the message? — I don't know. Lysandra studied the paper. — Maybe it's reacting to the symbol. Kael remained thoughtful. Then he looked at Darius. — I want to see the place. Darius didn't answer immediately. — Now? — Yes. — You have class. Kael stared at him. — Darius. — I knew you were going to say that. Noah raised his hand. — I can confirm. Darius sighed. — Fine. But not alone. Kael nodded. — I know. Darius turned toward Noah and Lysandra. — You two stay here. Noah opened his mouth. — But— — No. — I haven't even finished. — I already know what you were going to say. Noah crossed his arms. — I'm starting to understand why Kael puts up with you. Darius gave a faint smile. — I've been trying to understand that myself for years. Kael walked past them. — Are you two finished? Darius followed him. — Unfortunately, no. --- The old wall stood in the least frequented part of the gardens. Ancient trees surrounded the area, their branches allowing very little light through. Kael already knew this place. It was here that he and Lucian had found the door. Or rather, what appeared to be a door. Darius walked several steps behind him. Gareth Riven and Rowan Hale were with them. The two knights remained silent. Kael stopped near the wall. — This is it? Gareth nodded. — The footprints started about five meters from here. Kael studied the ground. The grass was damp. A few dead leaves covered the soil. Nothing seemed unusual. He crouched down. The crystal vibrated. This time, he clearly felt it. He placed a hand against the ground. A faint wave of magic traveled through his fingers. Darius stepped closer. — Kael? — Wait. Kael closed his eyes. He didn't try to use his power. He only wanted to sense the magical residue. Something was there. Very faint. An ancient presence. Not a person. A trace. Kael opened his eyes. — There was magic here. Gareth crouched down as well. — Can you identify its nature? Kael shook his head. — No. Darius looked at Gareth. — Can you sense anything? The lieutenant placed his hand against the ground. Several seconds passed. — A movement spell. Kael turned his head. — Movement? — Yes. Very old. But it was used recently. Rowan stepped closer. — Teleportation? Gareth shook his head. — Not exactly. He pointed at the ground. — It looks more like a spatial transition. Kael stood up. — Like a door. Silence settled over them. Darius looked at the wall. — You think it's possible the person didn't leave this place? Kael looked at the stone. — They could have gone somewhere else. — Underground? — Maybe. The crystal vibrated again. Kael took it out. Light appeared on its surface. A thin line formed. It crossed the symbol. Then descended. Toward the ground. Kael raised his eyes. — Here. Darius looked at the spot. — What? Kael approached the wall. A small stone protruded slightly from the others. He placed his fingers against it. Nothing. He pressed. A quiet click sounded. Darius immediately straightened. — Step back. Kael didn't move. — Kael. — Wait. The stone sank inward. A dull sound echoed beneath their feet. Then a small crack appeared in the ground. Darius watched the mechanism. — That wasn't on the old plans. Darius studied the mechanism. — Then someone hid it. The stone stopped moving. Nothing else happened. Kael knelt down. At the center of the circle was a small metal plate. A symbol was engraved into it. The same one. But this time, something was written around it. Kael gently ran his fingers over the engraving. — “The path of the Keeper...” He stopped. Part of the inscription had been erased. Gareth leaned closer. — Something is missing. — Someone deliberately destroyed it, Kael murmured. Darius examined the plate. — Or someone didn't want us to read it. Kael looked at the symbol. Then at the crystal. The light had disappeared. As if the crystal had gotten what it wanted. — It led us here. Darius replied calmly: — Or someone wanted it to lead us here. Kael looked up. Again. Noah had said the same thing. The crystal might not be a guide. It could be a trap. --- When they returned to the academy, Noah was waiting near the library entrance. He immediately noticed Kael's expression. — You found something. It wasn't a question. Kael stopped. — Yes. Noah looked at Darius. — Can I know? Darius looked at Kael. Kael nodded. — There's a hidden mechanism beneath the garden wall. Noah's eyes widened. — I knew there was something there. Lysandra appeared behind him. — What did you find? — A possible passage, Kael replied. — Possible? — We didn't open it. Lysandra seemed relieved. — Good. Noah looked at Darius. — And him? Darius crossed his arms. — I agree. Noah smiled. — For once, we're all in agreement. Kael looked at the crystal. — There's an inscription. Lysandra stepped closer. — What does it say? — “The path of the Keeper...” She thought for a moment. — The Keeper of the Crown? Kael nodded. Silence fell again. Darius was the first to speak. — Then it confirms something. Kael looked at him. — What? — Your father wasn't simply looking for a hidden room beneath the academy. Kael said nothing. Darius continued: — He was looking for someone. The Keeper. The same title mentioned in the documents Lucian had shown him. The same title that kept appearing in his father's research. Kael felt a familiar tension in his chest. — Alaric Daven. Lysandra looked at him. — You think he's connected to all of this? — I don't know. Darius watched Kael. — But you're going to find out. Kael met his gaze. — Yes. Darius sighed. — Of course. Noah placed a hand on his shoulder. — At least this time, you won't go alone. Kael looked at Noah's hand, then at his face. A faint smile appeared. — I'm starting to have far too many guards. Darius immediately replied: — I'm the only one officially paid to do that. Noah rolled his eyes. — Of course he had to point that out. Lysandra smiled. For a few seconds, the tension faded. But Kael couldn't forget the inscription. The path of the Keeper. And especially one other question. If this passage had been hidden beneath the gardens... Why had the crystal waited all these years before showing it to him? --- Later that day, Kael went to Lucian's office. He knocked twice. — Come in. Kael opened the door. Lucian was sitting behind his desk, several files open in front of him. He looked up. — You found something. Kael stopped. — How do you know? Lucian smiled. — You have that look. Kael placed the piece of paper and the drawing on the desk. Lucian immediately lost his smile. He picked up the document. His eyes moved over the symbol. Then the inscription. — Where did you find this? — Near the gardens. Lucian remained silent. Kael watched him carefully. — You recognize it. Lucian didn't answer immediately. Then he slowly placed the paper down. — Yes. Kael felt his attention sharpen. — Where have you seen it before? Lucian looked toward the window. — On documents belonging to your father. Kael felt his heart stop for a moment. — When? — Before his death. Kael stepped closer to the desk. — Why didn't you ever tell me? Lucian lowered his eyes. — Because I didn't know what the symbol meant yet. — And now? Lucian remained silent. Too long. Kael understood that he was hiding something. — Lucian. His uncle looked up. — I know. — Then tell me. Lucian took a deep breath. — Not yet. Kael clenched his fists. — You already told me that. — Because there are still things I need to verify. — My father died six years ago. Lucian said nothing. Kael continued: — You've been asking me to wait for six years. Lucian's expression became more serious. — And I'm asking you to remain careful. — Why? Lucian looked at his nephew. — Because the truth about your father is far more dangerous than you imagine. Kael felt his aura tremble. Barely. A shadow passed beneath his fingers. Lucian noticed it. His expression changed. — Kael... The boy immediately closed his hand. The shadow disappeared. — I'm going to find the truth. Lucian slowly nodded. — I know. Kael headed for the door. Before he left, Lucian added: — But when the time comes, you'll have to be ready to hear things you may not be prepared to accept. Kael stopped. — About my father? Lucian didn't answer. That silence was enough. Kael left the room. In the corridor, he found Darius waiting at a distance, accompanied by Gareth. Darius studied his face. — It didn't go well. Kael shook his head slightly. — Not really. Darius didn't ask any questions. He simply walked beside him. After a few seconds, Kael murmured: — They know something. Darius turned his head slightly. — Who? — Lucian. The director. — About your father? Kael nodded. Darius remained silent. Then he simply said: — Then one day, they'll have to tell you. Kael looked straight ahead. — Yes. Behind them, Gareth discreetly watched his commander. He had seen Kael use his aura. He had felt that strange presence a few moments earlier. And he now understood why Ethan had asked Darius to stay close to him. But what Gareth didn't know yet was that this small loss of control was nothing compared to what would happen when Kael finally discovered the truth. And somewhere within the academy, someone may have just realized exactly the same thing.

The Traces in the Gardens