It was already late when Kael left Lucian’s office. The corridors of the Imperial Academy of Asteria were almost completely silent. A few magical lights still floated beside the walls, casting a pale glow over the ancient stone. At this hour, most students had already returned to their rooms, and even the professors seemed to have disappeared behind the doors of their quarters. Darius was still waiting farther down the corridor, accompanied by Gareth. He had not moved. — Did it go badly? Darius asked when Kael reached them. Kael slipped the piece of paper into the inner pocket of his coat. — Not exactly. Darius raised an eyebrow. — Coming from you, that usually means it went very badly. Gareth discreetly looked away, as though he had already learned that it was better not to interfere with this kind of conversation. Kael sighed. — Lucian knows something about my father. The smile disappeared from Darius’s face. — Something important? — Important enough for him to refuse to tell me. Darius remained silent for a few seconds. He had known Kael long enough to understand that there was no point asking how he felt. When Kael wanted something, he could wait for years if necessary. But he never gave up. — Then you’re going to keep looking, Darius said simply. — Obviously. — I figured. Kael gave him a faint smile. — You could at least pretend to be surprised. — I spent my childhood with you. I know exactly what to expect. Gareth let out a small laugh before immediately returning to his serious expression. Darius gave him an amused look. — You find that funny? — A little, Commander. — I suggest you don't get used to laughing at me. Kael shook his head. For a few seconds, the tension of the evening seemed to disappear. Then his eyes drifted toward the windows overlooking the gardens. The smile slowly faded from his face. Something was wrong. He could not explain what, but he had the persistent feeling that the gardens were not as empty as they should have been. --- The following morning, Kael went to the archives as soon as they opened. He had spent part of the night thinking about what Lucian had told him. The truth about your father is more dangerous than you imagine. The sentence kept coming back to him. He had grown up with a simple story: his parents had died in an accident. Yet every new discovery destroyed that version a little more. The symbol. The Keeper of the Crown. Alaric Daven. The door beneath the gardens. And now, the Keeper’s path. Kael placed the documents he had gathered over the past few days in front of him. He began with the old maps of the Academy. Most of them did not even mention the underground structures. Others showed areas that had since been sealed, but none of them contained the mechanism they had discovered near the old wall. He then opened the documents concerning Alaric Daven. Nothing. Then those concerning the Incident of the Crown. Almost everything had been erased. Kael stopped at a particularly damaged page. A few words were still readable. “...appointed Keeper...” “...access only after recognition...” “...the key must not be entrusted to the Crown...” He read the last sentence again. A strange sensation passed through his chest. The key must not be entrusted to the Crown. Why would the Keeper have refused to trust the Imperial Family? And more importantly… Why had his father become interested in this story? — You have that look again. Kael looked up. Noah was standing in front of the table, two books tucked beneath his arm. — What look? — The one where you think so hard you might forget to breathe. Kael closed the document. — Good morning to you too. Noah placed the books on the table. — Good morning. And before you say anything, yes, I took notes for this morning’s class. Kael looked at him for a few seconds. — You actually studied? — Don't look so shocked. — I'm simply surprised. — Very funny. Noah sat down opposite him and looked at the documents. — Did you find something? Kael hesitated. He could have said no. But Noah was his best friend. More importantly, Kael had already promised not to keep him completely in the dark anymore. He pushed the sheet toward him. — Read this. Noah leaned over. His expression changed almost immediately. — “The key must not be entrusted to the Crown”? — Yes. — That’s a pretty bad sentence. — I know. Noah looked up. — You think it has something to do with your father? — I think it’s possible. He said nothing more. Noah did not push him. That was probably one of the things Kael appreciated most about him. After a few seconds, Noah asked: — And the symbol? Kael took out the black crystal. He placed it on the table. For several seconds, nothing happened. Then a faint glow appeared beneath its surface. Noah straightened. — Okay. I take back whatever I was about to say. This thing seriously creeps me out. Kael watched the crystal. The light was not forming the usual symbol. This time, it slowly drew a line. Then another. The two lines crossed before forming an incomplete circle. Kael frowned. — That’s not the same reaction. — Do you think it’s trying to show you another place? — Maybe. The light intensified. A small projection appeared above the crystal. It was not a map. It was a sequence of symbols. Three symbols. Kael studied them carefully. The first resembled the one engraved on the plate in the gardens. The second looked like a crown. The third was different. It represented an open door. Noah leaned closer. — Do you know that one? — No. A voice came from behind them. — I do. Kael immediately turned around. The elderly archivist was standing several feet away. Her expression was serious. — You said you knew Alaric Daven, Kael said. — I knew some of his research. She slowly approached the table. Her gaze remained fixed on the crystal. — But I have never seen that object before. — Do you know the symbol? The archivist nodded. — The one representing the door, yes. Kael straightened. — What does it mean? The old woman hesitated. — A passage. Noah exchanged a glance with Kael. — To where? Kael asked. — It isn't that simple. She picked up the sheet where Kael had written down the fragments he had found. — Alaric sometimes came to consult the oldest archives. He was looking for plans that no longer exist in the current records. Once, I asked him why he was so interested in the foundations of the Academy. She paused. — He told me he wasn't looking for a room. Kael felt his attention sharpen. — What was he looking for? The archivist looked at him. — A path. The crystal suddenly went dark. No one spoke. Kael watched the projection disappear. A path. Not a door. Not a room. A path. Suddenly, Lucian’s words took on a different meaning. The door is not a door. And the plate they had found in the gardens: The path of the Keeper... Kael stood. — Thank you. The archivist placed a hand on his arm before he could leave. — Master Veyron. He stopped. — If you are truly looking for what Alaric was looking for… She hesitated. — Be careful what you ask the archives. Some things were erased for a reason. Kael looked at her. — Someone erased them? — I don't know. Her gaze shifted toward the old documents. — But Alaric was afraid before he disappeared. Kael remained silent. Then he left the archives with Noah. --- In the corridor, Noah walked for several seconds without speaking. — What are you going to do? — Go see Lucian again. — Now? — Yes. Noah sighed. — Of course. Kael glanced at him. — You can go back to class. — And leave you alone after you just discovered a secret passage connected to your father? — It isn't a passage yet. — See? That is exactly the kind of sentence that makes me want to follow you. Kael gave him a faint smile. — You're impossible. — I could say the same about you. They reached the staircase leading toward the professors’ offices. Before Kael could go up, a voice called out to them. — Kael. Lysandra was walking toward them. She looked at Noah, then at Kael. — You were in the archives again? Noah immediately answered: — Yes. And he found something else. Kael gave him a look. — Thank you for your discretion. — You're welcome. Lysandra approached. — What did you find? Kael briefly explained what the archivist had revealed. When he mentioned Alaric and the word path, her expression became more serious. — So what you discovered in the gardens might not have been the entrance, she said. — No. — Maybe only the beginning. Kael nodded. Lysandra looked at the crystal. — And it reacted? — Yes. — Did it show you something? — Three symbols. A door, a crown, and the one we already know. She remained silent. — Kael… — I know. — No. I don't think you do. He looked at her. Lysandra lowered her voice. — For the past few days, everything you've found has been bringing you closer to something that even Lucian refuses to tell you about. And now, this crystal is showing you things that no one else seems to understand. Kael said nothing. — I'm not asking you to stop, she continued. But don't assume that everything helping you necessarily wants what's best for you. Kael looked at the crystal in his hand. That thought had already crossed his mind. Perhaps more than once. — You're right. Lysandra looked slightly surprised. — I wasn't expecting you to admit that so easily. — I can make an effort. Noah raised both hands. — I can confirm. This is historic. Kael gave him a cold look. — Enjoy it. It won't happen often. Lysandra smiled. For a few seconds, the atmosphere became lighter again. Then Kael looked toward the staircase. He needed to speak with Lucian. But this time, he had a new question. Not simply What was my father looking for? He wanted to know why his father had searched for a path that even the Academy had tried to erase. --- A few minutes later, Kael stood in front of Lucian’s office. He knocked. — Come in. Kael opened the door. Lucian looked up from his documents. His expression immediately changed when he saw the crystal. — What did it do? Kael placed the sheet on the desk. — It showed me three symbols. Lucian leaned closer. When he saw the third one, his face froze. Kael noticed. — You know it. Lucian remained silent. Then he answered: — Yes. — What is it? Lucian rubbed a hand over his face. — An ancient symbol of passage. — The archivist told me the same thing. Lucian looked up sharply. — You spoke to her? — Yes. — What did she tell you? Kael told him everything. Lucian listened without interrupting. When he heard that Alaric had been looking for a path rather than a room, his expression became grave. — Then we were wrong. Kael stepped closer to the desk. — About what? Lucian took a few seconds before answering. — We thought your father was looking for the place where the Keeper was. He placed a finger on the symbol. — But if he was looking for a path, then perhaps he was trying to find someone who had already left that place. Kael felt his heartbeat quicken. — Alaric? Lucian did not answer. That silence was enough. Kael realized he had just obtained something more important than an answer. A possibility. Alaric Daven might not have simply disappeared. He might have taken this path. And someone, somewhere, might have been waiting for his return. Kael picked up the crystal. — I’m going to find that path. Lucian sighed. — I knew you would say that. — Then come with me. Lucian looked at him for a long moment. — Not yet. Kael frowned. — Why? — Because if what we have just understood is correct, then the mechanism in the gardens is only the first step. He pointed toward the symbol. — And we still don't know what actually activates the passage. Kael tightened his grip on the crystal. — Then we'll find out. Lucian nodded. But before Kael could leave the room, he added: — And Kael… The young man turned around. — This time, if the crystal reacts again, tell me immediately. Kael studied his uncle for a few seconds. Then he answered calmly: — All right. He left. Darius was waiting in the corridor. Kael stopped in front of him. — Are you listening at doors now? — No. I'm watching the corridors. — Of course. Darius looked at the crystal. — It reacted again? Kael nodded. — And we learned something. — What? Kael looked toward the window overlooking the gardens. — The Keeper’s path might not be meant to lead us into somewhere. His gaze hardened. — Maybe it is meant to lead us to someone. At that exact moment, far beneath the foundations of Asteria, an ancient stone began to glow. A symbol appeared across its surface. Then a second. And in the darkness, something that had not moved for years seemed to finally awaken.

The Keeper’s Path