The Veyron estate had never seemed so quiet. Only a few hours earlier, the corridors had been filled with voices, music, and hundreds of people who had come to celebrate eight hundred years of House Veyron. Now, almost nothing remained of that excitement. The magical chandeliers had been extinguished. The great doors of the reception hall stood open, allowing the fresh morning air to enter. Servants were clearing the last tables while others folded away the decorations. The flowers that had adorned the hall were carefully removed from their vases. Some would be preserved. Others would be returned to the gardens. Kael walked quietly through the main corridor. He had slept only a few hours, but he did not seem particularly tired. He stopped in front of a window. Outside, the sun was barely beginning to rise above the trees. The estate seemed almost different. Larger. Quieter. As if the celebration of the previous evening had been nothing more than a dream. — You're already awake? Kael turned his head. Ethan was walking down the corridor, his hair slightly disheveled. Kael looked at him. — Yes. Ethan yawned. — Why? — I couldn't sleep anymore. — After a night like that? — Exactly. Ethan leaned against the wall. — I could have slept until noon. — I know. — You say that like it's a bad thing. — It is. Ethan smiled. — You're becoming more and more insolent. — I've had good teachers. — Lucian? — Among others. A voice came from behind them. — I heard my name. Lucian approached calmly with a cup in his hand. Ethan looked at him. — You were awake? — For an hour. Kael frowned slightly. — Why is everyone awake so early? Lucian took a sip. — Because some of us have responsibilities. Ethan looked at him. — You spent an entire evening talking to nobles. — That was a responsibility. — Of course. Lucian smiled. Kael watched them for a few seconds. Then a faint smile appeared on his face. The previous evening already seemed far away. And yet, something inside him had changed. He did not know exactly what. Perhaps it was simply the sight of so many people gathered around his family. Perhaps it was hearing about his parents in a different way. Or perhaps it was simply the fact that he had spent an entire evening without having to search for a single answer. He felt lighter. At least for a few hours. --- In the reception hall, the work continued. Noah was sitting on a chair, watching the servants clear the tables. He looked exhausted. Lysandra stood beside him. — You barely slept. — I know. — Why? Noah thought about it. — I ate too much. Adrian, standing beside them, looked at him. — That's not a reason not to sleep. — I needed to digest. — All night? — It was a very important meal. Lysandra laughed. — You're impossible. Noah straightened. — But admit it, the food was incredible. Adrian hesitated. — Yes. Noah smiled. — Thank you. — That's not a victory. — It is for me. Kael entered the room at that moment. Noah immediately raised his head. — Patriarch. Kael stopped. — What? Noah put on a solemn expression. — I have an official complaint. — About what? — The banquet. Kael looked at him. — The food wasn't good? — It was excellent. — Then? — There wasn't enough. Adrian closed his eyes. — Noah… Kael remained silent for a few seconds. Then he replied: — I'll have your complaint delivered to the cook. Noah nodded seriously. — Thank you. Lysandra burst out laughing. Kael smiled faintly before looking around. The hall was already almost unrecognizable. The decorations had disappeared. The tables were beginning to be removed. The flowers were being gathered into baskets. Only a few traces of the celebration remained. — It was a good evening, Lysandra said. Kael nodded. — Yes. Adrian looked at him. — You seemed more relaxed toward the end. Kael thought for a moment. — I think I was. Noah smiled. — You even laughed several times. Kael looked at him. — Have you all decided to remember that? — Obviously. — Why? — Because it's rare. Kael shook his head. But his smile did not disappear. --- A little later, the four friends went outside into the gardens. The air was cool. After the noise of the previous day, the silence felt almost strange. The magical lanterns installed along the paths had been extinguished. Some of the flowers had slightly lost their freshness after spending the night in the decorations. Kael walked slowly. Noah looked around. — This is weird. — What? — Yesterday, there were hundreds of people here. He pointed toward the gardens. — And now it looks like nobody has ever been here. Lysandra smiled. — That's probably the advantage of large estates. Adrian observed the buildings. — Or their disadvantage. Kael looked at him. — Why? Adrian shrugged slightly. — Because a place this large can easily hide unused rooms. Noah turned toward him. — You're starting again. — I didn't say anything special. — You said exactly what shouldn't be said after everything we've been through at Asteria. Kael gave a faint laugh. — This time, there's nothing. Adrian looked at him. — Are you certain? Kael looked at the estate. Then he answered: — No. Noah sighed. — There it is. Lysandra looked at Kael. — You really think there could be something? — In a place this old? Probably. He paused. — But that doesn't mean everything is important. Adrian nodded. — That's true. Kael continued walking. He did not want to turn every detail of the house into a mystery. He had learned that lesson at Asteria. Some things could simply be old. A building could creak. A door could remain closed. An old room could simply no longer be used. There was no need to immediately see a threat in everything. And yet, when they passed the north wing, Kael slowed down. That part of the building was almost completely silent. The windows were old. The curtains were drawn. There were no decorations. No servants. Kael stared at the entrance. Noah noticed his gaze. — That's the wing Aldren mentioned? Kael nodded. — Yes. Adrian looked at the building. — It's really abandoned. — Not abandoned, Kael corrected. Simply unused. — For how long? — I don't know exactly. Lysandra moved slightly closer. — Have you been there before? Kael thought. — When I was little. Noah's eyes widened. — And you never told us? — I barely remember it. He looked at the main door. — My father took me there once. That sentence immediately caught the attention of the other three. Kael remained silent for a few seconds. Then he added: — I think. Adrian did not ask a question. He had learned to recognize the moments when Kael preferred not to speak. Noah opened his mouth before stopping himself. Lysandra gave him a discreet look. Noah understood. He closed his mouth. Kael was grateful. They continued walking. But after a few steps, Kael looked back toward the north wing one last time. He did not know why. Something about that part of the estate felt strangely familiar. Not threatening. Not yet. Simply… familiar. --- Later that morning, Kael went to the training hall. Darius was already there. He was checking several pieces of equipment with a few knights. When he saw Kael, he immediately saluted. — Patriarch. Kael approached. — You didn't sleep? — A little. — How much? Darius thought. — Enough. Kael narrowed his eyes. — That's the answer of someone who didn't sleep enough. Darius smiled. — And you? — Same. — Then there are two of us. Kael looked at the knights. They were finishing putting away the weapons used for previous training sessions. Darius addressed them. — You can take the rest of the morning off. The men saluted before leaving the room. Once they were alone, Darius looked at Kael. — Something bothering you? — No. Darius waited. Kael sighed. — Maybe a little. — What? — The north wing. Darius remained silent. — Why? — I don't know. He leaned against one of the tables. — I vaguely remember going there with my father when I was a child. Darius nodded slowly. — I knew he had taken you there. Kael raised his eyes. — You knew? — Yes. — Why didn't you ever tell me? — Because I thought you remembered. Kael shook his head. — I barely remember anything. Darius thought for a moment. — He never explained why he had taken you there. Kael remained thoughtful. — You were there? — Not inside. Darius stepped closer. — I was waiting for you in the corridor. Kael looked at him. — And how long did you wait? — I don't remember. Darius smiled slightly. — Your father used to say that some conversations were meant to remain between a father and his son. Kael lowered his eyes slightly. The sentence affected him. He had often tried to reconstruct his parents' final years from fragments. Letters. Memories. Documents. Testimonies. But there had always been moments he could not recover. Conversations he had not witnessed. Things no one had ever explained to him. He raised his eyes. — Do you think he took me there for an important reason? Darius thought. — Maybe. Kael waited. — But I can't confirm that. — I know. Darius placed a hand on his shoulder. — And you don't need to search today. Kael looked at him. — You know me too well. — I've known you for a long time. Kael smiled. — Too long. — Probably. They remained silent for a few seconds. Then Darius removed his hand. — Come on. — Where? — Breakfast. Kael frowned. — I've already eaten. — Then second breakfast. — That doesn't exist. — At the Veyron estate, it does. Kael smiled. — I see. — Noah taught you that? — No. — Aldren? — Even less. Darius started walking toward the exit. — It's a tradition I just invented. Kael followed him. — I see. --- In the afternoon, some of the remaining guests finally left the estate. The silence gradually returned. The last carriages departed. The knights resumed their usual routines. The servants finished cleaning the rooms. And House Veyron finally returned to its normal rhythm. Kael was in the library with Ethan when a dull noise echoed somewhere inside the residence. They both raised their heads. Ethan frowned. — Did you hear that? — Yes. They waited. Nothing. Ethan stood. — Which direction did it come from? Kael looked toward the door. — I don't know. He stood as well. They stepped into the corridor. A few seconds later, Lucian appeared. — You heard it too? Ethan looked at him. — You heard it? — Yes. Kael looked at his uncle. — Where did it come from? Lucian thought. — I'd say… the north wing. Silence settled between them. Ethan looked at Kael. Kael did not answer immediately. Then he started walking in that direction. Ethan and Lucian followed. The corridor gradually became older. The modern decorations disappeared. The carpets were more worn. The windows narrower. The light dimmer. Eventually, they reached the door separating the main wing from the old part of the estate. It was still closed. Kael stopped. — Here. Ethan looked at the door. — Is it locked? Lucian approached. He placed a hand on the handle. Then frowned. — No. Ethan looked at him. — What? Lucian slowly removed his hand. — It's not locked. Kael stared at the lock. — It should be. — Yes. Lucian turned the handle. The door opened. A cold draft passed through the corridor. No one spoke. Beyond the door stretched a long passage almost completely swallowed by darkness. Dust covered the floor. No sound. No visible presence. Kael remained still. A strange sensation passed through his mind. He did not know why. But he had seen this place before. Not recently. Not in a dream. In a memory. Very old. Fragmented. He saw an image. A small hand holding his father's. A faint light. A corridor. A voice he could not hear. Then the image disappeared. Kael blinked. — Kael? Ethan's voice brought him back to reality. — Are you okay? Kael stared down the passage. — Yes. Lucian watched him carefully. He had noticed the change. — Do you remember something? Kael hesitated. — I don't know. He took a step toward the entrance. Then another. Behind him, Ethan stayed close. Lucian said nothing. They moved slowly. The passage seemed longer than Kael remembered. After a few meters, they discovered several doors. Some stood open. Others were closed. Most still had old plaques indicating their purpose. “Secondary Archives.” “Family Office.” “Map Room.” Kael stopped in front of the last one. The plaque was almost completely worn away. He gently ran his fingers over it. — My father had an office here? Lucian approached. He studied the plaque. His expression changed slightly. — Yes. Kael turned toward him. — You knew? Lucian did not answer immediately. Ethan looked at him as well. — Lucian? The former professor finally sighed. — I knew he sometimes used this part of the estate. Kael stared at the door. — Why? — To work. — On what? Lucian remained silent. Kael understood immediately. He did not press. Not yet. But this time, something was different. This was no longer simply a forgotten wing. His father had come here. Perhaps often. And he had worked here. Kael looked at the door. Then he placed his hand on the handle. It opened without resistance. The room was dark. Ethan conjured a small magical light. An old desk appeared. Shelves. Rolled maps. Several pieces of furniture covered by sheets. And, on the desk, a thin layer of dust. Nothing seemed to have been touched for years. Kael entered. He did not yet know what he was looking for. He did not even know if there was anything to find. But deep inside, an impression remained. His father had not simply lived in this house. He had worked here. He had searched for something. And perhaps this room had preserved part of what he had left behind. Kael walked toward the desk. He gently placed his hand on it. A fine layer of dust rose into the air. Then he noticed something. A small empty space on one of the shelves. As if an object had been removed long ago. He studied the space. Then the books around it. Nothing. No letter. No chest. No message. Only the absence. Kael remained silent. Lucian entered as well. He looked around the room. Then at Kael. — Perhaps we should wait for Ethan before searching any further. Kael nodded. — Yes. He turned toward the door. But just before leaving, he heard a very faint sound. A click. He immediately turned around. The small clock at the back of the room had moved. The second hand was advancing. Once. Twice. Three times. Then it stopped. Kael stared at the clock. Ethan approached. — Is it still working? Lucian examined the mechanism. — Apparently. Kael did not answer. He simply stared at the clock. Then at the door. Then at his father's old office. For the first time since arriving at the estate, he was certain that something here might not have simply remained in the past. And this time… it wasn't a memory. Something might have just begun.

After the Celebration