The corridor had fallen silent again. Kael led the way, one hand resting against the stone wall as he slowly climbed the stairs. Darius followed a few steps behind, with Ethan and Lucian bringing up the rear. No one spoke. Ever since they had discovered the hidden room, something had changed. It wasn't simply the fact that a secret passage existed beneath the north wing. It was the map. The inscription. V-17. And the fact that Kael's father had apparently been searching for something in this forgotten part of the estate. When they reached the old office, Kael removed the small metal piece from the mechanism. The hidden door slowly closed behind them. One final click echoed through the wall. Then there was nothing but silence. Ethan stared at the spot for a few seconds. — If we hadn't found that clock, we'd never have discovered this. Kael slipped the metal piece back into his pocket. — That's probably why it was there. — Do you think your father wanted you to find it? Kael remained silent. He thought back to that voice. That day from his childhood. His father's hand resting on the old clock. Some things only work when you know where to place your hand. Then came the other sentence. If you ever find this piece... Kael slowly closed his eyes. — Yes. Ethan looked at him. — Then he knew you'd come back here. — I don't know. Kael opened his eyes again. — But I think he hoped you would. Lucian, still standing near the desk, watched them thoughtfully. Darius, meanwhile, was still looking at the wall where the door had disappeared. — There's something bothering me. Kael turned toward him. — The piece? — No. Darius pointed toward the wall. — The fact that your father asked us to inspect some of the old rooms belonging to the Black Raven Order after the renovations. Lucian frowned. — You never told me that. — Because I didn't think it was important. Darius paused. — At the time, I assumed he simply wanted to make sure certain documents and pieces of equipment had been moved properly. Kael crossed his arms. — And now? — Now I wonder if he was already looking for something. Ethan said nothing this time. Footsteps suddenly echoed through the corridor. Slow. Measured. All four of them turned toward the entrance. A figure appeared. Aldren Valcrest. The old commander stopped when he saw them gathered outside the former office. His gaze moved from Kael to Darius, then to Lucian. — I assume you weren't simply here admiring the dust. Ethan gave him a faint smile. — We found something. Aldren sighed. — Of course you did. Kael pulled the small metal piece from his pocket. Aldren stared at it. His expression changed immediately. He said nothing. Kael noticed. — You recognize it? The commander stepped closer and took the object between his fingers. For several seconds, he examined the nearly faded engraving. Then he looked up. — Not exactly. Darius gave a slight smile. — That's what I said. Aldren gave him an amused look. — For once, you were right. — It happens. Ethan scoffed. — Very rarely. Darius turned toward him. — Do you really want to start this now? — No. Ethan smiled. Aldren shook his head before handing the piece back to Kael. — Where did you find it? Kael gestured toward the old clock. — Behind a hidden mechanism. Aldren looked toward the wall. — And behind the wall? Kael hesitated for a moment. — A room. — What was inside? — A map. Aldren waited. Kael understood. — An old map of the estate. — And? — A location marked V-17. Aldren's expression hardened slightly. This time, he didn't answer immediately. Kael watched him closely. — You know what it means. Aldren slowly placed a hand on the back of a chair. — I know the designation. Darius stepped closer. — What does it refer to? Aldren looked toward the window. — A long time ago, House Veyron used a classification system for certain areas of the estate. Ethan frowned. — Certain areas? — Training grounds, supply areas, watch posts, military routes... He turned toward Kael. — But the oldest designations no longer appear on modern maps. Kael took out the map from the hidden room and unfolded it across the desk. Aldren stepped closer. The moment he saw the black circle, his expression became more serious. — There. He placed a finger on the marked location. — Yes. Kael looked at the map. — What used to be there? Aldren remained silent for a moment. — A training ground. Darius nodded. — That's what I thought. — But not an ordinary training ground, Aldren added. Kael raised his eyes. — Why? The old commander took a breath. — Because it wasn't intended for ordinary soldiers. Silence fell. Ethan straightened. — Then who was it for? — Members of House Veyron's personal guard. Darius's expression shifted slightly. — The old elite corps? Aldren nodded. — Before the organization became what you know today, the Veyrons maintained several specialized groups. He rested a hand on the map. — This one disappeared several decades ago. Kael looked at the inscription. V-17. — Why? — Reorganization. The answer was simple. Perhaps too simple. Kael immediately sensed it. — That's not the whole story. Aldren looked at him. For a moment, their eyes met. Then the old commander smiled faintly. — You've always had that particular flaw. — What flaw? — You notice when adults avoid answering a question. Ethan let out a quiet laugh. — He gets that from Dad. Lucian smiled. Aldren, however, remained serious. — Your father was the same way. Kael said nothing. Aldren turned back toward the map. — I won't lie to you. I don't know everything. — But you know something. — Yes. He placed a finger over the black circle. — I know your father went there. Kael froze. Lucian looked at Aldren. — You're certain? — Yes. — When? Aldren thought for a moment. — Several times. Darius stepped closer. — Before or after he began his research? Aldren didn't answer immediately. Then he looked at Kael. — Both. The silence felt heavier this time. Kael lowered his gaze to the map. So his father had returned there after beginning his investigation. Perhaps even shortly before his death. His fingers tightened slightly. — Why didn't anyone tell me? Aldren answered softly. — Because you were ten. Kael looked up. — And Ethan? Aldren glanced toward him. — Your brother was too young as well. Ethan didn't protest. He knew it was true. But his expression made it clear that he didn't like the answer any more than Kael did. Kael took a slow breath. — I want to go there. Darius nodded immediately. — So do I. — I'm coming too, Ethan added. Lucian sighed. — I suppose I don't really have a choice. Aldren smiled. — You're all just as predictable as ever. Kael folded the map. — Where is it now? Aldren pointed toward an area west of the estate. — About twenty minutes on horseback. Ethan looked at the map. — Is there anything left there? — I don't know. — You haven't been back? — Not in a very long time. Darius thought for a moment. — What if someone has been there recently? Kael turned his head. The black ribbon. He thought about the hidden room. A place that should have been forgotten. Yet someone had clearly been there. — It's possible. Aldren studied his expression. — What else did you find? Kael pulled out the piece of ribbon. Aldren took it. He examined it for several seconds. Then his expression became serious. — This isn't old. — Darius said the same thing. — And he was right. Darius smiled. — Twice in one day. Ethan shook his head. — Don't let it go to your head. Aldren ignored their exchange. His attention remained on the ribbon. — It could belong to someone who was here recently. Kael slowly nodded. — That's what I thought. — Then we won't go there unprepared. Kael looked at him. — How long? — One hour. — That's all? Aldren smiled. — Did you really think I was going to let you leave with four people and an old map? — Yes. — Wrong answer. Ethan laughed. For the first time since their discovery, the tension eased slightly. Aldren carefully folded the map. — I'll notify a few men. Not the entire Order. Only those I trust. Darius nodded. — I can choose the escort. — Do it. Kael put the metal piece away. — And no one else can know. Aldren looked at him seriously. — Agreed. Lucian added: — Especially not the guests who are still staying at the estate. Kael nodded. The banquet was over, but many noble families were still at Veyron. A single rumor could quickly become a problem. Aldren headed toward the door. Then he stopped. — Kael. The young patriarch looked up. — Yes? — Your father asked me for something a long time ago. Kael fell silent. — What? Aldren hesitated. — He asked me never to investigate V-17 without a reason. Kael frowned. — Why? Aldren shook his head. — He never explained. Then he added: — But he told me one thing. Kael waited. — When the time comes, my son will know what to do. Silence settled over the room. Kael felt something tighten in his chest. His father. Once again. Always a few words. Never enough. He looked at the map lying on the desk. V-17. This time, it was no longer simply a forgotten place. His father had been there. He had been searching for something. And somehow, he had planned for Kael to eventually return. Kael turned toward the window. In the distance, beyond the gardens, the trees formed a dark line beneath the evening light. Somewhere beyond them lay the old training grounds. V-17. He still didn't know what they would find there. But he was certain of one thing. This time, he wouldn't be following his father's footsteps through the halls of Asteria. He was going to uncover a part of his own past. A part of House Veyron's history. And perhaps finally understand why his father had gone to such lengths to keep this place hidden all those years.