Silence had fallen over the greenhouse again. And yet, something had changed. The small light glowing inside the black box was still pulsing slowly, almost as if it were waiting for a response. Kael was still holding the piece of metal marked with the number 18. He turned it over between his fingers. No additional inscription. No visible mechanism. Just the symbol. The same one they'd found behind the flowers. The same one engraved on the old Veyron objects. Darius watched the black box from the entrance to the staircase. “We should probably avoid touching anything until we know what it is.” Kael looked up at him. “You said that five minutes ago.” “And you didn't listen.” “I wasn't planning to start now.” Ethan gave a slight smile. “At least he's honest.” Aldren, however, wasn't smiling. He was staring at the piece of metal with an expression Kael had almost never seen on him. “V-18…” Lucian stepped closer. “Are you sure that number means what you think it does?” Aldren slowly nodded. “Yes.” “Then explain it to us.” The old commander remained silent. Then he looked at Kael. “The records we found aren't complete.” Kael frowned slightly. “We already figured that out.” “No. You haven't understood how incomplete they really are.” Aldren walked down a few steps. “V-12 through V-17 weren't simply training grounds. They were facilities connected to an old Veyron protection system.” Ethan crossed his arms. “Protection against what?” Aldren shook his head. “I don't know.” Darius looked at Kael. “And V-18?” Aldren stared at the number. “V-18 wasn't like the others.” Kael waited. “Then what was it?” Aldren took a slow breath. “A lock.” Silence filled the room. Kael looked at the black box. “A lock that keeps what closed?” “I don't know.” “You just said you didn't know again.” “Because your father never gave me the answer.” Kael said nothing. He turned toward the staircase. Then he started down. Darius immediately followed. “Kael.” “I’m going to look at the box.” “I'm coming with you.” “I didn't say you couldn't.” Ethan started down as well. “I'm coming too.” Kael nodded. Darius walked ahead of him. “I'm going first.” “Darius…” “No.” He gave him a serious look. “For once, let me do my job.” Kael stayed silent. Then he nodded. Darius went down. Ethan followed. Kael brought up the rear. After about thirty steps, the staircase opened into another chamber. This one looked much older. The walls weren't made of carefully cut stone like the corridors of the estate. Here, everything seemed to have been carved directly into the rock. Then Kael saw it. A door. Two enormous dark-metal panels blocked the passage. At the center was the same symbol. But beneath it… V-18. Ethan stopped. “So this is it.” Darius studied the door. “A lock.” Kael moved closer. He didn't touch it. A strange sensation ran through his arm. No pain. Just a feeling of familiarity. The same sensation he'd felt when he'd touched the old clock. Then a voice briefly echoed through his mind. You're not ready yet. Kael immediately pulled his hand back. Darius noticed. “What is it?” Kael remained silent. Ethan stepped closer. “Another memory?” “Maybe.” “What did you hear?” Kael looked at the door. “My father.” Darius said nothing. Kael stared at the symbol. “He told me I wasn't ready.” Ethan frowned. “Ready for what?” “I don't know.” A metallic sound suddenly echoed behind them. All three turned. Nothing. Darius immediately drew his sword. “We're not alone.” Ethan's aura surrounded him. “You heard that too?” “Yes.” Kael studied the staircase. Then a shadow quickly crossed above them. Darius lunged. His sword struck the stone. The intruder had already dodged. “He's here!” A man appeared on a platform several feet above them. Same dark clothing. Same mask. Kael immediately recognized the symbol on his arm. The V. “You were quick,” the man said. Darius raised his sword. “You.” The intruder smiled. “I thought you'd need more time.” Ethan stepped beside Darius. “It's the one from the greenhouse.” “Not that one,” the man replied. Kael narrowed his eyes. “There are more of you.” “There are enough of us.” The man raised his hand. Three figures appeared behind him. Then two more. Darius gave a faint smile. “Five.” Ethan glanced at Kael. “We can handle that.” Kael stepped forward. “Don't kill them.” Darius looked at him. “You planning to interrogate them?” “Yes.” One of the men laughed. “You really think you can stop us here?” Kael looked up at him. “Yes.” The man laughed again. Then he made a gesture. All five intruders jumped. Darius moved first. His sword clashed against the first attack in a shower of sparks. Ethan intercepted the second. Kael dodged the third. A blade passed just inches from his face. Kael pivoted and struck his opponent's wrist. The man dropped his weapon. But another attacker immediately came from behind. Kael turned. Too late. Darius stepped in front of him. The blow was blocked. “Are you okay?” “Yeah.” “Then focus.” Kael nodded. His expression changed. His aura surfaced slightly. Not enough to cause a true surge. Just enough to make the man in front of him step back. The intruder hesitated. “The Echo…” Kael raised his eyes. “You know that name.” The man stepped back. “It's you.” Kael didn't answer. The man looked around. Then shouted: “Open the door!” Another intruder rushed toward the mechanism. Kael immediately understood. “Darius!” Darius broke away from his opponent and charged. But the man had already placed his hand against the symbol. Nothing happened. He tried again. Still nothing. Kael watched closely. Then he understood. “It's missing something.” The man turned. “What?” Kael raised the piece of metal marked 18. “This.” The intruder's expression changed. He stepped toward Kael. “Give it to me.” Kael closed his fingers around the metal. “No.” The man charged. Kael dodged. Darius struck his weapon and sent it flying. Ethan finished his opponent and joined them. Within seconds, three intruders were on the ground. The remaining two backed away. Then one of them pulled out a small capsule. Darius shouted: “That light again!” The capsule hit the ground. But this time, Kael reacted immediately. He released a weak pulse of his aura. The light exploded. Yet nobody disappeared. Darius had managed to grab one of the men by the collar. Ethan restrained the other. Silence returned. Kael approached. The man Darius had captured was breathing heavily. Kael crouched in front of him. “Who sent you?” No answer. Kael looked at the symbol on his clothing. “Why V-18?” Still nothing. Darius tightened his grip slightly. “Answer him.” The man smiled. “You still don't understand.” Kael stood. “What?” “V-18 isn't what you're looking for.” Kael went still. “Then what is it?” The man looked behind him. At the door. “It's what keeps what's behind it from getting out.” A cold silence filled the chamber. Ethan looked at the door. “What’s behind it?” The man smiled. “You're about to find out.” The door vibrated. Once. Then again. Kael turned. The V-18 symbol began to glow. Darius looked at him. “We've got a problem.” Kael stared at the enormous doors. A thin line of light appeared between them. The door was beginning to open. Very slowly. Then a voice echoed from the depths. An ancient voice. Distorted by the stone. But perfectly clear. “Heir of Veyron…” Kael froze. The voice continued. “You've finally returned.” The piece of metal marked 18 grew hot in his hand. And behind the door, something struck it once. Then a second time. Kael stared into the darkness opening before him. There was no doubt anymore. His father hadn't simply left secrets behind. He had left something. Something that had been waiting for him to return.

The Last Lock