The Veyron estate had never felt so quiet. Not even after the attack. The corridors were still filled with movement. Black Raven knights were gathering their equipment, checking their weapons, and preparing the horses and carriages. No one had been given a full explanation. Only one decision had been made. They were returning to Asteria. Immediately. Kael stood in the entrance hall, dressed in his long black coat. The piece of metal marked 18 was hidden beneath his clothes. Darius stood beside him. Ethan was checking the straps on his sword. Aldren approached. “You're really leaving tonight?” Kael nodded. “Yeah.” The old commander studied him for a few seconds. “You understand that everything we've found here could be connected to what's beneath Asteria?” “That's exactly why I'm going.” Aldren sighed. “You sound exactly like your father.” Kael looked at him. “Was that supposed to reassure me?” “No.” Aldren gave him a faint smile. “That was supposed to worry you.” Kael almost smiled. Almost. Lucian arrived with several documents in his hands. “I contacted the academy.” Kael turned toward him. “What did the director say?” “That unusual activity was detected beneath the gardens.” Darius's expression hardened. “Already?” Lucian nodded. “Shortly after the system activated here.” Kael went still. “So the two places are connected.” “Yes.” Ethan looked between them. “And the academy knows?” “Not everything.” Kael looked at Lucian. “Don't tell them about V-18 yet.” Lucian nodded. “I wasn't planning to.” Darius glanced toward the entrance. “Then we'd better leave before someone else finds out.” Aldren stepped closer to Kael. He placed a hand on his shoulder. “Be careful.” Kael looked at him. “I will.” Aldren hesitated. Then he spoke quietly. “And Kael…” “Yeah?” “If you find something connected to your father…” He paused. “Don't assume he wanted you to find it.” Kael frowned slightly. “Why?” Aldren looked away. “Because sometimes people leave things behind to protect someone.” He looked back at Kael. “And sometimes they leave them behind because they know someone will come looking.” Kael remained silent. Then he turned toward the doors. “Let's go.” --- The journey to Asteria was faster than the one that had brought them to the estate. No one talked much. The road was dark, and the moon kept disappearing behind the clouds. Kael sat inside the carriage with Darius and Ethan. For several minutes, he simply stared out the window. The Veyron estate slowly disappeared behind them. Ethan finally broke the silence. “You've been quiet.” Kael didn't look away from the window. “I'm thinking.” “About the door?” “About everything.” Darius leaned back in his seat. “That usually means you're about to do something dangerous.” Kael glanced at him. “I don't do dangerous things.” Ethan laughed. “You absolutely do.” Kael sighed. “I make calculated decisions.” Darius raised an eyebrow. “That's what you call it?” “Yeah.” “Interesting.” Kael turned back toward the window. A faint smile appeared on his face. It disappeared almost immediately. The road continued into the night. And somewhere far ahead… Asteria was waiting. --- They arrived just before sunrise. The academy gates were already open. Several guards were waiting. Lucian had warned the academy that they were coming, but Kael had deliberately kept the reason for their return vague. The carriage stopped. Kael stepped out. The familiar buildings of Asteria stood before him. The towers. The training grounds. The central courtyard. The gardens. For a moment, everything looked normal. Almost peaceful. Then Kael felt it. A faint vibration. Coming from beneath the ground. His eyes immediately shifted toward the gardens. Darius noticed. “You felt that.” Kael nodded. “Yeah.” Before they could move, a familiar voice came from behind them. “KAEL!” Kael turned. Noah came running across the courtyard. He stopped in front of him, slightly out of breath. “You're back!” Kael blinked. “You ran all the way here?” “No. I ran from the main building.” “That doesn't answer my question.” Noah put his hands on his knees. “Give me a second.” Lysandra approached behind him. Her dark blue hair moved slightly in the morning wind. She looked at Kael, then at Darius, Ethan, and the Black Raven knights. Her expression became more serious. “You came back earlier than expected.” Kael nodded. “Yeah.” “Did something happen?” Kael hesitated. Adrian appeared behind her. He looked at the knights. Then Kael. Then Darius. His expression changed. “Something happened at the estate.” It wasn't a question. Kael studied him for a moment. “You notice too much.” Adrian shrugged. “It's useful.” Noah straightened. “Wait. What happened?” Kael looked at him. “Nothing you need to worry about.” Noah stared at him. “That's exactly what people say when something's wrong.” Lysandra looked at Kael. “You don't have to tell us everything.” Kael remained silent. Then he answered: “Something was activated beneath the estate.” Adrian narrowed his eyes. “Connected to Asteria?” Kael looked at him. “Yes.” That was enough. Adrian didn't ask anything else. Noah, however, looked completely lost. “Okay…” He glanced toward the gardens. “Is that why everyone looks like they're about to start a war?” Darius answered: “Something like that.” Noah looked at him. “That's not reassuring.” “It wasn't supposed to be.” Noah sighed. “Great.” Kael almost smiled. Then the ground vibrated. Very slightly. Everyone felt it. Lysandra's expression changed. “What was that?” Kael turned toward the gardens. “The gate.” Adrian frowned. “What gate?” Kael started walking. “The one beneath the gardens.” Noah blinked. “There's a gate beneath the gardens?” Adrian looked at him. “You didn't know?” “No!” “Neither did I.” Kael stopped. He looked at all three of them. “Stay here.” Noah crossed his arms. “No.” Kael stared at him. “No?” “No.” Lysandra stepped beside Noah. “We're coming with you.” Adrian nodded. Kael looked at the three of them. Then at Darius. Darius sighed. “Don't look at me.” Kael raised an eyebrow. “You're not going to stop them?” “No.” “Why?” “Because I know exactly what happens when I try.” Kael looked back at his friends. “Fine.” Noah smiled. “Finally.” “But you follow my instructions.” Noah's smile faded slightly. “Okay.” They headed toward the gardens. The closer they got, the stronger the vibration became. Kael could feel the metal beneath his coat growing warmer. Then they reached the old stone path. Kael stopped. His eyes moved toward the ground. The same place. The same hidden entrance they'd discovered years ago. But this time… Something was different. A thin line of light had appeared between the stones. Lysandra stepped closer. “Is that…” “Yes,” Kael said. The glowing line widened. A low rumble echoed beneath their feet. Then the stone path shifted. The ground opened. A staircase appeared beneath the gardens. Noah stepped back. “Okay. That's definitely not normal.” Adrian stared into the darkness. “So that's where the old passage leads.” Kael looked at him. “You knew about the passage?” “I knew there was an old structure beneath the gardens.” He looked at Kael. “I didn't know it was still active.” Kael took a step down. The metal piece beneath his coat suddenly became scorching hot. He pulled it out. The number 18 was glowing. Lysandra stared at it. “What is that?” Kael looked at the metal. Then at the staircase. “Something my father left behind.” He started down. Darius immediately followed. Ethan came next. Noah, Lysandra, and Adrian followed close behind. The staircase felt familiar. Far too familiar. Kael reached the bottom. A long corridor stretched ahead. At the very end stood a massive door. Kael stopped. His breathing slowed. He recognized it. Not because he'd seen it recently. Because he'd seen it in his memories. His father's hand resting against the metal. His younger self standing beside him. A voice. Not yet. Kael slowly approached. The piece marked 18 began glowing brighter. The door reacted. A deep rumble traveled through the corridor. Noah whispered: “Kael…” Kael didn't answer. The symbol slowly appeared on the door. The V. Then another mark appeared beneath it. A single letter. A. Adrian stared at the mark. “Alaric.” Kael turned. “You know that name?” Adrian nodded. “Everyone who's studied the old history of Asteria knows Alaric Daven.” Kael looked back at the door. The piece of metal in his hand suddenly clicked. A hidden mechanism moved inside the door. Then a voice echoed from the other side. Not an ancient voice. Not distorted. A human voice. Calm. Almost familiar. “Kael Veyron.” Everyone froze. The voice continued: “You took your time.” Kael narrowed his eyes. Darius stepped in front of him. “Who are you?” A short silence followed. Then the voice answered: “Someone your father trusted.” Kael stared at the door. His hand tightened around the metal marked 18. The voice continued: “And someone who's been waiting for you to come back for a long time.” The door unlocked. Once. Twice. Then the entire corridor went dark. Except for two red lights appearing on the other side. Kael didn't move. For the first time since returning to Asteria… He wasn't sure he wanted the door to open.

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