Silence settled over the greenhouse once again. Kael kept his eyes fixed on the ground. The rumble they'd just heard had disappeared as quickly as it had come. And yet, no one seemed convinced that it was truly over. Darius slowly stepped into the greenhouse. — Nobody move. The two Veyron mages exchanged a glance before checking their instruments again. One of them knelt beside the mechanism. — The energy has decreased. — Completely? Darius asked. The mage shook his head. — No. He placed a hand against the ground. — There's still a faint resonance. Kael looked at the blue flower. It had returned to normal. No light. No symbol. Nothing. As if nothing had happened. — Is it over? Ethan asked. The mage hesitated. — For now. Kael stood. — Then we have our answer. Ethan frowned. — Which is? Kael looked at the metal plate he'd just put away. — This house is hiding something. Lucian didn't answer. He was still staring at the flower. — More than just a hidden room, he murmured. Kael turned toward him. — What are you thinking? Lucian slowly shook his head. — I don't know. Darius sighed. — That's a sentence we've heard far too many times today. Ethan gave a small smile. — At least everyone's being honest. Kael studied the buried mechanism for a few more seconds. Then he turned away. — Let's go back to the manor. Darius nodded. — And the greenhouse? Kael looked toward the two knights stationed outside. — Double the guard. — Already planned. — No one enters without my permission. Darius nodded. — Understood. Kael walked past him. Then stopped. — Darius? — Yes? — If anything activates again... Darius understood immediately. — I'll let you know. Kael nodded. They left the greenhouse. Behind them, the blue flower remained perfectly still. But deep beneath the soil, something vibrated once more. So faintly that no one heard it. --- The rest of the day was spent securing the estate. The knights checked the different wings of the residence. The mages examined the old enchantments. The unused passages were inspected. Nothing unusual was found. And yet, Kael was having trouble relaxing. He was in the library when Ethan walked in. — You're still working? Kael looked up from his book. — I'm looking for information. — You've been at it for three hours. — Four. Ethan stopped. — That's not better. Kael returned to his reading. — I want to understand Father's research. Ethan sat across from him. — I know. He remained silent for a few seconds. Then he pulled out a small stack of documents. — I found these. Kael immediately looked up. — Where? — In the old family archives. He placed the documents on the table. — Several references to Lorn. Kael picked up the first sheet. It was old. The ink had faded slightly. He quickly scanned the first few lines. Travel reports. Maps. Magical surveys. Then an annotation caught his attention. Western Sector — Access forbidden without the Patriarch's authorization. Kael frowned. — What's this? Ethan looked at the page. — I don't know. — You didn't find anything else? — I did. He placed another sheet on the table. — A reference to an old Veyron expedition. Kael read through it. The date went back several decades. — Father? — No. Ethan shook his head. — Long before him. Kael thought for a moment. — So the Veyrons were already studying Lorn before our parents. — Apparently. Kael closed his eyes for a few seconds. Asteria. Veyron. Lorn. Everything seemed to go back much further than he'd imagined. Then another thought crossed his mind. — What about the Empire? Ethan looked up. — What about it? — Do the archives mention Imperial research? Ethan fell silent. Then he pulled out one last document. — Actually... Kael took it. The document bore an old Imperial seal. An official request. Kael quickly read through it. His expression changed. — They requested access to the Veyron archives concerning Lorn. — Yes. — When? — About twenty years before Father was born. Kael slowly lowered the document. — And the family refused. Ethan nodded. — Apparently. Kael remained thoughtful. So the Imperial family already knew that some ancient research concerning Lorn existed. But how much did they know? Before he could answer, someone knocked on the door. Darius entered. — Kael. — What? — An Imperial messenger just arrived. Ethan straightened. — Now? Darius nodded. — He carries the personal seal of the Imperial family. Kael exchanged a glance with his brother. — Send him in. --- A few minutes later, a young Imperial officer entered the library. He bowed deeply. — Patriarch Veyron. Kael gestured for him to stand. — What does the Empire want? The officer hesitated. — An official request. He held out an envelope. Kael took it. The Imperial seal was still intact. He opened it. His eyes quickly moved across the contents. Then he looked up. — The Imperial Academy of Asteria? — Yes. — They want me to return to the Academy after the holidays. The officer nodded. — The headmaster wishes to meet with you regarding the recent events. Kael placed the letter on the table. — The intruders? — Among other things. Darius crossed his arms. — And why is the Imperial family getting involved? The officer answered carefully. — Because several of the captured individuals possessed information concerning ancient Asteria systems. Kael remained silent. The officer continued. — The Emperor also wishes for certain information regarding those systems to be shared directly with the Imperial family. Ethan frowned. — Directly? — Yes. Kael folded the letter. — They want to know what we've found. It wasn't a question. The officer didn't answer. His silence was enough. Kael looked at Darius. Then Ethan. — Very well. Ethan stared at him. — You're going to tell them? Kael gave a faint smile. — Everything? — I already know the answer. — Then why ask? Darius smiled slightly. The officer, however, remained completely serious. — Shall I relay your response? Kael thought for a few seconds. — Tell the headmaster I'll be there. The officer bowed. — Yes, Patriarch. He turned to leave. Then Kael added: — And tell the Emperor that the research concerning Asteria is still ongoing. The officer stopped. — Nothing more? — Nothing more. The man bowed once more before leaving the room. The door closed behind him. Ethan looked at his brother. — You really just gave him half an answer. — That was intentional. Darius smiled. — He's learning. Kael picked up the letter again. But his eyes stopped on one final sentence. “The headmaster also requests the presence of several students involved in the recent events.” Kael frowned slightly. — Noah, Adrian, and Lysandra. Ethan understood. — They'll be there too. Kael nodded slowly. That meant Asteria wasn't over. And despite everything that had happened at Veyron, part of his story was still unfolding there. --- That evening, Kael left the library. He walked through the corridors of the residence. The estate had become quiet again. He passed the large windows overlooking the gardens. Then stopped. The greenhouse was visible in the distance. Two knights stood guard outside. Kael watched it for a few seconds. He thought of his father. The flower. The plate. Lorn. Then he felt something. A presence. Faint. Not hostile. Kael turned his head. Nyxara stood at the end of the corridor. She was watching him. Her red eyes reflected the faint light from the lanterns. — How long have you been there? The Nocterys obviously didn't answer. She slowly approached. Kael crouched down. Nyxara rested her muzzle against his shoulder. Kael ran a hand through her dark fur. — You know something too, don't you? Nyxara remained still. Kael smiled faintly. — Of course you won't tell me. The creature raised her eyes toward him. Then she looked toward the greenhouse. Kael followed her gaze. — You sensed it? Nyxara's ears twitched slightly. Kael stood. — Me too. A moment of silence passed. Then Nyxara gently nudged his hand with her head. Kael placed his palm softly against her forehead. — Thanks. He stayed like that for a few seconds. For the first time since returning to Veyron, his mind felt a little calmer. But another voice echoed through the corridor. — I was wondering where you were. Kael turned. Lysandra was walking toward him. She stopped when she noticed Nyxara. The Nocterys looked at her. Then simply turned away and lay down a few meters away. Lysandra smiled. — She's really starting to like me. Kael shrugged slightly. — She's difficult to understand. — So are you. Kael gave a small smile. Lysandra stepped closer. — Are you okay? Kael remained silent. Then answered: — Yes. She studied him for a few seconds. — You're lying. Kael looked away. — I'm fine. — That's not the same thing. Kael didn't answer. Lysandra didn't push him. She simply stayed beside him. Nyxara slightly raised her head. The corridor remained quiet. After a few seconds, Kael spoke softly. — I think I'm starting to understand why my father didn't want me to touch that flower. Lysandra waited. — But I still don't understand what he wanted to show me. — You'll figure it out eventually. Kael looked at her. — You're sure? — No. She smiled. — But I know you well enough to know you won't give up. Kael remained silent. Then a faint smile appeared on his face. Nyxara closed her eyes again. For a few minutes, there were no ancient doors. No secrets. No Lorn. No Empire. Only a quiet corridor. Lysandra beside him. And Nyxara nearby. Kael wished the moment could have lasted a little longer. But somewhere deep within the estate... a mechanism started moving again. One sound. Click. Nyxara's eyes opened immediately. Kael raised his head. Lysandra turned toward the greenhouse. Then a second sound echoed through the corridor. Click. Kael straightened. His smile disappeared. — It's starting again. Nyxara stood up. Her ears pointed forward. Kael looked toward the window. Far beyond the gardens, a faint red light had appeared. And this time... it wasn't coming from the greenhouse.

The Call from Afar