The forest finally appeared beyond the last hills. The trees were much older than the ones they had passed earlier. Their thick trunks formed a natural canopy over the road, allowing only a few rays of sunlight through. The convoy slowed down. Darius raised a hand. “We’re entering the area.” The Black Raven knights immediately spread out. Gareth and Silas moved to the left. Rowan took the right. Darius stayed close to Kael. Farther back, the Imperial Knights surrounded the two carriages carrying the imperial family. Captain Alaric Thorne carefully watched their surroundings. “Nothing to report.” Darius nodded. “For now.” Kael, however, wasn’t looking at the trees. He was looking at the ground. The soil was gradually becoming darker. The remains of an old path appeared beneath the vegetation here and there. Some stones had been moved. Others bore small markings that had almost completely faded. Kael dismounted. Lysandra, who was a few yards behind him, did the same. “What did you find?” Kael crouched down. He ran his fingers just above a stone without touching it. “Nothing.” Adrian Falken approached. “You’ve been staring at that stone for almost a minute.” Kael stood back up. “It’s not natural.” Adrian looked at the stone. “It looks like a stone.” “Yes.” “So?” Kael pointed to a small groove along its side. “This was carved.” Adrian narrowed his eyes. After a few seconds, he noticed it. “Good catch.” Noah walked over behind them. “Did you find something?” Adrian turned toward him. “A stone.” Noah looked at Kael. Then at the stone. “That’s it?” “For now.” Noah sighed. “I was hoping for a chest.” “We just got here.” “Exactly. We need to start strong.” Lysandra smiled. “You read too many old adventure books.” “That might explain why I’m always disappointed in real life.” Kael shook his head slightly. But he was smiling. Then he looked back toward the forest. Something was wrong. There were no sounds. No birds. No small animals. Even the wind seemed to have disappeared. Kael straightened. “Darius.” The commander immediately turned his head. “Yes?” “Stop everyone.” Darius didn't ask any questions. He simply raised his arm. “HALT!” The order quickly spread through the convoy. The horses came to a stop. The knights looked around. Alaric approached. “Something wrong?” Kael remained silent. He closed his eyes. A faint sensation passed through his body. Aura. Not hostile. But present. Beneath their feet. He opened his eyes. “There’s something beneath the road.” Alaric frowned. “A trap?” “I don't know.” Darius crouched down. “You can feel it?” Kael nodded. “Barely.” Aldren dismounted and approached. “Should we dig?” Kael shook his head. “No.” He looked around. Then walked several yards toward a massive tree. He placed his hand against the trunk. Nothing. He took a few steps. Stopped. Walked back. Then looked at the ground. “Here.” Darius examined the spot. “Why here?” Kael didn't answer. He didn't know. He simply knew. As if some part of him recognized something. He knelt down. Beneath the moss was a small metal plate. Darius carefully cleared it. An inscription appeared. V-17. Ethan, who had just arrived, fell silent. “That marking again.” Kael ran his fingers over the letters. This time, an image flashed through his mind. A corridor. Blue light. His father's hand. A voice. Look carefully. Kael suddenly pulled his hand away. Lysandra noticed immediately. “Kael?” He blinked. “I’m fine.” “Are you sure?” “Yes.” Darius watched him for a few seconds. He knew that expression. Kael was trying to understand something he wasn't ready to explain. Darius didn't push him. Aldren crouched beside the plate. “V-17 used to designate the secondary facilities of House Veyron.” Alaric looked at the marking. “And L-03?” Aldren raised his eyes. “That’s exactly what we came here to find.” Kael stood. “Let’s keep moving.” --- They continued for another twenty minutes. The ground gradually sloped downward. The trees became more spread out. Then, suddenly, the forest opened up. A huge clearing appeared. At its center stood the ruins of an old structure. Stone walls. A large circular platform. Several broken pillars. And, farther back, a building half-covered by vegetation. Noah stared in silence. “…” Ethan smiled. “You wanted a chest.” Noah raised a hand. “I take it back.” Adrian studied the ruins. “This really was a training ground?” Aldren dismounted. “Yes.” Darius looked at the platform. “It’s much bigger than I imagined.” Kael didn't answer. He was staring at the ruins. An unfamiliar familiarity was growing inside him. He knew this place. He was certain of it. But he didn't know how. He slowly moved forward. Lysandra followed. “Kael.” He stopped. “Yes?” “Do you recognize something?” He looked at the platform. Then the pillars. Then the building. “I don't know.” “That’s not what I asked.” Kael turned toward her. Lysandra was looking at him calmly. Without pressing him. Without judgment. He finally answered: “Yes.” She waited. “But I don't know what.” Lysandra simply nodded. “Okay.” Kael looked at her for a few seconds. “You're not going to ask questions?” “If you want to tell me, you will.” A faint smile appeared on Kael's face. “Thank you.” Lysandra smiled back. Then Noah shouted from the platform. “I found something!” Kael and Lysandra turned around. “It’s a rock!” Adrian shouted. “I know!” “Then why are you shouting?” “Because it’s huge!” Ethan burst out laughing. Kael sighed. “I’m going to throw him into the forest.” Lysandra laughed softly. “You won’t.” “Probably not.” --- The group gathered in the center of the platform. Aldren examined the ruins. “This was a specialized training site.” Darius looked at the markings on the ground. “You can still see the circles.” Several lines indeed formed distinct areas. Some appeared to have been used for duels. Others for aura exercises. At the center was a large circular marking. Kael approached. He stopped. This time, the memory was stronger. A child. Him. He must have been six or seven. His father stood beside him. “Again.” Little Kael raised one hand. A faint red aura appeared around his fingers. “I can't do it.” His father knelt in front of him. “You don't need to force it.” “But it isn't working.” “Then listen.” The child frowned. “To what?” “The place.” The memory blurred. Kael suddenly inhaled. He returned to reality. Darius had approached. “Kael?” Kael stared at the circle. “My father brought me here.” Aldren immediately turned toward him. “You remember?” “A little.” Ethan stepped closer. “What was he doing?” Kael closed his eyes. “He was teaching me something.” “What?” “I don't know.” He placed a hand against his forehead. “It’s fragmented.” Lysandra remained nearby. She didn't touch him. She knew he needed space. Then Kael opened his eyes. His expression changed. He studied the lines of the circle. One. Two. Three. He followed their arrangement. “This isn't a training ground.” Adrian frowned. “What?” Kael crouched down. He placed his fingers against one of the grooves. “It’s a network.” Darius stepped closer. “Explain.” Kael pointed toward several markings. “They all connect here.” He pointed to the center. Then to another line. “This one goes west.” Aldren looked. “Toward the old building.” Kael shook his head. “No.” He pointed in another direction. “Farther.” Aldren followed the line with his eyes. His expression changed. “Toward the forest.” Kael nodded. “And this one…” He followed another groove. “North.” Darius looked at the map. “Where does it lead?” Kael raised his eyes. “I don't know.” Then he looked at Aldren. “But you do.” The old commander remained silent. Ethan turned toward him. “Aldren?” Aldren sighed. “An old military route.” Kael stood. “Where does it lead?” Aldren hesitated. “The western border of Veyron territory.” Kael remained thoughtful. “So V-17 wasn't isolated.” “No.” Darius looked at the ruins. “It was connected to several locations.” Kael slowly nodded. Another piece of the puzzle had fallen into place. V-17 wasn't just an old training ground. It was a connection point. And perhaps L-03 was another one. --- Suddenly, Nyxara raised her head. Her ears stood straight. Kael noticed immediately. “Everyone, step back.” The knights moved into position. Alaric quickly gave his orders. “Imperial Knights, surround the Prince and Princess!” The Imperial Knights moved around Lucien and Elara. The Imperial Guard spread out along the sides. The Black Ravens surrounded the platform. Darius slowly drew his sword. “What do you sense?” Kael stared toward the forest. “I don't know.” A sound echoed through the trees. A crack. Then another. Noah moved closer to Adrian. “Tell me that's just an animal.” Adrian drew his weapon. “That would be too simple.” Ethan placed a hand on his weapon. Lysandra focused. Kael raised his hand. “Wait.” Everyone froze. He looked at the ground. The old lines of the circle had begun to glow. Blue light traveled through the grooves. Then the central circle activated. Kael stood completely still. An ancient voice seemed to echo inside his mind. Heir recognized. His eyes widened slightly. “Kael?” He couldn't hear Darius. The light rose around him. Connection to Veyron Origin. Kael instinctively placed his hand against the center of the circle. A wave spread across the entire platform. The pillars trembled. Several stones fell from the ruins. The horses became agitated. The Imperial Knights raised their weapons. “No one move!” Alaric ordered. Kael didn't seem to hear anyone. Another image flashed through his mind. His father. Here. Standing in the exact same place. A young Kael stood beside him. His father placed a hand on his shoulder. “One day, you'll come back here.” The memory stopped. Kael opened his eyes. The light disappeared. He slowly removed his hand. Everything became silent again. Darius immediately approached. “Kael.” This time, Kael heard him. He turned his head. “I’m fine.” Darius studied his face. “What did you see?” Kael looked at the platform. Then at the old building. “My father.” Ethan stepped closer. “He was here?” “Yes.” “With you?” Kael nodded. Lysandra watched him carefully. “What did he say?” Kael remained silent. Then he answered: “That one day, I'd come back.” Nobody spoke. Even Noah was silent. Kael looked at his hands. He seemed different. Calmer. But also more determined. Alaric approached. “Patriarch Veyron.” Kael looked up. “Yes?” “What does this activation mean?” Kael looked at the circle. Then at the ruins. “I don't know yet.” He paused. “But I think L-03 isn't what we thought it was.” Aldren slowly nodded. “I’m starting to think the same.” Kael turned toward the old building. His red eyes fixed on the entrance covered in vegetation. For the first time since they arrived, he didn't simply seem to be searching for answers. He seemed to know where to go. He moved forward. Darius followed. Ethan did the same. Lysandra remained still for a few seconds before following Kael. Noah looked at Adrian. “Did you notice?” “What?” “He's walking like he already knows the way.” Adrian watched Kael. “Yes.” He paused. “And I think he just realized it too.” Noah swallowed. “This is getting really weird.” Adrian gave him a faint smile. “You wanted a chest.” Noah looked at the ruins. “I officially take it back.” Farther ahead, Kael stopped at the entrance to the building. He placed his hand against the old door. It opened immediately. Without a creak. As if someone had just used it. Kael remained still. Behind him, Darius moved to his side. Lysandra arrived moments later. Kael stared into the darkness. Then, very calmly, he said: “My father has been here before.” Darius looked inside. “Yes.” Kael slightly tightened his fingers. “But someone else has too.” Deep inside the building, a faint light came on. One. Then a second. Then a third. As if something knew exactly who had just entered. Kael raised his eyes. His expression was no longer that of a young patriarch discovering a forgotten place. It was the expression of someone who had finally found a part of himself. And for the first time, those accompanying him were about to discover that Kael Veyron's past was far deeper than they had ever imagined.