The black door continued to open. Slowly. In almost complete silence. Kael remained motionless in front of it. Behind him, Darius had already drawn his weapon. Alaric immediately signaled the Imperial Knights to form a defensive line. The Black Ravens spread out around Kael, Ethan, and the others. Nyxara stepped in front of Kael. Her ears were raised. Her red eyes remained fixed on the darkness beyond the doorway. Lysandra stood a few steps away from Kael. She didn't try to stop him. She knew he needed to see what was behind that door. But she stayed close enough to intervene if something went wrong. The red light grew brighter. Then a figure appeared in the opening. Kael narrowed his eyes. A man was slowly walking toward them. He wore a long dark cloak and a metal mask covering half of his face. He stopped several feet from the doorway. Soren stared at him. His expression immediately changed. — You... The man turned toward him. — It's been a long time. Soren clenched his jaw. — I thought you were dead. The man gave a faint smile. — That's what everyone was supposed to believe. Kael felt his aura shift. Not violently. But enough for Darius to notice. — Kael. — I'm fine. The man turned his eyes toward him. For several seconds, his gaze remained fixed on Kael's red eyes. — So you're the one. Kael said nothing. — Veyron's son. Ethan stepped forward. — You know our family? The man looked at him. — I knew your father. Kael felt something tighten in his chest. Again. His father. Always his father. Always someone who seemed to know a part of his history that he had never been able to recover. — Who are you? The man slowly removed his mask. He was older than Kael had expected. Gray hair framed his face. A scar ran lightly across his cheek. — My name is Maeron. Soren remained silent. Kael studied the man. — You were here with my father? Maeron nodded. — The last time this door was opened. — Sixteen years ago? — Yes. Kael's fingers tightened slightly. — Then tell me what happened. Maeron lowered his eyes. — Your father came here to understand what was sleeping behind this door. — And? — He discovered that it couldn't be opened by a single origin. Kael looked at the inscriptions. Three lights were still visible. Red. Gold. Black. Veyron. Imperial. Unknown. — Three origins. Maeron nodded. — Three forces required to fully awaken the system. Elara stepped forward slightly. — And the Imperial origin is one of them. Maeron turned toward her. He inclined his head. — Your family was present when the first doors were created. Prince Lucien frowned. — Our family? — Your ancestors. Alaric stepped in. — Why doesn't the Empire know anything about this? Maeron gave a tired smile. — Because the people who knew about it disappeared. Soren stared at Maeron suspiciously. — You shouldn't be here. — Neither should you. Maeron's tone hardened. — Yet here we are. A dull sound echoed behind them. Kael immediately turned. The robed figures had moved closer. The first Guardian raised a hand. — Step away from the door. Darius moved in front of Kael. — You should try saying that differently. The Guardian didn't even look at him. — This door must not be opened. Kael stared at him. — Why? — Because what lies beyond it cannot be controlled. Soren answered: — You've been saying that for centuries. — Because it's true. Kael looked at the door. Then at the three origins. Then at Maeron. — My father opened it. Maeron nodded. — Yes. — And he came back out. Silence. Maeron didn't answer immediately. Then he said: — Yes. Kael's heart began to beat faster. — Then he survived. Maeron raised his eyes. — I didn't say that. Kael remained still. That was exactly the answer he feared. Not yes. Not no. Once again, only a door left slightly open. A possibility. Darius placed a hand on his shoulder. Kael didn't pull away. — He left messages for me. — I know. Kael turned sharply. — How? Maeron held his gaze. — Because he asked me to protect them. Ethan stepped forward. — Protect them from whom? Maeron looked at the Guardians. — Them. The robed figures didn't move. But Kael noticed several of them change their stance. They were ready to fight. Alaric raised his weapon. — Everyone stays where they are. The Imperial Knights tightened their formation. Darius gave a signal. The Black Ravens moved as well. For several seconds, the two groups formed a line in front of Kael. The silence became heavy. Then one of the Guardians attacked. Everything happened at once. Darius blocked the first strike. Alaric intercepted a second opponent. Gareth and Silas split apart to cover the sides. The Imperial Knights charged together. The Black Ravens responded with their usual mobility. Kael stepped back. He didn't want to use the Echo of the Void unnecessarily. Not here. Not while the system seemed to react to every manifestation of power. But one man slipped between two knights and headed straight for him. Kael turned. The attack came. He dodged just in time. Then struck back. His opponent staggered. Kael concentrated his aura in his arm. A dark vibration briefly traveled across his hand. The man hesitated. He recognized something. — The Echo... Kael knocked him back with a sharp movement. Nyxara immediately leapt in front of him. She returned to her enormous form. Her red eyes glowed in the darkness. The growl that came from her made several fighters step back. — Nyxara, wait. The creature stopped. She remained in front of Kael but didn't attack. Lysandra looked at Kael. — You really intend to hold everyone back? Kael glanced at her. — For now. — All right. She moved beside him. Then raised her hand. A faint magical light appeared. Kael looked at her briefly. — You don't have to. — I know. She smiled slightly. — I'm staying anyway. Kael looked away. Another movement caught his attention. Ethan had just disarmed one of the attackers. Noah and Adrian were farther back, protecting the prince and princess alongside several knights. Elara had created a barrier around a group of injured soldiers herself. Lucien was coordinating the guards with Alaric. Everyone had found their place. Kael took a deep breath. Then he looked at the door. It was still open. But something had changed. The black light was gone. In its place, a faint white glow shone beyond the doorway. Kael stepped forward. Darius noticed. — Kael! Kael turned. — I need to check something. — I'm coming. — No. Darius stopped. Kael looked toward the doorway. — Stay with them. Darius understood immediately. He nodded. Kael walked forward alone. Lysandra watched him go. But she didn't stop him. Kael crossed the threshold. The room beyond the door was enormous. No creature. No weapon. No treasure. Only a stone circle at the center. And in front of it, a small metal plate. Kael approached. He immediately recognized the handwriting. It was his father's. He knelt. A sentence was engraved on the plate. “You didn't need to find every answer. You only needed to find the path.” Kael remained motionless. Then a second inscription appeared beneath the first. “Now, choose those who will walk with you.” Kael closed his eyes. He understood. His father wasn't asking him to continue alone. Everything he had discovered seemed to be leading him in the same direction. The doors. The memories. The systems. The messages. They had all brought him here. But not to give him every answer. To make him understand that he wasn't supposed to search for them alone. Kael stood. When he returned, the fighting had stopped. The Guardians had retreated. Some were injured. Others had disappeared into the passages. Soren was still there. So was Maeron. Darius approached. — What did you find? Kael looked at his friends. Ethan. Lysandra. Noah. Adrian. Lucian. Aldren. Darius. Then the prince and princess. And finally Nyxara. He answered simply: — A reason not to continue alone. Nobody spoke. Soren smiled faintly. — Then he was right. Kael stared at him. — Who? — Your father. Soren stepped backward. — We have to leave. Darius frowned. — You're just leaving? Soren looked at Kael. — What needed to be awakened already has been. Then he disappeared into a side passage with the remaining members of his group. Kael didn't pursue them. Not this time. He simply watched the door. It was already beginning to close. The red light faded. Then the gold. Finally, the black. The door closed. Silence returned. --- They remained at L-03 for several more hours. The wounded had to be treated, the ruins secured, and every remaining passage checked to make sure nothing else had been activated. The Imperial Knights and the Black Ravens worked together. The prince and princess were unharmed. Alaric supervised security. Darius spoke with Aldren. Ethan helped Lucian examine the remaining inscriptions. Noah and Adrian were sitting near an improvised fire. For the first time since they had arrived, nobody seemed to be in a hurry. The immediate danger had passed. The sun was beginning to sink. Kael had moved away from the camp. Nyxara had followed him. She had returned to her normal size and was lying in the grass. Kael sat against her. His head rested against her fur. He closed his eyes. He didn't want to think anymore. Not now. Not about the doors. Not about his father. Not about the Rovenharts. Not about what was waiting for them. He only wanted a few minutes of silence. Nyxara remained perfectly still. Her breathing was slow and steady. Kael felt the tension gradually leave his shoulders. A few minutes later, soft footsteps approached. He opened his eyes. Lysandra stopped in front of him. — Can I? Kael straightened slightly. — Yes. She sat beside him. For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. They simply watched the camp in the distance. — Are you all right? Lysandra finally asked. Kael thought about it. — I don't know. She nodded softly. — That's already an answer. Kael gave a faint smile. — Everything's getting complicated. — Yes. — I spent years believing my parents died in an accident. Lysandra remained silent. — Now I'm finding out they hid things. That they knew about these systems. That my father knew I'd come back here. He lowered his eyes. — And I still don't know why. Lysandra looked at him. — You don't have to know today. — I know. — And you don't have to carry all of this alone. Kael turned slightly toward her. She gave him a gentle smile. — Your father himself left you that message. Kael exhaled. — Yeah. He fell silent. Then his head slowly rested against Nyxara again. Lysandra watched him. — You're exhausted. — A little. — A little? Kael closed his eyes. — A lot. She gave a quiet laugh. — At least you're admitting it. Kael didn't answer. After a few seconds, Lysandra hesitated. Then she spoke softly. — You can rest your head on my shoulder if you want. Kael opened his eyes. He looked at her. — Why? — Because you need to rest. He hesitated. Kael wasn't used to accepting that kind of gesture. Especially not in front of other people. But Lysandra didn't pressure him. She simply waited. Finally, Kael moved slightly closer. Then he rested his head against her shoulder. Lysandra remained still. She gently ran her fingers through his hair. Kael closed his eyes. Nyxara watched them. Then she calmly lowered her head beside Kael's legs. The silence returned. This time, it felt different. Softer. Lighter. Lysandra continued gently running her fingers through his hair. — You can sleep, she whispered. Kael barely answered: — I'm not going to sleep. — Of course. A few minutes passed. His breathing became slower. His weight gradually relaxed against her shoulder. Lysandra looked down. Kael was asleep. A small smile appeared on her face. She didn't move. --- Several yards away, Ethan had stopped. He had noticed them. Darius arrived beside him. He followed Ethan's gaze. A faint smile appeared on his face. Ethan whispered: — He's actually asleep. — Yeah. Noah joined them. He looked in the same direction. His mouth opened. Darius immediately placed a hand on his shoulder. — Not a word. Noah closed his mouth. Then nodded. Adrian arrived behind them. He watched Kael for a few seconds. — He needed this. Ethan nodded. A little farther away, Lucian had also noticed the scene. Aldren stood beside him. — We leave him alone, Lucian said simply. — Of course. Prince Lucien and Princess Elara passed nearby with Alaric. Elara noticed Kael. She slowed down. The prince followed her gaze. Lysandra was still sitting with Kael asleep against her shoulder. Nyxara remained peacefully beside them. Elara smiled faintly. — He finally seems to be resting. Lucien nodded. — After everything that happened, he deserves it. Alaric glanced around. — We should continue preparing for departure. Elara nodded. Then she looked at Kael one last time. — Then let's do it without waking him. They continued on their way. Nobody approached. Nobody commented. Even Noah, for once, remained completely silent. The camp continued quietly around them. The knights packed their weapons. The horses were being prepared for the journey. The fires burned softly. And in the middle of it all, Kael slept. Not as the patriarch. Not as the heir. Not as the boy connected to the ancient doors. Simply as Kael. Lysandra continued gently running her fingers through his hair. Nyxara remained beside him. And for a few more minutes, nobody asked anything of the young patriarch of House Veyron. For once, he was simply allowed to rest.

Those Who Waited