Volume 2 – Chapter 21
The morning sun rose over the Royal Fortress as Squad Seven finally returned from the Ashveil Mountains.
Their armor was battered.
Their clothes were torn.
But every one of them was alive.
The guards standing at the fortress gates exchanged surprised glances before saluting.
“They’re back…”
“I heard the Ashveil Ruins were cursed.”
“They actually survived.”
Finn stretched his arms with a tired groan.
“The first thing I’m doing is taking the longest bath in history.”
Kael looked at him.
“The first thing you’re doing is reporting to Commander Varick.”
Finn sighed dramatically.
“…Reality is cruel.”
Mira laughed.
“You’ll live.”
“I almost didn’t.”
Commander Varick was already waiting inside the command hall.
His stern expression remained unchanged as the five entered.
“You’ve returned.”
Squad Seven saluted.
“We’ve completed the investigation, Commander,” Raimer reported.
Varick’s eyes swept across the squad.
“Injuries?”
“Nothing serious.”
“Casualties?”
“None.”
For the first time…
The commander allowed himself a faint smile.
“Excellent.”
Raimer stepped forward and carefully placed the bronze key on the table.
“We also found this.”
The moment Varick saw it…
His expression froze.
He picked it up with both hands.
“…Where did you get this?”
“The guardian of the ruins entrusted it to me.”
Silence filled the room.
Varick dismissed the nearby officers with a wave of his hand.
“Everyone except Squad Seven… leave.”
The room emptied immediately.
Only then did Varick speak.
“This…”
“…is the Royal Vault Key.”
Finn blinked.
“So it actually opens something?”
Kael elbowed him.
“What did you think it was for?”
“I don’t know… decoration?”
An hour later…
The five stood inside the royal palace for the very first time.
Tall marble pillars stretched toward a ceiling painted with scenes of ancient wars.
Golden banners bearing the royal crest hung proudly along the walls.
Servants hurried past, whispering as they noticed the young soldiers.
“Those are the recruits from Nocthollow.”
“They’re the ones who entered Ashveil.”
Raimer ignored the whispers.
His attention remained fixed on the massive doors ahead.
Two royal guards pushed them open.
“The King will see you now.”
The throne room was breathtaking.
Sunlight poured through stained-glass windows.
Knights stood silently on both sides of a crimson carpet. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
At its end sat King Aldren IV.
His silver crown gleamed beneath the morning light.
Although no longer young, his sharp eyes revealed the experience of a ruler who had carried a kingdom through decades of peace.
Commander Varick knelt.
“Your Majesty.”
The squad followed.
“You may rise,” the King said.
His gaze settled on Raimer.
“So…”
“You’re the young soldier who returned with the forgotten key.”
Raimer nodded respectfully.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The King descended from his throne.
He stopped only a few steps away.
“Show it to me.”
Raimer handed him the bronze key.
The King’s hand trembled ever so slightly.
“I never believed I’d see this in my lifetime…”
He looked toward the palace scholars.
“Prepare the Royal Vault.”
Deep beneath the palace…
Stone staircases spiraled into darkness.
Torchlight flickered along ancient walls untouched for centuries.
Finally…
They reached a pair of enormous doors.
Each stood nearly fifteen meters high.
Golden runes covered every inch of the surface.
One scholar stepped forward.
“The vault has remained sealed for over four hundred years.”
“No king has been able to open it.”
The King’s eyes turned toward Raimer.
“Try.”
Raimer hesitated.
“Me?”
“The key chose you.”
He slowly inserted the bronze key into the ancient lock.
For several seconds…
Nothing happened.
Then—
CLICK.
The runes erupted with brilliant golden light.
The ground trembled.
Ancient gears hidden inside the mountain began turning.
RRRRRRRRR…
The massive doors slowly opened.
A gust of cold air escaped from within.
The Royal Vault…
Had awakened.
The chamber inside was unlike anything they had imagined.
Rows of ancient weapons rested upon crystal stands.
Banners from forgotten kingdoms hung untouched by time.
Bookshelves stretched endlessly into the darkness.
At the center of the room stood a marble pedestal.
Upon it rested a single wooden chest.
No jewels.
No gold.
Only a chest.
Raimer stepped closer.
Without anyone touching it…
The lid slowly opened. Find the original chapter at novelping.com.
Inside lay three objects.
An old leather journal.
A silver ring engraved with the royal crest.
And a faded map.
The King carefully picked up the journal.
Dust fell from its cover.
He opened the first page.
His expression slowly changed.
“What is it?” Varick asked.
The King quietly handed the book to Raimer.
Written across the first page were elegant words.
To the child who stands before this journal…
History remembers victories.
It rarely remembers the price paid to achieve them.
If you truly seek the truth, do not believe every legend bearing the royal crest.
Raimer frowned.
“The handwriting…”
“It looks familiar.”
He couldn’t explain why.
But every letter felt strangely comforting.
As though he had seen it before.
Far away…
Inside a hidden sanctuary carved into black stone…
Vesper knelt before a throne swallowed by darkness.
“My King.”
“The Royal Vault has been opened.”
Silence.
Only the sound of crackling black flames echoed through the chamber.
Finally…
A deep voice answered.
“Excellent.”
“The first seal has been broken.”
Vesper lowered his head.
“Shall I eliminate the boy?”
“No.”
The voice remained calm.
“Let him continue.”
“He will uncover the path himself.”
“As you command.”
That night…
Raimer sat alone in his room.
The silver ring rested on his desk.
The journal lay open before him.
He continued reading by candlelight.
Most of its pages had faded beyond recognition.
But one sentence remained perfectly clear.
When the stars disappear beneath the Black Moon… seek the Kingdom of Frost.
Before Raimer could turn the page…
The candle suddenly went out.
A cold breeze swept through the room.
He looked toward the window.
Outside…
A lone black raven sat upon the stone railing.
Its crimson eyes met his.
Then…
It spread its wings and vanished into the night.
Raimer slowly closed the journal.
Somewhere beyond the darkness…
Someone was waiting.
And whatever lay ahead…
Would change his life forever.
End of Chapter 21