The hidden passage yawned before them like the throat of some ancient beast.
No one moved.
Not because they were afraid.
Because the battle had stopped.
Even the Black Blades stood motionless.
Voren's greatsword rested against the marble floor as his eyes remained fixed on Uriel.
More precisely...
On the serpent tattoo coiled around his left arm.
Its golden eyes slowly opened.
Then closed again.
Voren exhaled heavily.
"So..."
"It has chosen you."
Uriel frowned.
"It?"
Voren ignored the question.
Instead, he looked toward the glowing Hall of Faces.
"I prayed I would never see this day."
The silence that followed was broken by Nox.
He isn't* *lying.
Uriel glanced down.
"You know him?"
A little.
"He* is older than he *appears."
Before Uriel could ask another question, the Vault groaned.
The sound echoed through every chamber.
Ancient dust rained from the ceiling.
Maera's eyes widened.
"The seal..."
"It's failing."
Almost as if answering her, another violent tremor shook the chamber.
Cracks raced across the marble floor.
One of the twelve stone guardians slowly turned its head toward the Hall of Faces.
Golden light pulsed within its ancient eyes.
Then it spoke.
"The* Vault can no longer *endure."
Every guardian lowered its weapon simultaneously.
"The* Keeper must *leave."
Captain Darius didn't hesitate.
"You heard them!"
"Move!"
His voice snapped Veyra's soldiers back into action.
Ellis and Garron hurried toward the hidden passage, checking for traps.
Tovin and Lyra gathered the wounded.
Merek disappeared briefly into the shadows before returning moments later.
"The tunnel is clear."
"For now."
Maera quickly collected the black scroll containing the First Oath and carefully slipped it into her satchel.
"We can't leave this behind."
Uriel watched everyone preparing to depart.
Yet Voren remained exactly where he stood.
"You aren't stopping us?"
Voren smiled faintly.
"I couldn't."
"Not anymore."
"You've already crossed the line."
"What line?"
"The one no Keeper ever returns from."
Another tremor interrupted them.
This one was stronger.
Several enormous pillars cracked.
Chunks of stone crashed onto the battlefield, crushing abandoned weapons beneath them.
The guardians remained perfectly still.
Waiting.
Watching.
One of the Black Blades stepped toward Voren.
"Commander!"
"We have to retreat!"
Voren never looked away from Uriel.
"Take the survivors."
"What about you?"
"I'll stay."
The assassin hesitated.
Then slowly lowered his head.
"As you command."
The remaining Black Blades withdrew toward another corridor, disappearing into the darkness beyond the Vault.
Veyra watched them leave.
"You're letting us walk away."
"No."
Voren answered quietly.
"The Vault is."
He looked upward.
"You don't understand."
"It won't let anyone remain."
Almost immediately, the marble beneath their feet split apart.
A wave of crimson light surged through the widening cracks.
The temperature plummeted.
The Hall of Faces began collapsing.
Porcelain masks shattered one after another, their fragments dissolving into glowing ash before they touched the ground.
Maera stared in horror.
"The memories..."
"They're disappearing."
Nox's voice became unusually serious.
No.
They're* *returning.
Uriel frowned.
"What does that mean?"
You'll* *understand.
Later.
Captain Darius stepped beside Uriel.
"We've delayed long enough."
Uriel nodded.
"Everyone into the passage."
One by one, they descended the worn stone steps.
Ellis led the way with a torch held high.
Behind him came Garron and Tovin, helping two wounded soldiers walk.
Maera followed carefully, protecting the satchel that carried the First Oath.
Lyra watched the rear while Merek repeatedly glanced over his shoulder, making sure nothing pursued them.
Veyra remained beside Uriel.
As they reached the entrance, Uriel stopped.
He looked back.
The guardians stood in perfect formation.
Golden light surrounded them.
The lead guardian slowly inclined its head.
Not as a servant.
As one warrior acknowledging another.
"Walk* *well... Keeper."
The stone doors began sliding shut.
The sound echoed through the collapsing Vault.
Voren stood alone before the Hall of Faces.
He planted his greatsword into the floor.
His black cloak stirred in the crimson wind.
"Our paths will cross again."
Uriel met his gaze.
"I know."
"I hope..."
Voren said quietly,
"...that when that day comes..."
"...you remember everything."
The doors closed between them.
Darkness swallowed the Vault forever.
Only the sound of footsteps remained.
The tunnel stretched endlessly ahead.
Its walls were carved from smooth black stone untouched by time.
Ancient symbols covered every surface.
Masks.
Dragons.
Stars.
And one symbol repeated more than any other—
A serpent coiled around a porcelain mask.
Maera stopped to examine it.
"I've never seen this inscription."
She brushed centuries of dust away with trembling fingers.
"The language..."
"It predates every kingdom."
Uriel approached.
"What does it say?"
She studied the symbols carefully.
"I can only make out fragments."
"'The Keeper...'"
"'...shall walk unseen...'"
"'...until the final face...'"
The remaining words had long since eroded away.
Nox spoke softly.
Wrong.
Uriel blinked.
"You can read it?"
I remember it.
"What does it say?"
For several moments...
Silence.
Then—
Not yet.
Uriel sighed.
"You enjoy doing that."
Yes.
A faint smile crossed Veyra's face.
"You look like you're arguing with yourself."
"In a way..."
"I am."
The soldiers chuckled quietly.
For the first time since Eldan Roa burned...
The tension eased.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Hours passed as they continued through the endless passage.
No enemies.
No traps.
Only silence.
Eventually...
A cool breeze drifted through the tunnel.
Ellis stopped.
"Commander."
"I see light."
Everyone quickened their pace.
The ancient passage sloped upward.
The stale underground air gave way to the scent of pine, wet earth, and fresh rain.
At last, they reached the end.
Massive stone doors stood half open, their mechanisms rusted with age.
Together, Garron and Ellis pushed them apart.
Daylight flooded the passage.
The group stepped outside one by one.
Before them stretched an immense forest unlike any they had seen.
Towering silver-barked trees reached toward the heavens.
Mist drifted between their trunks.
Ancient mountains stood in the distance.
The burning city of Eldan Roa was nowhere to be seen.
It was as though they had entered another world.
Maera slowly turned back toward the hidden entrance.
The stone doors sealed themselves without a sound.
Then the mountainside became solid rock once more.
No trace of the Forgotten Vault remained.
Captain Darius removed his helmet and took a deep breath.
"So..."
"Where are we?"
No one answered.
Uriel looked at the endless forest ahead.
Nox's golden eyes opened within the tattoo.
For the first time since they had met...
Its voice carried a hint of anticipation.
"Now..."
"The journey truly begins."