The glowing crown beneath Elara’s feet slowly disappeared.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Even the wind seemed afraid to make a sound.
Elara looked at the Keeper.
“…What Queen?”
The Keeper didn’t answer immediately.
His eyes were fixed on the place where the symbol had appeared.
“It can’t be.”
He whispered the words more to himself than anyone else.
“It was destroyed.”
Caelan took a slow step back.
“This isn’t how the prophecy goes.”
Rose looked at him.
“You know the prophecy?”
Caelan laughed quietly.
“I grew up listening to it.”
He looked at Elara.
“But no one ever mentioned her.”
Noah frowned.
“I feel like everyone in this forest knows something except us.”
Adrian couldn’t help but smile.
“I know the feeling.”
The black smoke that had entered Elara’s crystal began moving.
Golden light and black shadows circled each other inside the crystal.
Neither side was stronger.
They simply…
Coexisted.
The Keeper noticed.
His expression slowly changed.
“So that’s why…”
Elara looked at him.
“Why what?”
“The Heartwood chose you.”
Before she could ask another question…
The Heart Crystal floated into the air.
The two keys followed.
The three of them formed a circle above Elara’s head.
The ground trembled.
Far away…
The Heartwood answered.
Its golden light rose above the trees like a sunrise.
Every spirit in the forest looked toward it.
“What is happening?”
Elara asked.
Rose smiled.
“The Heartwood is calling you.”
Without warning…
A path appeared beneath Elara’s feet.
It wasn’t the hidden trail.
This one was made of glowing white flowers.
They bloomed one after another, stretching deeper into the forest.
No one had seen this path before.
The Keeper slowly knelt.
The soldiers immediately did the same.
Adrian lowered his head. Find the original chapter at g.com.
Even Caelan became serious.
Only Noah and Elara remained standing.
“What are you all doing?”
Elara asked.
The Keeper looked up.
“Showing respect.”
Noah quickly whispered,
“I don’t know if I should bow too.”
Elara whispered back,
“Honestly…”
“I have no idea either.”
For the first time all day…
Noah laughed.
“Good.”
“At least we’re confused together.”
The flowers continued blooming.
One.
After another.
The path ended before a pair of enormous stone doors covered in vines.
Elara stopped walking.
“I’ve never seen these before.”
“You couldn’t.”
The Keeper stood beside her.
“They only appear…”
“…for the rightful heir.”
There were no handles.
No locks.
Only an old sentence carved into the center.
The crown belongs only to the one who chooses others before themselves.
Elara read it twice.
Then looked at the Keeper.
“What does it mean?”
“You’ll find out.”
“I wish people would stop saying that.”
Noah muttered.
Elara slowly placed her hand against the stone.
Nothing happened.
She frowned.
“I don’t understand.”
The doors remained closed.
Then Noah walked beside her.
“What if…”
He scratched the back of his neck.
“…it’s not asking for your hand?”
Elara looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
“It says the one who chooses others.”
He smiled awkwardly.
“So…”
“…maybe don’t think about opening the door.”
“Think about why you’re opening it.”
Everyone became quiet.
Even the Keeper looked at Noah.
She wasn’t here for power.
She wasn’t here for a crown.
She only wanted to save her family.
Her friends.
Ashwood.
The Heartwood.
“I don’t want to rule anyone.”
She whispered.
“I just want everyone to make it home.”
A warm breeze passed through the forest.
The flowers around the doors glowed brighter.
Then…
Boom.
The stone doors slowly opened.
No one touched them.
Beyond them was a circular hall unlike anything Elara had ever seen.
Moonlight poured through a hole in the ceiling.
Ancient trees grew inside the room.
Golden vines climbed the walls.
In the center stood a single stone pedestal.
Resting on it…
Was a silver crown.
It wasn’t covered in jewels.
It was simple.
Beautiful.
Tiny leaves were woven around its edges.
It looked almost alive.
Noah whispered,
“So…”
“That’s the crown?”
The Keeper slowly shook his head.
“No.”
Everyone looked at him.
“That’s not the crown.”
“It’s the key.”
Elara frowned.
“What?”
“The final key.”
The silver crown suddenly floated into the air.
Its light filled the entire hall.
Then…
A voice echoed from every direction.
Soft.
Ancient.
Powerful.
“Only one question remains.”
The light around the crown began to pulse.
“When the time comes…”
“…who are you willing to lose?”
The smile faded from Elara’s face.
Because deep inside her heart…
She already knew there was one person she could never let go.