Chapter 15: The Gates of Nox Aeterna
The expedition resumed their journey before sunrise.
A cold mist clung to the forest floor as the group traveled in silence.
No one spoke much after the previous night's discoveries.
Someone had been watching them.
Someone wanted them to reach Nox Aeterna.
The only question was...
Why?
By noon, the forest came to an end.
Before them stood a mountain unlike any they had ever seen.
Its peak pierced the clouds, and carved into its face were enormous stone doors over a hundred meters tall.
Ancient pillars, cracked by time, lined the entrance.
A faded inscription stretched across the archway.
Lyra brushed away centuries of dust.
"I... I can read some of it."
Everyone gathered around.
"What does it say?" Helena asked.
Lyra slowly translated the ancient language.
> "Only the rightful heir may awaken the Eternal Throne."
A chill ran through the group.
Lucien frowned.
"Heir to what?"
No one had an answer.
As they stepped closer, Fenrir suddenly stopped.
The mighty Moonfang Dire Wolf lowered his head and let out a quiet whine.
Abster knelt beside him.
"What is it?"
Fenrir looked toward the massive stone doors.
His eyes held something Abster had never seen before.
Respect.
Suddenly...
The ground trembled.
RUMBLE...
Ancient runes carved into the mountain began glowing with black-and-gold light.
Lyra stepped back.
"They're reacting to... someone."
Every rune lit up one after another.
Like stars awakening after a long night.
The light spread until it reached Abster's feet.
Then—
The giant doors slowly began to open.
BOOOOOOM...
A gust of ancient air swept out from the darkness within.
Everyone froze.
Helena whispered,
"No one touched the doors..."
Inside lay an enormous city.
Not ruins.
A city.
Towering black towers reached toward the ceiling of the vast cavern.
Ancient streets stretched into the distance.
Crystal lamps still glowed after countless centuries.
"It... it's impossible," Lyra whispered.
"It looks untouched."
Garrick stared in awe.
"This place has been hidden all this time..."
As the group cautiously entered the city...
Rows of stone statues lined the main road.
Each statue depicted warriors kneeling with swords pointed toward the ground.
Thousands of them.
Suddenly—
One statue cracked.
Then another.
And another.
Stone crumbled away.
Beneath it stood warriors clad in black-and-gold armor.
Ancient Guardians.
Their eyes glowed with blue light.
Lucien immediately drew his sword.
"They're alive!"
But the guardians ignored everyone else.
Instead...
Every single one turned toward Abster.
Thousands of armored warriors dropped to one knee.
Their voices echoed through the silent city as one.
> "Welcome home..."
The earth shook.
Even Helena's legs trembled.
Abster stood frozen.
"...Home?"
Before anyone could speak—
A lone figure descended the grand staircase at the end of the avenue.
Unlike the others, his armor was white and gold.
A long silver cloak flowed behind him.
He removed his helmet.
Beneath it was the face of a man who looked no older than thirty.
His silver eyes filled with emotion.
He knelt before Abster.
"My King..."
"My name is Caelum Ardent."
"I am the last Royal Guardian of Nox Aeterna."
"I have waited..."
"...one thousand years for your return."
Abster stepped back in disbelief.
"You've mistaken me for someone else."
Caelum slowly shook his head.
"I could never mistake the one I swore to protect."
He raised his head.
"The blood remembers..."
"...even if the mind does not."
Everyone watched in stunned silence.
Princess Elena looked at Abster.
The quiet adventurer she had traveled with...
The man who disliked attention...
Was somehow connected to an ancient kingdom lost to history.
Far away, inside the Black Fortress...
Lord Zarek smiled as he gazed toward the east.
"The gates have opened."
"The Hidden Sovereign..."
"...has finally returned to Nox Aeterna."
End of Chapter 15