Chapter 16: The Road to Veyr Mountain
The next morning, Evan stood outside the Arclight Archive with his travel bag over his shoulder.
The map from Elias’s hidden record was folded safely inside his coat.
Veyr Mountain was their next destination.
Kaela stood beside him, checking the straps of her bag one last time.
“You ready?”
Evan looked toward the northern road.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Ronan approached with Liora.
“We should leave before noon. The journey will take several days.”
Evan nodded.
Before they could leave, the archivist stepped outside.
“There is something you need to know.”
Evan turned toward him.
“About Veyr Mountain?”
“Yes.”
The archivist reached into his robe and handed Evan a small metal pendant.
Evan examined it carefully.
A star-shaped symbol was engraved into its surface—the same symbol he had seen inside the sealed archive.
“What is this?”
“It belonged to Elias.”
Evan looked up.
“Why are you giving it to me?”
“According to the surviving records, Elias carried it whenever he traveled toward the northern mountains.”
Evan closed his fingers around it.
“Then maybe it will help us find him.”
“Perhaps.”
The archivist’s expression became serious.
“But remember what you read.”
Evan knew exactly what he meant.
Do not trust the Gates.
He placed the pendant around his neck.
“We’ll be careful.”
The archivist nodded.
“Be more careful than Elias was.”
Those words stayed with Evan as the group left.
They departed Arclight before midday.
The massive city slowly disappeared behind them as the road climbed into the northern hills.
For several hours, the journey remained peaceful.
Evan walked beside Kaela.
Every so often, she glanced at the pendant around his neck.
“You really think that belonged to Elias?”
“That’s what the archivist said.”
Kaela became quiet.
“I wonder what my mother knew about him.”
Evan looked at her.
“About Seraphine?”
She nodded.
“She spent years researching the World Gates. If she knew about Elias, maybe she also knew what happened to him.”
Evan thought about the hidden records.
“Then finding Elias might help us find your mother too.”
Kaela looked at him.
“You remember.”
“Of course I remember.”
A small smile appeared on her face.
“Thank you.”
Evan looked away.
“Don’t thank me yet. We haven’t found anything.”
“I know.”
Her smile remained.
“But you’re still helping.”
Evan didn’t answer.
He simply continued walking beside her.
By late afternoon, the road disappeared into a narrow forest.
Ronan stopped.
“We camp here.”
Liora looked around nervously.
“Are we safe?”
Ronan studied the trees.
“Probably.”
Evan raised an eyebrow.
“Probably?”
Ronan gave him a small smile.
“Nothing is ever completely safe.”
They gathered wood and prepared a small camp.
As the sun disappeared, the dark sky filled with stars.
Evan sat beside the fire, holding the pendant in his hand.
The star-shaped symbol reflected the flames.
Kaela sat nearby.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Earth.”
Kaela looked at him.
“You miss it?”
“Sometimes.”
“What do you miss most?”
Evan thought for a moment.
“Small things.”
“Like?”
“My room. The sound of rain against the window. Being able to walk somewhere without worrying about monsters.”
“That last one makes sense.”
Evan smiled.
Then his expression became more serious.
“But I don’t think I could go back without wondering what happened to everyone here.”
Kaela looked into the fire.
“Maybe this world became your home.”
Evan glanced at her.
“Maybe.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The fire crackled between them.
Later that night, everyone went to sleep.
Evan remained awake.
Something felt wrong.
He slowly stood and looked into the forest.
Nothing moved.
He waited.
Then—
Snap.
A branch broke.
Evan immediately reached for his daggers.
“Who’s there?”
Silence.
Another branch snapped.
Evan moved into the darkness between the trees.
A shadow passed ahead of him.
He followed it.
Suddenly, someone appeared behind him.
Evan spun around.
A blade came toward him.
He blocked it with one of his daggers.
The attacker jumped backward.
Evan narrowed his eyes.
“Who are you?”
The figure wore a dark cloak.
But there was no mask this time.
A young man stood before him.
Evan recognized him immediately.
The stranger from the alley in Arclight.
“You.”
The stranger stared at him.
“So you remember me.”
Evan raised his dagger.
“Why are you following us?”
“I’m not here to fight.”
“Then why attack me?”
“To test you.”
Evan frowned.
“I don’t like being tested.”
The stranger’s eyes moved toward the pendant around Evan’s neck.
His expression suddenly changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“The Archive.”
The stranger became silent.
Then he looked directly at Evan.
“Then you’ve found Elias’s path.”
Evan stepped closer.
“You know Elias?”
“I know what he left behind.”
“Where is he?”
The stranger looked toward the distant mountains.
“I don’t know.”
Evan lowered his dagger slightly.
“Then what do you know?”
The stranger hesitated.
“Elias was looking for something at Veyr Mountain.”
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
Frustration crossed Evan’s face.
“Everyone keeps saying they don’t know.”
The stranger almost smiled.
“Because the people who know the truth don’t live long.”
A sudden growl came from the forest.
The stranger’s expression changed.
“We need to go.”
Evan turned.
Several pairs of eyes appeared between the trees.
Creatures slowly emerged from the darkness.
Their bodies were covered in dark fur, and strange magical energy surrounded them.
The stranger drew his weapon.
“Those aren’t normal beasts.”
Evan tightened his grip.
“Then what are they?”
“Void-touched wolves.”
The creatures growled.
The first one suddenly charged.
Evan stepped forward.
His normally red eyes flashed.
Fire.
Flames formed around his dagger, and his eyes shifted to a bright orange-red.
The flames struck the ground in front of the wolf, forcing it backward.
Another wolf attacked from the side.
Evan turned.
Lightning crackled around his body.
His eyes shifted from orange-red to brilliant gold.
He moved with increased speed and avoided the attack.
Kaela suddenly appeared beside him.
“Evan!”
She struck the wolf and sent it stumbling backward.
Then she looked at him.
“You went into the forest alone.”
“I heard something.”
“You could have told me.”
“I’ll remember next time.”
“You better.”
The wolves surrounded them.
Ronan and Liora arrived moments later.
“Stay together!” Ronan shouted.
The battle continued.
Evan switched between his elements carefully.
Fire pushed the wolves back.
Water slowed their movements.
Lightning increased his speed.
Darkness trapped them.
Each change affected his eyes.
But the more he switched between elements, the heavier his body became.
His breathing grew harder.
Kaela noticed immediately.
“Evan, stop!”
“I can handle it.”
“You’ve already used too much!”
A wolf rushed toward him.
Evan raised his hand.
Darkness spread across the ground.
His eyes became violet-black.
The wolf was caught inside the shadow.
But pain suddenly tore through Evan’s body.
His Fourfold mark burned.
He dropped to one knee.
Kaela grabbed his shoulder.
“That’s enough.”
Evan tried to stand.
“I can still fight.”
“You don’t have to.”
Ronan finished the remaining wolf.
The surviving creatures fled into the forest.
Silence returned.
Evan breathed heavily.
Kaela looked at him.
“You need to stop pushing yourself like that.”
Evan looked away.
“I know.”
The stranger had been watching the entire battle.
His expression was difficult to read.
“You really are the Fourfold.”
Evan looked at him.
“You sound surprised.”
“I’ve only seen one person use all four elements before.”
“Elias.”
The stranger nodded.
“Yes.”
Evan slowly stood.
“Who are you?”
The stranger looked toward Veyr Mountain.
“My name is Silas.”
He paused.
“And if you’re going to Veyr Mountain…”
His expression became serious.
“…you should know that someone else is already there.”
Evan’s eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
Silas stared toward the distant mountain.
“A man searching for the same thing Elias was searching for.”
Evan’s hand tightened around the pendant.
“Aurelion?”
Silas didn’t answer.
He simply turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Evan stared after him.
Kaela stepped beside him.
“Do you think it was him?”
“I don’t know.”
Evan looked toward Veyr Mountain.
“But we’re getting closer.”
Far beyond the forest, at the foot of the northern mountains, a lone shadow stood beneath the stars.
Aurelion Veyr looked toward the distant road.
His eyes settled on the faint glow of Evan’s camp.
“The Second Fourfold is coming.”
He turned toward the mountain.
“And this time, the past will not remain buried.” thank you for reading my novel