Chapter 19: Beneath the Mountain
The morning after the collapse, Evan stood before the entrance to Veyr Mountain.
The opening was partially blocked by fallen stone from the previous night’s collapse.
Ronan examined the rubble carefully.
“We’ll have to find another way inside.”
Evan touched the pendant Elias had left behind.
The star-shaped symbol was glowing faintly.
Kaela noticed.
“It’s reacting again.”
Evan nodded.
“It wasn’t doing this yesterday.”
Silas stepped closer.
“Then Elias’s path is still active.”
Evan looked at him.
“You said Elias made a promise to protect the next Fourfold Traveler.”
“Yes.”
“Who did he make that promise to?”
Silas became silent.
“I don’t know.”
Evan frowned.
“You really don’t know?”
“I only know what Elias told me.”
“What did he tell you?”
Silas looked toward the mountain.
“That one day, someone would arrive from another world.”
Evan looked down at the pendant.
“And that person would be me?”
Silas shook his head.
“Elias didn’t know your name.”
That answer surprised Evan.
“Then how did he know?”
“He didn’t.”
Silas turned toward Evan.
“He only believed another Fourfold Traveler would eventually appear.”
Evan slowly understood.
Elias hadn’t predicted Evan specifically.
He had simply prepared for whoever came next.
And somehow, that preparation had led Evan here.
The group searched along the mountain for another entrance.
After several hours, Liora stopped beside a large stone formation.
“Wait.”
Everyone turned toward her.
She pointed toward the ground.
“There’s something behind these rocks.”
Ronan moved the stones aside.
A narrow opening appeared.
Behind it was a staircase descending into darkness.
Evan looked down.
The Fourfold mark on his hand became warm.
Kaela sighed.
“Of course it goes underground.”
Evan smiled.
“At least we’re getting used to this.”
They began descending.
The staircase seemed to continue forever.
The deeper they went, the colder the air became.
Eventually, they reached a massive underground hall.
Ancient statues lined both sides of the walls.
Each statue held a different elemental symbol.
Fire.
Water.
Lightning.
Darkness.
Evan slowed down.
“These look like the symbols from the Archive.”
Ronan nodded.
“This place may have been built specifically for the Fourfold.”
At the end of the hall stood a massive stone door.
Unlike the previous doors they had discovered, this one had no Fourfold symbol.
Instead, a single eye was carved into its center.
“That’s new.”
Silas stared at the symbol.
“I’ve never seen it before.”
Ronan examined the carving.
“Neither have I.”
Evan approached the door.
The pendant around his neck suddenly became hot.
He pulled it away from his chest.
A faint light appeared across the stone.
Ancient words slowly formed.
THE POWER IS NOT THE ANSWER.
Evan stared at the message.
Kaela read it aloud.
“Then what is?”
The words disappeared.
A second message appeared.
THE CHOICE IS.
Evan frowned.
“What choice?”
No answer came.
Instead, the stone door slowly opened.
A cold wind passed through the hall.
Everyone became silent.
Something was waiting on the other side.
They entered carefully.
Beyond the door was a circular chamber.
Unlike the previous hall, there were no statues here.
Only a stone pedestal stood in the center.
Something rested on top of it.
A small black crystal.
Evan immediately recognized it.
“The Black Crystal.”
Kaela looked at him.
“You’ve seen one before?”
“Not exactly this one.”
Evan remembered the strange clues surrounding the Black Crystal.
The attackers.
The mysterious symbol.
The strange reaction to his Darkness magic.
He had thought they were separate mysteries.
Now they seemed connected.
Evan stepped closer.
The crystal remained completely still.
He slowly reached toward it.
The moment his hand came close, his Fourfold mark reacted.
His natural red eyes began changing.
Violet-black.
Darkness.
Evan immediately stopped.
The warning from the Archive returned to him.
Don’t force the Fourfold.
He lowered his hand.
The crystal remained silent.
Kaela watched him.
“Maybe it isn’t meant to be taken.”
Evan nodded.
“Maybe it’s meant to be understood.”
Silas suddenly looked toward the entrance.
“Someone’s coming.”
Footsteps echoed through the chamber.
Ronan drew his sword.
“More hunters?”
Silas listened.
“No.”
The footsteps grew louder.
Then a familiar voice echoed through the chamber.
“You finally found it.”
Evan turned.
Aurelion Veyr stepped into the room.
Everyone fell silent.
Evan’s hand moved toward his dagger. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
“Aurelion.”
Aurelion’s eyes moved toward the Black Crystal.
Then they returned to Evan.
“You’ve followed Elias’s path farther than I expected.”
Evan stepped forward.
“Where is Elias?”
Aurelion’s expression changed slightly.
“You still believe finding him will give you the answers.”
“It might.”
Aurelion shook his head.
“Elias never had all the answers.”
Evan narrowed his eyes.
“Then what happened to him?”
Aurelion looked toward the Black Crystal.
“That is a question you aren’t ready to ask.”
“Why?”
“Because knowing the truth about Elias may change what you believe about yourself.”
Evan clenched his hand.
“You always speak in riddles.”
Aurelion gave a faint smile.
“Perhaps because you aren’t ready for the truth.”
Evan’s Fourfold mark began glowing.
Kaela moved beside him.
Aurelion noticed immediately.
“You’ve already begun losing control.”
Evan clenched his fist.
“I can control it.”
“Can you?”
Aurelion’s gaze remained calm.
“Then prove it.”
Before Evan could respond, the Black Crystal suddenly began glowing.
BOOM.
The entire chamber shook.
Everyone stepped back.
Evan’s Fourfold mark burned intensely.
Four different energies began gathering around the crystal.
Fire.
Water.
Lightning.
Darkness.
The four powers moved around it like streams of energy being pulled toward a single point.
Evan stared at the crystal.
“What is happening?”
Silas stepped backward.
“I don’t know.”
For the first time, even Aurelion’s calm expression disappeared.
The crystal pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Then again.
Aurelion looked at Evan.
“Now you understand.”
Evan looked at him.
“Understand what?”
Aurelion’s voice became quiet.
“Why Elias disappeared.”
The chamber suddenly filled with blinding light.
Evan raised his arm to protect his eyes.
The Fourfold mark burned brighter than ever before.
Then—
Crack.
A thin line appeared across the surface of the Black Crystal.
The line widened.
The crystal began separating.
Slowly.
Like something inside was forcing it open.
Evan stared in disbelief.
The crystal wasn’t breaking.
It was opening.
Like an eye.
And whatever was looking through it— was looking directly at Evan.