Chapter 10: The Last Royal Guard

The underground sanctuary fell into complete silence.

Every pair of eyes remained fixed on the wounded soldier kneeling before Evelyn.

Blood dripped steadily from the cuts across his armor.

Yet despite his injuries, he forced himself to bow.

"Your Majesty..." he whispered.

"Forgive us for failing House Ashbourne."

Evelyn stared at the silver crest tattooed on his neck.

It matched the emblem engraved on her pendant perfectly.

"Who are you?" she asked quietly.

"My name is Cedric Vale."

"Captain of the Ashbourne Royal Guard."

"Or... what remains of it."

Marcus stepped closer.

"That's impossible."

"The Royal Guard died protecting the palace over twenty years ago."

Cedric gave a tired smile.

"Most of them did."

"A handful survived."

"We scattered across the kingdoms to hide the last heir."

"You," he said while looking at Evelyn.

Elias slowly nodded.

"I remember you now."

"You were barely twenty when the kingdom fell."

"Time has not been kind to you."

"Nor to any of us," Cedric answered.

Thaddeus folded his arms.

"Why are you working with Kael?"

"I'm not," Cedric replied immediately.

"I infiltrated the Obsidian Circle years ago."

"I've been waiting for the Queen's return."

Ryland narrowed his eyes.

"Convenient story."

"Can you prove it?"

Cedric slowly reached beneath his torn armor.

The guards instantly aimed their weapons.

"Easy," Cedric muttered.

"If I wanted anyone dead... you already would be."

He pulled out a worn leather pouch.

Inside rested an old silver ring.

The moment Evelyn saw it, another vision flashed before her eyes.

A smiling woman placed the same ring into a loyal knight's hand.

"Protect my daughter," the woman whispered.

"Even if it costs you everything."

The vision disappeared.

Evelyn gasped.

"That was my mother..."

Cedric nodded slowly.

"Queen Elara Ashbourne entrusted this ring to me on the night your kingdom fell."

"She knew someone had betrayed us from within."

"Do you know who?" Orion asked.

"Not by name."

"Only by title."

"The Shadow Prophet."

Elias' expression darkened.

"I feared that name would return someday."

"Who is he?" Evelyn asked.

"Nobody knows," Elias answered.

"He has existed for centuries."

"Kings rise and fall, yet the Shadow Prophet always survives."

"He whispers into the ears of rulers... until kingdoms destroy themselves."

"He's the reason Ashbourne fell," Cedric added.

"And the reason Kael found Queen Morgana."

Thaddeus looked toward the ancient maps spread across the table.

"Everything points back to him."

"Then finding the Prophet becomes our priority."

"Not yet," Elias interrupted.

"First, Evelyn must recover the Crown of Dawn."

"Without it, she cannot stand against Morgana."

"How far is Solaria?" Marcus asked.

"Three days by horseback."

"Five if we travel with the entire army."

"We'll take only a small group," Thaddeus decided.

"The fewer people who know our route, the better."

Ryland nodded.

"I'll come."

"Same," Orion added.

"I'll prepare supplies."

Cedric suddenly spoke again.

"There's something else."

"Kael already sent someone ahead."

"Ahead where?" Evelyn asked.

"To the Sun Temple."

"He believes the Crown is hidden beneath it."

"Then we're already behind," Ryland muttered.

Before anyone could respond, the Heart Crystal pulsed violently.

A beam of silver light shot toward the ceiling.

Ancient symbols appeared across the chamber floor.

"What's happening now?" Marcus asked.

Elias' face turned pale.

"The Crystal is reacting to another relic."

"Someone has awakened one of the Sacred Keys."

"Kael?" Orion questioned.

"No..." Elias whispered.

"Someone else."

The glowing symbols slowly formed the image of a young woman wearing a golden cloak.

She stood alone in the middle of a vast desert.

In her hand rested a brilliant golden key.

The mysterious woman slowly lifted her head.

Her emerald eyes met Evelyn's through the magical vision.

"I've finally found you," she said softly.

"My Queen."

The vision vanished.

Silence returned to the sanctuary.

"Who was she?" Evelyn whispered.

Elias stared at the fading symbols with disbelief.

"If the prophecy is true..."

"She is one of the Seven Guardians."

"The protectors chosen to stand beside the Final Queen."

Far away, beneath the scorching desert sun...

The mysterious woman mounted her horse.

She looked toward the northern horizon and smiled.

"Hold on a little longer, Your Majesty," she whispered.

"I'm coming."