Chapter 7: The Mage of Moonfall

The journey back from the underground vault was silent.

No one seemed eager to discuss what they had witnessed.

The prison beneath the castle.

The voice behind the door.

The fact that whatever was trapped there somehow knew Elena existed.

None of it felt normal.

Then again, nothing about the Crimson Kingdom felt normal anymore.

As they climbed the ancient staircase toward the upper levels of the castle, Elena glanced toward King Alaric.

The immortal ruler walked ahead of everyone.

His posture remained straight.

His expression remained calm.

Yet Elena could sense the weight he carried.

Five centuries.

Five centuries guarding a prison.

Five centuries carrying a secret powerful enough to reshape an entire kingdom.

For the first time, she understood why his eyes always looked tired.

Some burdens never became lighter.

When they reached the upper courtyard, Alaric stopped.

The evening sky above the valley had turned crimson and gold.

Mountains cast long shadows across the kingdom.

For a moment, everything looked peaceful.

Almost normal.

The illusion lasted only seconds.

Lyra approached the king.

The council will demand answers.

They always do.

And what shall we tell them?

The truth.

Lyra looked unconvinced.

The truth rarely comforts politicians.

Alaric's expression remained unchanged.

Comfort is not my responsibility.

Then whose responsibility is it?

The king looked toward the city.

No one answered.

Eventually he turned toward Elena.

Come with Lyra.

Where?

The Moonfall Tower.

Elena frowned.

Why?

Because if anyone can explain why the map chose you, it is her.

The king walked away before she could ask another question.

Guards followed him immediately.

Soon only Elena, Rowan, and Lyra remained in the courtyard.

Rowan folded his arms.

Good luck.

That doesn't sound encouraging.

The warrior looked at Lyra.

It wasn't meant to be.

Lyra rolled her eyes.

Ignore him.

He's afraid of books.

Rowan looked offended.

I'm not afraid of books.

You once got lost in a library.

There were too many shelves.

Elena laughed despite everything.

The momentary humor felt surprisingly valuable.

After what they had witnessed underground, any reminder of normal human behavior felt refreshing.

The Moonfall Tower stood apart from the rest of the castle.

Tall and elegant.

Its white stone contrasted sharply against the dark red walls surrounding it.

Silver banners fluttered from narrow windows.

Unlike the military atmosphere elsewhere in the castle, this place felt peaceful.

Almost scholarly.

As they approached, Elena noticed symbols carved into the entrance.

Stars.

Moons.

Constellations.

Ancient runes.

The carvings glowed faintly in the fading light.

Magic.

Actual magic.

The realization still felt absurd.

Yet there was no other explanation anymore.

Inside, the tower was breathtaking.

Books filled every wall.

Thousands of them.

Ancient scrolls occupied glass cases.

Strange instruments rested on wooden tables.

Floating lights drifted through the air like tiny stars.

Elena stopped walking.

This is incredible.

Lyra smiled.

I built most of it myself.

Elena looked around.

How old are you?

That question usually comes later.

I'm serious.

So am I.

The mage's smile widened.

Let's just say I've been here longer than Rowan.

That answer wasn't particularly helpful.

Yet Elena suspected it was intentional.

Lyra guided her up several flights of stairs.

Eventually they reached a circular chamber beneath the tower's highest dome.

Large windows overlooked the entire valley.

Stars were beginning to appear above the mountains.

In the center of the room stood a massive table covered with maps.

Hundreds of maps.

Some modern.

Some ancient.

Some clearly impossible.

Elena immediately moved closer.

Her cartographer instincts took over.

These aren't all of the kingdom.

No.

Lyra sat beside the table.

Some depict places that no longer exist.

Others show places that never should have existed.

That sounds concerning.

It usually is.

The mage opened a leather journal.

Now tell me exactly what happened when you crossed the Mist Gate.

Elena spent nearly twenty minutes describing everything.

The visions.

The voice.

The memories.

The fear it had revealed.

Lyra listened carefully without interrupting.

Occasionally making notes.

Occasionally looking thoughtful.

When Elena finished, the mage closed the journal.

Interesting.

That's your conclusion?

For now.

Lyra stood and walked toward a bookshelf.

Most people lose something when crossing the gate.

A memory.

A regret.

A fear.

You didn't.

Apparently.

No.

Lyra looked directly at her.

The gate examined you.

There's a difference.

Elena felt a chill.

What kind of difference?

A very important one.

The mage removed an ancient book from the shelf.

Dust drifted into the air.

The cover displayed a familiar symbol.

A crown surrounded by thorns.

Elena immediately recognized it.

The same symbol from the map.

Exactly.

Lyra opened the book carefully.

Its pages appeared hundreds of years old.

Most contained illustrations.

Kings.

Battles.

Strange creatures.

Magical symbols.

Eventually she stopped at a specific page.

Elena leaned forward.

The illustration showed a woman standing before the Mist Gate.

She carried a glowing map.

Behind her stood the Crimson Kingdom.

Above her floated a crimson crown surrounded by stars.

Elena stared.

That looks familiar.

It should.

Lyra pointed toward a line of ancient text.

This prophecy has existed since the kingdom was founded.

Elena felt her stomach tighten.

Prophecy.

Again.

She was beginning to dislike that word.

What does it say?

Lyra translated slowly.

When the map returns from beyond the mist, the bearer shall arrive.

The sleeping enemy shall awaken.

The crown shall break.

And time itself shall face judgment.

Silence filled the room.

Elena blinked.

That's not good.

No.

It isn't.

The mage closed the book.

The problem is that no one knows what it means.

That's comforting.

Prophecies rarely are.

Before Elena could respond, a sudden knock echoed from below.

Then another.

Louder.

More urgent.

Lyra frowned.

Stay here.

She moved quickly toward the staircase.

Elena followed anyway.

The mage didn't stop her.

They descended several levels before reaching the main entrance.

A castle guard stood there breathing heavily.

His face was pale.

Something's happened.

Lyra's expression hardened.

What?

The northern watchtower.

Several patrols have disappeared.

When?

Within the last hour.

Elena felt the atmosphere change instantly.

The guard continued.

Survivors claim they saw creatures moving in the forest.

Shadowhounds?

No.

The guard swallowed.

Something worse.

Lyra's eyes narrowed.

Impossible.

That's exactly what I said.

The guard lowered his voice.

They claim they saw one of the Hollow Ones.

The room went silent.

Elena looked between them.

What's a Hollow One?

Neither answered immediately.

That told her enough.

Whatever the Hollow Ones were, they frightened people who lived beside magic every day.

Finally Lyra spoke.

If the reports are true, we have a serious problem.

How serious?

The mage looked directly at Elena.

Serious enough that the prophecy may have already begun.

Outside, thunder rolled across the mountains.

Dark clouds gathered above the valley.

Far beyond the city walls, something moved through the forest.

Watching.

Waiting.

And for the first time since entering the Crimson Kingdom, Elena realized the danger was no longer sleeping beneath the castle.

It was already walking the kingdom.