Chapter 48: The Hidden Passage

The first light of dawn crept through the palace windows as Aria prepared for what lay ahead. Kael had instructed her to meet him in the old armory, a long-forgotten part of the palace that had not seen use in decades. Dressed in practical clothing and with her dagger securely strapped to her side, Aria made her way through the silent corridors, her footsteps echoing softly on the stone floors.

When she arrived at the armory, Kael was already there, standing by a dusty old table that was laden with maps and ancient scrolls. His blue eyes, sharp and focused, met hers as she entered the room.

“Good, you’re here,” Kael said, rolling up one of the maps and tucking it into a leather pouch. “We don’t have much time. The passage we’re looking for is hidden deep within the palace, and it’s only accessible through a specific sequence of actions. If we’re discovered, it could mean the end of everything.”