Chapter 20: The Guardian of the Box

As the light faded, the four of them found themselves standing in a large, dimly lit chamber. The room was filled with rows of ancient stone pedestals, each one topped with a large, leather-bound book.

But it was what stood at the far end of the room that caught their attention. A towering figure, clad in shimmering silver armor, stood guard over the mysterious box.

"Who are you?" Arthur asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The figure slowly turned to face them, its helmet glinting in the dim light. "I am the Guardian of the Box," it said in a voice that was both ancient and timeless. "And you, princes, are not worthy to possess its secrets."

Gedeon stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "We mean no harm," he said. "We're only seeking the truth about our father's past."

The Guardian's helmet nodded slowly. "I sense that you are not like the others," it said. "You have a sense of honor and justice. But the secrets of the box are not for the likes of you."

Antorn frowned. "Why not?" he asked.

The Guardian's voice was like thunder. "Because the secrets of the box are too great for mortals to handle," it said. "They are secrets of the ancient ones, secrets that could destroy the very fabric of reality."

Arthur's eyes widened in awe. "What secrets?" he asked.

The Guardian's helmet shook slowly. "I will not tell you," it said. "But I will give you a choice. You may either leave now, and forget that you ever saw the box, or you may try to open it, and risk unleashing its secrets upon the world."

The four of them looked at each other, weighing their options. They knew that they had to make a decision quickly, before the Guardian changed its mind.

"I say we open it," Gedeon said finally. "We can't just leave without knowing the truth."

Antorn nodded in agreement. "I'm with Gedeon," he said. "We have to know what's inside that box."

Arthur hesitated, unsure of what to do. But Lady Victoria's words echoed in his mind. "The truth is always worth the risk," she had said.

"Let's do it," Arthur said finally, his voice firm. "Let's open the box and see what secrets it holds."

The Guardian's helmet nodded slowly. "Very well," it said. "But remember, princes, you have been warned."

And with that, the Guardian stepped aside, revealing a small, intricate keyhole on the front of the box.

Arthur's heart was pounding in his chest as he reached out to touch the box. He knew that he was taking a huge risk, but he also knew that he had to know the truth.

He inserted the key, turned it, and lifted the lid of the box. A bright light burst forth, filling the room with an otherworldly energy.

As the light faded, the four of them stared in awe at what lay inside the box. It was a small, leather-bound book, adorned with strange symbols and markings.

Arthur's eyes widened as he opened the book, revealing pages filled with ancient text. It was the diary of the king's advisor, the one who had written about the king's pact with the dark sorcerer.

But as Arthur began to read, he realized that the diary was more than just a simple record of events. It was a key to unlocking the secrets of the ancient ones, secrets that could change the course of history forever.

And as they delved deeper into the diary, they discovered that the secrets it held were far more sinister than they could have ever imagined.