Chapter 7: Whispers of the Past

Luke sat by the campfire, staring at the blade in his hands. The starsteel sword, now stained with dark blood, reflected the flickering flames. His heart was still racing from the battle. The war beast was dead, but the man with red eyes… he was something else entirely.

Alden sat down beside him. "You saw something, didn't you?"

Luke hesitated before nodding. "When he looked at me… it was like I wasn't here anymore. I saw fire. Cities in ruins. A throne of darkness."

Alden's expression darkened. "That wasn't just a vision. He showed you something real. A future that might come to pass."

Mira, who had been sharpening her arrows, glanced over. "Then we stop it before it happens."

Luke clenched his fist. "But how? He's powerful. Stronger than anything we've faced."

Alden sighed. "Powerful, yes. But not invincible. And if he's breaking the ancient seals, we need to find out who sealed the demons away in the first place."

Jace leaned back against a tree. "You're talking about the Forgotten Archives, aren't you?"

Elena looked up from tending to the wounded. "The Archives? That's just a legend."

Alden shook his head. "No. It's real. Buried deep beneath the capital. If there are answers anywhere, they'll be there."

Luke stood. "Then that's our next move."

The others exchanged glances before nodding in agreement.

Tomorrow, they would return to the capital. And beneath it, they would uncover the truth.

The Journey Back

The road to the capital felt different this time. The air was heavier, as if the world itself was holding its breath.

Luke noticed how quiet everyone was. Even Jace, who usually cracked jokes, walked in silence.

They had seen true darkness now. And they all knew things would never be the same again.

The Forgotten Archives

The capital was as lively as ever, but beneath the surface, something felt off. Soldiers patrolled the streets in larger numbers, and whispers of strange occurrences spread through the city.

After reporting to the king, Luke and his team made their way to the lower levels of the palace. Alden led them through hidden corridors, past doors covered in dust and cobwebs.

Finally, they reached a massive iron gate. Strange runes glowed faintly on its surface.

Mira ran her fingers over the markings. "Seals, just like in the mountains."

Luke took a deep breath and pushed against the gate. At first, nothing happened. Then, with a deep groan, it slowly creaked open.

Beyond the gate was a vast underground library, filled with towering shelves of ancient books and scrolls. The air smelled of old paper and forgotten secrets.

Elena shivered. "So it's real."

Alden lit a torch. "Let's find out what the kingdom has been hiding."

As they stepped inside, the shadows seemed to shift around them. And from the darkness, something was watching.