Chapter 7: Fragments of Truth

The night in Pompeii was shrouded in silence, broken only by the faint red glow from the distant volcano crater, casting an eerie reflection over the ruins like a pair of watchful eyes. Giovanni sat on a fallen stone pillar, his brow furrowed, clutching the bronze ring tightly. The engraved woman's face on its surface seemed even more sorrowful under the moonlight. Ever since Sophia and Isabella had shown him unusual attention at school, a nagging unease had settled in his chest—their approach felt far too deliberate to be mere coincidence. Especially today, when they'd volunteered to explore Pompeii with him, it all seemed too sudden, too peculiar.

"Master, their identities are anything but simple," Arethia said, standing beside him, her silver hair swaying lightly in the night breeze, her tone edged with caution. "Though they helped us just now, that doesn't mean we can fully trust them."

Giovanni nodded, keeping his voice low. "I feel the same—something's off. But for now, they've aided us, so we can't confront them outright." He recalled whispers he'd overheard a few days ago on the school playground—classmates mentioning that Sophia's family was tied to some mysterious organization, and Isabella's family business was always cloaked in secrecy. He hadn't paid much attention then, but now those rumors seemed to hint at a hidden truth.

Sophia and Isabella were nearby, speaking in hushed tones, as if plotting something. Their eyes occasionally flicked toward Giovanni and Arethia, carrying a mix of complex emotions, like they were weighing their next move. Sophia approached first, her voice gentle yet resolute. "Giovanni, we can't let your father's efforts go to waste. This place might hold vital clues—are you willing to trust us just this once?"

Isabella grinned and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry! We're your classmates—any trouble comes up, we'll handle it together!" Her smile was bright, but it couldn't hide the faint tension in her eyes.

Giovanni fell silent, his heart torn between trust and suspicion. He asked quietly, "Why are you helping me? This isn't just classmate camaraderie, is it?" His gaze shifted between them, searching their faces for answers.

Sophia took a deep breath, as if steeling herself, then spoke slowly. "Alright, I'll tell you part of the truth. Our fathers were involved in this research too—the Wheel of Fate. They believed it could change the world, and we… can't let it fall into the wrong hands." Her voice was low, tinged with a hidden pain.

Isabella nodded, adding, "Exactly! We're not just tagging along for fun. Your father's death… it might be tied to our families, so we have to help you figure it out!" Her tone was light, but it carried an unshakable determination.

Giovanni froze, his mind flashing to his father's charred letter and the words *"betrayed."* "Your fathers…" he murmured, a swirl of emotions rising within him. He suppressed his questions for now and nodded. "Fine, we'll search together."

According to the mysterious old man's clue, a fragment of the Wheel of Fate lay hidden in an underground chamber beneath Pompeii. To reach it, they'd need to solve a series of ancient runic puzzles. The four of them moved along the stone-paved paths of the ruins, the faint sulfur smell in the air a constant reminder of the disaster that once struck here. They arrived at an abandoned temple, its entrance sealed by a heavy stone slab covered in intricate runic patterns.

"This is a variant of Trojan script," Arethia said, stepping forward, her emerald eyes scanning the slab. "We need to decipher the correct sequence to open the door."

Sophia crouched down, pointing to one rune. "This symbol means 'time.' I've seen similar markings in my family's old texts," she said calmly, a trace of pride in her voice.

Isabella, not to be outdone, added, "And this one's probably 'cycle.' If I'm right, they combine into some kind of code." She shot Sophia a glance, her lips curling slightly in a playful challenge.

Giovanni watched them, thinking, *"They definitely know more than they're letting on…"* He turned to Arethia, whispering, "Do you think they're trustworthy?"

Arethia replied softly, "Master, the more they know, the more powerful the forces behind them might be. Stay cautious."

After some effort, the four unraveled the initial rune puzzle and prepared to trigger the mechanism when a low rumble shook the ground. From the darkness ahead, shadowy figures emerged swiftly, led by the tall emissary who had invaded his apartment that night. He gripped the rune-etched dagger, a cold smirk on his face. "I knew you'd come here."

Giovanni's heart sank, a silent cry rising within: *"The shadows! They've tracked us!"* He stepped in front of his companions, clutching the bronze ring, and whispered, "Arethia, get ready to fight."

"Hand over the ring and the fragment, or none of you will leave alive!" the emissary said icily, the dagger glowing with a blue light, the air filling with a stench of decay. The black-robed figures behind him advanced, their weapons glinting coldly in the moonlight.

Arethia materialized from the ring in an instant, her golden sword slashing out a searing arc of light that forced the front line of cloaked men back. She snorted. "Master, these pests are tougher than I expected."

Sophia quickly pulled a spray canister from her bag, releasing a thick mist to buy them time. "Hurry and finish the runes!" she urged, her voice steady but urgent.

Isabella darted to the side, swinging her iron rod at a cloaked man's knee, sending him stumbling. "Don't even think about getting close!" she snapped, her movements swift as a hunting leopard.

Giovanni stood before the stone door, trying to focus on the runes, but the clamor of shouts and clashing metal made his heart race. He gritted his teeth, whispering to Arethia, "Protect them—I'll finish this puzzle." Fear gnawed at him: *"Dad, is this the enemy you faced?"*

Under Arethia's cover, Sophia and Giovanni worked together to crack the final rune sequence. The stone door rumbled open, revealing a staircase descending into darkness, the air thick with a damp, rotting scent, as if a millennia-sealed secret were about to be unveiled.

"Get inside!" Arethia shouted, unleashing an energy wave that pushed the enemies back a few steps, giving her companions a chance to retreat.

But as they rushed into the passage, the emissary sneered, pulling a rune-carved disc from his coat and muttering an incantation. The ground trembled again, the wall runes flaring red, and a deep voice echoed through the tunnel: "Mortals, are you willing to bear the cost of unveiling the truth?"

Giovanni's heart lurched. "What does that mean?" He glanced at Arethia, who frowned. "Trouble—this is part of the trial. We have to pass it before they catch up!"

The chamber door at the tunnel's end burst open, a powerful surge of energy washing over them. The four staggered back, barely steadying themselves. "Look!" Isabella pointed to the center of the room, where a crystal emitting blue light hovered, surrounded by floating runes.

"That's a fragment of the Wheel of Fate!" Arethia exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement. "Master, we have to take it!"

Just then, the emissary and his cloaked men stormed into the passage, the dagger's blue glow stark against the darkness. "You can't escape!" he roared, the disc humming as if summoning something.

Giovanni summoned his courage and dashed toward the chamber's center, reaching for the crystal. The moment his hand touched it, a jolt of energy surged through him, his mind flooded with blurred visions—Troy's destruction, the Wheel of Fate's disassembly, and a vast conspiracy lurking behind modern society. "This… is this part of the truth?" he murmured, shock lacing his voice.

The chamber began to quake violently, stones tumbling from the ceiling. The emissary, seeing this, bellowed, "Withdraw!" and his men retreated into the shadows of the passage.

"Move!" Arethia grabbed Giovanni's hand, leading the group out of the chamber. Sophia and Isabella followed close behind, the mist dissipating to reveal a scene of devastation.

When they reached the surface, the distant crater glowed an even brighter red, as if foreshadowing a greater calamity. Giovanni panted, staring at the fragment in his hand, a surge of resolve rising within him. "Dad, I'll uncover the truth."

"Master, this is only the first step," Arethia said quietly, her gaze drifting into the distance. "The secrets of the Wheel of Fate are far more intricate than we imagined."

Sophia wiped sweat from her brow, her voice grave. "The enemy won't give up. We need to prepare for the next move."

Isabella forced a smile. "Don't worry—with me around, what can't we handle?"

Giovanni gripped the fragment tightly, his eyes resolute. "No matter what lies ahead, we'll face it together."

Outside, clouds gathered once more, thunder rumbling through the night sky. A new adventure was quietly brewing…