Chapter 67: Unfolding The Past

Third Person's POV

The days following Khael's awakening marked a noticeable shift in their group's rhythm.

With his past now partially unveiled, his frustrations lessened, replaced by an unshakable resolve.

Though his body was still that of a child, his mind carried the weight of experience, and that alone made a difference in their training sessions.

Axel, who had often been skeptical of Khael's erratic use of fire magic, now watched him with newfound respect.

Though the young warrior still had much to relearn, the traces of his former discipline showed in the way he controlled his flames.

Selene, too, had taken notice, occasionally sneaking glances when Khael practiced in solitude.

Even Tyra, who had always been his harshest critic, adjusted her lessons to help him regain his lost instincts rather than treating him like an inexperienced fighter.

Eldoria itself had begun to heal at an astonishing rate. The once-barren fields, touched by the lingering power of the restored Heart, were blooming again.

What had been a ruined kingdom struggling to sustain life was now a land of renewal, with patches of green stretching across the landscape.

Though it was not yet the grand Eldoria of the past, it had become livable—a home being rebuilt from the ashes. Crops flourished where none had grown in years, and the survivors who had returned worked tirelessly to restore their homes.

Though much remained to be done, the kingdom was rising once more, steadily and surely.

As the group continued training and ensuring Eldoria's recovery, their bonds deepened.

Where once their days had been filled with tense preparations for battle, they now found time to enjoy small victories. The air was lighter, conversations less burdened, and laughter no longer a rarity.

One evening, after another grueling session, they gathered in Selene's small but cozy kitchen.

Unlike before, when they had to make do with limited supplies, their meal was now bountiful. The farmlands' recovery had brought fresh ingredients, and Selene—though reluctant to admit it—had been experimenting with new recipes.

Khael eagerly grabbed his plate, digging in without hesitation. "Finally, something good after a long day," he muttered between bites.

Selene raised an eyebrow.

"You say that like I've ever cooked something bad."

Tyra smirked, nudging Axel. "We should start keeping count of how many times he compliments her cooking."

Axel chuckled, shaking his head. "I lost track after the first dozen."

Selene crossed her arms, satisfied. "As you should."

Axel, watching the scene unfold, sighed dramatically. "At least I tried cooking once."

Khael snorted. "Yeah, and you burned the pan so badly we had to throw it away."

Tyra groaned, rubbing her forehead.

Selene smirked. "And that's why I do the cooking now."

A warm sense of normalcy settled over them as they ate together, teasing and bickering as they always did.

Though their journey was far from over, for now, they allowed themselves this moment—a reminder of why they fought so hard to reclaim their home.

Eldoria was not yet grand, but it was alive.

Selene's POV

The next morning, with the warmth of last night's gathering still lingering in my heart, I allowed myself a rare moment of rest.

The others did the same—Khael had curled up in a sunlit spot like a cat, Tyra sat sharpening her blade but without her usual intensity, and even Axel leaned against a tree, absentmindedly flipping through an old book.

For the first time in a long while, there was no immediate urgency. No battles, no training, just quiet.

But peace never lasted long in Eldoria.

As the midday sun reached its peak, I found myself wandering the outskirts of the main hall, my fingers grazing the worn stone walls as if they would whisper their secrets to me.

The castle ruins had stood for centuries, and though the Heart had restored much, there were still hidden places, forgotten beneath the weight of time.

My steps carried me to a collapsed section of the eastern wing, where vines had reclaimed what once belonged to royalty.

A strange pull in my chest urged me forward, past broken pillars and remnants of murals faded beyond recognition. Something was here—something waiting.

Then I saw it.

A gap between the stones, narrow but unmistakably there.

The air inside was cooler, untouched by the warmth of the sun. Without hesitation, I slipped through, my breath hitching as the space opened into a winding staircase leading down into darkness.

I should have gone back for the others.

But my heartbeat quickened, excitement and curiosity replacing hesitation. I summoned a small wisp of light in my palm, letting its soft glow illuminate the descent.

The air grew heavier the further I went, thick with dust and the scent of parchment untouched for ages.

At the bottom of the stairs, the passage widened into a vast chamber, and my breath caught in my throat.

An ancient library.

Rows upon rows of towering bookshelves stretched into the shadows, their contents preserved by whatever enchantment had shielded this place from ruin.

The silence was profound, yet it hummed with something beneath the surface—knowledge, history, power.

I reached out, fingers trembling as they brushed against the spine of a book. The title was written in a language I couldn't immediately recognize, but something in me understood it nonetheless. A shiver ran down my spine.

This place held answers.

To what, I didn't yet know.

But I was going to find out.

Dust filled my lungs as I stepped deeper into the hidden chamber. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment, the remnants of a time long lost beneath Eldoria's ruins.

The flickering light from my lantern cast long shadows along the endless rows of towering shelves, each brimming with forgotten knowledge.

An ancient library, untouched for centuries.

My fingers trailed over the spines of weathered tomes, the leather cracked, the titles nearly erased by time.

There was something eerie yet comforting about this place, like stepping into the past itself. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was meant to find this place—that it had been waiting for me.

As I moved between the rows, my eyes caught a particular emblem on a dusty book resting on an ornate pedestal. My heart stilled.

The insignia was unmistakable—an intricate design I had seen before, etched onto the ruined walls of Eldoria's deepest chambers. With careful hands, I lifted the heavy volume and brushed off the layer of dust. The title was nearly illegible, but I could make out a single word

Eltheria.

My breath hitched. My sister's name.

I hurriedly flipped through the pages, my pulse quickening with every faded letter. The text was old, written in the ancient tongue of Eldoria, but I could read enough to understand.

The truth unraveled before my eyes, a history buried beneath the weight of time.

Eltheria's sacrifice had been far greater than mere legend. She had not simply sealed away the cursed one—she had bound herself to the very heart of Eldoria, becoming the keystone that allowed the kingdom to survive.

Her life had been the price, her soul the foundation upon which Eldoria had been rebuilt.

I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling as I turned the pages. There were accounts of the ritual she had performed, the excruciating toll it had taken. It was not an act of duty but of desperate love—for the land, for its people. And for me.

The last passages described her final moments, the pain she endured as she gave herself over to the spell. There had been no hesitation, no regret.

Tears blurred the ink before me. All this time, I had thought of her as a warrior, a leader who had done what was necessary. But she had been so much more. She had been my sister, and she had given everything to protect me, to protect Eldoria.

A cold shiver ran down my spine as my gaze fell upon the final line scrawled at the bottom of the page. Unlike the rest, it was not written in the ancient tongue. It was a message, one meant for whoever found this record.

"The seal will not hold forever. When the time comes, you must remember—what is given can be taken back."

To be continued.