THE STONES AND THE LIE

The sun had barely crested over the glowing ridges of Lumisgrave when the King's selected team reached the Bound Threshold.

Kaelen of Obreth stood at the front, his pale skin seeming ghostlike in the early morning mist. Behind him followed Vira Lysaria, her ivy-like hair shifting gently in the wind. Tyrus Molren's heavy steps echoed with quiet confidence as his molten gauntlets pulsed softly, while Elira Saelwyn glided in near silence, light fracturing around her form like dancing glass. The healers, Norwan and Rohi, followed closely, their presence calm, their eyes scanning not for enemies—but for energy traces.

With them came five Mythic-ranked and two Apex-ranked warriors, handpicked by the King for their skill and discipline. They entered the Threshold's perimeter with discipline, spreading out in formation, weapons and senses ready.

But what they found inside…

> "There they are," Vira said softly, pointing.

Three glowing stones, each resting within faintly pulsating glyphs etched into the Threshold floor. Their shapes were beautiful—symmetrical, radiant, and laced with ancient markings. To the untrained eye, these were exactly what the legends spoke of: Keys to Vault of Sundusk.

Kaelen approached the stones, his vertical blue scar glowing slightly. He didn't speak. Instead, he simply raised his staff, lightly tapping the ground beside them.

The space rippled.

> "No traps," Kaelen murmured. "Not active, at least."

Behind the stones, nestled in the corner of the Threshold's ruins, they discovered a skeleton—lifeless, small, hunched over, its arm curled across its ribcage like it died protecting something.

> "Do you think it's his?" one Apex knight asked.

> "Kar'Thæl?" Tyrus shook his head. "No… this one's been dead too long."

> "Then he's gone," Elira said softly, wings folding behind her.

> "And if he was ever here, he left no trace… only these."

With the utmost caution, the Zeniths gathered the three stones, wrapped them in containment wards, and returned to the Royal Capital—delivering them directly to King Farhan in a sealed chamber under palace guard.

Two nights later…

A rumble shook the palace as the Messenger Gate flared back to life.

The royal alarms surged for a moment—before being silenced by the King's direct order. He stood tall on the steps of the Council chamber, surrounded by guards and Echelon officials, when the same three demons from the earlier meeting stepped through the gate.

The sky behind them darkened momentarily as their silhouettes flickered into view—Drayza, Hurnek, and Velmorr, emissaries of the Demon World.

They bowed slightly, their elongated limbs and shifting horns casting long shadows across the marble floor.

> "Your Majesty," Drayza began in his usual low hiss, "We come again not as enemies… but as the only voice of truth you have left."

King Farhan said nothing, only motioned for them to continue.

> "The silence you've felt…" Hurnek added, his voice echoing unnaturally, "…was the binding."

> "Kar'Thæl has found his prototype."

A murmur broke out among the gathered nobles and councilors.

> "He is no longer dormant," Velmorr said, eyes narrowing. "He walks again. Hidden, perhaps… but active."

King Farhan's expression remained unmoved. "And what do you want now?"

Drayza stepped forward.

> "The Stones."

> "You now possess them."

> "Give them to us. We alone know how to use them to track, weaken, and re-contain Kar'Thæl before his power rises."

> "These stones must be placed at the Vault of Sundusk, not the Threshold. That's the only way to sever his awakening permanently."

King Farhan met their gaze firmly.

> "We have not found any stones."

A moment of cold, hanging silence.

The demons looked at one another, their expressions unreadable.

> "You lie," Velmorr said. "We felt the disruption. The Threshold gave something up."

> "You believe what you like," King Farhan replied calmly. "But I speak the truth as I know it."

The demons were silent for several moments more. Then Drayza exhaled.

> "Then Kar'Thæl must have taken them with him when he left the Threshold…"

> "That means he's one step ahead of us."

King Farhan folded his hands behind his back.

> "Then that is your concern now. Not mine."

Velmorr's voice twisted low and guttural.

> "You do not understand what you've allowed to slip from your fingers. With the stones… with the Vault open… he can be neutralized."

Hurnek added quietly, "But without them… the longer he remains bound to his prototype, the faster he regains form. And when the 100 days end…"

> "He will be unstoppable."

Drayza stepped forward again.

> "If you do find them… destroy them. Do not hand them over. Do not trust anyone—not even your own knights. That is the only way you might save your world."

Without another word, the demons turned—and re-entered the swirling Gate, which collapsed behind them in a flash of sickly light.

As the silence returned, Julius stepped forward beside the King.

> "You lied to them."

King Farhan didn't flinch. "I did."

> "And?"

> "The stones will remain under royal guard. They never go near the demons. Ever."

He looked toward the skyline, where faint flickers of unnatural lightning still hung on the horizon.

> "If Kar'Thæl truly walks again…"

> "We're going to need something stronger than politics and lies."

Julius nodded slowly.

> "Then we better find out who the prototype is."

> "Before someone else does."

"Also Arslan was right, as Kar'Thael was there in Bound Threshold not in Vault of Sundusk....The Book and the Devils are still wrong"

King said "Exactly... He saves us from a big blunder"

"We will keepit secret ".....