Dawn crept across the academy like a whisper of gold, but Elara barely noticed. Her nerves buzzed with a sharp mix of fear and determination.
Today, they would enter the Forbidden Archives.
Today, she might finally find the truth.
She tightened the cloak around her shoulders as she met Damien, Lucian, and Liora in the courtyard. The early morning mist curled around the stone paths, almost hiding them from sight.
Damien stepped closer, expression sharp."Ready?"
"No," Elara said honestly. "But let's go anyway."
Lucian's fingers brushed the hilt of his sword. "Stay close to me once we're inside. The wards react to soul magic."
Liora adjusted her satchel, stuffed with glowing scrolls and sigils. "We'll get answers today. I promise."
✦ The Descent
The group moved toward the east wing — an ancient, half-forgotten corridor that most students avoided. The walls were cracked, vines creeping through broken stone.
A heavy iron gate blocked the final entrance.
Damien placed his hand on it.
The rune embedded in the metal glowed blood-red.
"Damien," Lucian said slowly, "that rune is only supposed to respond to—"
"Royal blood," Damien finished.
Elara froze. "You mean—"
Damien's tone was calm, but tension rippled beneath it.
"My past life's soul… wasn't ordinary either."
The gate rumbled, then split open.
Elara stared at him, wide-eyed."What were you?"
Damien didn't answer.
Not yet.
✦ The Forbidden Archives
They stepped inside.
Cold air rushed out, carrying dust, forgotten magic, and the faint scent of old paper. Lanterns ignited as they entered, casting long shadows.
Rows of shelves stretched into impossible darkness — shifting, twisting, rearranging like living maze walls.
Liora whispered, "It's… reacting to us."
Lucian's hand moved to Elara's shoulder. "Stay close."
The shelves parted.
A stone pedestal stood in the center of the chamber, holding a single book bound in shimmering white leather.
Elara felt her heart stop.
"The Chronicle of Astravelle."
Her kingdom.
Her past.
Damien stepped forward with her, but the moment they moved, the ground shook.
A deep, ancient voice boomed through the darkness:
"ONLY THE HEIR MAY OPEN WHAT WAS LOST."
Light burst from the book — blinding, powerful, alive.
Elara stumbled back, shielding her eyes.
"Elara!" Damien grabbed her arm.
"No—let her," Lucian said suddenly, eyes wide.
Because—
The light wasn't attacking her.
It was reaching for her.
Calling to her blood.
Her soul.
Her forgotten name.
The light wrapped around Elara's hands like warm ribbons, lifting her toward the book. Her vision blurred with white, and she heard a voice — soft, familiar, filled with sorrow.
"My princess… you've come home."
Her fingers brushed the cover.
A wave of memories slammed into her.
A crown.A golden throne room.Magic radiating from her hands.A man kneeling before her—Someone she loved—Someone she would die for—Someone—
"Elara!"
Damien's shout ripped her back to reality.
The ground cracked.
The ceiling trembled.
A monstrous shadow formed behind the shelves — the archive guardian awakened.
A being of ink, eyes of flame, teeth like shattered glass.
Lucian cursed. "We have to move!"
But Elara stumbled, clutching her head. "The memories—"
Damien grabbed her waist, steadying her. "Focus on me!"
Liora raised a glowing sigil. "I'll hold the guardian for now— GO!"
Lucian scooped the book off the pedestal and grabbed Elara's hand.
"What— what are you doing?!" she gasped.
"Saving you."
He dragged her forward as the guardian lunged, shaking the entire chamber.
Books exploded into black dust.
Shelves collapsed.
Damien slashed through the darkness with flames erupting from his blade.
The guardian roared — a sound that shattered lanterns and cracked stone.
Liora screamed, "RUN!"
Lucian pushed Elara ahead of him, voice desperate.
"Elara — we have to leave NOW!"
But the guardian's shadow reached for her—
And then—
The book burst open on its own.
A glyph of pure light exploded from the pages.
Everything stopped.
The guardian froze mid-lunge.
Time shattered into stillness.
And in the suspended silence, a figure stepped out of the light.
A man.
Tall. Cloaked in gold. His face hidden, but his presence familiar in her bones.
The same warmth from her memories.
He turned toward Elara.
"Elara," he said softly."My princess.""My love."
Elara's breath caught in her throat.
Damien's sword slipped from his fingers.
Lucian's eyes widened, filled with something she couldn't name.
The figure stepped closer.
"I died for you once," he whispered. "And I will not let you die again."