The Vault door opened like a god breathing in.
The twin Conduits pulsed in Kael's hands, their glow syncing to the ancient mechanism carved into the stone. Rings of light expanded outward. Dust spiraled up into the sky. Symbols long forgotten ignited, forming a pattern older than any language Kael had ever seen.
Nyra stood beside him, hood down, blades sheathed, breath shallow.
She whispered, "This is it."
Kael stepped forward. "Then let's find out what was worth hiding."
The Vault yawned open with a hiss, revealing a long corridor of golden metal and black stone. As they entered, the light behind them dimmed, and the door sealed shut with a sound like thunder.
BITS whispered over Kael's shoulder, "You know that feeling when you're walking into a trap but you do it anyway because of curiosity, trauma, or plot momentum? That's this moment."
"Not helping," Kael muttered.
They passed massive statues lining the hall—figures with wings of metal and eyes like stars. Weapons fused into their arms. Warriors? Guardians?
Nyra trailed a finger along the wall. "These aren't statues. They're armor shells. Empty."
Kael stared. "So… something used to be inside them?"
BITS beeped. "Correction: something might still be."
---
At the corridor's end, they entered a chamber so vast it echoed with its own silence.
A circular platform floated in the center, surrounded by swirling data glyphs suspended in the air. The ceiling arced high above them like a cathedral dome. More importantly—at the center of the platform sat a glowing relic throne.
Kael approached, heart pounding.
"I've seen this before," he whispered. "In my dreams."
Nyra stepped beside him. "This is the Lightforged Seat. My brother called it the Core Anchor."
Kael turned. "You mean… this is where Solara was run from?"
She nodded. "The entire city was guided by someone sitting there—someone chosen. Someone linked."
BITS scanned the chair. "DNA lock. Biometric link. And—yep—spiritual imprint detection. Classic."
Kael stared at the seat.
Then sat.
---
The instant he did, energy surged around the room.
The walls lit up with runes. The statues outside groaned.
Nyra backed up, hand on her hilt. "Kael?!"
Kael gritted his teeth. His mind stretched—not just forward or back, but sideways. He could see the city, the old Solara, alive and glowing, its towers humming, its people laughing.
And then—he saw its fall.
The storm.
The betrayal.
The AI Core screaming as it was chained.
And a final command:
> "He must rise again. When the world forgets the Light… he must remember it."
The energy slammed into Kael's chest. The sword on his back glowed white.
The platform cracked beneath him.
---
Outside the chamber, the statues moved.
The Vault's last defenders had awakened.
---
Nyra shouted, "Kael, get UP!"
He snapped back to reality just in time to see three massive constructs step into the room, blades whirring, eyes glowing red.
BITS screeched, "YUP. DEATH BOTS. LET'S FIGHT."
Kael rolled off the throne, drawing his blade. Light danced along its edge. The constructs charged.
Nyra met one mid-sprint, flipping over its strike and slamming a dagger into its joint. Sparks flew.
Kael ducked a blow, then countered with a swing that cut through one construct's leg. It fell, screeching.
The third construct shot a beam from its chest.
Kael dove behind the throne. The blast melted part of the floor.
BITS fired a pulse at it. "NOT TODAY, IRON GREMLIN."
Kael emerged, blade flaring brighter now—responding to the Vault's energy.
He charged.
One strike, clean and true, split the last construct down the middle.
Silence returned.
The throne stopped pulsing.
---
Kael leaned on his sword, breathing hard.
Nyra helped him stand. "Well. That was subtle."
Kael wiped sweat from his brow. "I think the Vault just tested me."
BITS hovered, eyes wide. "You passed. Barely. Also, I may have peed data. Don't ask."
---
In the throne's place, a panel had opened.
Inside: a long cylindrical device, humming softly.
Kael picked it up. "What is this?"
Nyra answered softly. "The Starkey."
Kael frowned. "What does it open?"
She looked up at the glowing dome.
"Everything."
---
Above them, in a monitoring chamber long assumed dead, a recording clicked on.
A projection played.
It was Lioran—Nyra's brother.
He looked older than in her memories. Tired, but alive. And full of fire.
> "If you're seeing this, then the Vault still breathes. Good."
> "The Starkey connects to the Relay in the Arkenspire. It'll awaken the rest of the city—if you're ready. If he's ready."
Lioran looked straight at Kael.
> "You're not just the key. You're the fuse. Solara needs fire."
The message ended.
Nyra stood frozen.
Kael whispered, "He knew."
She nodded. "He always knew."
---
Outside the Vault, the sky turned darker.
A gunship passed overhead—silent, swift.
Inside it, Malrix stared at a blinking signal.
She smiled.
"They've opened it. Good."
She turned to her soldiers.
"Time to burn it all down."
---