The sun had just begun to rise over Beijing, yet the ancient walls of the Forbidden City still held the weight of unspoken secrets. Liam Routh stood in the silent hallway of a long-sealed imperial chamber, Voice at his side. The stone beneath their feet was uneven, scuffed by time, but untouched by man for centuries.
They had followed the cryptic hint left by the café stranger — "The dragon sleeps beneath the crimson jade." It led them here, to the Hall of Literary Brilliance, to a carved jade tile hidden in a cracked mural. With a light press, the jade had shifted with an audible click — and the stone floor began to tremble.
A circular platform descended slowly, revealing a spiral staircase that twisted down into darkness.
Voice squinted into the abyss. "What is this place…?"
Liam didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on the wall beside the staircase — etched into it was a familiar symbol: the sun crossed by a crescent blade. Kael's insignia. Not just a myth. Not just a fantasy. Real.
They descended. The air grew colder with each step. At the bottom was a chamber lit by soft, golden lamplight — yet no flames burned. The walls were lined with books written in languages neither Liam nor Voice could recognize. Floating in the center was a single object encased in translucent crystal — a mask, cracked down the middle, with the same sun-and-blade sigil carved into its brow.
Before Liam could speak, Voice stepped closer to the mask. Her hand lifted slowly — almost involuntarily.
"Don't touch it," Liam whispered.
But her fingers brushed the crystal.
The lights flickered.
And from the shadows behind them, a soft voice echoed — both calm and terrifying.
"History is not written by the victors. It's whispered by the forgotten."
Liam turned, heart racing. No one was there.
But on the wall behind the mask, ancient letters began to glow, translating themselves slowly into English:
'To awaken the Forgotten Sun, first lose your own light.'
Liam and Voice looked at each other.
Outside, thunder cracked — but there were no clouds in the sky.
Something had begun.
And somewhere far away, Kael opened his eyes.
To Be Continued...