BOOK THREE: THE FALL OF THE FIRST KINGDOM
Chapter 8: The Awakening of the White Tree
The heartbeat echoed once again.
Thump...
Thump...
Thump...
The peaceful garden inside the Chamber of the First Promise fell completely silent.
The crystal streams stopped flowing.
The silver leaves on the trees became perfectly still.
Even the wind seemed to be listening.
The glowing crystal orb hovered above the stone table, bathing the Six Heirs in warm silver light.
Riva slowly looked upward.
"Did you hear that?"
Lucien nodded.
"It wasn't just a sound."
"I felt it."
The mysterious figure smiled quietly.
"You heard the heartbeat of a promise."
---
Far above the Chamber...
At the center of Aurelia Prime...
The enormous White Tree continued glowing brighter with every passing second.
Roots of silver light spread beneath the entire kingdom.
Ancient streets awakened.
Forgotten fountains began flowing.
Crystal lamps lit one after another.
The First Kingdom...
Was remembering itself.
---
Meanwhile...
Far beyond Aurelia Prime...
Inside a forgotten corner of the Ninth Gate...
A hooded figure watched everything through a pool of silver water.
The figure slowly closed the ancient white book.
"So..."
"They reached the Chamber."
A second shadow appeared beside the hooded figure.
"You should stop them."
The hooded figure gently shook their head.
"No."
"They must arrive willingly."
"The truth loses its meaning if it is forced."
Before the second shadow could reply...
Both disappeared into the darkness.
---
Back inside the Chamber...
The crystal orb slowly descended toward the stone table.
As it touched the center...
The six empty chairs moved by themselves.
Each turned to face the Six Heirs.
Ancient names carved into the chairs began glowing.
But the names had become too faded to read.
Eva immediately opened her notebook.
"The writing is changing."
Indeed...
The faded names slowly disappeared.
New names appeared instead.
Riva.
Lucien.
Eva.
Parna.
Aarvi.
Orion.
Aarvi smiled.
"I guess we've officially inherited their seats."
---
The seventh chair remained empty.
Unlike the others...
It carried no name.
Only one sentence.
"Reserved for the One Who Keeps the Promise."
No one dared sit there.
---
Suddenly...
The crystal orb projected another memory.
Unlike the previous visions...
This one was perfectly clear.
The Six Heirs watched as the First King entered the Chamber.
He wore simple white robes.
No crown.
No sword.
No guards followed him.
Six companions walked beside him.
They laughed together like lifelong friends.
The First King smiled.
"This room belongs to all of us."
One of his companions laughed.
"Then stop calling it your Chamber."
The King nodded.
"You're right."
He walked to the stone table.
"From today onward..."
"This shall be called the Chamber of the First Promise."
The six companions placed their hands together.
"No ruler."
"No servant."
"No throne."
"Only a promise."
The crystal orb brightened.
Then the vision abruptly ended.
---
Parna wiped away a tear.
"They really were a family."
The Chancellor nodded.
"That is why Aurelia became great."
"Not because of its power..."
"But because of its people."
---
Without warning...
The Chamber shook violently.
The peaceful garden darkened.
One of the silver trees suddenly withered before their eyes.
Its glowing leaves turned black.
The crystal stream froze.
The orb dimmed.
Elias frowned.
"Impossible."
"The Chamber should be beyond corruption."
---
A deep crack appeared across the garden floor.
Dark mist slowly escaped from below.
Lucien immediately stepped forward.
"This isn't the same darkness we fought before."
The mysterious figure agreed.
"No."
"This darkness is older."
---
From the crack emerged a tall figure wrapped in cracked stone armor.
Its body looked ancient, as though carved from the mountain itself.
Its face was hidden behind a broken white mask.
It carried no weapon.
Yet every step radiated overwhelming pressure.
The giant stopped before the stone table.
Then knelt.
Not to the Six Heirs.
To the empty seventh chair.
Its hollow voice echoed through the Chamber.
"The Keeper has not returned."
Silence followed.
The giant slowly raised its head.
For the first time...
It noticed the Six Heirs.
Its empty eyes glowed blue.
It stood.
"You..."
"...are not the Founders."
Orion lifted his shield.
"We're their successors."
The giant tilted its head.
"Then prove it."
---
Before anyone could react...
The stone giant struck the ground.
The garden transformed instantly.
The peaceful trees disappeared.
The crystal streams became rivers of light.
Floating platforms rose into the air.
The Chamber had become an arena.
Not for war.
For judgment.
The giant placed one hand over its chest.
"I am Arcturus."
"Guardian of the First Promise."
"My duty is eternal."
The Chancellor's face turned pale.
"I thought Arcturus had vanished with the Kingdom..."
The guardian shook his head.
"Guardians do not abandon their oath."
---
Arcturus looked directly at Riva.
"If you truly inherited the Covenant..."
"Show me."
He raised his hand.
Six circles of silver light appeared beneath the Six Heirs.
But unlike the previous trials...
They remained together.
Riva understood immediately.
"It's not testing us individually."
Lucien smiled.
"It's testing us as one."
The guardian nodded.
"Exactly."
The arena trembled as ancient symbols surrounded them.
Above the battlefield, glowing words appeared.
THE TRIAL OF UNITY BEGINS
Far beneath the arena...
A massive stone door slowly unlocked.
Behind it...
A faint golden light began shining.
And somewhere beyond that hidden door...
A familiar voice whispered with quiet hope.
"You're closer than ever..."
End of Chapter 8