BOOK THREE: The Fall of the First Kingdom
Chapter 17: The Guardian of the Hidden Valley
The silver valley fell silent.
The cloaked man stood at the entrance, holding the black crystal in his right hand. Behind him, dozens of figures dressed in ancient Aurelian robes stood motionless like statues.
The wind carried silver leaves across the valley.
For several long seconds...
No one moved.
---
Lucien stepped forward, his Blade of Dawn glowing faintly.
"You've been following us since the sanctuary."
The cloaked man smiled.
"I've been waiting much longer than that."
His voice was calm.
There was no hatred in it.
Only certainty.
---
Riva studied him carefully.
Unlike the monsters they had fought before...
This man felt familiar.
Almost...
Aurelian.
The First Guardian took one step ahead of the Six Heirs.
"I know who you are."
The cloaked man lowered his hood.
Silver hair fell over his shoulders.
His eyes were dark blue, but tiny streaks of black light moved within them.
A scar crossed the left side of his face.
He smiled sadly.
"It's been a long time..."
"...old friend."
The First Guardian closed his eyes.
"It has."
---
Aarvi whispered,
"They know each other."
The old gardener nodded.
"He was once one of us."
Shock spread across the group.
---
The man placed a hand over his heart.
"My name is Seren."
"I was the Seventh Guardian of Aurelia."
Eva frowned.
"The Seventh Guardian?"
"There were seven?"
The First Guardian answered quietly.
"There were."
"But history only remembers six."
---
Seren looked toward the Hidden Valley.
"I wasn't erased."
"I chose to disappear."
---
Lucien tightened his grip on his sword.
"Then why are you standing against us?"
Seren laughed softly.
"Against you?"
"No."
"I'm protecting something."
He lifted the black crystal.
"This."
---
The crystal pulsed.
Inside it...
The tiny silver flame flickered.
Caelan suddenly grabbed his head.
Pain flashed across his face.
"I've seen that light..."
Everyone turned toward him.
"You remember?"
Caelan nodded slowly.
"I remember someone placing this flame inside the crystal."
"But..."
"I can't remember who."
---
Before anyone could ask another question...
The silent figures behind Seren stepped forward.
One by one, they removed their hoods.
They were ordinary people.
Men.
Women.
Young.
Old.
None carried weapons.
Each wore the symbol of Aurelia upon their robes.
Parna whispered,
"They're citizens."
The First Guardian smiled.
"The Last Keepers."
---
Seren nodded.
"When Aurelia disappeared..."
"Some chose to remain behind."
"Not to fight."
"To protect what was left."
---
The old gardener walked toward Seren.
"You've kept your promise."
He bowed respectfully.
"As did you."
For a moment...
It seemed there would be peace.
---
Suddenly...
The black crystal cracked.
A thin line spread across its surface.
Seren's smile disappeared.
"No..."
He tightened his grip.
"It's happening."
The valley shook violently.
The floating rivers became unstable.
Silver birds flew into the sky in panic.
The Hidden Valley itself began trembling.
---
Eva looked at the compass.
"The crystal isn't breaking."
"It's being called."
"Called by what?"
Lucien asked.
Before Eva could answer...
A deafening roar echoed across the valley.
High above them...
The clouds split apart.
A massive pillar of golden light descended from the heavens.
It struck the center of the Hidden Valley.
The ground erupted.
Ancient ruins hidden beneath the valley slowly rose from the earth.
Tower after tower emerged.
Bridges connected themselves.
Crystal streets appeared.
An entire city...
Long believed lost...
Returned before their eyes.
Caelan stared in amazement.
"I remember..."
"I lived here."
---
The First Guardian smiled through tears.
"The City of Dawn."
"The heart of the First Kingdom."
---
As the city awakened...
Every relic carried by the Six Heirs began shining.
The notebook.
The compass.
The sword.
The flower.
The Staff of Home.
The Guardian's shield.
Six beams of silver light shot toward the center of the city.
They merged above a magnificent crystal tower.
Then...
A seventh beam emerged from the black crystal in Seren's hand.
The seven lights joined together.
The tower's highest chamber slowly opened.
Inside...
Something was waiting.
Something that had remained sealed since the day Aurelia vanished.
Seren looked toward the tower.
His expression became grim.
"So..."
"The final seal has opened."
---
The First Guardian turned to the Six Heirs.
"We don't have much time."
Riva nodded.
"What do we do?"
The Guardian looked toward the tower.
"We reach the summit before anyone else."
Lucien smiled.
"Then let's stop standing around."
The group raced into the awakening city.
Seren and the Last Keepers followed close behind.
For the first time...
They weren't enemies.
They were allies with the same destination.
But hidden high within the crystal tower...
A pair of ancient golden eyes slowly opened.
A voice echoed through the empty chamber.
"At last..."
"...the Covenant is complete."
End of Chapter 17