The entrance to the undergrounds of the Valmere Academy was not visible to ordinary eyes. Hidden behind an ancient tapestry in the Founders' Hall, a spiral stone staircase descended into the depths of the institution, where the air was denser and charged with residual magic.
The walls were covered in moss that glowed in shades of green, emitting a faint natural luminescence. The sound of the group's footsteps echoed softly, creating a dissonant melody that seemed to respond to their presence. The torches lit by Kael with his blue-flame magic revealed ancient inscriptions on the stone blocks—texts in a language that mixed arcane symbols with the common alphabet, possibly a dialect of the Veil Guardians.
The Group
Ethan was not alone. At his side, Lira walked silently, her Nebulous Serpent sliding among shadows, ready to act. The pale glow of her eyes contrasted with her dark skin tone, and her alert expression revealed a mind in constant analysis.
Kael, on the other hand, was the most talkative—always ready with a sarcastic comment. His crossbow, the Spectral Crow, accompanied them as it flew near the ceiling, its amber eyes spinning with attention. Kael was someone with an easy smile, yet his gaze carried the weight of one who had lost too many battles to believe in easy victories.
The group also included another figure: Neyra, a student recently promoted to official tamer, known for her intelligence but also for her natural distrust. She controlled a Living Stone Golem, slow but with unparalleled endurance. Neyra did not speak much, but when she did, her words were as precise as arrows.
The Sealed Door
They finally reached a tall door made of a dark alloy, marked with pulsating runes. It was here that the golden fragment reacted, vibrating slightly in Ethan's pocket. As he approached, he felt the heat radiating from within the stone.
"Are you sure that's what it does?" Neyra asked, eyebrows raised. "I'm not sure of anything," Ethan replied honestly. "But everything points here."
Lira touched the carved symbols on the door, frowning. "They're not just sealing something. They are testing... measuring who dares to enter. As if it were a judgment."
Kael approached the central lock, where there was a cavity that perfectly fit the fragment. "Do you mean that if we're not ready, the door will just... swallow us?" he said, half-joking, half-tense.
"Or reject us," murmured Ethan, inserting the fragment.
The Revelation
The moment the fragment touched the center of the door, a wave of energy spread through the room. It was not destructive, but penetrating. All their eyes widened as visions began to appear—flashes of ancient creatures, forests engulfed by mist, and temples floating over the void.
The Deer of the Ancestral Forest, beside Ethan, let out a low bellow, as if recognizing something in the images. "It... has seen this before," Ethan said, trying to steady the tremor in his hands.
The runes calmed and the door began to slowly open, revealing a staircase descending even further. A gust of cold wind came from within, whispering words almost imperceptibly.
"Did you hear that?" Neyra asked. Kael nodded, his face paler than usual. "'Proceed... if you are worthy'... that's what I heard. Did you too?"
Ethan looked at the others, the fragment now dark in his hand. The darkness ahead seemed alive, and whatever existed beyond that threshold was not merely an ancient secret—it was a test.
A test that could reveal the secrets of the Guardians... or bury them there.