CHAPTER 20: THE FORGOTTEN TEMPLE

CHAPTER TWENTY

The Forgotten Temple

The bell kept echoing through the Veil Order.

GONG!

Kevin stood beneath the massive magical clock hanging above the courtyard, his new black robe fluttering in the wind. On his shoulder sat a tiny black dragon.

Veyr.

Kevin glanced sideways. “You heard the bell too, right?”

Veyr yawned. “I heard it three times.”

“And?”

“And I was hoping you’d pretend you didn’t.”

“Finally,” Kevin said. “Someone who understands me.”

Veyr flicked his tail against Kevin’s neck. “Unfortunately, your survival instincts are terrible.”

“I survived the trial.”

“You were unconscious.”

“I still survived.”

“You were carried away.”

“Details.”

“Large details.”

Kevin ignored him.

Around them, the new recruits streamed toward the Central Hall. Some looked excited. Others looked nervous. One was already praying.

Kevin stared at him. “That’s probably not a good sign.”

Veyr’s crimson eyes narrowed. “Neither is the smell of fear coming off him.”

“You can smell fear?”

“I am a dragon.”

“Oh.” Kevin paused. “Can you smell when I’m about to make a stupid decision?”

“I don’t need to.”

Kevin frowned. “…Fair.”

* * *

The Central Hall was enormous. Hundreds of recruits stood in orderly rows. At the front stood a man in a long dark Captain’s coat, an old wooden staff in his hand, a golden insignia over his chest.

His presence alone silenced the room.

Kevin knew him at once.

Orion. Captain of the Veil Order.

“New recruits.” His voice carried effortlessly. “Today marks the beginning of your actual service.”

Kevin folded his arms. Veyr stayed perched on his shoulder.

“You have all passed the initial selection.”

A few recruits smiled.

“Do not mistake that for greatness.”

The smiles died.

I like him already, Kevin whispered.

You like anyone who insults people.

That’s not true.

You insult people every morning.

That’s different.

How?

I’m talented.

Veyr snorted.

“The Veil Order exists to protect Valeris from threats ordinary knights cannot handle,” Orion continued.

A massive projection bloomed behind him. A map of the kingdom, the capital at its center. Then the map expanded, far beyond the known kingdoms, to reveal a vast region almost entirely smothered in dark mist.

At its heart, a single inscription:

THE FORGOTTEN REGION

The room grew noticeably quieter.

“For centuries, the Forgotten Region has lain beyond the borders of ordinary civilization.”

Kevin stared. Even from here, the place felt unsettling.

“It holds ruins older than the present kingdoms.”

The image shifted. Collapsed towers. Broken statues. Buried cities.

And then…

A gigantic temple.

Kevin’s eyes narrowed. It looked unlike everything else. Its walls were covered in strange symbols. At its center, a massive crystal was embedded in the stone.

“Three nights ago, our scouts detected a massive surge of magic near the western edge of the Forgotten Region.”

The crystal on the projection began to glow.

“An ancient structure has awakened.”

Murmurs swept the hall.

“Awakened?” Kevin whispered.

“It was believed to be dormant,” Orion said.

The projection zoomed in. The temple doors were opening.

“And now they are not.”

A recruit raised his hand. “What’s inside?”

“We don’t know.”

The recruit lowered his hand.

That’s always reassuring, Kevin whispered.

Especially when they are sending you.

Why are you making it sound like I’m the problem?

Because you usually are.

Kevin clicked his tongue.

“Scouts report unusual magical activity surrounding the temple.”

Another image appeared. Glowing objects floated inside.

“Ancient treasures.”

The room erupted in whispers. Orion raised one hand, and silence returned at once.

“We do not know what these treasures are capable of.” His expression hardened. “We do know that several groups are already moving toward the temple.”

Kevin frowned. “Other kingdoms?”

“Possibly.” Orion turned to the recruits. “That is why the Veil Order will intervene first.”

A route glowed across the map, from the capital to the Forgotten Region.

“You will travel to the temple.”

Kevin blinked. He looked around.

Wait.

What?

They’re sending us?

Veyr’s ears twitched. They’re sending recruits.

I am a recruit.

Unfortunately.

Kevin sighed.

“Your mission has three objectives,” Orion said.

Three points lit up on the map.

“First: secure the surrounding area.”

The first point glowed.

“Second: protect the archaeological team assigned to investigate the temple.”

The second point glowed.

“Third: if the temple becomes unstable, you are authorized to destroy its outer magical seal.”

The final point flashed red.

A recruit raised his hand. “Sir… destroy the temple?”

“If necessary.”

Kevin stared at the projection. “So we protect the temple… unless we have to destroy it.”

Correct, Veyr said.

That sounds unnecessarily complicated.

It is magic. Veyr flicked his tail. Nothing is allowed to be simple.

Orion began calling names.

“Team One.” Several recruits stepped forward.

“Team Two.” More moved.

“Team Three.”

Kevin waited.

Then—

“Team Seven. Kevin Riven.”

Kevin sighed. “Of course.”

A few recruits glanced his way. Whispers began.

“That’s the noble twin…”

“The one with the five-point Codex?”

“I heard he beat two seniors.”

“I heard he nearly died.”

“I heard he got carried away.”

Kevin’s eye twitched.

You are becoming famous, Veyr whispered.

For the wrong reasons.

Still famous.

“Kael Arden.”

Kael stepped forward. Kevin smiled. “At least I know someone.”

“Liora Vale.”

A silver-haired girl stepped up and glanced at Kevin. “Try not to get yourself killed.”

Kevin raised an eyebrow. “You sound worried.”

“I sound practical.”

“Same thing.”

“No.”

“Damon Krell.”

A tall boy stepped forward. His eyes met Kevin’s at once.

Neither smiled.

Kael sighed. “Here we go again.”

Damon crossed his arms. “I hope you understand this is a mission, not a playground.”

Kevin smiled. “I understand.”

“Good.”

“I’ll try not to play with you.”

Damon’s face darkened.

Liora closed her eyes. “Why did they put these two together?”

Kael shrugged. “Maybe the Captain hates us.”

Or perhaps Orion simply wants entertainment, Veyr whispered.

Kevin almost laughed.

Orion looked at Team Seven. “You will depart immediately.”

Kevin’s face changed. “Immediately?”

“Yes.”

“But I just got this robe yesterday.”

“And?”

Kevin looked down at himself. “I haven’t even had time to enjoy looking mysterious.”

“You don’t look mysterious,” Damon muttered.

Kevin turned. “What did you say?”

“I said you don’t look mysterious.”

Kevin stepped closer. “And what do I look like?”

Damon looked him up and down.

“A walking accident.”

Kael covered his mouth. Liora looked away.

He got you, Veyr whispered.

Kevin slowly pointed at Damon. “This mission is going to be very peaceful.”

Veyr chuckled. That is the biggest lie you’ve told today.

* * *

The Journey

The team departed before sunset. Veil Order transport beasts hauled the carriage along the eastern roads.

Kevin sat near the edge. Kael sat opposite him. Liora read. Damon sharpened a small magical blade.

Kevin watched him for several seconds. “You know…”

Damon didn’t look up. “What?”

“If you keep sharpening that thing, eventually there won’t be anything left.”

Damon stopped.

Kael laughed. Liora smiled faintly.

Damon looked at Kevin. “Do you ever stop talking?”

“No.”

“Why?”

Kevin considered. “Probably because silence gives people time to think about how annoying I am.”

Veyr, curled around Kevin’s shoulder, opened one eye. That is surprisingly self-aware.

Kevin looked offended. Whose side are you on?

My own.

Traitor.

The carriage rolled on. As the sun sank, the scenery changed. The green fields vanished. The roads narrowed. The trees grew taller. The air turned cold.

And eventually…

They saw it.

A colossal dark forest, stretching across the horizon.

The Forgotten Region.

Kevin stared through the window. Something about it felt wrong. Not dangerous. Not yet.

Just… old.

Ancient.

As though the land itself was watching them.

Veyr suddenly lifted his head.

Kevin noticed. “What?”

Veyr didn’t answer. His crimson eyes were fixed on the forest.

Then, quietly:

“Something is awake.”

Kevin’s smile faded. “What?”

“I said something is awake.”

Before Kevin could ask more—

BOOOOM!

A column of golden light erupted from deep within the forest. The whole sky lit up. Everyone in the carriage leaped to their feet.

Kael rushed to the window. “What was that?!”

Liora snapped her book shut. Damon seized his weapon.

Kevin stared at the distant light.

And there, far beyond the trees, the ancient temple appeared.

Its massive doors had opened.

A golden beam speared into the sky. Then another. Then another.

The entire Forgotten Region began to tremble.

Orion’s voice crackled through the communication crystal, unusually tense.

“All teams. Prepare yourselves.”

Kevin’s hand drifted to his Codex. Veyr’s claws tightened on his shoulder.

“The temple has fully awakened.”

Kevin stared into the darkness.

The crystal crackled again.

“And something has already entered it.”

The carriage fell silent.

Kevin slowly opened his Codex. Its red-and-black pages began turning on their own. One. Two. Three.

Then they stopped.

A strange symbol appeared.

“What are you trying to tell me?”

Veyr looked at the page. His expression changed.

“Kevin.”

“What?”

“Don’t use that spell.”

“Why?”

Veyr stared toward the distant temple.

“Because I don’t think whatever is inside that temple…” His crimson eyes narrowed. “…is going to give you the chance.”

The temple flared with another burst of golden light.

BOOOOOOM!

And the entire forest went dark.

Kevin swallowed.

“So…” Kael whispered, looking around. “…we’re still going in, right?”

Damon tightened his grip on his weapon. Liora stood.

Kevin looked at the ancient temple.

Then smiled. “Of course.”

Veyr sighed. “Idiot.”

Kevin grinned. “Dragon.”

And the carriage raced toward the awakened temple.