LOGINThe forest clearing fell silent.Only the sound of wind moving through the trees broke the stillness.Everyone stared at Seraphina Vale.The head of the First Family.The woman they had spent days searching for.And now......the woman who had just said something that made no sense."The First Family isn't what you're looking for.""The First Family is what they're running from."Zevarion narrowed his eyes."What does that mean?"Seraphina's gaze briefly shifted toward Cassian.For the first time since arriving, something close to concern appeared in her eyes.Not fear.Concern.As though time was running out.As though events were moving faster than expected.Cassian folded his arms.Looking thoroughly unimpressed."You can explain if you'd like."A dangerous smile appeared."It won't change anything."Seraphina ignored him.Her attention returned to Zevarion.Then Elyra.The sight of them standing together seemed to affect her.A strange sadness crossed her face.Gone almost immedia
Moonlight flooded the forest clearing. The cold night air hit them like a wave. Yet nobody paid attention to it. Because every eye was fixed on the scene before them. The black vehicles. The armed figures. The silver insignias. And standing calmly at the center of it all...... Cassian Voss. Waiting. Smiling. As though he had known exactly where they would emerge. Victor stared at him. Then looked back at the tunnel. Then back at Cassian. "Please tell me we have another secret tunnel." Nobody answered. Because they didn't. The realization settled heavily over the group. They had walked straight into a trap. Cassian slowly applauded. The sound echoed through the clearing. "Impressive." His smile widened. "You found the hidden exit." Victor folded his arms. "You seem disappointed." "Oh, not at all." Cassian's eyes gleamed. "I was counting on it." Silence. The armed figures tightened their formation. Not pointing weapons. Not attacking. Just waiting. Dis
For several seconds after Cassian disappeared, nobody moved.The chamber felt unnaturally quiet.Only the distant sounds of collapsing stone and muffled explosions echoed from above.The monastery was still under attack.Yet everyone's attention remained fixed on the silver coin in Zevarion's hand.Three days.That was all the time they had.Three days to find the First Family.Three days before their enemies reached them first.Victor finally broke the silence."I don't know about anyone else, but I strongly dislike mysterious deadlines."Damien sighed."You dislike everything.""Incorrect."Victor pointed toward him."I like coffee."Nobody laughed.The situation was far too serious.Zevarion turned the coin over in his palm.Ancient symbols covered both sides.One side displayed the familiar markings of the Gate.The other carried something different.A crest.A tree with thirteen branches.Elyra stared at it.The symbol felt strangely familiar.As if she had seen it somewhere befo
Silence.Complete and suffocating silence.The photograph trembled in Zevarion's hand.Nobody spoke.Nobody moved.Because nobody knew what to say.Elyra stared at the image.The little girl in the photograph looked exactly like her.The same eyes.The same smile.The same face she had seen in childhood pictures.And beside her stood a young Zevarion.Not much older than six or seven.Looking directly at the camera.Standing close enough to suggest familiarity.Friendship.Perhaps even more.A forgotten connection.A connection neither of them remembered.Victor was the first to break the silence."I'm sorry.""What?"Nobody answered.Because everyone was thinking the exact same thing.How was this possible?Elyra slowly took the photograph from Zevarion's hand.Her fingers trembled.She looked closer.Searching desperately for proof that it wasn't real.That it was edited.Manipulated.Fake.But it wasn't.The picture was old.Very old.And authentic.She could feel it.Then she noti
The chamber exploded into chaos.Cassian's words echoed against the ancient stone walls."Which is exactly why she had to die."For one terrifying second, nobody moved.Nobody breathed.The statement hung in the air like a blade.Then Zevarion snapped.In all the time Elyra had known him, she had never seen him look like this.Never.The calm was gone.The control was gone.Years of grief.Years of unanswered questions.Years of pain.Everything erupted at once.Zevarion lunged forward.His fist connected with Cassian's jaw.The crack echoed through the chamber.Cassian staggered backward.Everyone froze.Victor's eyes widened."Well.""That escalated quickly."Cassian wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.Then smiled.Actually smiled.As if getting punched had confirmed something."Good."His eyes gleamed."Now I know."Zevarion took another step forward.Lucien immediately grabbed his arm."Stop."Zevarion pulled away.His entire body radiated fury."You knew."His voice was dea
The chamber fell into absolute silence.The stranger stood near the Gate as if he belonged there.As if he had every right to walk into a hidden chamber protected by centuries of secrets.The silver insignia on his black coat glimmered under the candlelight.A symbol none of them recognized.Yet the confidence in his posture suggested it carried power.Dangerous power.His gaze remained fixed on Zevarion.Unwavering.Unblinking.Almost fascinated."We've been searching for you."The words echoed through the chamber.Every muscle in Zevarion's body tensed.Elyra felt it immediately.She moved half a step closer to him.Instinctively.Without thinking.The stranger noticed.His sharp eyes flickered toward her.For just a second.Then returned to Zevarion.Interesting.Very interesting.The way he looked at her made Elyra uncomfortable.As though he knew something she didn't.Victor cleared his throat.Loudly."Before we continue, I feel obligated to ask."The stranger slowly looked at h
The room fell into complete silence.Father Benedict's words echoed through the circular chamber."That's the man who killed Zevarion's mother."Nobody moved.Nobody spoke.The photograph rested in Zevarion's father's hand like a ticking bomb.Elyra stared at the image.The man looked ordinary.Tha
The metallic sound echoed through the vault long after the lock engaged.Nobody moved.Nobody spoke.For a moment, the only sound was the distant rumble of thunder above them.Then Victor broke the silence."Well.""This is significantly worse than I expected."Nobody disagreed.Damien was already
The vault fell completely silent.Nobody moved.Nobody breathed.The voice echoed through the darkness between the towering shelves.Calm.Familiar.Dangerously familiar.Elyra looked at Zevarion immediately.The color had drained from his face.Not from fear.From shock.Real shock.The kind that
The storm raged outside.Thunder shook the monastery walls while rain lashed against the stained-glass windows.Inside, nobody spoke for several seconds after the second noise echoed from below.A door.Someone had closed a door.Deep beneath the monastery.Father Benedict looked visibly shaken."I







