A heavy silence settled over the war chamber. The weight of Seren's revelation hung thick in the air, and none of the monarchs moved for several heartbeats. The flickering torchlight cast long shadows across the grand war table, its map of Veldrith now seeming more like a battlefield of suspicion.
One of them carried the Void's curse.
But who?
King Darius's gauntleted hand clenched into a fist. "If what you say is true, then we are harboring a threat far greater than any warlord or army." His voice was grim, laced with barely contained fury. "We must root out this traitor before the corruption spreads."
Queen Lirien's lips curled into a smirk. "And how do you propose we do that, my dear king? Shall we burn each other at the stake until the flames reveal the guilty one?" She leaned forward, her violet robes shifting like liquid shadows. "Or perhaps, I should use my magic to pry into your very souls?"
Prince Kaelen looked pale but resolute. "This is not the time for paranoia. If the Void's corruption still lingers within our bloodline, then we must unite to uncover the truth." His golden eyes flickered to Seren. "You discovered this ancient record—does it contain any clue as to how the curse manifests?"
Seren took a deep breath, her fingers brushing over the parchment. "The records speak of a mark—a hidden sigil that only reveals itself under specific conditions. It's said to appear in moments of high emotional strain, near sources of strong magical energy, or when in proximity to the remnants of the Void."
Lady Syra, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "If that's the case, we need to lure the curse out." Her voice was soft yet sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. "And I may know how."
The others turned toward her.
"The Vault of Echoes."
A hush fell over the room.
"The Vault of Echoes?" Ashen repeated, his brows furrowing. "I've heard the name before. A forgotten relic chamber buried beneath the old royal district, untouched for centuries."
Lady Syra nodded. "It was sealed after Veldrith's fall, locked away with the remnants of forbidden magic that the ancient kings once sought to control." Her sharp silver eyes flickered with calculation. "If the Void's influence still lingers in our bloodline, then taking us there will force the curse to awaken. It will react to the dark remnants within the Vault."
King Darius grunted. "And how do we know this isn't a trap?"
She smirked. "You don't."
For a long moment, no one spoke. The monarchs studied one another, the distrust among them almost palpable. Each of them a ruler. Each of them a suspect.
Finally, Seren broke the silence. "We don't have time for hesitation. The Void's influence may already be stirring. If we let our fear divide us further, we will only be playing into its hands."
Ashen nodded. "We need to act now."
One by one, the monarchs gave their reluctant agreement.
And so, with a party of warriors, mages, and spies, they set forth toward the forgotten depths of the Vault of Echoes—where the truth would finally be revealed.
The Descent Into Darkness
Night had fallen by the time they reached the old royal district. The air was thick with dust and decay, the remains of ancient statues and broken fountains littering the ruins. It was a place long abandoned, untouched even by looters, for the legends spoke of cursed spirits that haunted these grounds.
At the center of the district stood a crumbling cathedral, its stone doors marked with faded sigils. Queen Lirien traced a hand over the engravings.
"The seal is still intact," she murmured. "No one has stepped inside for generations."
Prince Kaelen exhaled. "Until now."
With a nod from King Darius, his soldiers pushed open the massive doors. The hinges groaned, dust spilling into the air as the entrance yawned open like the mouth of some ancient beast.
Beyond the threshold lay a great spiraling staircase, descending into the abyss.
Torches were lit, and the party ventured downward.
The deeper they went, the colder it became. The stone walls bore unfamiliar carvings, symbols that seemed to shift and twist when one looked at them for too long. The air grew heavy with magic, pressing against their skin like unseen hands.
Seren shivered. "The Void's presence is still strong here."
At last, they reached the Vault's entrance—a set of towering obsidian doors etched with glowing silver veins, pulsing like a heartbeat. Queen Lirien's breath hitched.
"This place is alive."
Lady Syra stepped forward. "Let's see which of us the Void calls home."
The Truth Unveiled
The doors opened, and the Vault of Echoes greeted them with whispers.
The chamber beyond was vast, its ceiling lost in shadows. Darkened relics lined the walls—artifacts of power and corruption, sealed away by past rulers. And at the center of the room stood a great stone monolith, its surface writhing with shifting symbols.
As they stepped inside, the air shuddered.
Then—the Void stirred.
The monolith's sigils flared to life, casting eerie shadows across the chamber. A deep resonating pulse filled the air, and the curse awoke.
A single, chilling word whispered through the room:
"Found."
Light erupted from the sigils—blinding, violent.
Then the screams began.
One of the monarchs collapsed to the ground, their body convulsing as black tendrils of magic coiled around them. Their veins darkened, an ancient mark etching itself across their skin like burning fire.
Seren's heart pounded. "No…"
As the glow faded, the room fell into a stunned silence.
And there, trembling on the Vault's cold stone floor, marked by the Void's undeniable curse—
—was Prince Kaelen.
His golden eyes, once filled with idealism, now flickered with shadows.
His voice was hoarse, his breath ragged.
"…No. It can't be."
But the truth was clear.
The last heir of Veldrith's royal bloodline—the one who sought peace and unity—was the very one tainted by the Void's curse.
Ashen stepped forward, his sword drawn.
"What do we do now?"
No one answered.
Because for the first time, they weren't sure who the true enemy was anymore.