Velrith tilted her head slightly, her voice carrying a mix of exhaustion and determination:
"Alright... What do we do now? How do we begin?"
Lucas took a step toward her. He was serious, but not harsh—just clear:
"The Duke's plan is set. They're going to form an alliance with the Crown Prince. Your father is at the heart of that alliance. Before they move, we need to act."
Velrith slowly shook her head. Her gaze drifted off into the distance, her voice flat:
"But it's been three years. If that empire is established, this continent will never be the same. It won't just birth tyranny... it'll give rise to a false order. And everyone beneath it—"
She cut herself off. Kael's eyes narrowed slightly:
"Can we really stop it?"
Velrith turned toward him. Her voice grew more forceful:
"We'll stop it. We'll ruin their plans. And then... I'll kill my father. Along with the prince who helps him."
Her words echoed in the room. Lucas didn't say anything, but he didn't take his eyes off Velrith.
Kael turned his head silently, then raised an eyebrow and asked:
"And what if we can't stop it?"
Velrith answered without hesitation:
"Then... we'll destroy the empire they've built. To the very end. And you both will swear that to me."
Lucas immediately lowered his head. His words were heavy, but clear:
"I swear it."
Kael hesitated for a moment, then, with his usual mocking smile but seriousness in his tone:
"Destroy it? I'm not saying no. You have my word."
A faint smile appeared on Velrith's lips. It wasn't one of relief—it was a quiet moment of connection. For the first time, she didn't feel alone. And this time, her fate was in her own hands.
A long silence followed in the room. Lucas broke it first. He stretched his shoulders, turned his gaze to Velrith, and with a familiar mocking smile, spoke:
"It's been a long night. I can show you to my room, but that doesn't mean we'll be sharing a bed," he said, then turned to Kael. "Your rooms are ready too."
As Velrith stood, she felt something within her shift. The weight of the past, which had felt so tightly bound to her, loosened, if only for a moment.
Kael, without standing, sighed:
"Can't we just stay up till morning? I'm tired even in my dreams."
Lucas shook his head:
"I've never had such a talkative dream. Go see your room so at least you'll know which wall to talk to."
Kael looked like he was about to retort but then gave up and slowly got to his feet.
As they walked through the corridors, the sound of their footsteps hitting the stone walls created a rhythm that echoed through the quiet night. First, Lucas showed Kael to his room. It was large, overlooking the courtyard, with a soft bed. Kael continued to grumble as he entered. Then, Lucas led Velrith to a smaller, simpler, yet brighter room on the southern side.
Stopping at the door, Lucas turned to Velrith:
"We leave tomorrow morning after breakfast. The temple is about an hour away. It's a different temple this time."
Velrith paused, then turned to Lucas before stepping inside:
"Lucas…"
Lucas stopped. There was a quiet, attentive stillness in his eyes. This time, it wasn't a judging gaze, but one that was listening.
"Thank you," Velrith said. "For everything."
Lucas tilted his head slightly. He gently patted her head:
"Tomorrow we'll talk about what you should do as the heir of the War God. So… sleep well."
Velrith entered the room, and the door closed silently behind her.
As the first light of dawn broke over the mansion's stone walls, the haze of sleep still lingered in the hall. Kael was the first to wake. His hair was messy, and his eyes still sleepy.
"If this isn't some punishment, why are we waking up so early?" he muttered as he reached for a plate of fruit.
Velrith entered soon after. She wore simple, clean clothes and sat down at the table with a calm composure. Lucas, holding several rolled-up maps, entered without placing them on the table.
"We leave after breakfast," he said. "The temple is on the edge of the forest. It was once known as the Heart of War. Someone is waiting for us there. And answers too."
Velrith lifted her head.
"I'm ready."
Kael mumbled as he popped a fig into his mouth:
"I'm not. But at least temples are quiet. We can talk less."
Lucas smiled:
"We're going to the wrong temple, Kael. We'll have to talk a lot there."
Velrith sighed quietly but deeply:
"This time, we'll speak before the war begins. Silence comes after."
Breakfast passed quietly but without tension. Each of them was aware: they had crossed a threshold. The road ahead would not only lead to a temple but to a choice with no return.
In the courtyard, the horses were ready. The sky was clear, and the breeze light. As they set off, the morning light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows of the three figures. Silence fell again, but this time, it carried an echo.
Along the way, they didn't speak much. The cool air made conversation feel unnecessary. Velrith thought about the responsibility that came with being the heir of Kaelis.
Kael, walking silently, still seemed to carry the marks of past pains. Lucas occasionally spoke to Velrith about the temple.
"Every temple has a different meaning. This one is Kaelis' temple. Beyond war and victory, there is something else here. But the influence of other gods is everywhere. Here, war's meaning is tied to the freedom of a people."
Velrith paid close attention to Lucas' words.
"Does Kaelis only care about war? What other duties does he have?" she asked, showing more interest. Lucas quickly responded.
"War is everything to him. But winning a war alone isn't enough. There's also a path for the losers. Victory isn't just won by swords. War can define the future of a people. The gods' path always involves seeing one step further."
When they reached the temple, Velrith took a deep breath. The tall stones, old inscriptions, and figures decorated the structure. As they passed through the door, the priests greeted them calmly. A priest Lucas knew invited them inside.
"Welcome," the priest said, bowing respectfully. "The heir of Kaelis is here. With the gods' permission, we'll show you the way."
The temple was surrounded by dark shadows. Dazzling lights and columns adorned with gold made each step feel heavy with mystery.
As Velrith, Kael, and Lucas walked deeper into the temple, each of them was silent, absorbed in their own uncertain feelings. The cold, ancient stone walls of the temple seemed to whisper the lost stories of the past.
Lucas, walking a bit behind, quickened his pace and caught up with them. In his eyes, there was a changing sense of determination. As they neared the entrance of the temple, a figure appeared.
The first thing visitors to the temple always saw was this figure: an old priest, his clothes cut like a guillotine, wearing a distinctive purple robe.
His face, worn by the years or possibly centuries, had faded, but his eyes were still vivid, filled with meaning.
The priest recognized Lucas. His eyes greeted him with a special respect and wisdom.
"Welcome, young lord," the priest said in a soft tone.
Lucas slightly bowed his head. "My servant," he responded. "May we enter? Velrith has questions that need answering."
The priest glanced at Velrith for a moment. In his eyes was the reflection of many secrets that time had long erased. Slowly, he took a deep breath and said:
"Of course. Our heir, are you ready for the answers?"
Velrith, looking at him, smiled faintly, but the smile left an impression of coldness and distance. The burden she had carried for so long weighed on her so heavily that no response she gave now felt as natural as before.
"I'm ready for any answer," she said, her voice confident but tinged with darkness.
The priest stepped back, opening the door and leading them inside. "Then come."
As they moved deeper into the temple, they followed a long corridor, walls lined with ancient scrolls and stone carvings, all carrying the traces of struggles once fought.
With each step, the shadows of the past grew deeper, and each turn felt like a piece of time itself.
Finally, they reached the deepest part of the temple. Here, no one had seen, and many had never spoken of the area. In the center of the room was a high stone table.
The priest opened an old book on the table and said in a cold voice:
"Here it is. Whatever you ask, whatever you wish to know, the temple will give you answers."
Velrith, taking a deep breath, stepped forward to the table. As she touched the book, she felt something shift in the air. Her eyes focused on the book, and suddenly, a prophecy appeared in her mind.
For a moment, fear and unease flooded over her, engulfing everything with dizzying speed. She was facing not only the horrors of this world but also the horrors of the past.
The priest, watching her, spoke with understanding in his eyes:
"As the heir of the War God Kaelis, you must prove yourself once more. There is a role you