What does this mean?! one of the councilors growled, gripping his dagger. However, Caldrion raised a hand to silence him.

Kaijil remained motionless, his gaze unwavering, even as the blade's tip hovered dangerously close to his skin.Have you lost your mind? he said slowly.

Shut up, Faris hissed, his voice trembling with rage. You knew, didn't you?! You knew that Rinor betrayed us! That he helped those creatures take Lirianna's soul?

Tense silence blanketed the room. All eyes turned to Faris, wide with shock and fear. Caldrion stepped forward.Faris, put the sword down. You're not yourself.

Faris turned sharply, his eyes gleaming in the dim light.You have no idea what I've been through, Caldrion, he said through gritted teeth. You didn't see her… didn't see them ripping her soul away. And all because of Rinor!

Kaijil raised his hand slowly, gesturing for calm, his tone icy.Blaming Rinor won't stop those responsible. Do you have proof, or are you hurling empty accusations?

Faris faltered, his grip on the sword loosening as it dipped slightly.Proof? he said, his voice quieter but filled with despair. I felt his magic. It was in the trap they used. And this… He pulled a piece of golden-stitched cloth from his pocket. This is his cloak.

Kaijil took the fabric, holding it up to the light with a frown. His face betrayed no emotion, but his gaze hardened.This only proves he was there. It doesn't prove guilt.

Faris took a step back, his chest rising and falling heavily.You truly didn't know? he asked, his voice no longer loud, but carrying pain and betrayal.

Kaijil hesitated, his eyes scanning the room, settling on Caldrion before returning to Faris.If Rinor truly betrayed us, I promise he will answer for it. But if you're wrong… His tone grew cold. The consequences will be dire for you.

Faris lowered his sword without a word, but the fire in his eyes remained.We can't afford mistakes, he said as he turned toward the door. And I won't make any.

Kaijil watched him leave, then addressed the others.This meeting is over.

The room filled with a low murmur of voices, though the air was thick with tension.

Kaijil nervously rolled a string of beads between his fingers.We need to search Rinor's house. I know it sounds absurd, but Faris seemed so certain. And Rinor… he said he left on business, but he was in the city and didn't help. How do we make sense of that?

Kaijil left the council chamber and intercepted Faris on his way home.

Decided to silence a witness? Faris sneered, raising his sword.

Calm down. That's not why I'm here, Kaijil said, his voice steady. I can't fully trust your words, but I also can't ignore them. First, tell me everything that happened. Then we'll investigate.

Faris hesitated, glaring at him, but eventually nodded.

After hearing Faris's account, Kaijil's expression darkened.Too many coincidences, he murmured. And when Rinor spoke about magic before… I can't dismiss this.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Kaijil stepped forward and slammed the door open. The sound echoed through the empty house like a thunderclap.There has to be something here that explains why he did this, he muttered, stepping inside. His eyes scanned the room, lingering on every detail. We'll split up. You take the upper floors, I'll handle the lower.

Rinor's home, once grand, now felt hollow and eerie. The high ceilings were cracked in places, the floorboards creaked underfoot, and dusty shelves lined the walls. Faint light filtered through heavy curtains, casting a suffocating gloom.

Faris headed upstairs, his footsteps echoing. Kaijil combed through the first floor, searching the rooms and kitchen. Everything seemed too ordinary, as if Rinor had intentionally removed anything incriminating. Even the basement, which he searched next, appeared to be a mere storage space filled with old books and broken magical devices.

When they met in Rinor's study, both looked defeated.Nothing, Faris said, collapsing into a heavy armchair. No notes, no artifacts. If there was anything, he's already cleared it out.

The study was stark yet meticulously organized. Tall bookshelves lined one wall, and a massive dark wooden desk stood near the window. On the desk lay magical tools: vials of reagents, a magnifying lens, and a quill. In the corner, maps of the city were neatly stacked.

Kaijil picked up one of the maps, squinting as he examined it. Then he showed it to Faris.These aren't just maps. Look here. Secret passages are marked. One of them… leads right under this house.

Faris frowned, leaning closer, but something else caught his eye: an engraving on the side of the desk. The intricate pattern resembled the designs on Lirianna's necklace.This means something, he said, running his fingers over the carvings. A faint glow pulsed beneath his touch.

What are you doing? Kaijil asked sharply, stepping closer.

There's a mechanism here, Faris muttered. But it needs the right sequence.

They experimented with the patterns, but the engravings would light up and fade with soft clicks. Growing frustrated, Kaijil returned to the map.Wait, he said, pointing. See this? The house on the outskirts has the same design. Try using the sequence from the map.

When they entered the sequence, the carvings glowed brighter, but nothing happened. Frustrated, Faris pushed himself out of the chair, which shifted slightly. With a low click, a section of the floor slid aside, revealing a hidden staircase.

A secret passage? Kaijil muttered, studying the map. It's not marked here.

Let's find out, Faris said firmly, stepping into the opening.

The staircase descended deep into the earth, its stone steps cold and damp. As they moved, soft orbs of light ignited along the walls, illuminating their path with a warm, golden glow. At the bottom, they found a vast circular chamber.

The walls were lined with shelves holding ancient books with worn covers. The mosaic on the floor depicted an intricate symbol—the same one on Lirianna's necklace. At the center of the room stood a massive table covered in strange objects: a monocle with one dark lens, softly glowing rings, and a quill that seemed alive when touched.

Kaijil approached the table and picked up a book. He flipped through its pages, his face paling.These spells… he whispered. They could've saved hundreds of lives. Could've stopped the battle before it began.

His voice shook as his hands tightened on the book, his knuckles white.Why did he hide this? he muttered. Did he know what was coming? Why?

Faris stood silent, watching his friend unravel. Finally, he placed a hand gently on Kaijil's shoulder.Kaijil…

You don't understand! Kaijil snapped, shaking off his hand. He knew! Back when we were building this city! He said he discovered an ancient tomb in the forest, claimed it held forgotten knowledge. He said he would save us all. We believed him! And now… now I don't even know who he is anymore.

His shoulders trembled, his voice dropping to a whisper.This city was supposed to be our refuge, our hope. And now? What do we have left?

Faris turned away, his gaze sweeping across the dusty shelves.We don't know the whole truth yet, he said quietly but firmly. But we will. And if he truly betrayed us… he'll pay for it.

The oppressive atmosphere of the chamber lingered. The glowing orbs cast soft light, but the shadows seemed alive, shifting and twisting ominously with the flickering light. Everything about the room hinted at secrets buried far deeper than they could yet comprehend.