"Things are getting quite interesting," I remarked, staring at the symbol carved into the marble with an amused smile.

What is the symbol of an organization based in Edith doing on a lonely mountain in Aria?

"Is the Order active in the Kingdom?" I asked.

Artemis nodded. "Indeed. It has several branches in the major cities, but I've never heard of an ancient branch in Les Anciennes, and certainly not one with a garden as huge as this."

"This must be something else," she said, her golden eyes narrowing in contemplation.

Suddenly, we heard Iris calling out to us. "Hey, guys! Come over here!"

"Did she get lost again?" I muttered, following Artemis toward the voice.

Carefully navigating through the crumbling ruins, we soon reached Iris's location.

The rest of the group was already gathered there, and we were the last to arrive. I could see why she was excited.

At the far end of the main path stood a beautiful stone entrance with huge double doors built into the mountain.

The arched entrance, crafted from the same resilient white marble as the surrounding columns, appeared immune to the mountain's harsh elements. It stood with an ageless grace as if freshly sculpted just a day prior.

Intricate carvings and runes adorned its surface, each detail etched with remarkable clarity.

At the apex of the arch, a prominent symbol caught our attention—a four-pointed star encircled by flames, the symbol of the Order of Lux.

Below the symbol was a line of characters that looked foreign and enigmatic.

"What the heck?" Apollo squinted at the characters, looking stumped. "What do they mean?"

"It's Luminian. An ancient lost language used by the Order before the disappearance of the Lux Incarnus," Iris explained matter-of-factly.

She looked around. "What?"

Everyone except me stared at her incredulously, disbelief evident in their expressions.

"You know ancient languages?" Ava's voice held a hint of skepticism.

Iris bristled slightly. "What kind of question is that? Of course, I know ancient languages! I've studied them as a pastime."

"A pastime?" Carlo echoed, clearly impressed.

I chuckled. "Guys, Iris may be crazy, but she's undeniably a brilliant genius."

"I am!" Iris affirmed proudly, gesturing toward the intricate script adorning the arch. "This is Luminian, and it reads 'Sanctuary of Light.'"

Artemis gasped in astonishment. "A Sanctuary?!"

Iris beamed at the young Fray. "Yep. Looks like you know what it is."

"Indeed," Artemis confirmed with zeal, her excitement palpable. I've never seen this girl so excited.

Her enthusiasm was contagious.

"Artemis, can you tell us what a Sanctuary is?" I inquired, turning to her.

Having read numerous books in Necropolis's library over the past three years, I already knew what a Sanctuary of Light was.

Although I haven't found any of the ancient language books Iris used.

Truly a bummer indeed.

But I encouraged Artemis to speak because her childlike excitement amused me, and Apollo looked particularly confused.

Artemis glanced at Iris, who offered her an encouraging smile. "I would like to hear what you have to say," Iris encouraged.

With a sparkle in her eyes, Artemis cleared her throat. "To put it simply, a Sanctuary of Light is a mausoleum that also serves as a safe house or a place of rest."

"A mausoleum?" Ava questioned, her brow furrowed in confusion. "You mean a tomb? And it's also a safe house?"

Artemis nodded. "Yes, but it is no ordinary tomb."

Her eyes held a reverent gleam as they remained fixed on the symbol. "A Sanctuary is the final resting place of a Paladin."

"A Paladin?!" Krystal exclaimed, her astonishment mirrored by the rest of the group.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

I nodded, addressing their collective awe. "We all know who the Paladins are, right?"

The Paladins.

They are the strongest warriors of the Order of Lux, an ancient military organization that predated even the Kingdom itself.

Despite their antiquity, the Paladins are one of the most formidable military forces in the world, their power and influence second only to the Knights of the Round.

Comprised of the most powerful Lux warlocks, the Paladins are a force to be reckoned with. But the path to becoming a Paladin is arduous, even more difficult than becoming a Knight of the Round.

First of all, one must possess the Lux strand to just become a candidate. So there aren't many Paladins in the Order, but the ones there are absolute monsters.

In fact, the current Grandmaster of the Paladins is an X ranker, one of the Three Crowns of this world, and the first Paladin to ever attain that rank.

The Grandmaster is the same rank as my father, but they are the weakest X ranker as well.

Yet, even the weakest X ranker holds unfathomable power, capable of single-handedly decimating a continent with their might.

Just wonderful.

Artemis continued. "A Paladin, especially one of high rank, is believed to retain residual ardor and Lux even after death. This energy can heal minor wounds and invigorate those nearby."

"And so the Order constructed the Sanctuaries of Light," she explained. "As a final resting place for Paladins, where their legacy could be honored and their power still felt by those who come here for safety and rest."

Ava narrowed her eyes in understanding. "So the ancient ardor we sense around us..."

"Is likely the lingering energy of a Paladin," Artemis confirmed, her admiration evident. "To persist after so many centuries... This Paladin must have been truly remarkable."

"Indeed!" Iris chimed in enthusiastically. "Shall we venture through the conspicuously conspicuous doorway that didn't even try to be inconspicuous?"

"Why phrase it like that?" I interjected with a frown.

"To sound like a genius."

"You sounded like a dumbass."

"Oh..."

Clearing her throat, Iris turned to the group. "I propose we enter and explore."

However, not everyone shared her enthusiasm. "Are you certain about this, Captain?" Carlo voiced his concern.

"Absolutely!" Iris insisted. "The Sanctuary has likely been undisturbed for centuries. The only inhabitant would be the Paladin's remains. It's not like the ghost is waiting to haunt us."

"Why did you have to say that?" I couldn't help but remark.

"It's not a jinx," Iris countered, though her reassurance fell short.

"Well, I am quite curious. This is my first time seeing a sanctuary," Carlo said, glancing at Ava, who rolled her eyes in response.

"Haven't you heard that curiosity kills the bloody cat?" she retorted.

"C'mon, Ava! Where's your sense of adventure?" Krystal chimed in.

"Apparently, I am the only one with sense here," Ava muttered, then turned to Artemis. "At least you're not on board with this, right?"

Artemis shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact with Ava. "I don't know, Ava. I really want to know what's beyond this gateway."

Ava sighed. "I guess I am fighting a losing battle here."

Apollo grinned. "If my sister makes up her mind, it's almost impossible to change it."

I looked at the uneasy-looking Ava Baskerville. "Why are you so apprehensive about entering?" I asked curiously.

She met my gaze, her grey eyes betraying her nerves. "I sense danger from behind the door."

I narrowed my eyes.

This is indeed worrying.

The Baskervilles are known for their keen sense of danger, like dogs. If Ava Baskerville, a child of the Baskerville Family Head, felt uneasy, there was cause for concern.

But the most scary thing is that we don't know what it is. I resolved myself. Now I am sure we need to know what is beyond those doors.

It seemed like Iris was also having the same thought as me. We exchanged looks and nodded.

"Well then!" Iris declared brightly. "Let's enter the unknown."

"But before that," she added, tapping her bracelet, "let's call for reinforcements. We need people to transport the ardimal carcasses at the base of the mountain and to secure this area."

She nodded a few times and looked at us. "I have requested Minerva for backup. They will be here in a few hours. In the meantime, we can explore the Sanctuary, but we must be careful."

She grinned. "And even if we find ourselves in a pinch, we'll figure it out," she said with confidence, gesturing to herself and me. "After all, we have two ultimate Deathwalkers here."

"Oh?" Ava raised an eyebrow. "I wonder where they are?"

Iris shot her a playful glare. "You have quite the humor, Ava Baskerville. You should try stand-up comedy."

"Anyway, here we go!" Iris exclaimed, turning to the imposing entrance.

Placing her palm on the smooth white doors, she activated the ancient runes with her ardor control, and with a hiss, the massive stone doors swung open slowly.

A strong, frigid, and musty wind rushed out of the opening as if the very mountain was exhaling after a very long time.

"Creepy," Carlo remarked as we gazed into the darkness beyond the open doors that seemingly stretched almost forever.

"Doesn't this feel like one of those clichés where everyone but the protagonist dies?" Ava grumbled nervously. "I hope it's not that because I am not the main character," she added in a concerned voice.

Her words made me worry a bit. I really hope this will not be what she said.

Iris took a deep breath and entered the entrance. It looked like she was searching for something on the side.

"Ah! Found it." Her eyes lit up and she focused.

Suddenly, the tunnel before us burst into light as luminous stones embedded in the walls illuminated the winding passage.

From what I observed, the tunnel is wide enough for three people to walk abreast comfortably and even leave enough space.

Thank the Incarni it is not those cramped tunnels. I don't have claustrophobia, but dark cramped spaces can be quite spooky.

Iris glanced back at us, her signature crazy grin lighting up her face.

"Let's hope we don't die."