They left Zybana in a flash, bounding down the road at extreme speed, the plains a blur behind them. Electrified runes lit up in their wake. Arvalen sprinted just behind them, hitting each rune to boost his speed enough to keep up.
Kyren opened the Wayfinder's guide table and selected Veilheart Château. 50 miles to Veilheart Château appeared beneath the compass as Veldthar instinctively veered off the trail, rushing through the open plains. The sun still hung high in the sky, beating down on them as they tore across the wild grass. The miles ticked down fast as the terrain grew rougher and the grass taller.
Kyren glanced back at the compass—15 miles remaining. The sun had barely dipped lower, but Veldthar was starting to slow. He was pushing hard with three people on his back.
"Slow up a bit, boy—we're not too far out," Kyren said, patting Veldthar's side.
But Veldthar didn't listen. He kept his speed, surging forward with relentless momentum.
A few minutes later, they arrived. The ruined courtyard sprawled before them, its stones cracked and scattered from time and conflict. Veldthar stopped in the center, Arvalen halting just behind him. The group slid off Veldthar's back.
"You two wanna go play?" Kyren asked, grinning at both Arvalen and Veldthar.
The two burst into the plains without hesitation. Liora hopped off Arvalen mid-run, floating gently down to land on Lydel's shoulder.
"Thanks for the warning," she said, a little annoyed.
"Sorry," Kyren said with a shrug. "I could tell they needed to run."
"Looks more like fighting to me," Lydel said with a laugh as Arvalen and Veldthar began to chase and swipe at each other.
"Nope. This is how they play—in the realm, too," Liora said with a giggle.
"So," Runa chimed in, "are we going to explore the creepy house Kyren found?"
"He always finds the weirdest stuff," Lydel added, already heading for the front doors.
"I didn't get to really look around last time," Kyren said, following him. "It should be a good place to rest for the night."
When they reached the entrance, the massive doors groaned open under their combined push. Inside, the main hall echoed with silence.
"Let's split up and meet here," Lydel said before dashing up the grand staircase.
"Show me where you found that Weapon Fuser," Runa said, eyes already scanning the space.
"Yeah, follow me," Kyren replied, heading down the left hallway.
He stopped at a door near the end and pushed it open, revealing the training room. The collapsed automaton still rested where it fell.
"I had to fight that guy to get it," Kyren said, pointing at the wrecked construct. "Look around. You might find something cool."
"I can just take what I want?" Runa asked.
"Well, no one lives here, so… why not?" Kyren said with a shrug.
Runa wandered the room until something golden caught her eye in the far corner. She ran toward it—but just as she stepped into the center circle, Kyren shouted out.
"Stop! Watch that cir—"
But nothing happened.
Runa picked up the item—a small golden necklace with a locket—and held it up. The locket glowed faintly, then opened. Instead of a photo inside, there was a swirling, portal-like hole.
"I think I found a storage device," Runa said, walking over to Kyren.
Kyren took off his headband. "Let's test it."
He dangled it into the locket, and it vanished inside.
"Yep. Storage locket. That's a good-ass find," he said, impressed.
"Why did you tell me to watch the circle?" Runa asked.
Kyren smirked. "It didn't trigger for you, but watch this."
He stepped into the circle. The runes filled with mana, and the automaton behind him jolted back to life. Kyren casually stepped back out as the glow faded.
"Let's keep looking around."
But before they could continue, Lydel's voice rang out from the hall:
"Guys! You really gotta see this!"
Kyren and Runa sprinted toward the sound, finding Lydel standing in the entrance hall, grinning.
"Follow me. This is crazy," he said, racing back up the stairs.
They followed him into what looked like an old ballroom. But when Lydel flung the doors open, they froze.
The walls were lined with automatons. Unlike the battle one downstairs, these had only two arms and looked like they were made for housework. In the center of the room was another circle, surrounded by four lines of runes that extended to each wall.
"What the hell is this?" Kyren asked.
"I think this was their workforce," Runa said, examining one. "Some have indoor tools. Others look like they were made for outdoor upkeep."
"Maybe it works like the other room?" Runa asked.
"What do you mean?" Lydel asked.
"There was a circle like that in the training room. When I stood in it, it activated the automaton," Kyren said.
He walked forward and stepped into the circle. As his mana flowed outward, the runes lit up—this time, all four lines ignited. A golden light filled the room, and every automaton jerked to life. They began moving toward the door, then spread out, each heading to a different part of the Château.
One secret of Veilheart Château was unlocked.
But only Kyren understood the full weight of it.
This had once been the house of his ancestors. And even if the Veilheart name had been wiped from history, it hadn't been forgotten. Not completely.
Kyren moved deeper into the Château, searching for the office. He hoped something—anything—had been left behind.
When he finally found the right door, it wouldn't budge. Locked.
At his wits' end, Kyren summoned Fang of Requiem and slashed.
Clink. The blade bounced off.
He poured mana into it and struck again.
Schhhk. This time, the door peeled open like paper.
Inside, the room was nearly bare—untouched for decades. Dust clung to the furniture. The bookshelves were empty. Only a single piece of paper sat on the desk.
Kyren approached, heart pounding, and read:
To the Veilheart who finds this note,
The Church isn't the only enemy.
He is still here.
He walks among us.
He will come for you—just as he came for me.
I've sent my children to foreign lands to keep our name alive.
Even forgotten by Epsilon… he hasn't forgotten.
Kyren stared at the letter, mind racing.
Who was he talking about?
Who still walked among them?
Who could terrify the head of one of Epsilon's royal families?
And deep down, Kyren already knew the answer.