The Royal archive was older than the palace above it.

Elara felt that the moment she stepped underground.

Cold stone.

Dry air.

Rows of shelves cut directly into the mountain.

No banners.

No polished throne-room decoration.

Just records.

Kael led her through

Mira’s idea of training was simple.

“Make the seal open.”

Elara stared at her.

They stood in a circular stone chamber beneath the archive, its walls carved with old lunar symbols and exactly one narrow window high above.

Kael stood near the door.

Rhys had

The first body lay outside the archive door.

Royal Guard.

Alive.

Barely.

Elara dropped beside him.

“Poison?”

The guard shook his head weakly.

“Hit... from behind.”

Kael looked down the corridor.

Empty.

Too empty.

Joren came running from the upper sta