Jean was adventurous but not optimistic being led by this being. "Remembered as what? A fool? A traitor?"
"That depends on what you make of it," Lucius quipped. "But I promise, no harm will come to you. Just wait until you see what I have to show you."
The carriage rolled on, leaving the castle far behind. The moonlight bathed the landscape in silver, and the trees loomed like silent sentinels on either side of the road. Jean tried to focus on the thrill of discovery, but her fears gnawed at her resolve.
"What if someone recognizes me?" she whispered. "Or worse, what if this turns out to be—"
"Hush," Lucius interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. "You're overthinking. No one's following us, and no one cares about a plain-looking carriage leaving the castle. You're perfectly safe."
Jean's lips tightened. "I didn't even bring a shovel," she said suddenly, her voice rising in a panicked squeak. "How am I supposed to find things out if I don't even have the tools?"
Lucius laughed—a deep, resonant sound that filled her head and sent a shiver down her spine. "Oh, Jean, you're delightful when you panic. But don't worry, little archaeologist. This place doesn't need a shovel. Just your eyes… and maybe your courage."
Jean swallowed hard, trying to tamp down the mixture of fear and excitement that surged through her. She leaned out the small carriage window, watching as the road narrowed and the forest grew denser. The trees seemed to close in, their branches intertwining overhead like a canopy of secrets.
The horses slowed, their breaths visible in the cold night air. The driver muttered something under his breath, but Jean couldn't make out the words. She turned to Lucius—or rather, the absence of him, his presence felt only in her mind.
"Where are we going, really?" she asked, her voice barely audible over the sound of the carriage wheels crunching against gravel.
"Patience, Jean," Lucius murmured. "We're almost there."
Jean's pulse quickened as the carriage came to a halt. The driver jumped down and opened the door, offering her a hand. She hesitated for a moment, then stepped out, her boots sinking slightly into the damp earth.
The air was thick with the scent of moss and something faintly metallic. A chill ran down her spine as she looked around, her eyes adjusting to the dim light.
"Lucius…" she began, her voice trembling.
"Look," he whispered in her mind, his voice carrying an edge of exhilaration.
Jean turned and gasped. Ahead of her, hidden within the dense forest, was a structure—ancient and crumbling, yet undeniably magnificent. Stone pillars rose like skeletal fingers, and the faint glow of moonlight revealed intricate carvings that seemed almost alive.
"What is this place?" she whispered, her fear momentarily forgotten in the face of awe.
"A piece of history," Lucius said, his voice soft and reverent. "And perhaps… a piece of destiny."
"Have you ever brought the prince here?" Jean asked, brushing a cobweb from her shoulder as she surveyed the ancient ruin.
Lucius's voice hummed in her mind, confused. "The prince?"
"The third prince who brought me to the castle," Jean clarified. She paused, waiting for his reply as she ran her fingers over a weathered stone carving.
"Oh… Alaric. No," Lucius said with a nonchalant tone, as if the thought was absurd.
Jean stilled, the name echoing in her mind. Alaric. So that's his name, she mused, a small smile tugging at her lips. The discovery felt like a victory, no matter how small. She might have heard it before—maybe from the Seventh Princess in passing—but this time, it felt like her own revelation.
"Why?" she asked, turning her head slightly as if trying to catch a glimpse of Lucius. "Why hasn't Alaric been here? Why me?"
Lucius's answer was vague and infuriatingly cryptic. "Only you, Jean. It's your destiny."
She frowned, her hands pausing mid-air over a dusty ledge. "What type of cliché is this?" she muttered under her breath.
Lucius chuckled softly, his presence lingering behind her. He said nothing more, leaving her to explore.
Jean's fear melted as her curiosity took over. The ruin seemed endless, a labyrinth of forgotten history. Lamps long extinguished stood crooked on tables. Burnt candles, their wax pooled like molten memories, sat on shelves.
Her fingers brushed over the spines of ancient books, many crumbling at her touch. But one, larger and heavier than the others, refused to open.
She held the book up to the faint moonlight streaming through a crack in the stone ceiling. Its cover was marked with unfamiliar symbols, and no matter how she tugged, the binding wouldn't budge.
"Lucius," she murmured. "What's with this book? It's like it's locked."
"Some things require more than brute force, little one," he said with a teasing edge. "Perhaps it doesn't want to be opened yet."
"Books don't want things, but I want it" she said with a naughty smile as she tucked it under her armpit, she refused to set it down with a frustrated huff. She's taking it home.
She could feel Lucius behind her—closer than usual. Though he barely spoke, his presence was palpable, almost like a shadow breathing against her skin. The sensation was unnerving, but it also fueled her curiosity.
Hours passed, the ruin revealing fragments of its story. Jean found fragments of shattered pottery, faded tapestries clinging to walls, and carvings that seemed to depict a forgotten lineage. Her excitement kept her moving, her earlier fear replaced by the thrill of discovery.
But her body began to tire. Her legs ached, and her throat felt dry from the dusty air. "Lucius," she called out, her voice echoing faintly. "I'm done for the night. Let's come back tomorrow."
"Not yet," he said, his voice firm but not unkind. "Look for a door—something leading to a basement or dungeon. You might find something important."
Jean groaned, brushing dirt off her hands. "If you're so eager, why don't you look around? You're the one who can float through walls."
Lucius laughed, the sound deep and rich. "But where's the fun in that? This is your adventure, Jean. Humor me."
She rolled her eyes but relented, scanning the room for anything that resembled a hidden entrance. The search turned playful as she bickered lightly with Lucius.
"This place is massive. You're asking for miracles," she said, peeking behind a wall.