"Let us leave for the facility," Father said to the figure as he rose to his feet. I followed suit, and together we began to walk, Father leading the way. The figure turned silently, and as we walked, I found myself observing it closely, noticing peculiar and fascinating details. It moved with an uncanny stillness, as if it existed only in appearance. Even walking right beside it, the figure seemed to vanish from my senses the moment I looked away. There was no sound—no heartbeat, no rushing blood—sensations that any nocturnal being could easily pick up. It was as if the figure was not truly alive, merely an echo of existence.
We approached what appeared to be an ordinary wall in the living room, its surface seamlessly blending with the rest of the room's decor. Yet, as Father raised his hand and pressed it to the wall, intricate silver patterns began to shimmer and animate, as if the wall itself had awakened. The patterns pulsed with a mystical energy, transforming the mundane surface into something otherworldly. Then, with a low rumble, the entire wall dissolved into the ground, revealing a dark and foreboding hallway.
"There are many such entries scattered throughout the castle," Father explained, stepping into the shadows.
I followed into the dark hallway the air thick with an oppressive energy. The deeper we ventured, the more alive the darkness seemed. It pressed in around me, almost tangible, carrying the weight of unseen eyes. It felt as though countless entities were watching, their gazes piercing through the veil of shadows. Remembering the enigmatic figure beside me, I glanced to my right, only to find its form barely discernible. Even the silver accents on its clothing failed to betray its presence; it had melded into the darkness so thoroughly that I doubted I could find it if it chose to hide.
The hallway eventually led us to a pair of massive silver doors, ancient and imposing. Father repeated the gesture he had used on the wall, his power resonating through the space. The towering doors groaned with ancient powers as they slowly opened, revealing a sight that left me breathless.
"This is the inner sanctum, the hidden base of the Astral Knights. Welcome, my son," Father announced.
Beyond the doors lay an expansive chamber—a circular living area surrounded by pristine white walls that glowed faintly, as though infused with moonlight. Ancient silver doors lined the walls, spaced evenly apart. There were over ten of them, each separated by a distance that hinted at the sheer size of the sanctum. Despite its simplicity, the place exuded a sense of grandeur. The towering white walls and dark silver-tiled floors bore no excess ornamentation, yet their very presence radiated an air of power and history. It was minimalistic yet majestic, a testament to a legacy older than one could comprehend.
"Neither the ring nor these entrances seem hidden deeply enough. What if someone attempts to find this place?" I asked, voicing a concern that had been building in my mind.
"A valid question,but both the ring and entrances has a common point." came a calm, measured voice. It resonated not just in the air but within my very mind, echoing from all directions. The sound seemed both distant and omnipresent, a fitting representation of the Astral Knights' elusive nature.
I turned as a door in the center of the chamber opened, revealing an elderly man. His hair and eyes were as white as freshly fallen snow, and he wore a uniform like the one wore by the guard earlier though his had a dark silver cape adorned with the emblem of an eclipsed moon—a symbol, I realised, representing their role as protectors of the royal family, shadows guarding the luminous moon from prying eyes. The full moon itself was a sigil reserved solely for the royal family, a mark of ultimate authority.
The man stepped forward, bowing respectfully to my father. "The power," I said, answering his earlier question.
"Indeed," He replied. "Only those who wield the purest power of the moon can unlock these entrances. The ring serves as a conduit, channeling that power in a precise pattern to produce the necessary energy. Without it, the doors remain sealed, impenetrable to all."
The old man straightened, turning to address me directly. "Furthermore, the ring itself cannot be misused. Should anyone attempt to steal it, they would find it nothing more than a decorative trinket. Only the one anointed by the king and awakened to the moon's essence can wield its true power. For the ring to transfer its authority, the reigning king must personally remove it and place it on the finger of their chosen successor."
The meticulous safeguards impressed me. What seemed at first to be simple mechanisms were, in reality, masterfully designed to ensure that power remained securely in the hands of the rightful ruler.
"This," Father said, gesturing to the man, "is Eryndor Lunaris, the trainer of the Astral Knights."
"It is an honor to meet you in person, Prince," Eryndor said, his calm voice carrying a weight of unspoken wisdom. His white eyes seemed to pierce through all pretense, as though he could see straight into my soul.
"I am eager to learn more about the Astral Knights and their ways," I replied, meeting his gaze.
"I hope we live up to your expectations," he said, a faint smile touching his lips.
"That depends on you, doesn't it?" I quipped, earning a soft chuckle from the old man.
"We shall have interesting times ahead, my prince," he said with a note of amusement.
"I look forward to it," I replied.
"For now," he said, gesturing toward a door on the left, "you should observe the knights in training. From there, we will decide where to begin your journey."
"Lead the way," I said, falling into step beside him as Father joined us. Together, we walked toward the door hr had pointed too.