The investigation began at dawn. Aelric, Lyra, and Seraphina split into teams to cover more ground, questioning soldiers, council members, and even the kitchen staff. But the more they searched, the more elusive their enemy seemed.
By midday, Aelric found himself standing in a quiet corridor near the west wing. He pressed his hand against the cold stone wall, his mind racing with questions. How could something so dark infiltrate the heart of Elanor without anyone noticing?
His thoughts were interrupted by a young squire who approached cautiously, his face pale. "My lord," the boy stammered, clutching a piece of parchment. "I found this in the archives. It… it might be important."
Aelric unfolded the parchment, his eyes scanning the faded ink. It was a map of the castle—an older version, with markings that didn't match the current layout.
"What is this?" Aelric asked, holding the map closer.
The squire hesitated. "It's a map of the original construction, before the renovations a century ago. There's a passage here"—he pointed to a section near the west wing—"that doesn't appear on the newer maps."
Aelric's pulse quickened. "Where does it lead?"
The boy shrugged. "It's not clear, but it's near where you found those symbols."
Clutching the map, Aelric made his way to the west wing, finding Lyra and Seraphina in the corridor. He handed the map to Lyra, who studied it intently.
"A hidden passage," she murmured, her fingers tracing the lines. "It's old magic. That's why we didn't sense it."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed. "If they've been using this, it could explain how they've been moving undetected."
The three of them followed the map, their footsteps echoing softly. It led them to an alcove with an ornate tapestry. Behind it, the stone wall was faintly etched with runes, almost invisible in the dim light.
Lyra raised her hand, her magic illuminating the runes. "This is a seal. It's been reinforced recently."
"Can you break it?" Aelric asked.
Lyra nodded, though her expression was cautious. "I can, but it might trigger something. Be ready."
As Lyra muttered an incantation, the runes began to glow, and the wall trembled. With a soft hiss, the seal broke, and the wall slid open to reveal a dark passage descending into the earth.
Seraphina drew her sword, her voice low. "We're not going to like what's down there."
"Probably not," Aelric agreed, stepping forward. "But we have to see it."
They entered the passage, the darkness swallowing them as the door sealed behind them.