After leaving Aetherion, Van, Lyria, and Eren's journey led them to the central part of the continent, specifically to the Kingdom of Veldara, one of the most powerful kingdoms in the world. Based on the clues from Aetherius, the fifth fragment was hidden within Veldara Palace, known as an impenetrable fortress. However, gaining access to it was no simple task.
---
A Tense Region
Tension gripped the entirety of Veldara. The kingdom was under the threat of rebellion as the people began to lose faith in their ruler, King Eldrin Veldara. Rumors of his harsh policies, high taxes, and betrayal within the palace walls made the situation even more complicated.
Van and his group entered the capital cautiously. The streets were filled with guards, and the atmosphere was rife with suspicion. They needed to find a way to infiltrate the palace without drawing attention.
"We can't just storm in," Lyria muttered. "This kingdom has one of the strongest armies."
Eren gave a sly smile. "I have a contact here. She might be able to help."
Van looked at him skeptically. "A contact? Are you sure she can be trusted?"
"You just need to trust my natural charm," Eren replied nonchalantly.
---
Eren's Old Contact
Eren led them to a small bar on the outskirts of the city. There, they met a woman named Selene, an informant who seemed to have a vast network within the kingdom.
"Eren, back in Veldara? I thought you'd died on one of your crazy adventures," Selene said, eyeing the group with curiosity.
"Good to see you too," Eren retorted, taking a seat. "We need your help to get into the palace."
Selene fell silent for a moment. "Getting into the palace? That's no easy task, especially now. King Eldrin has grown paranoid. Every outsider is heavily scrutinized."
Van interjected, "We don't have a choice. There's something in there that's incredibly important, something we need to secure before it falls into the wrong hands."
After some thought, Selene nodded. "There's a secret route used by black-market traders to smuggle goods into the palace. However, the path is guarded by a shadowy group called the Vesper Circle. If you can convince them to let you through, you might have a chance."
---
Meeting the Vesper Circle
Van and his group made their way to the Vesper Circle's hideout, concealed beneath the city. They were greeted by a masked man named Ronan, the leader of the group.
"I hear you need a way into the palace," Ronan said coldly. "But that path isn't free."
"What do you want?" Van asked.
Ronan chuckled softly. "There's a certain artifact stored in one of the royal warehouses. If you can bring it to me, I'll grant you access."
Eren sighed. "Of course, there's always a price."
With no other options, the group agreed to retrieve the artifact. However, the mission turned out to be far more dangerous than they had anticipated.
---
A Perilous Mission
The royal warehouse was located in a heavily guarded district of Veldara. With Selene's intelligence, they planned their infiltration for the night.
Lyria used illusion magic to distract the guards, while Eren relied on his lockpicking and trap-disarming skills. Van, with his keen instincts, led them through narrow corridors.
When they finally found the artifact, an ancient trap was triggered. A complex mechanism began sealing the room, and the walls slowly moved to crush them.
"Hurry up! I don't want to die here!" Eren yelled as he worked frantically to find a way out.
Through quick teamwork, they managed to escape with the artifact just as the trap fully activated.
---
Towards the Palace
After delivering the artifact to Ronan, the Vesper Circle kept their promise. They revealed a secret passage leading to the palace a dark tunnel filled with traps and guardian creatures. Despite the grueling challenges, they eventually reached a point near the palace's main hall.
But before they could proceed further, the sound of approaching footsteps stopped them in their tracks. Van signaled the others to hide. From the shadows, they saw someone who shocked them: Jareth, the leader of the Cult of Revival.
"How is he here?" Lyria whispered in a panicked tone.
Jareth appeared to be speaking with one of the king's advisors. From their conversation, the group learned that the king had secretly allied himself with the Cult of Revival to secure his throne.
"The fragment is here," Jareth said. "Make sure the king doesn't touch it. It belongs only to the Outsiders."
Van clenched his fists, resisting the urge to attack Jareth immediately. "We have to stop him before he gets the fragment," he whispered.
---
Battle Behind the Throne
Van's group crept deeper into the palace, but their movements were noticed by the guards. A fierce battle broke out, forcing them to reveal their presence.
When they finally reached the throne room, they found King Eldrin holding the fifth fragment. His face was filled with both fear and madness.
"This fragment is the only thing that can save my kingdom!" the king shouted.
Van tried to reason with him. "King Eldrin, the fragment won't bring salvation. It will only bring destruction."
Before the king could respond, Jareth and his forces burst into the room, triggering a massive battle within the throne room. With Lyria's powerful magic, Eren's cleverness, and Van's strength, they managed to fend off Jareth. However, the fragment began emitting a strange energy that destabilized the room.
---
A Difficult Decision
At the end of the battle, King Eldrin lay gravely wounded, and the fifth fragment hovered in the center of the room. Jareth had escaped, but Van knew the fragment would not be safe if it remained there.
As Van reached for the fragment, the dying king whispered, "Protect my kingdom... Protect this world."
Van could only nod. The fifth fragment was now in his hands, but he knew that Jareth's threat loomed closer than ever.