Chapter 37
The Vault of Forbidden Magic
A Trail of Secrets
Seraphine's heart pounded as she and her allies approached the ancient ruins hidden deep within the Carpathian Mountains. The air was thick with an unnatural stillness, the kind that spoke of secrets long buried—secrets that did not wish to be disturbed.
The map she had uncovered in an old monastery had led her here—to a forgotten vault that held artifacts of immense power. The legends whispered that within its stone walls lay relics capable of restoring or destroying Eldarath.
And at the heart of it all was the Eternal Crown.
Esmeria, the silver-haired witch, stepped cautiously beside Seraphine, her staff glowing faintly in the dim moonlight.
"Are you sure this is the place?" she asked.
Seraphine nodded, unrolling the aged parchment. The symbols and markings glowed faintly under the moon, aligning perfectly with the pillars of the ruin.
"This is it," she whispered. "The Vault of Forbidden Magic."
The Entrance to the Vault. The entrance was hidden beneath layers of enchantments. At first, it looked like nothing more than a collapsed ruin, but as Seraphine traced her fingers along the old symbols, the air shimmered—and suddenly, a massive stone door emerged from the mountain rock.
The carvings upon it pulsed with ancient power, depicting a time when Eldarath was at its peak. Images of kings, witches, and warriors adorned its surface, their faces forever captured in the stone.
Esmeria frowned. "This magic is old. Very old."
Seraphine inhaled deeply. "Then let's not waste time."
She pressed her palm against the door.
At first, nothing happened.
Then, a deep rumbling filled the air.
The ground trembled as the stone door slowly shifted, revealing a staircase that spiraled downward into pure darkness.
Seraphine and her allies exchanged a glance. They all knew—once they entered, there was no turning back.
"Stay close," she murmured before stepping into the abyss.
The Forbidden Relics; The vault was vast, stretching farther than the eye could see. Golden chandeliers burned with blue fire, illuminating countless shelves filled with magical relics.
Books with living runes floated above their pedestals. Potions bubbled inside sealed vials, their contents shifting between liquid and mist. Blades forged from moonstone and starfire rested within glass cases.
And at the center of the chamber, resting upon a pedestal of obsidian, was the Eternal Crown.
Seraphine felt her breath hitch.
"This is it," she murmured.
The Eternal Crown was unlike any artifact she had ever seen. Crafted from mithril and infused with celestial power, it was said to grant dominion over all magic.
It was the key to restoring Eldarath.
Or its doom.
Esmeria approached cautiously. "This thing holds immense power… perhaps too much."
Seraphine reached for it, but as her fingers neared the crown, the runes on the pedestal flared to life.
"Wait!" Esmeria shouted, but it was too late.
A surge of magic exploded, hurling them backward.
And then—the chamber came alive.
The Vault Awakens. The relics shifted. The books opened on their own, their pages flipping wildly. Runes burned in the air, forming protective barriers around certain artifacts. The entire vault was defending itself.
Then, the whispers began.
At first, they were nothing but hushed voices in the air, but then they grew louder.
More urgent.
"Who dares disturb the sacred vault?"
The air grew heavy. The shadows moved, twisting into ghostly figures.
Seraphine braced herself, her heart racing. "We are here to protect Eldarath!" she called out.
The whispers hissed. "Lies…"
The spirits lunged.
Seraphine barely had time to react before the first shadow struck, its form wrapping around her like a vice. A sharp cold shot through her body, seeping into her bones.
She gasped. It was as if something was trying to pull her soul away.
Esmeria raised her staff, chanting a protective spell. Light exploded from the tip, burning the spirits away.
"We don't have time for this!" she shouted. "Take what we need and leave!"
Seraphine's mind raced. The Eternal Crown was too dangerous to leave behind, but if it fell into the wrong hands…
Then she saw it—an ancient scroll resting near the pedestal.
She grabbed it. The parchment was covered in symbols—a ritual detailing the process to fully restore Eldarath.
Or, if performed incorrectly…
Destroy it.
Her stomach tightened.
"I have what we need!" she shouted.
Esmeria blasted another spirit away. "Then let's go!"
The Cult Arrives; Just as they turned to flee, the stone doors of the vault slammed open.
Figures in black and red robes stormed inside, their eyes burning with fanatical hunger.
The Eternal Flame.
Their leader, a tall man with golden tattoos, smirked. "You did the hard work for us. Now, hand over the crown."
Seraphine tightened her grip on the scroll. "Over my dead body."
The cultists attacked.
A Desperate Escape; Magic exploded across the vault as both sides clashed.
Esmeria conjured a wall of fire, holding off the advancing cultists. Another witch, Marek, created illusions, confusing the enemies long enough for them to strike.
Seraphine ducked, narrowly avoiding a bolt of dark magic that shattered a nearby pillar.
The chamber was collapsing.
"We need to get out of here!" Esmeria yelled.
Seraphine's mind raced. They couldn't let the Eternal Crown fall into the wrong hands.
"We can't leave it!" Marek shouted, pointing at the pedestal.
Seraphine made a split-second decision. She grabbed the crown, shoving it into her satchel before running toward the exit.
The cultists roared in frustration. "Stop them!"
But it was too late.
Esmeria raised her staff, and with a final incantation, the vault collapsed.
The mountain shook violently as stones fell, sealing the chamber behind them.
Seraphine and her allies barely escaped, emerging into the cold night air, gasping for breath.
They had made it.
But the battle was far from over.
A Dangerous ChoiceSeraphine unrolled the scroll, scanning its contents.
"This ritual… It could bring Eldarath back," she murmured.
Esmeria frowned. "Or destroy it forever."
The weight of the choice settled over them.
There was no turning back now.
A New Threat RisesIn the distance, hidden within the shadows of the forest, a pair of eyes watched them.
The cult had lost the battle.
But the war for Eldarath had just begun.