The safe house wasn't safe for long. The next morning, as the storm cleared and the first rays of sunlight broke through the clouds, Kael, Lyra, and Elira knew they couldn't stay there much longer. The hunters would be close by, and Neptar's forces were ruthless in their pursuit.
Kael had one place to go—The Vault of Xypheris, a hidden location deep within the ancient ruins of the Xypherian capital. It was said to house the deepest secrets of their civilization, the very knowledge they had left behind. If anyone could help unlock the artifact's true power, it was there.
"You think it'll be enough?" Kael asked, strapping his gear onto his back.
Elira nodded, though there was a trace of doubt in her expression. "If the Vault is real—and I believe it is—then it will hold what we need. But it's not just the knowledge that will be waiting for us there. The Xypherian technology was meant to be protected. By something... or someone."
Kael took a deep breath. "We'll deal with that when we get there. But we have to move fast. Every minute we waste, they get closer."