Chapter 75: The Expedition Begins

"But someone… already knew we were coming."

Kael's words hung in the air among the trees.

For a few seconds, no one spoke.

The wind passed through the branches, rustling the leaves.

Sir Dogerino stopped wagging his tail.

The Little Fat King remained sitting on Kael's head, his ears perked up.

That was what worried Kael the most.

The cat could be lazy.

Could be capricious.

Could absolutely ignore anything that didn't interest him.

But when he stayed completely still…

It usually meant something had caught his attention.

Aurelion looked around.

"Do you think it was another team?"

"No."

"Why?"

Kael held up the small metal badge he had found next to the campfire.

"Because they would have no reason to hide from us."

Seraphina took the badge and examined it carefully.

"It also doesn't look like an Academy symbol."

"We already know that."

"Then we should inform the teachers."

Kael nodded.

"Yes."

Aurelion took out a small communication crystal.

He activated it.

The surface glowed.

"Team 17 here."

There was no response.

Aurelion tried again.

"Teachers?"

Silence.

He looked at the crystal.

"It's not working."

Kael frowned.

"Interference?"

"Probably."

Seraphina looked up.

"This area might be blocking communications."

Kael looked at the badge.

"Or someone is blocking them."

---

The second possibility was much worse.

Kael put the object away.

"We move."

Aurelion nodded.

"Where to?"

Kael took out the map provided by the Academy.

It was quite basic.

It only showed the general borders of the territory and some areas marked as points of interest.

Kael pointed at one of them.

"Here.

There's an old tower about three kilometers away."

Seraphina looked at the map.

"You want to investigate?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Kael smiled slightly.

"Because if someone is watching us…

They probably also want to know what's there."

Aurelion let out a small laugh.

"That's pretty dangerous logic."

"I know."

"I like it."

Seraphina folded the map.

"Then let's go."

---

They walked for almost an hour.

The initial calm had disappeared.

Now everyone paid attention to every sound.

Every broken branch.

Every shadow.

Every movement.

Except for the Fat King.

The cat had gone back to lying on Kael's head.

As if nothing had happened.

Kael looked up.

"Really?"

"Meow."

"Ten minutes ago you were on guard."

"Meow…"

"Right.

Better rest."

The cat closed his eyes.

Aurelion smiled.

"I think he just trusts you to handle it."

"That would be worrying."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know what I'm doing either."

Seraphina let out a small laugh.

Kael looked at her.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Are you laughing at me?"

"A little."

"Betrayal."

"You'll survive."

---

The forest began to change.

The trees were bigger.

Older.

The roots protruded from the ground, forming small natural walls.

And then the first structure appeared.

A tower.

Or what was left of it.

It rose among the trees, covered in moss and vines.

Aurelion looked up.

"Is that it?"

Kael checked the map.

"Yes.

We're here."

Seraphina looked at the walls.

"There are marks."

Kael approached.

On the stones were cuts.

They didn't look like they were made by monsters.

They were too precise.

"Someone's been here."

Aurelion touched one of the marks.

"They're recent."

Kael sighed.

"Of course."

Sir Dogerino began sniffing the ground.

His body tensed.

"What's wrong?"

The dog advanced a few steps.

Sniffed again.

Then began to growl.

"Woof…"

Kael looked toward the tower.

"Did you find something?"

The dog pointed with his snout at a partially destroyed entrance.

Kael raised his hand.

"Wait."

He took out one of his whips.

The energy appeared around his arm.

But…

The chain glitched again.

A fragment of light appeared.

Disappeared.

Reappeared.

Kael grimaced.

"Again."

Seraphina looked at him.

"You're still having trouble with your powers?"

"Yeah."

"How long?"

"Since before Sir Dogerino appeared."

"So it's not him."

Kael shook his head.

"No.

It's something else."

---

They entered.

The tower was completely dark.

Seraphina created a small luminous ice sphere.

The blue light illuminated the walls.

There were symbols.

Dozens.

Perhaps hundreds.

Aurelion approached.

"Do you recognize any?"

Seraphina shook her head.

"No."

Kael looked at one of them.

It was similar to the badge he had found.

But not identical.

"Look."

The other two approached.

"This symbol appears everywhere."

Aurelion ran his fingers over one of the walls.

"Then maybe this isn't something new."

Kael nodded.

"It was probably here before the Academy closed the place."

Seraphina looked further inside.

"There's something else."

She pointed at the floor.

There were tracks.

Human tracks.

But they didn't belong to students.

They were too deep.

As if someone was wearing very heavy armor.

Kael followed the marks.

"They go down."

Aurelion looked at the stairs.

"Going down?"

Kael took a deep breath.

"Sure.

Why not?"

"Because obviously entering an abandoned tower following unknown tracks is exactly what an intelligent person would do."

Aurelion smiled.

"Was that sarcasm?"

"Yes."

"Ah.

But we're going."

---

The stairs descended.

Deeper and deeper.

The outside light disappeared.

The air grew cold.

Too cold.

Seraphina stopped.

"This isn't normal."

Kael looked at her.

"What?"

"The temperature."

"Is it magic?"

"Yes."

"Your magic?"

Seraphina shook her head.

"No."

The Little Fat King opened his eyes.

Sir Dogerino began to growl.

Kael swallowed.

"Well…

Now I'm worried."

---

They reached a huge underground chamber.

In the center was a door.

It wasn't a normal door.

It was enormous.

Black.

Covered in symbols.

And in front of it…

Something was written.

Aurelion brought the light closer.

He read slowly.

"That which watches from the darkness…"

He paused.

"…must not be awakened."

Kael stood still.

"…"

"That never means anything good."

Seraphina approached.

"There's more."

Below the first phrase was another.

"If the entities return…"

Seraphina's expression changed.

Kael stopped smiling.

Aurelion finished reading.

"…the seal will begin to break."

Silence.

Sir Dogerino let out a small:

"Woof…"

And then…

THUMP.

Something struck the door from the other side.

The three stepped back.

THUMP.

Again.

Kael slowly raised his whips.

This time the energy appeared without glitching.

Seraphina created ice around her hands.

Aurelion drew his weapon.

The Little Fat King stood up.

For the first time since they had entered…

He didn't look bored.

The door trembled again.

THUMP.

A crack appeared on the surface.

Kael swallowed.

"No one touches that door."

He looked at the dog.

"You neither."

Sir Dogerino slowly lowered his head.

"Woof…"

"Thanks."

Then…

From the other side of the door…

A very low voice whispered:

"Kael…"

The boy froze.

Seraphina looked at him.

"He called you by name?"

Kael didn't answer.

Because he knew that voice.

It wasn't from a monster.

It wasn't from a teacher.

And definitely…

It wasn't someone who should be there.

The voice spoke again.

"Kael Veyron…"

The Little Fat King's fur bristled completely.

Sir Dogerino bared his teeth.

And the door…

Began to open.