Chapter 93: The Castle of the Fallen God

The decision had been made. They were going to the castle.

Rin walked at the front of the group, his expression unusually serious. Behind him, Kaelith followed in silence, while Sol drifted somewhere beside them, invisible as always.

Kaan was walking close to Rin, still trying to process everything that had happened.

The Demon King. The God of Air. And Rin.

A human who somehow stood between two beings who were considered legends. It was too absurd.

"Are we really going to the castle?" Kaan finally asked.

Rin nodded.

"If Lucien is there, we need to find him. And if that Fallen God is responsible for what happened to you and the others, then we need to know exactly what we’re dealing with."

Kaelith glanced at Rin.

"You don’t have to worry about him."

Rin turned around.

"That’s exactly what someone says right before something terrible happens."

Sol laughed.

"He’s right."

Kaelith frowned.

"You’re enjoying this too much."

"Of course I am."

Rin sighed. These two were impossible. The journey continued for several hours.

As they left the poorer part of Kieve behind, the scenery gradually changed. The colorful streets disappeared, replaced by enormous stone roads surrounded by ancient trees.

The farther they traveled, the quieter everything became. Even the birds seemed to avoid this area.

Kaan noticed it too.

"This place wasn’t always like this," he said quietly.

Rin looked at him.

"You’ve been here before?"

Kaan nodded.

"Long ago. Before... everything happened."

He lowered his head.

"The castle used to be a place where the Divine Knights gathered. It was beautiful. There were gardens everywhere, training grounds, libraries..."

Rin listened carefully.

"And now?"

Kaan looked ahead.

"Now nobody goes there willingly."

A cold breeze passed through the forest.

Rin shivered.

"That’s reassuring."

Sol chuckled.

"You wanted to explore the world."

"I didn’t say I wanted to explore the creepy parts."

"You’re the one who chose this destination."

Rin sighed.

"Why do I feel like every decision I make somehow makes my life worse?"

Kaelith immediately answered.

"Because you’re always looking for trouble."

Rin turned toward him.

"And whose fault is that?"

Kaelith smiled.

"Probably mine."

At least he admitted it. After another hour of walking, the forest finally ended.

Rin stopped. His eyes widened. There it was. The castle.

It stood on top of a massive hill, surrounded by enormous black walls. Towers reached toward the sky, decorated with golden ornaments that somehow remained beautiful despite the dark atmosphere surrounding them.

It was magnificent. And terrifying.

Kaan stared at it with trembling eyes.

"That is the castle of Commander Lucien."

Rin swallowed.

"So this is where he is."

Kaelith narrowed his eyes.

"Something is wrong."

Rin immediately looked at him.

"What?"

Kaelith didn’t answer. He simply stared at the castle. Sol’s playful attitude disappeared as well.

"The barriers are still active."

Kaan looked confused.

"Barriers?"

Sol nodded.

"Very powerful ones."

Rin looked between them.

"So...can we enter?"

Kaelith smiled coldly.

"Yes."

Rin immediately became suspicious.

"That smile doesn’t make me feel better."

"You worry too much wife."

Kaelith raised one hand. A dark aura slowly gathered around him. The ground trembled.

Kaan took a step backward. Even after everything he had heard about Kaelith, seeing his power directly was completely different.

The air became heavy. The enormous gates of the castle suddenly shook.

BOOM!

The gates flew open. Rin stared.

"Couldn’t we just knock?"

Kaelith looked at him.

"No."

"Of course not."

Sol laughed.

"Welcome to diplomacy, Rin."

The three of them entered. Kaan followed nervously. The courtyard was enormous. But something was wrong.

There were no guards. No servants. No knights. Not even animals. Only silence.

Rin looked around.

"This place feels abandoned."

"It isn’t," Sol said.

Rin froze.

"What do you mean?"

Sol’s voice became serious.

"We are being watched."

Immediately, Kaelith stepped closer to Rin.

His expression became cold.

"Stay beside me."

Rin nodded. For once, he didn’t argue. They walked through the courtyard until they reached the enormous entrance of the main castle.

The doors opened by themselves. Creeeeak. Kaan nearly jumped.

Rin stared at the darkness beyond the doorway.

"That’s definitely not creepy at all."

Sol laughed quietly.

"Still want to explore?"

"No."

"Too late."

They entered. The interior was completely different from what Rin expected. The halls were decorated with gold, crystal chandeliers, and enormous paintings.

Everything looked luxurious. Almost too luxurious. And then Rin noticed something.

There were portraits everywhere. Hundreds of them.

Knights. Mages. Nobles.

And finally— Lucien.

Rin stopped in front of the largest painting. A handsome man with silver hair and calm eyes stood proudly in divine armor.

Kaan whispered,

"Commander..."

Rin looked at him.

"You really admired him."

"He saved this city once," Kaan replied. "Everyone believed he was going to save us again."

Rin remained silent. He remembered what Kaelith had told him.

Lucien was supposed to be dead. But Kaelith had said otherwise.

"He’s alive?" Rin murmured.

Kaelith looked at him.

"Yes."

"How can you be so certain?"

"Because I know him."

Suddenly—

CLANG!

A metallic sound echoed through the hallway. Everyone turned. Kaan’s face became pale.

"Someone is coming."

Footsteps echoed from the other side of the corridor.

Slow. Calm. Unhurried.

Step. Step. Step.

Rin’s heart began beating faster. Kaelith moved in front of him. Sol’s voice became serious.

"Finally."

Rin whispered,

"Finally what?"

Sol didn’t answer.

A figure appeared at the end of the hallway. A man.

He wore elegant white clothing decorated with golden patterns. His long hair fell over his shoulders, and his smile was calm.

Too calm. Kaan stared at him. His entire body began trembling.

"No..."

Rin looked at him.

"Kaan?"

The boy couldn’t answer. The man’s eyes moved across the group before stopping on Kaelith. Then Rin. His smile widened.

"Well, well..."

His voice was gentle.

"So the Demon King finally brought his missing treasure back."

Kaelith’s expression immediately changed. The atmosphere became suffocating.

"Where is Lucien?"

The man smiled.

"Still asking about that old friend of yours?"

Sol appeared beside Rin, though Kaan still couldn’t see him.

"I don’t like him," Sol muttered.

Rin whispered,

"You don’t even know him."

"I don’t need to."

The mysterious man laughed softly. Then his eyes returned to Rin.

"And you..."

Rin instinctively stepped backward.

"Who are you?"

The man tilted his head.

"Someone who has been waiting for you."

Kaelith immediately stepped between them.

"You will not touch him."

The man’s smile disappeared.

"Oh?"

A dangerous silence filled the hallway.

Then—

BOOM!

The castle shook. Dust fell from the ceiling. Rin looked around in shock.

"What was that?!"

The mysterious man smiled again.

"The castle is welcoming its guests."

Kaelith’s eyes glowed red. Sol’s voice became cold.

"No. Something else is happening."

Rin looked toward the deeper part of the castle. And then he heard it. A faint sound. Like someone calling from far away.

"Rin...run."

His blood ran cold. He knew that voice. But he didn’t know why.

"Did you hear that?"

Kaelith looked at him.

"Hear what?"

Rin stared into the darkness. The voice came again.

"Rin..."

This time, louder. And somewhere deep inside the castle—

Something answered. The doors behind them suddenly slammed shut.

BOOM!

Rin swallowed.

"...I have a really bad feeling about this."

Kaelith reached for his hand.

"Don’t worry."

Rin looked at him. Kaelith’s eyes were fixed on the darkness.

"I won’t let anything happen to you."

But somewhere in the depths of the castle, a quiet laugh echoed through the halls.

And for the first time since arriving in Kieve, even Kaelith looked genuinely alert.

They had finally arrived. But the castle wasn’t waiting for them.

It was waiting for Rin.