CHAPTER 9 — THE VAULT OF KINGS
The mountain beneath the palace trembled.
Ancient gears, untouched for centuries, groaned as the massive stone door of the Vault of Kings slowly opened. Dust poured from the ceiling, and a cold wind swept through the chamber.
No one spoke.
Even the soldiers lowered their weapons.
Inside the vault stood twelve towering marble statues of the kingdom's greatest rulers, forming a circle around a single crystal pedestal.
Upon the pedestal rested an old leather-bound book sealed with gold.
The Royal Chronicle.
The book that recorded every legitimate ruler since the kingdom's founding.
Queen Helena whispered, "It has survived..."
The Grand Master smiled.
"Now the kingdom will finally belong to the one history recognizes."
Elara stepped toward the pedestal.
The moment her fingers touched the Chronicle, its seal broke by itself.
Golden pages turned without anyone touching them.
They stopped on a blank page.
Words slowly appeared as though written by an invisible hand.
The historian stared in disbelief.
"It only writes for the rightful bloodline..."
Everyone leaned closer.
The first names appeared.
King Aldric.
Queen Helena.
Prince Adrian.
Princess Elara.
Then another name slowly emerged beneath them.
The chamber fell silent.
It was a name no one had ever heard.
Princess Lyra.
The queen staggered backward.
"No..."
"Not possible."
Rowan looked equally stunned.
"The third child..."
The forgotten child had existed after all.
A tiny cry echoed from the darkness behind the statues.
Everyone turned.
A young woman stepped into the light, wearing a dark traveling cloak.
She slowly lowered her hood.
She looked almost identical to Elara.
Except for one thing.
Across her shoulder hung the black emblem of the Order of the Black Crown.
"I've been waiting a long time to meet my family," she said quietly.
The king could barely speak.
"My... daughter?"
The young woman nodded.
May you like
"My name is Lyra."
"And I was raised to destroy you."
