"Robb, slow down!" Vuuxi shouted anxiously, hesitating below as he climbed the steep cliff behind the thundering waterfall.
The two were scaling a slick stone wall hidden behind the roaring cascade deep within the heart of Mount Lakhsa. The roar of the falling water drowned out their voices entirely.
"Just a little further... hang on!" Robb yelled, water cascading over his face and body, soaking them both to the bone. They had already climbed eighty feet—sweat and water indistinguishable on their skin.
Though the cold gnawed at their bones and hunger clawed at their stomachs, climbing was the only thing keeping them warm—and alive.
"Finally," Robb exhaled with relief. He reached out to help Vuuxi up to the cave's edge.
They stood at the mouth of a colossal cavern, concealed behind the shimmering curtain of water. The air inside was damp and dim, but a faint glow from above cast their silhouettes dramatically.
Right before them stood the massive skeleton of a dragon—so enormous that even in a crouched position, its neck nearly touched the seventy-foot-high ceiling.
"My God... something this big actually existed?" Robb whispered, eyes wide with awe and dread.
"Why so surprised, Robb?" Vuuxi asked, patting his shoulder. "Haven't we fought creatures just as massive? I once read about dragons in ancient scrolls hidden in the secret library of Aeternum Vale. They once roamed the Guava Valley, or so the legends say."
Robb nodded slowly. "You're right... Lagosh, the forest wanderer. Mollock, the guardian of Rutania Valley. Rak'Tor, ruler of the Nerotonia desert... and these dragons—they could be the ancestors of the guardians of Guava Valley. Mythical giants of old."
"And there are many more," Vuuxi added, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Severus the flame sovereign from Neverus Isle... the sea monster Negodu, said to dwell in the Eastern Ocean... I've read of legendary creatures scattered all over the world—most of them never seen in our time."
Robb took a deep breath. "This world... is vast, Vuuxi. But today, we've witnessed proof—of legends that once lived only in parchment. Now, they're real before our eyes. Incredible..."
"In one of the ancient manuscripts I read, dragons symbolized the heavens—limitless and divine. But sadly, they're just legends now... long vanished from the world," Vuuxi said quietly.
"Do you think... those eggs—were they hidden on purpose by our ancestors? Maybe... by the emperors of Whiteheaven?" Robb asked, peering into the shadowy corners of the cave, where mysteries whispered in silence.
Vuuxi shook his head. "No scrolls ever mentioned a link between dragons and the imperial bloodline. But... there is a forbidden place in Aeternum Vale. A place no one's ever been able to open—not even the elders."
"You know this place?" Robb asked quickly, curiosity flaring in his eyes.
"I know Aeternum Vale, Robb. It holds the history of Guava Valley, the origins of the Whiteheaven Empire, and the stories of countless peoples. But only forty percent of it is readable. Maybe the elders understand another fifty. Which means... the foundation of the empire is just a fragment of a much deeper truth. And the origin of everything... remains nearly untouched."
Robb smiled proudly. "Vuuxi... I'd be proud to see you one day stand at the frontlines—not just as a guide for Smokeland, but for the future of Whiteheaven itself."
Vuuxi chuckled softly. "Are you dropping this responsibility on me now?"
"It's not just responsibility," Robb replied seriously. "It's destiny. We've chosen to entrust it to you. Because for you, truth is the goal. For us... sometimes power is only a shadow of a legacy we don't fully understand."
Vuuxi sighed. "But... doesn't your blood call to you? Doesn't it urge you to awaken the glory of your ancestors?"
Robb looked him straight in the eye. "Haven't we already come this far? We've pierced into the depths of forgotten history. Listen... glory and power mean nothing compared to the vastness of this world. And with you, we're willing to surrender what we cannot protect."
He laughed. "Come on, let's head back. We haven't even found our main objective yet."
"Alright," Vuuxi replied, still struggling to understand how these brothers—Robb and Rogg—could choose truth over blood-bound legacy.
Without hesitation, the two leapt from the high cave mouth.
SPLAAASH!
Water exploded beneath them as their bodies hit the surface, ripples spreading beneath the waterfall.
"The egg... it's cracked a little," Robb muttered, eyes widening as he spotted the trembling shell surface.
"Probably from all the drops. We need to move it now!" Vuuxi said urgently, voice laced with panic.
"Alright, help me," Robb grunted, lifting the massive egg—nearly fifty kilograms—pressing it to his chest with effort. His body hunched slightly, muscles straining with the weight.
They began to walk slowly, following the great river that flowed deep beneath Mount Lakhsa's belly. The air was still and hushed, broken only by the trickling of water and the sound of their breathing. Above them, the cavern ceiling shimmered, filled with hanging glowworms that glowed softly like a sea of stars in the night sky.
"Robb, look—there's a narrow path over there," Vuuxi said, pointing toward a dark, wet-looking crevice.
"Are you sure that's a path? Don't all the snowmelt channels look like that too?" Robb asked hesitantly.
Vuuxi shook her head slowly. "I'm not sure... but it's too large to be just a drainage channel. Let's try it, shall we?"
"Alright. But I'm still not convinced this is a good idea..." Robb muttered, yet he kept walking beside Vuuxi, carrying the egg whose cracks were now growing more visible.
"You sure you want to keep going?" Robb asked again, his breath becoming heavier as he turned to look at her.
Without answering, Vuuxi pulled a small sticklight from her bag. She snapped it, and a gentle green glow bathed their surroundings.
"The light won't last long. Let's move quickly. Look—there are no glowworms in this tunnel. That means it's warm. There might be fire at the end of it."
Robb blinked, astonished by her knowledge. "You've been carrying that since we were up there?"
Vuuxi gave a slight smile. "For moments like this, yes. Not everyone comes prepared. But I knew we'd reach a critical point like this eventually."
"Heh, and now it finally feels critical," Robb grumbled, still following her lead.
Minutes later, the dark tunnel brought them to a stone ledge. At the top—was a door.
"A door?! Again?!" Robb groaned in frustration.
Vuuxi chuckled softly. "We seem destined to always face doors, Robb."
"What are we supposed to do? This sword's nearly shattered, and we left all our weapons back in that old man's hut..." Robb looked down at his hand, gripping the cracked Frostfang sword.
Suddenly—the sticklight went out. Darkness swallowed them whole.
"We've got nothing left. Just this nearly broken sword... and the egg," Robb muttered in defeat.
"Take off your clothes, Robb," Vuuxi said quietly.
"What? Are you insane? We're already in thin layers because of your idea to wrap the egg in our warm clothes!"
Vuuxi remained calm. "Have you ever wondered how that sword came back down here? What if it's the only key to open that door?"
Robb paused. "You think... there's only one sword like this?"
"No, Robb. A key—usually exists only once. Maybe twice, but for a secret this big? Impossible. That door was meant to be opened by the bearer of this sword. And that bearer... was Lord Eldros."
Robb stared at her. "So you're saying... Lord Eldros climbed the peak once, and came back down through this room?"
Vuuxi nodded. "Remember what Mother said? The Aedrin bloodline recorded in the Book of Life at Aeternum Vale is a single line. Then suddenly, Eldros Aedrin appears? And Mother forbade us from digging any further. There's something... she didn't tell us."
Robb clenched his teeth. "So Mother possibly couldn't tell us about Elder Eldros? Or maybe it was destiny—for him to become the guardian of Mount Lakhsa...? I don't know. Maybe one day we'll learn the whole truth."
"Where's your shirt?" Vuuxi asked, already stripping off her own clothes—and without hesitation—she set them ablaze in front of the door.
"You're burning it?! You're insane!" Robb shouted, half-panicked.
"It's the only thing we can do. For warmth... and the smoke, maybe it can seep into the mechanisms within that door," Vuuxi answered calmly. Her body was bare now, clad only in resolve and courage.
Robb exhaled long and hard. "You're mad..." He handed over his clothes, and together they sat before the small, shrinking flame.
Smoke thickened, forcing them back. They sat quietly in the cold, just far enough from the dying fire.
"Now we have nothing left. Your idea's... too extreme," Robb whispered in the dark, his voice nearly drowned by silence.
They waited. In stillness... in cold... in hope.
Then—
"KRRAAAAKK..."
The door began to move. The grinding of heavy stone echoed through the tunnel... and then it opened.
"Thank the stars you're both safe," said Josia Aedrin, his voice a breath of relief, standing behind the now-open stone door.
Robb and Vuuxi squinted hard—light stabbed their pupils, unaccustomed to anything beyond the pitch-black cave. It dazzled them, searing their vision like lightning across midnight skies. For a moment, they were blind—caught between awe and disorientation.
But gradually, the figure became clearer—a tall man of presence, wearing a cloak made from animal hide, the Aedrin emblem emblazoned on his chest.
"Allow me to introduce myself," he said firmly, "I am Josia Aedrin, son of Eldros Aedrin."
"Wh—WHAT?!" Robb and Vuuxi exclaimed together, nearly stumbling from shock.
Josia raised an eyebrow, eyeing the massive egg they carried. "You brought this? A giant egg? Is this... a spider egg? Or some kind of earth insect?"
Robb was about to answer when—
"Yes! Exactly!" Vuuxi cut in quickly. "A giant spider egg. For... emergency food supplies."
Josia seemed skeptical but didn't press further. "My father spoke of you three days ago. That's why I've been standing guard at this door. It's the only way out, once you've passed the Aeterglace Gate and reached Mount Lakhsa's peak."
He pointed toward a path winding up a tall hill. "Come on. Your horse is waiting up there. I've already brought your weapons back home."
As they stepped outside, they found themselves atop a sheer cliff that jutted high over a vast valley. Below, farmlands spread like a green tapestry, fed by rivers from a colossal waterfall—waters that plunged straight from Mount Lakhsa's core. The golden glow of the late afternoon bathed the Central Larfex Plains in a heavenly light.
Josia laughed. "I can't believe you actually came out stark naked, carrying nothing but that egg and a small bag. You're serious?"
"Do you take pleasure in seeing us nearly naked, big man?" Robb grumbled, half annoyed, half amused.
Josia raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, relax. What matters is that you're alive. I've been standing watch for three days. If you hadn't shown up today, I was ready to abandon that door forever."
They followed a narrow trail, climbing a rocky hill. Though their bodies trembled from hunger and the sudden drop in temperature, none of them complained. They clutched the egg tightly, as if holding a future they didn't yet understand.
"Wouldn't it be better to toss that egg away if it's not important?" Josia asked.
"Maybe... one day, it will mean everything," Vuuxi replied without hesitation.
"In that case, keep it. But if you're hungry, there's plenty of food and water here," Josia said with a shrug.
Atop the hill, a wide savanna stretched out before them, teeming with grazing animals. The wind carried the scent of wild grass and evening dew. Josia pointed toward the plain.
"Your horses are over there. I let them loose, but I kept the saddles."
Vuuxi gave a sharp whistle—Snowfire came trotting gallantly from the distance. Robb simply clapped his hands, and the golden steed, Goldstrom, came racing toward him.
Josia chuckled in awe. "Impressive. You must be important people. But… I forgot, what are your names again?"
"Vuuxi Aedrin," Vuuxi answered curtly.
"Robb Robelix," Robb said, locking eyes with Josia.
"Whaaat? Aedrin and Robelix?!" Josia stared at them, his face suddenly pale. "You're… an Aedrin? My cousin? And you—Robelix? The emperor's son?!"
Robb shook his head slowly, but his eyes held meaning. "I'm not the emperor's son. But my father… was someone far greater than any emperor."
Vuuxi smiled faintly. That line—he had heard it too many times from his foster brother.
After riding across the hills filled with livestock and herds of goats, they finally arrived at Josia Aedrin's wooden home. From the outside, it looked simple, but it stood warm, sturdy, and graceful in the midst of the wide mountain savanna.
"Make yourselves at home," Josia said with a welcoming smile. "Come in… take any of my leather clothes. I'm sure something will fit you. I'll prepare some tender roast meat. You'll need the energy."
When they stepped inside, Robb and Vuuxi were stunned. The house wasn't large, but it was remarkably well-kept. Every corner spoke of dedication, craftsmanship, and effort. Rows of lion, bear, and eagle-feather garments hung like trophies in a hunting lodge. Bookshelves and scrolls were neatly arranged, blending with the scent of old wood and dried leaves.
"This is... incredible…" Robb murmured, almost in disbelief. "How did he build all this by himself?"
Vuuxi nodded, his eyes scanning the shelves. "See those? Books from the main room to the bedroom. This isn't just a hunter's home. It belongs to someone who holds vast knowledge… or once lived with someone who did."
After picking clothes that fit, they approached Josia, who was now busy in the kitchen. The aroma of roasting meat filled the air—warm and inviting.
"Wow, you two look great!" Josia exclaimed. "Lion hide for you, tiger for you! Gentlemen ready to hunt their feast!" He laughed heartily, serving a large tray of mouthwatering meat.
They sat down. No more small talk. Their burning hunger took over, and they devoured the food in silence. Bite after bite, their awareness slowly returned.
"So… Eldros Aedrin isn't your biological father?" Vuuxi asked after sipping warm water.
Josia sighed. "I call him Father. He never corrected me. But I know… he's my grandfather. They said my father died when I was a baby. And my mother—she lives in Tharendel with her husband."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Robb frowned.
"My father died young, and my mother remarried someone from her village. It might make more sense if you ask Grandpa or my mother yourself someday," Josia said with a laugh. "Right now, Grandpa's up top—at the Aeterglace Gate."
Vuuxi sat up straight. "When did Master Eldros leave for there?"
"Eleven days ago. He goes every year for two weeks. It's the time when Emperor Brovon used to ascend Mount Laksha… Grandpa said he's always waiting—either for the emperor, or someone else. Maybe the emperor, maybe a savior… or maybe now, it's you two?"
"That means today is day eleven… of the fourteen," Vuuxi muttered, his face growing tense.
"Exactly. I was asked to stand guard at the lower entrance. I've been watching for ten years, and nothing ever came from that path... until you showed up," Josia chuckled softly. "Oh, right! Three days ago, I climbed up to bring him food and firewood. But guess what? He already had smoked bear meat… cooked with the emperor's trident! Crazy, right? I thought he'd be short on food, but he always has something."
Vuuxi jolted. "The bear meat hanging over the fire—cooked with a trident? Are you serious?"
"Yes! With the Trident of Thalasson! The most sacred treasure of Emperor Brovon!" Josia answered proudly.
"Robb! We have to go. Now!" Vuuxi shouted.
"What's going on? Why the sudden rush?" Josia asked, confused.
"Josia, this is the fifteenth year since Emperor Brovon stepped down. By the pact, Damma Lorexius was supposed to be crowned successor. But… they've erased the young prince since he was a child. That's the crime. Because the rightful heir… is here. But worse—the Ministers conspired with the Empress to cling to power."
Josia looked at Robb, his eyes widening. "Don't tell me… you—"
"The son of Brovos. Brother to Emperor Brovon. Blood of the royal line… and rightful heir to the Whiteheaven throne," Vuuxi cut in sharply.
"Oh my gods…" Josia dropped his knife. "Grandfather… he always said the true heir vanished as a child!"
"And now… his child stands before you," Vuuxi said. "The youngest son. The true heir."
Robb rose to his feet, fists clenched. "Enough. We leave tonight. My brother Rogg is the one who must be saved—he is the one destined to be emperor."
"To the Aeterglace Gate? Right now?" Josia looked at them in disbelief.
"Yes," Robb replied firmly. "The throne—and maybe all of Whiteheaven—is waiting."
Vuuxi added, "And we'll need the Trident of Thalasson to claim it. We won't force you, Josia. But if you're willing… then as an Aedrin, let's defend this throne together."
Josia stood in silence for a moment. Then a wide grin broke across his face.
"Then let's go. No matter the storm or snow that blocks our way—Whiteheaven must be protected."