With the Guardian defeated, the floor shook again — softer this time, like a door deep beneath them had just unlocked.
A long crack split open in the wall behind the destroyed Guardian. Light spilled out — a soft orange glow like sunset.
"That must be the way down," Soryn said.
"Down to what exactly?" Garron asked.
Vellin's voice echoed in Lyria's memory:
He hunts what he needs.
He gathers what he lost.
Lyria exhaled. "Down to whatever the Sovereign wants Aeron to reach."
Aeron stood, still unsteady. "If he wants it… shouldn't we avoid it?"
"No," Soryn said firmly. "We reach it first. Knowledge is power. And right now the Sovereign knows more than we do."
Maera nodded. "Plus, if he wants it badly, it's probably dangerous. And valuable."
Halik frowned. "That logic is terrible."
Maera grinned. "It's also correct."
They stepped into the glowing passage. The air grew hotter, but strangely calm — like the heat was watching them instead of burning them.
Riko looked around nervously. "Does anyone else feel like we're being… observed?"
"Yes," Halik said. "By the walls."
"The walls?!" Riko squeaked.
"Relax," Garron said, patting him on the head. "They're just judging your outfit."
Riko glared. "My outfit is perfectly normal!"
"It has six pockets," Garron said. "None of them match."
Riko gasped. "That's fashion."
Maera pushed ahead. "Focus. The chamber is close."
They reached a massive round door — a swirling emblem of fire carved into its center.
Aeron's eyes began to glow again.
"Oh no," he whispered. "It's reacting to me."
Lyria put a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to do this alone."
But Aeron stepped forward anyway.
When he laid his palm on the door, the fire-pattern spun to life, lighting up the entire chamber.
A voice — not loud, but ancient — whispered through the heat:
"Welcome, Ashborn."
The door began to open.
And on the other side… was a chamber filled with floating embers, ancient ruins, and a massive stone throne half-buried in smoke.
Everyone froze.
Aeron whispered, trembling:
"What… what is this place?"
Halik answered quietly:
"The Sovereign's First Hall.
The place where his legend began."