BOOK TWO: THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE GATE
Chapter 1: The Call Beyond the Snow
Three days had passed since the battle at the Frozen Fortress.
The mountains that had once echoed with the clash of swords and the cries of the Seekers were now covered by a blanket of fresh snow. Nature had hidden every scar of the war beneath layers of white, as if trying to convince the world that nothing had happened.
But memories could not be buried so easily.
The Frozen Fortress stood silently atop the highest peak, its ancient walls glowing faintly beneath the morning sun. The Royal Guards worked tirelessly, repairing broken towers and shattered gates. Their footsteps echoed through the enormous halls that had once witnessed the fall of kingdoms.
For the first time in centuries, the fortress was alive again.
Yet peace felt... temporary.
Far above the fortress, Riva stood alone on a stone balcony overlooking endless mountains.
The cold wind played with her dark hair as she tightly held the silver pendant hanging around her neck.
Ever since entering the Final Archive, the pendant had changed.
Its surface no longer resembled ordinary silver. Tiny stars now shimmered beneath the crystal like a living night sky.
Every few hours, it pulsed gently.
Almost like a heartbeat.
Almost as if someone far away was trying to reach her.
Riva closed her eyes.
The moment she did...
A vision appeared.
She saw a gigantic stone gate standing beneath a crimson sky.
The same gate she had been drawing since childhood.
But this time something was different.
The gate was slowly opening.
Not completely.
Just enough for a pair of pale hands to grip its massive doors from the inside.
Then...
Someone whispered.
"Come."
The voice was soft.
Neither male nor female.
Ancient.
Lonely.
Riva opened her eyes immediately.
The vision disappeared.
Her breathing became uneven.
She looked toward the northern horizon.
Beyond the endless mountains.
Beyond the snow.
Somewhere...
The gate was waiting.
"You had another vision."
Riva turned around.
Eva was standing behind her.
The mysterious compass floated beside her shoulder instead of resting in her hand.
That alone showed how much it had changed since entering the Final Archive.
"It wasn't the future," Riva replied quietly.
"It felt more like... a memory."
Eva frowned.
"The compass has been acting strangely too."
She held it out.
Instead of pointing north...
The needle spun slowly before stopping toward the distant mountains.
The same direction Riva had been staring.
"It hasn't pointed anywhere else for three days."
Neither of them noticed Parna quietly approaching from the fortress garden.
She looked troubled.
"The forest won't answer me anymore."
Both girls looked at her.
"What do you mean?" Eva asked.
Parna knelt and touched the frozen ground.
Normally tiny flowers would bloom wherever her fingers touched.
Today...
Nothing happened.
"The trees are silent."
"The wind is silent."
"It's like nature is listening to something."
Before anyone could respond—
A loud crash echoed from inside the fortress.
Aarvi burst through the large wooden doors carrying the mysterious box.
"Can someone please explain why this thing won't stop shaking?"
The ancient box vibrated violently in her arms.
Its glowing symbols appeared brighter than ever.
The crystal key inside had begun spinning by itself.
"I've tried closing it."
"I've tried hiding it."
"I even wrapped it in three blankets."
"It still won't calm down."
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Eva couldn't help smiling.
"You wrapped an ancient magical artifact in blankets?"
"It was worth trying."
Riva stepped closer to the box.
The moment her fingers touched the wooden surface—
The vibrations stopped.
Complete silence.
Then a soft click echoed.
A hidden compartment slowly opened.
Everyone leaned closer.
Inside lay a single folded piece of parchment.
It looked impossibly old.
Its edges were burned.
The ink had almost disappeared.
Riva carefully unfolded it.
Only one sentence remained readable.
"When the stars awaken, follow the path where snow never melts."
Silence filled the courtyard.
"The path where snow never melts?"
Aarvi repeated.
"Isn't that... literally this entire mountain?"
Before anyone could answer, footsteps echoed behind them.
Cassian entered the courtyard wearing his white armor.
Behind him walked Selene.
Both looked unusually serious.
"Cassian?" Eva asked.
"What happened?"
The captain of the Royal Guard looked toward the northern horizon.
"Scouts returned this morning."
His voice was calm.
"But only one survived."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
"The survivor reported seeing someone walking through the White Valley."
"Alone."
"No footprints."
"No supplies."
"No horse."
"Just... walking."
Parna frowned.
"In this weather?"
Cassian nodded.
"The strange part isn't that."
"He said flowers bloomed wherever the traveler stepped."
The Four Heirs exchanged uneasy glances.
Blue flowers.
Exactly like the ones Riva had seen in her latest vision.
Selene unfolded another map across a stone table.
The map showed the mountain range surrounding the fortress.
A single location had been marked with fresh ink.
White Valley.
Riva's pendant suddenly glowed.
Eva's compass turned sharply.
Aarvi's crystal key floated out of the box.
Parna heard the wind whisper once again.
Go.
The four artifacts shone together.
Cassian slowly looked at the girls.
"I think..."
"The Gate has sent someone to find you."
Far away...
Hidden beyond the White Valley...
A hooded traveler stopped walking.
The traveler slowly raised a hand toward the Frozen Fortress.
Beneath the hood, a faint smile appeared.
"So..."
"They've finally begun to remember."
The traveler continued walking.
With every step...
Brilliant blue flowers bloomed across the snow before disappearing into the wind.
The Second Journey had truly begun.
End of Chapter 1