For several long moments after the final image disappeared, neither Atheline nor Lilith spoke. The archive had once again become nothing more than an abandoned stone chamber.
The warm lanterns were gone and the bustling fairies had vanished, only crumbling shelves and countless years of silence remained.
Yet the weight of what they had witnessed lingered heavily in the air.
Atheline slowly exhaled.
"...So that's how they survived."
Lilith nodded quietly.
"The sanctuary wasn't simply hidden, it was paid for."
Her gaze drifted toward the doorway through which they had entered.
"The fairies living here have no idea what their ancestors gave up."
Atheline remained silent. They knew the sanctuary existed and was protected by an ancient barrier but they had never been told the true price.
Thousands of years had buried the truth beneath legend.
They began searching the archive carefully, unlike before, they weren't looking for treasure but for history.
