The coliseum was the first level below the enedina, while the second level was the hypogeum, where the chapel with the lararium, the columbarium, and the entrances to the secret underground tunnels were located. However, there was also a third level hidden deep within. This was called adytum, and there lay the Vikram's best kept secret.

The adytum was a giant pond surrounded by wide columns arranged in a hemicycle. Both the walls and the columns were made of alabaster and thick white roots twined around them. Ivies with small pink fruits bloomed everywhere, and despite being underground, the air that circulated was clean and fresh like that of a spring forest.

In the center of the pond there was also a raised circular platform with a golden water fountain on the ground. Turquoise water flowed vigorously below. Schools of small, shiny fish swam within, their golden light illuminating the majestic underground crypt. The beds of kelp, gorgonians, and even coral reefs that beautified the pond had been buried under the waves that seemed to want to swallow everything in its path.

A single bridge connected this large platform with another smaller one that was on one side. On the floor of the latter was a circle with the same patterns as in the chapel's lararium. Then, the floor tiles began to move like a puzzle, putting themselves together. When each one of them found its specific place, a new pattern formed and it began to flash, illuminating the surroundings.

Ciaran's figure emerged out of nowhere, right above the pattern that had now lost its splendor, and she then hurried towards the bridge, familiar with the path. Great relief washed over her when she saw at the other end the person she had been desperately searching for throughout the entire palace.

“Father!” Without losing her breath, Ciaran continued: “Do you know what's happening with the enedinas?”

A middle-aged man with whitish-green hair was standing on the circular platform, facing the water fountain. He was dressed in a white toga closed at the neck that reached his ankles and a cloak in the emblematic green color that only Hathor's royalty could wear.

In the center of the room there was a huge translucent sphere that floated above their heads. The outer layer of the sphere was made of water. This generally circulated calmly, but at that moment, the liquid was moving violently.

A pink dahlia rested inside. The size of the flower was such that neither Ciaran nor her father together could compare to the size of one of its petals. From the base of the dahlia grew dozens of white roots that sprang from the inside of the sphere and adhered to the walls and columns on the sides, until they sank into the depths of the pond. Some roots emerged from the water and climbed up the platform, ending up inside the water fountain.

To the rest of the world, the tree was the only enedina that Hathor had in its possession, however, only the Vikram were aware that there were actually two of them.

Just like the tree's strange behavior, the water sphere had never radiated such brilliant light. The most surprising thing was that the light shone from time to time, as if it were pulsating. The dahlia's bud had always been closed, but now it was opening, albeit very slowly.

The great rhig, Breogan, stepped forward and extended his bloody hand over the water fountain with a rigid countenance. Suddenly, one of the roots next to him reacted and smacked his hand away. Ciaran, stunned, opened her pale green eyes wide, unable to believe what she was witnessing.

Since the founding of Hathor, the dahlia had never rejected a Vikram's blood. Even the monarch himself didn't know what to do in this kind of situation, for he never believed that he would face a problem that none of his ancestors had gone through during their reigns.

Breogan did not give up and approached again, but this time, the roots lashed out more fiercely at them. Both were caught off guard, but still managed to nimbly evade the attack and establish a safe distance.

“Father, do you think Duman and the others…” Ciaran hinted nervously.

Breogan sighed heavily and stood in front of his daughter, shielding her in case the roots tried to attack them again. He could only feel a pounding headache as he remembered what his second son told him before leaving for the Milbong rainforest, ignoring his opposition in the matter.

Unable to get closer and unable to leave the adytum until they found the reason behind the enedinas' agitated and hostile behavior, they had no choice but to wait until the situation calmed down. In the worst case scenario, he would force his daughter to leave the crypt and evacuate the people of the capital.

The petals of the dahlia opened until they bloomed completely. Ciaran and Breogan backed up to the bridge, waiting with a lump in their throats.

There were no movements or sounds for several minutes, as if the world had halted.

When Ciaran parted her lips to say something, the ground shook violently again. The golden water inside the fountain began to swirl and the long roots of the dahlia emerged from the bottom of the pond, indiscriminately battering everything in their path.

Breogan tried to summon his powers, but to no avail. The aether was out of control and impossible to make use of. Without hesitation, he grabbed his daughter and carried her over his shoulder before quickly running towards the entrance at the other end of the bridge.

Ciaran rested her hands on his father's shoulder and tried to steady herself, unable to shake her state of stupor. If it weren't for him, she would have been hit by the roots and fallen to the bottom of the pond.

The light emanating from the sphere increased, consuming everything in its path like a small sun.

“Hold on tight!” Breogan shouted before jumping onto the other platform and activating the pattern that connected to the chapel with his blood.

The last thing Ciaran saw before disappearing was the dahlia writhing as if in pain.