By the time Eldric’s team returned to the capital the city was already buzzing with rumors. The Silver Tablet’s awakening had spread far faster than they expected. Nobles whispered behind silk screens Magicians argued in academy halls and messengers carrying sealed letters moved constantly from palace to tower.

Torren guided the wagon through the city gates and glanced uneasily at the crowd. News traveled fast Eldric Someone leaked details from the auction

Eldric sat at the front of the wagon observing each movement among the crowd. Whenever mana shifted even slightly he could feel it and today the air felt charged heavy like everyone was waiting for something to erupt. His one concern was that the Silver Tablet had become a symbol of power and danger and people were reacting out of instinct rather than reason.

Lyra hopped down from the wagon roof and blended into the crowd with her hood raised. She returned a moment later with a grim expression. Duke Armanth’s men are patrolling the streets They are guarding the tablet in their estate but there is more The other noble houses are already preparing counterbids Some are even hiring relic hunters across the border

Garron frowned. One relic wakes up and the whole noble circle loses its mind

Eldric replied calmly It is not the relic It is what it represents A civilization that predates the recorded empires A network of artifacts that link across the world Whoever controls even one of these pieces gains leverage

They reached the courtyard of Vanton Auction House. Eldric stepped down from the wagon and immediately sensed something was off. The wards around the building were pulsing faintly as if stressed. He raised his hand and the wardstone at the entrance flickered.

Lyra looked at him. Did someone break in

Not yet Eldric answered. But someone tried The wards resisted but they were strained

Inside the main hall staff rushed to Eldric as soon as he entered. A young clerk bowed deeply.

Master Vanton We received visitors from three noble houses this afternoon All insisted on discussing the next auction item and they demanded to see you personally

Eldric raised a brow. Already They wasted no time

And sir the clerk hesitated then added a more troubling detail Two masked representatives from the underground syndicate also came They left a message They want to negotiate access to the relic vaults

Garron stepped forward angrily Over my armor plated corpse

Eldric lifted a hand to calm him. They are testing boundaries we will reinforce the vaults

The clerk nodded quickly and hurried away.

Lyra spoke quietly to Eldric. The syndicate would not move this quickly unless something spooked them They must have sensed the beacon awaken

Eldric considered the possibility then nodded. Nocturne the leader of the black market had always been subtle and calculating If his people were taking risks this early it meant they saw a threat rising.

Torren unrolled the scroll taken from the ruin. Eldric we should work on decoding the constellation map before anyone else gets close to these relics Whoever reaches them first influences the power balance across the world

Eldric took the scroll and spread it across the central table. The coordinates traced a pattern shaped like a spiral each point a relic site matching the ancient sigil. He studied the intersections the distances the direction of the pulses.

Lyra leaned close. Any location stand out

Eldric placed his finger on one coordinate in the northern region. This one The Frostbound Spire The ruin documented there was too small for the resources the ancient civilization usually constructed This coordinate implies a deeper chamber beneath the known site

Garron frowned. Arctic territory Means harsh terrain Frozen beasts Impossible logistics

Torren smirked. Perfect place to hide something important

Eldric nodded slowly. And the nobles will take time to move troops there The syndicate will hesitate in that climate Which means we can get ahead

Lyra lifted her hood again. Then we leave soon I can gather supplies by nightfall

But Eldric raised a hand. Not yet First I want to understand why the beacon reacted to me specifically

Torren tilted his head. You think the relic recognized you

Eldric looked out the tall window where the city’s towers glowed under the late afternoon sun. When he spoke his voice was quiet but certain.

The vision the relic showed me was not random The beacon reacted when I approached The sigils formed when I touched the ward I do not believe this is coincidence

Lyra studied him carefully. You think you are connected to the ancient network

I think he replied the network is choosing someone to reactivate it And so far it seems to have chosen me

Silence settled across the hall as the weight of his words sank in.

Outside the first bell of evening rang through the city. Noble messengers rushed toward the estate district Black market agents hid in alley shadows and the mana currents around the capital thickened with anticipation.

The relics were waking
The world was shifting
And Eldric Vanton stood at the center of the storm

He turned to his team.

Prepare yourselves The next journey begins soon And this time the stakes will not be measured in gold but in the fate of the Dominion itself