Dawn broke with a muted gray light filtering over the rooftops of the capital. The city felt colder than usual a faint bite in the air hinting at the winter winds coming from the northern glaciers. Eldric stood on the balcony of his private chamber looking down at the awakening streets of the noble district. Servants hurried back and forth delivering messages nobles argued quietly behind curtained windows and sigil birds flew across the sky carrying encrypted letters. The world was stirring in response to yesterday’s awakening of the Silver Tablet.

Lyra entered without knocking. Your clothes and protective gear are ready The supplies are loaded Torren is recalibrating the containment boxes Garron is checking the weapons again He brought two extra shields just in case you get dragged into something stupid

Eldric gave a faint smile. How reassuring

Lyra shrugged. It is the truth

She stepped beside him and looked out over the city. The air feels wrong Eldric As if something huge is happening under the surface but no one knows where the crack will appear first The nobles think it is politics The academies think it is knowledge The syndicate thinks it is power

Eldric nodded. And they are all wrong These relics were meant for something bigger than any of them understand Something older Something deliberate

Lyra studied him. The tablet calling you That is deliberate too

Eldric’s jaw tightened. He knew she was right but he avoided saying it out loud. There were things he had not told the team yet visions he did not fully understand signals he felt even when the relic was not near. The beacons pulsed somewhere deep in his mind like faint echoes knocking against his thoughts.

Before he could answer Garron barged into the chamber without waiting for permission. His armor clanked loudly against the marble floor.

Eldric We have visitors

Eldric raised a brow. Noble kind or syndicate kind

Neither Garron said They are wearing academy robes A delegation from the Arcane Scholars Council

Lyra sighed. Wonderful Just what we need More curious people with questions

Eldric followed Garron downstairs to the reception hall. Three academy magicians waited by the entrance their robes marked with silver and blue sigils. The leader a master scholar named Relvin bowed stiffly.

Master Vanton We heard of the Silver Tablet’s awakening and the disturbances reported by House Thorns The Council requests access to your relic studies and demands a briefing on what you observed

Eldric studied the man’s face. The academies were dangerous in their own way Their thirst for knowledge often eclipsed their regard for consequences.

He spoke calmly. The tablet is under the Duke’s ownership now You must request access through House Thorns not through me

Relvin frowned. The relic reacted unnaturally and the academies must study it We cannot allow nobles or merchants to monopolize discoveries of ancient civilizations

Eldric’s eyes hardened. It is not monopolization It is survival You have no idea what these relics are capable of And I do not have time to entertain the Council’s ego We leave for the north within the hour

Relvin’s eyes sharpened. The Frostbound Spire You intend to travel there The winds carry rumors faster than expected

Eldric did not respond. Garron stepped forward raising his massive presence like a wall. That is enough This is not a debate hall

Relvin finally bowed again though his pride cracked around the edges. Very well But know this Master Vanton The academies will not sit quietly while ancient knowledge resurfaces We will be watching your movements

Lyra leaned near Eldric and whispered. Translation They want to follow us and steal whatever we find

Eldric whispered back. I know

The delegation departed leaving a tense silence behind.

Torren arrived with two maps in his arms. The route to Frostbound Spire has shifted since last season A landslide destroyed the southern path and the northern ridge is infested with frost wraiths The quickest way now is through the ice ravines

Lyra groaned. Those ravines are cursed Shadows move on their own and echoes distort sound It is a maze of death

Garron smirked. Good Then anyone trying to follow us will regret it

Eldric turned toward his team. We depart immediately We cannot allow nobles academies or the syndicate to reach the relic first

Lyra pulled up her hood. Then we move fast and unseen

Torren tightened the straps of the containment boxes. And pray the relic waiting in that spire is dormant

Eldric whispered to himself with uncertainty. It will not be

They left the auction house through the rear passage avoiding the main streets. As they passed the ward gates Eldric felt a faint pulse somewhere far north an echo of the Silver Tablet’s whisper.

Something was calling.
And he knew they were running out of time.