The silence was thick, and the stones of the basement echoed beneath the heavy steps of a lone man.
Raphael walked through the underground corridors, making his way to the Royal Treasure Room.
In front of the massive door of the treasure room, two special guards stood guard, perfectly motionless.
They wore a light armor of black fabric, adjusted to their body, traversed by fine silver lines. A wide dark leather belt held a short dagger in a sheath, and a long black hooded cape that masked their faces and fell down to their military boots.
Raphael halted before them. Without a word, he let his murderous aura spread.
The air became heavier.
An icy wave spread from his body, and the two guards immediately felt a shiver crossed them.
" If one of you dares to report what will happen today to the great matriarch..." he whispered in a deep voice, his golden gaze piercing under the shadow of his hair,
"... I'll kill him myself."
The guards did not move. But their fists tightened, and a subtle tremor shook their shoulders. Their breathing became shorter.
After that, Raphael entered the treasure room, and stopped in front of a banal wall, but after placing his hand on a particular stone, a mechanism triggered in a dull squeak. A hidden passage opened in the stone, revealing a narrow spiral staircase that led deep into the heart of the complex.
Without hesitation, Raphael went down the stairs.
As he descended, the torches of the walls lit up by themselves as he passed, in a glowing glow, as if the place recognized him.
After several minutes, he arrived in front of a massive door, sculpted with ancient symbols and covered with enchanted chains. She seemed to breathe a special and ancient magic.
Raphael put his hand on the wall, and activated his power. His eyes became golden, and a breath of golden energy emanated from him. The chains began to vibrate, then they came off one by one, in a metallic rattle.
The door slowly opened in a dull rumble, and the room beyond was gigantic, dug into the rock.
It formed a huge natural dome, whose walls shone slightly because of the magical crystals embedded in the stone. The ground was covered with ancient designs. On the walls, shelves collapsed under the weight of several different books. At the back of the room, gold chests, stunning weapons and various precious artifacts were piled up in the back. However, this place did not look like a simple treasure room, but it looked like a house.
In the center of the dome, a young man was lying on a large armchair. Bare torso, dressed in simple black pants, he seemed comfortable in this underground den. His black hair fell in mess on his face, partially hiding his eyes… the golden eyes similar to those of a reptile.
He slowly opened his eyelids.
Raphael was approaching, his golden aura overflowing from his body, every step he took left cracks in the ground.
" Why are you reappearing now you bastard ?" He said in a threatening tone, his hand on the grip of his sword.
The man slowly looked up at him. His deep and composed voice resounded in the stone silence.
" Hey Raphaël, it's been a long time... you've grown well since time," he says with a smile on his lips.
But in a flash, Raphael drew his sword and placed his blade two centimeters from the young man's throat.
" Eh... don't try to play the nostalgic with me. Explain your presence here or I'll cut your head," he said in a threatening tone, while bringing his blade closer to his neck.
The unknown smiles, without fear.
" Well... I came this far because my instinct tells me that something interesting is about to happen. "
He then stared at Raphael with intensity and said:
" I know that you have a new child, and that his Revelation Ceremony will soon take place. "
" Let me attend this ceremony and I promise you that I will remain wise," he said with a smile on his lips.
A flame broke out in Raphael's eyes, and a red and golden aura sprang up around him. The room trembled slightly under the pressure.
The man took a step back and put his hands in the air:
" Your reaction is completely understandable, but show me a minimum of respect, Raphaël. You know that without me your lineage would be extinct many centuries ago, and that you and your children would never have seen the light of day," he said with a slight smile.
Raphael remained frozen for a moment, his blade still pointed towards the man's neck.
Then he said in a calm but intimidating tone:
" You know you have the courage to make me such a request, while my sword is always pointed at your neck, you know I could cut your head in a single move."
The young man, with a confident look, replied calmly:
" I know you're a straight man and you'll never do anything foolish. I can't erase my past mistakes, but please accept my request. "
A long silence followed. Raphael's blade shone faintly a few centimeters from the young man's throat, stretched out like the last warning.
But finally, Raphael slightly released his shoulders, and in a quick gesture, he sheathed his sword. The metal entered his sheath with a dry rattle.
" You have protected our family for centuries, so I can grant you the right to attend the ceremony because of this damn bond that unites us..." he said in a cold tone.
He looked away slightly, then added, more threatening:
"... but I warn you. No one should feel your presence. Neither do I. Nor any member of my family. "
The young man gently tilted his head as an acceptance, a grateful smile on his lips.
" Thank you very much, Raphael. Don't worry, I will be invisible like the wind that you won't perceive my presence. "
Raphael did not answer. He turned away and walked slowly towards the exit. Every step he took on the stone made his boots resonate in the huge room. The crystals hanging on the walls vibrated weakly as he passed, as if they were still reacting to the energy he had released.
But as he almost reached the opening of the door, the young man's deep voice resounded in his back:
" I'm really sorry for what happened that day, if I had..."
But as soon as this sentence was pronounced, Raphael's steps stopped sharply.
And the atmosphere changed immediately.
Raphael's aura, which had calmed down a few moments earlier, suddenly exploded like a storm. A suffocating pressure invades the room. The air became heavy, almost unbreathable.
His back remained turned, but his shoulders had stiffened, contracted by a silent anger. A red and gold glow enveloped his body. The ground under his feet cracked violently, as if the rock itself could not bear the weight of its rage.
When he slowly turned his head, his eyes were two burning golden flames, filled with hatred and pain.
" Don't... talk... never again about this day in front of me." he said in an icy and suffocating voice.
He paused, then added with a sharp intensity:
" If you still dare to talk to me about this day, I swear that even your blood will not be enough to calm my anger. "
A heavy silence fell in the room.
The young man did not answer anything. His smile had disappeared, replaced by a shadow in his eyes, an echo of regret, and sadness.
Without adding a word, Raphael turned away and walked away into the corridor, crossing the massively carved door. She slowly closed behind him in a dull rumble, falling back into the darkness.
To be continued...
Comments (0)
See all