The ruin was very quiet. It felt like the place was holding its breath. Dust floated in the air. Some light came in through cracks in the roof. Broken statues were lying on the ground. Their faces were cracked, and their eyes looked empty.
Solarex and Thalvion stood without talking. They had just seen something scary. It didn't feel like it belonged in this world. The smell of burned bodies was still there. The air was cold, and everything felt still.
"We should look around more," Solarex said in a soft but serious voice.
Thalvion looked around and held his sword. "You think there could be another place where a ritual happened?"
Solarex nodded. "Yes. I can feel it. Something is still hidden."
They started walking and checking the walls. They looked for anything strange—loose stones, signs, or secret doors. They moved slowly and quietly. Every small sound seemed loud in the silence.
After a while, Solarex saw a statue of an angel. The angel looked like it was crying. Its hands were reaching forward. There was a big crack on its face. One of its wings had fallen and broken.
"Look there," Solarex said. He pointed at a tile under the statue. It was higher than the others.
They moved some of the broken stone and pressed the tile. They heard a loud click. Then the floor under the statue opened. A narrow staircase went down into darkness.
The stairs looked very old. The air coming from below smelled bad—like rust, mold, and something dead.
"These stairs haven't been used in a very long time," Thalvion said.
Solarex held up his hand. "Light," he whispered.
A small fireball appeared above his hand. It floated in the air like a torch. It made the dark stairs a little brighter.
The metal rails on the sides were rusty. The stairs made creaking sounds as they stepped on them.
Halfway down, Thalvion stopped. "We should split up," he said. "I'll go tell the Guild what we found."
Solarex didn't want to go alone, but he knew Thalvion was right. "Okay. Be safe."
"You too," Thalvion said. Then he went back up the stairs.
Solarex kept going down by himself. With each step, he felt more and more nervous.
At the bottom, there was a hallway. There were metal bars on both sides. It was a prison.
He walked forward. The prison looked broken and old. Chains hung from the walls. Most of the cells were empty. But then he saw something move.
In one of the cells, a man was lying on the ground. He was shaking. His clothes were ripped, and he had dried blood on him. Solarex looked into other cells. Some people were just sitting quietly. Some were whispering strange words.
He knelt beside the man. "What happened to you?" he asked.
The man opened his eyes. They looked scared and lost. "The mirror…" he said weakly. "Bad mirror… made us monsters…"
Solarex felt cold inside. "What mirror?" he asked.
The man couldn't answer. In the next cell, an old man lifted his head. He looked tired and weak.
"He's… opening the gate…" the old man said. Then he passed out.
Everything was quiet again.
Solarex stood up. His mind was full of questions. A mirror? A gate? He had heard something like this before when he was young.
He remembered a story. His teacher once told him about a secret place under the palace. It was called the Royal Archive. It held old books and hidden knowledge. Not many people knew about it.
Maybe the answers were there.
Solarex turned around and started running. He had to get to the palace.
The sun was setting when Solarex reached the outer gates of the capital. His cloak was dusty from the ruin, and it moved behind him in the wind. Sweat stuck to his back. His heart was still beating fast from what he had seen.
One young guard looked unsure.
"Prince Solarex?" he asked.
Solarex gave a tired nod. "Yes. I need to see the king. It is important."
The older guard did not ask more. "Follow me."
They walked through the palace halls. Solarex looked around. The palace didn't feel like home anymore.
They reached the king's room. The big golden doors opened. Inside, the old king sat on his throne. His eyes looked tired and full of sadness, but he still looked like a king.
Solarex stepped forward and knelt. "Father."
The king blinked, like he saw a ghost. "Solarex..at last… my son… you are back."
"I am," Solarex said, standing up.When he came before, he came as a guest but now he came as the prince . "I have news. I want permission to enter the Royal Archive. I think it has answers we need."
The king's face became serious. He looked at the advisors behind him. "I cannot decide alone. The noble council must agree."
"I understand," Solarex said and bowed again. "I will wait."
The king stood and walked down from his throne. He put his hand on Solarex's shoulder.
"It is good to see you again. No matter what others say, you are my son. Never forget that."
The king's touch made Solarex remember his childhood—playing, learning to fight, and listening to stories. His heart felt warm but sad.
That night, Solarex went to his old room. The maids had cleaned it and lit soft lamps. The bed was the same as before, but the sheets were new. It looked like no one had used it since he left.
But peace did not last.
Someone else had heard about Solarex's return—and his request.
Prince Daevin, the third prince, sat in his fine room. He looked out the window, watching the servants in the garden. His glass of wine was half full. His fingers tapped on the table.
"So he's back," he said quietly. "And after burning me he wants to go to the Archive?"
He laughed in a bitter way. "He left for years and now thinks he can take over? No. The future king is me."
He stood up and walked to his desk. He picked up a sealed envelope. Inside were papers—proof of illegal trades by one of the richest men in the kingdom.
Duke Rensworth.
That night, Daevin went to the duke's home. It was big, with golden pillars and statues outside. Inside, the duke sat by the fire, drinking brandy.
"You didn't come just to drink," the duke said.
"I have an offer," Daevin said, putting the envelope on the table. "Help me stop Solarex at the council. I won't tell the guards about your secret business."
The duke's face turned pale. He looked at the papers carefully.
"How did you get these?" he asked.
Daevin smiled. "I have my ways. So, do we have a deal?"
The duke thought for a moment. Then he nodded. "Yes."
The next morning, the royal hall was full of people. Nobles, ministers, and soldiers sat around. Long banners hung from the ceiling. The marble floor shone in the sunlight.
Solarex stood quietly in the middle. The king sat on his throne, calm but alert.
The king raised his hand. "We will start."
The room went quiet.
"My son Solarex is back. He wants to enter the Royal Archive for an important reason. Noble council, do you agree?"
Some nobles looked worried. One by one, they spoke.
"We haven't seen him for years!"
"He left his duty!"
"He has no proof!"
Then the duke stood up.
"Your Majesty, Solarex is no longer a prince by law. If a prince is gone for more than three years without contact, he loses his title unless it is given back."
People whispered and murmured.
"He cannot enter the Archive. It is only for royalty and scholars."
From the side, Daevin smiled happily.
Solarex clenched his fists. He wanted to speak, but before he could—
The doors slammed open loudly.
Everyone turned.
Two people walked in confidently. One wore a long robe with glowing runes. The other wore shining armor and a sword.
It was Solarex's sister, Lady Seraphina—the Archmage of the Grand Magic Tower.
And his brother, Crown Prince Kaelen—the strongest swordsman.
Gasps filled the room.
Seraphina held up a scroll. "This is the Royal Blood Registry," she said. "His name is still on it. Solarex has not been erased."
The duke sneered. "That could be fake."
Kaelen stepped forward. "I promise this is true. If it is false, take my title as Crown Prince."
The room went silent.
No one dared to doubt Kaelen.
The duke bowed his head. "Then I have no more objections."
Solarex looked at his brother and sister. They smiled at him.
In that moment, Solarex knew one thing—no matter how long they were apart, their bond was still strong. They still cared for him. They were family.
The king nodded. "It is decided. Solarex, you may enter the Royal Archive."
That night, Solarex invited Seraphina and Kaelen to his room. They sat by the fire. The warmth made the room feel safe.
"Do you remember the apple tree in the garden?" Seraphina asked, pouring tea.
Solarex laughed. "The one I got stuck in?"
"You climbed too high and wouldn't come down until we promised you extra dessert," Kaelen said, smiling.
"You two dared me!" Solarex said.
"We didn't think you'd really do it," Seraphina said, smiling.
They laughed until tears came to their eyes. The quiet sound made Solarex feel better inside—a hurt he didn't know he still had.
When the fire became small, Solarex looked at them. "I don't know what will happen next... but I'm glad you are here."
"We always will be," Kaelen said.
"No matter what," Seraphina added.
Solarex went to sleep that night feeling peace. He knew he was not alone.
The morning air in the palace was cool and quiet. As the sun rose, golden light came through the windows and touched the shiny floors and tall marble columns. Servants moved quietly through the halls.
Solarex stood in front of a big steel door deep below the palace. Two royal guards were beside him. They wore silver armor with the king's symbol.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Your Highness?" one guard asked.
Solarex nodded. "Yes. No matter what I find inside."
The guards used two old keys to unlock the door. The heavy locks turned with a loud sound. The door opened slowly, showing a stone hallway beyond it.
The path inside was dark and cold. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling. Old cloth banners lined the walls. Dust floated in the air. Every step Solarex took made an echo.
He walked alone into the deep passage. It felt heavy. It felt like this place was waiting—like it needed respect.
This was the Royal Archive. It was not a normal library. It was not for public use. Whatever It was a place full of secrets, dangerous items, and forgotten truths. Only the royal family knew about it.
Solarex walked past shelves of scrolls and books. Some were locked behind glass. Some were sealed with wax. There were glowing orbs, old weapons, and cursed relics from wars long ago.
He moved slowly, following special marks on the walls. Only people with royal blood could see them and he boosted about it.
After a while, he reached a small room. It had a desk, a big bookshelf, and a floating lantern that lit the room. It felt different here—more private, like a study.
He reached for a black leather book. The title was:
> "Cursed Objects of the Realms"
As he touched it, he heard a soft whisper. It was like the book itself was warning him. He opened it carefully.
Each page had pictures of scary objects, very scary. The Crown of Madness. The Blade of Echoes. Then he saw it.
A full-page picture of a black mirror. Its surface looked like water. Its frame looked like bone and black stone.
> "The Black Mirror"
It was made during the Shadow War. When someone looks into it, they don't see their face. They see their weakness. The mirror takes control of the mind. It causes madness, rage, and blind loyalty. The mirror is alive.
It wasn't made just to harm. It was made to unlock something.
Solarex held his breath. "Unlock… what?"
He turned the page.
> The mirror is a key. It weakens the seals that hold the Demon Gates closed. These gates stop the demons from entering this world. The mirror makes people go mad, and the madness weakens the seals.
> If all four gates open, the demon realm will return. The world will fall into darkness again.
Solarex slowly closed the book. His hands were shaking. " What the f**k is going on?"
Then he heard a soft sound from the bookshelf. One of the oldest books had moved a little.
He walked over and picked it up. The cover was faded. The pages were yellow and dry. It was titled:
> "Forbidden Lore: The Gates"
He opened it. The writing was old, but he could read it. Royals had the gift to read ancient script.
The book talked about four Demon Gates. Long ago, mages, warriors, and dragons sealed the gates. Each one was in a different part of the world:
The Frozen Scar in the north
The Weeping Dunes in the west
The Hollow Reef in the east
The Black Grove in the south
Each place had strong magic to protect it. But most people had forgotten about them.
Solarex kept reading. Then something fell from the book.
It was a map.
The paper was old, and the lines were drawn in magic ink. Four red marks showed the gate locations. They made an "X" shape on the map.
But in the center of the X, there was a fifth mark.
Solarex frowned. "What is this? I think humanity is doomed."
He looked in the corner of the map. There was a small note:
> The fifth lies beneath the ruins of kings. Not a gate… but the lock that holds them all.
Solarex's eyes grew wide. He held the map tightly." 4 gates were enough now what's the ruin of kings?"
Then the room grew cold. The floating lantern started to flicker.
He looked back at the book. The last page had glowing red ink.
He turned to the final page.
There, written in messy handwriting, was one last warning:
> "This world will fall upon the hand of Demons and will be forgotten…"
The lantern went out.
The room became dark.
Solarex stood still, holding the book and map.
But he was not afraid.
He now knew what he had to do.
To be continued....