The group walked away from the Shelter of Lost Souls, their footsteps echoing in the silence of the night. The confrontation with Alastor had left its mark on them, not only physically, but also in their minds. Akihiko walked at the front, his gaze fixed on the horizon, his thoughts torn between victory and what he had seen in the Shelter's visions.
"We can't go on like this," Helena said, breaking the silence. "Alastor may be gone for now, but we know he'll come back. And if he does, we must be prepared."
Isabella crossed her arms. "The problem isn't just Alastor. Viktor keeps moving in the shadows, gathering pieces for his plan. We must get ahead of him."
Kael checked his communicator and nodded. "I have information on a former Order of the Eternal Night enclave. There might be something there that will help us understand what 'The Key' Viktor is really after."
Thalos sighed. "If it's an Order enclave, it's probably full of traps and guards."
Akihiko put away his katana and looked at the group. "We have no choice. If there are answers there, we'll go after them."
The Forgotten Enclave
The enclave was hidden in the mountains north of Gaelius, a place where time seemed to stand still. The ruins of what was once a great temple rose from the mist, with statues eroded by the centuries and doors carved with inscriptions in an ancient language.
Aria placed a hand over one of the inscriptions. "This place... feels different from the Vault. There are no guardians here. Only shadows."
Isabella frowned. "That doesn't mean we're alone."
Kael activated a portable scanner, and the screen showed energy fluctuations throughout the place. "Something here is still active. And I don't like it."
Akihiko walked toward the large stone door. "Whether we stay or not, we'll find out now."
With a combined effort, they managed to push open the door, revealing a dark chamber lit by a faint glow. In the center of the room, on an obsidian pedestal, lay an ancient manuscript covered in strange symbols.
"This must be the Order's record," Thalos said, approaching cautiously. "It could contain the truth about 'The Key'."
The Past is Revealed
As Thalos began to decipher the text, an echo resonated in the chamber, like a whisper coming from the walls. Suddenly, the shadows in the room began to move, forming spectral humanoid figures.
Aria raised her light barrier just in time to block the entities' first attack. "We're not alone!"
The figures charged at them, enveloped in an aura of darkness. Helena and Akihiko launched themselves into combat, their weapons flashing in the gloom. Isabella used soul echoes to try to dispel the wraiths, while Kael manipulated his technology to weaken the energy holding them up.
"These are not mere apparitions," Thalos shouted as he dodged an attack. "They are former members of the Order, those who died protecting this place."
"Then let's end their torment," Akihiko replied, dodging a thrust and counterattacking with a precise slash that vanishes one of the specters.
The fight was fierce, but little by little they managed to dissipate the shadows. With a final blow, Helena drove a metal spear into the ground, generating a shock that dissipated the remaining energy in the room.
The Manuscript and the Truth
Thalos finished deciphering the inscriptions and his eyes widened in surprise. "'The Key' isn't an object. It's a person."
The group fell silent as they processed the revelation. Isabella was the first to speak. "So Viktor isn't looking for a relic. He's looking for someone who can activate the Tree's true power."
Akihiko clenched his fists. "And if he finds her before we do, no one will be able to stop him."
Thalos continued reading. "According to this manuscript, the person known as 'The Key' is a direct descendant of the Tree's first guardians. Only they can access the Lux Aeterna without being consumed by its power."
Kael frowned. "Then we need to find this person before Viktor does."
"And quickly," Helena added, "because if the Order is also searching, we won't be the only ones on their trail."
A New Path
With this knowledge in hand, the group left the enclave, knowing they were now in a race against time. Every second that passed brought Viktor closer to finding 'The Key,' and if he succeeded, the fate of the world would be sealed.
Akihiko looked up at the night sky, his determination stronger than ever. "No matter who 'The Key' is, we'll find her before he does. We can't fail."
As the group walked deeper into the darkness, the echo of their oath resonated throughout the ruins, marking the beginning of a new phase in the battle for the fate of the Tree of Eden.