CHAPTER 5 THE ARCHITECT'S ENIGMA.

  “Fine, but does that book really exist? Because back at Ashrnborne, everyone says that it's only a myth,” Aag says as he leans back, watching Nar and Mr. Vale review documents and reports.

  “Well, even back when I was the former ruler I was always taught about the book. I remember how my mentor used to tell me about how that book has answers — spells to everything, creation and destruction alike,” Mr. Vale said, looking briefly at the report he was reviewing before closing it.

  “Mentor, as in the Black Mage who taught us too?” Theo asks as he looks at Mr. Vale, curiosity evident on his face.

  “Yeah, he was one of the greatest mages Ashrnborne has had. He was part of the eight mages known as the CROWN OF EIGHT, though now only six of them are left, as the other two have long retired,” Mr. Vale says as he glances at Theo, his voice respectful.

  “Heard that the Eight Mages circle was formed during the CRIMSON HARVEST,” Nar says as he finally speaks after quietly listening to the conversation.

  “During the CRIMSON HARVEST, the Triarchs had suffered great destruction, which caused the commoners and lower-ranking elements a lot of damage, as their livelihoods depended on the Triarchs. So after the battle, the Triarchs were forced to abandon the lower-ranking elements, commoners, etc. Amid this distress, the eight mages, each from their own serving elements, stepped up to form the CROWN OF EIGHT,” Mr. Vale recounts the story, his voice expressing a hint of respect and knowing understanding.

  “I had heard about it too. Said that it was a punishment for the four primal elements,” Theo says with a faint crease between his brows as he ponders the revelation Mr. Vale just shared.

  “There are not any evident records. Some say that it was a curse from the angry deity of Ravencrest. Some say that it's the destruction caused by the Aisling Guardian. Or, like you said, Theo, some believe that it was a punishment for the four primal elements,” Nar says as he gestures toward Theo at the last sentence.

  “As much as I know, the records for all spells, history accounts, etc., were all kept in the capital city of BLOODMERE,” said Mr. Vale.

  “Ironically, BLOODMERE is the only surviving city after the Massacre of the Crimson Harvest,” Aag says casually, though there was a hint of seriousness humming beneath his calm voice.

  “Yeah, I heard that the records for the primal elements were also kept there, as it was also called the LEDGERHOLDER,” Nar says as he shifts slightly in his chair, while Mr. Vale, Theo, and Aag hum in response.

  The conversation flowed naturally; the air carried a sense of respect and history. But what was unknown — or perhaps unnoticed — was the looming presence of a shadow near the large window. It seemed to avoid the moonlight as though it were danger, yet played near its corners as though testing and teasing the moonlight itself.

  “Now that's interesting. Seems like my fun just doubled. I should go and report this to my master,” said the shadow with a grin as it disappeared into the darkness.

  Back to the Pale City, where the wind flowed softly near the palace, the moonlight touching and creeping near the walls as though it itself was hesitant, seeking permission. Inside, Kai and Rave moved toward the archives of the palace, which were connected to the throne room. The archives were slightly covered in dust, a stark contrast to the rest of the palace, which looked like it was still being maintained.

  “This is off. The archives are slightly dusty,” Kai spoke as he ran his fingers through the carvings of ancient sigils on the archives' doors before pushing them open with Rave.

  Inside the archive, large bookshelves lined the sides, while a staircase led to the upper floor of the archives, where there were more bookshelves — all filled with ancient novels, records, scripts, etc.

  The boys took in the full beauty of the archives. Though it was dusty, it still looked regal and intimidating, as it might have looked back in its time.

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  “No, it looks like the archives are purposefully left like this, as though it's trying not to draw attention to itself,” Rave said in response to Kai's earlier comment as he looked around the archives.

  “But that's not possible. Nobody lives here, or are there any village settlements nearby except the village near the riverbank,” Kai says as he stops to look at Rave as though the comment was absurd. Perhaps it might be absurd for humans, but not for something that's beyond them.

  “Don't look at me like that. I am saying what I merely observed. It does look like it's purposefully left dusty,” Rave says with a shrug of his shoulders.

  “Why do you notice all this? No, wait — how do you notice all this?” Kai says, crossing his arms and eyeing Rave while squinting suspiciously.

  “Don't look at me like that. I merely said the truth. Plus, anybody can notice if you pay attention,” Rave says with a teasing grin as he pulls Kai close by the waist.

  “Now you are diverting the topic. Don't think you can tease me like that in the middle of an abandoned palace,” Kai says, trying to hide his flustered reaction and not daring to meet Rave's teasing gaze.

  “Is that why you're not looking at me, hmm?” Rave says as he pulls Kai closer.

  “N… no, it's just that…” Kai says, trying to wriggle out of Rave's hold, clearly flustered but failing miserably in his attempt to free himself.

  “Yeah, but your reactions say otherwise,” Rave says while leaning closer.

  “Fine, I am flustered. We are in the middle of a palace, and here you're teasing me,” Kai says, meeting Rave's gaze as he understands that struggling is no use.

  “You looked cute, so I couldn't help but tease you,” Rave said as he slowly released Kai, stepping back slightly but still holding the teasing gaze as he eyed Kai, while Kai, still flustered, adjusts his hat, trying not to look at Rave.

  “Focus on the archives; otherwise, you're sleeping on the couch,” Kai says as he starts walking ahead, while Rave just chuckles and murmurs something that sounded suspiciously like “bossy” before he too follows Kai.

  As they ventured further into the archives, Kai and Rave noticed how all the books on the shelves were slightly worn, their spines gently cuffed at the corners, as though they were still being used. Kai walked to a bookshelf in the corner, picking up a book with a brown cover and an ancient sigil carved into it. Dust coated the surface, which Kai brushed off before opening the book. Inside were more ancient sigils and spells written in another language, but what caught Kai’s eye was the dried blood along the edges of the pages. As Kai flipped through more pages, he noticed that a few had been torn out, and the last few were blank.

  Meanwhile, Rave climbed the staircase leading to the upper floor of the archives. He noticed that the upper floor had more bookshelves, but they were filled with books that bore no ancient sigils or drawings, nor were there any scrolls. Only books in soft, cream-colored covers, as though the colors themselves were comforting the reader just by looking at them. Rave walked deeper between the shelves and discovered a sunroom — a hidden, secluded space tucked away behind tall bookshelves, as though it were deliberately shielding itself from the world.

  The sunroom was a dome-like chamber carved directly into the wall. Its curved ceiling was covered with large glass panels etched with intricate patterns, letting sunlight spill in and illuminate the dust motes that danced lazily in the warm glow. In the center, a small table and chair were tucked neatly into a corner, almost as if waiting for someone to notice them.

  Rave stepped inside, letting his fingers brush the edge of the table as he took in the room’s beauty. There was a subtle touch of modern architecture woven into the old design, a contrast that both spiked his curiosity and deepened his confusion. The palace was clearly centuries old, yet the sunroom suggested something far more recent, or at least far ahead of its time.

  After a brief inspection, Rave stepped out and noticed Kai climbing the stairs, a book clutched in his hands.

  “You were here? I thought you’d left me behind,” Kai called, his voice echoing lightly in the hall as he reached the top of the stairs.

  “As if,” Rave replied with a smug grin. “Can’t leave mine alone in an abandoned palace, now can I?” He stepped closer, letting his fingers brush Kai’s arm as the other walked past, glancing back at the sunroom.

  “It’s beautiful,” Kai murmured, stepping inside the sunroom. His eyes traced the glass dome and the play of light across the floor while Rave leaned against a pillar, watching him with a dark, soft gaze.

  “Notice how the curved part of the dome is made of glass instead of being solid, and how it lets sunlight pour directly into the room,” Rave observed. “The room still keeps the charm of traditional architecture, but the glass dome is a modern touch.”

  Kai stepped out after a long look.

  “You’re right. But if you examine the entire palace, at least the parts we’ve explored, there are several things that suggest the builder—or the owner—knew about modern architecture. I just don’t know how that’s possible.”

  “Exactly,” Rave said, excitement creeping into his voice. “Like the balconies—traditionally they’d be stone, but here they have metal frameworks. The windows keep their arched frames, but the translucent crystals change color with sunlight. Even the hallways and corridors have proper chandeliers instead of lanterns set into the walls. It’s incredible. This place… it’s hiding something deeper.”

  Kai nodded slowly. “You’re right. This palace makes me believe in all those fantastical stories about magic. But at the same time… it’s almost too magical to be true.”

  to be continued......

  ---------------End of part one of chapter 5--------------------