The four of them stepped back at the same time. Amelia broke the silence with a nervous half-smile. "Well… if someone left it in the library, it wasn't us."
Lauren nodded. "At least we can rule ourselves out as suspects."
Klein, without taking his eyes off the shelf, muttered:
"What's unsettling is… if it wasn't us, then who moved it?"
That was when an unknown voice, deep and distant, echoed through the chamber, as if it were born from the very damp walls of the underground vault:
"That is, precisely, the question you should be asking."
The echo ran along the stone walls. Amelia and Lars immediately glanced at each other, their expressions tense with surprise. Klein and Lauren stepped back, stiff, trying to pinpoint where the voice was coming from.
The voice spoke again, calm, almost solemn:
"We were already aware that the book was missing. It was reported as gone a day ago. Sigmund himself knew about it… and a search was already underway."
The silence grew heavier, broken only by the crackle of the torches against the wet stone. Lars clenched his fists, swallowing hard, while Amelia lifted her chin as if to defy whoever was speaking.
"But now that the book has been found…" the voice continued "…what will begin is an investigation. An investigation to uncover who it was that took it from here."
The final sentence resounded with harshness, like a verdict.
An uncomfortable silence took hold of the chamber. Lars felt it heavier than the damp air they were breathing.
When the book was returned to its place and the chains fell silent, the four of them exchanged uneasy glances. The tension slowly dissipated, and Klein was the first to turn toward the corridor.
"We'd better head back upstairs," he said, his tone a mixture of relief and weariness.
Their ascent was silent. Their footsteps echoed through the corridor, the dampness left behind little by little, until they finally passed through the iron door. They closed it firmly, as though wishing to lock the unease down there as well.
Once in the sitting room, the four settled into the cushioned chairs. The atmosphere was warmer, lit by the light streaming through the tall windows. Lars exhaled quietly, trying to relax his tense shoulders. Amelia and Klein exchanged a knowing glance, as though sharing a secret the others could not fully grasp.
Only a few minutes passed before the door opened. The sound of firm, steady steps was enough for them to recognize Sigmund instantly.
The leader of Dominion entered with his usual presence: the long black coat sweeping the floor, the top hat in one hand, the severe gaze that seemed to pierce through everything. He stopped in front of them, and his deep voice filled the room.
"Klein, Amelia. The time has come for you to return."
They both rose immediately. Amelia offered a faint smile, though her eyes held a solemn respect. Klein, however, kept his expression serious, as befitted the moment.
"Yes, sir," Klein answered with a slight nod.
Lars stood as well, somewhat surprised. "You're leaving already?"
"Our work here is done," Amelia replied kindly, as if softening the formality of the moment. "It was good sharing this time with you, Lars."
"Likewise," he said, giving her a small smile in return.
Lauren, seated beside him, nodded in silence, showing her respect.
The farewell grew more solemn when Amelia and Klein stepped back. From a distance, they bowed their heads and torsos to Sigmund in a gesture of absolute respect. The air felt heavy, as though each movement carried ritual weight.
Sigmund watched them in silence for a few moments before answering with a slight movement of his hand. "You may leave."
Those words were enough. Amelia and Klein turned toward the exit. Lars and Lauren followed them with their eyes until they vanished beyond the door. The echo of their footsteps faded down the corridor, leaving behind a solemn silence.
Sigmund remained standing, imposing, his gaze fixed on the spot where the two had just disappeared.
The silence reigned in the room after their departure. Lars shifted uneasily in his seat, feeling small before Sigmund's overwhelming figure. Lauren, on the other hand, remained upright, her face calm and attentive, as though waiting for her leader's words.
Sigmund took a few steps toward them. His long coat brushed the floor, every movement calculated, heavy with meaning. He stopped in front of the two, his cold, deep gaze locking first on Lars.
"Lars," he pronounced gravely, slowly. "You have progressed further than I expected in such a short time. Doubt and curiosity are double-edged weapons… but they are also the beginning of true knowledge. Do not rush. What you have seen these days is but a crack in the surface of Dominion. If you want to survive, you must learn to see beyond appearances."
Lars swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure. "I will."
Sigmund inclined his head slightly, seemingly satisfied with the answer, though his eyes seemed to search every corner of Lars's soul.
Then his attention turned to Lauren. "And you, Lauren…" he said, his tone just a little softer. "You have always shown discipline and control. Two qualities this place needs now more than ever. I trust you will guide Lars when uncertainty clouds him."
Lauren nodded immediately. "I will, sir."
The leader remained silent for a few seconds, as though pondering further, before finally turning back to them.
"Times change, but Dominion must endure." His voice reverberated through the room, solemn. "You are the youngest of the organization, and therefore part of that future. Do not forget it."
With those words, Sigmund turned toward the exit. He walked with firm steps, and the room seemed to lose its intensity as his figure vanished through the doorway, leaving behind a weight and grandeur difficult to describe.
Lars exhaled the breath he hadn't realized he was holding, while Lauren remained silent, processing every word of their leader.
When Sigmund's presence had fully faded into the hallways, Lars broke the silence. "Lauren…" he said softly, looking at her with hesitation. "How can I obtain the power of the dark flames?"
She looked back calmly, her crimson eyes glimmering with secrets untold. "That power is not something you simply obtain," she replied serenely. "Its awakening time varies for everyone. Don't worry—when you least expect it, it will come."
Lars nodded slowly, processing her words. He hesitated for a moment, then gathered the courage to ask another question that had haunted him.
"Lauren… that practice mission, before I arrived at Dominion…" His gaze locked on hers. "The bodies that chased me, with the red eyes… was it you who controlled them?"
For the first time, Lauren showed a faint smile. "Yes." Her answer was direct, without hesitation. "I have the power to manipulate lifeless bodies. I can make them move, obey… and fight, if necessary."
Lars's eyes widened in surprise. He wasn't sure whether to feel fear or fascination, but he immediately understood why she always kept that cold, calculated distance.
Before he could reply, a broad-shouldered man entered the room. One of the martial arts instructors in charge of Lars's training. "Lars," he said firmly. "It's time to train."
Lars rose at once, ready to follow. But Lauren also stood. "I'll come along," she said naturally. "It's been a while since I practiced hand-to-hand. I usually rely too much on weapons."
The master nodded without objection, and the three headed to the training hall.
He placed them face-to-face in the center of the tatami. "I want to see how you defend yourselves without weapons," he ordered gravely.
Lauren adopted her stance with fluid grace, her movements precise and measured. Lars, still learning to control his body, stood with determination burning in his eyes.
The clash began. Lauren drove him back with a couple of swift feints. Lars tried to block, but his reflexes lagged. "You lack decisiveness in your movements," she said between blows, her composure unbroken.
Lars gritted his teeth and launched a clumsy counterattack, but strong enough to force her back a step. "Better?" he shot back with a tense smile.
Lauren's eyes gleamed with approval. "Closer. But if you hesitate, you lose. Remember: the body obeys the heart. If your conviction is weak, so is your strength."
The master cut in. "Well said, Lauren. Lars, listen: it's not enough to resist. You must learn to anticipate."
By the end, both were exhausted. They parted ways to shower separately, then reunited in the dining hall. Dinner stretched into the late evening.
"I thought you were going to crush me in the first minute," Lars said, taking a bite of his food.
Lauren arched a brow as she lifted her glass of water. "I came close. But I'll admit—you lasted longer than I expected."
"That almost sounds like a compliment," Lars replied with a short laugh.
She regarded him calmly, her words laced with irony. "It is. Don't waste that endurance. One day, it might save your life."
Lars nodded in silence, knowing she meant it.
The rest of dinner flowed with lighter talk: small anecdotes from the palace, comments about training, and for a moment, shared laughter that made the day's shadows fade.
At last, exhaustion claimed them. They said goodnight and retreated to their rooms, each lost in their own thoughts before sleep finally took them.
The next day unfolded in a demanding routine. Lars trained for hours, drenched in sweat, correcting every strike and movement, not only strengthening his body but seeking a spark that might awaken his power. Lauren joined him for a while, correcting his stance and offering practical advice, until she excused herself to attend to other matters.
The afternoon dragged on, and with it came a heavy silence, as though the air itself awaited something.
By nightfall, Lars stood in his room. Before the mirror, he adjusted his shirt and the dark jacket he had chosen. It wasn't a full suit, but it looked neat, semi-formal—exactly how he thought he should present himself. Dominion had to appear as ordinary people, at least in public.
On the table rested a phone given to him earlier that day. A faint vibration broke the stillness. Unlocking it, he found a message from Sigmund:Location: Hotel Adlon Kempinski. Room 407.
Lars's heart skipped. This was the signal.
He drew a breath, put on his coat, and left the palace. The journey to the hotel was a mix of calm and tension: streets lit by lampposts, the reflection of winter on shuttered shop windows, and in his mind, the endless questions.
At last, he arrived. The Hotel Adlon Kempinski stood majestic beside the Brandenburg Gate, its illuminated façade exuding solemn elegance. Lars entered, moving past the guests chatting in the lobby and the impeccably dressed staff. The sound of rolling suitcases and murmured voices barely distracted him from the one thing on his mind: Room 407.
The elevator felt like an eternity. Inside, he watched the numbers climb, the metallic hum matching the rhythm of his heartbeat.
Finally, the doors opened on the fourth floor. He walked down the carpeted hallway, each step echoing in his head like a drum.
Stopping before the golden numbers: 407.
He froze for a moment, staring at the handle, fully aware that behind that door waited two Dominion members he had never met.
He inhaled deeply, reached out his hand—
And just before touching it, a shiver ran down his spine.
The door stood there, silent, waiting.