The night pressed heavily on the palace walls, and the great hall swayed with shadows that danced under the single flickering flame. The emperor sat upon his throne, his eyes sharp as though piercing the hearts of the three who stood before him.
Frank on the right, his broad shoulders stiff as a wall.
Barnila on the left, her hands clasped, hiding the tremor in her fingers.
Dan in the middle, head held high with a cold smile, as if he commanded the moment.
The emperor's voice rose like a verdict:
> "Among you stands a traitor… and among you one who knows the truth. Tonight, the mask will fall."
---
A Hesitant Confession
Frank stepped forward, holding out the cracked stone before them all. Its faint glow pulsed like a beating heart.
> "My lord… this stone is no mere relic. It is the key. When I saw the inscription on the tablet, I knew the gate had truly been opened. But… it was not by my hand."
Dan laughed mockingly:
> "Always so eloquent, Frank. But words don't erase your past. Twenty years ago you left blood in your wake, and now you try to excuse yourself with talk of stones and gates."
Barnila cut him off, her voice low yet charged:
> "Enough, Dan. You know more than anyone what happened that night. And you know Frank wasn't alone."
---
Trembling Hearts
The emperor fixed his gaze on Barnila, his voice stern:
> "Speak… who was with him?"
She fell into silence, her eyes locked on the flickering flame. Then, slowly, she said:
> "There were three of us. Frank… myself… and Dan."
The hall froze. The crackle of the fire sounded louder than their breath.
---
Breaking the Silence
Brand Al Frick stepped out from the shadows where he had been watching silently, and said:
> "My lord, if they are all entangled in this… the danger lies not only in the villages, but in the very heart of your court. Leave them unchecked, and they will set the kingdom ablaze with their old quarrels."
The emperor gestured sharply, and soldiers drew their swords. But Frank suddenly raised his voice:
> "Wait! I did not betray you. I alone tried to close the gate, but… it was already too late. The fire that burned the village today… it is proof the betrayal never died."
---
The Spark
Dan smiled again, but this time he drew something from his pocket—a small dagger, its metal black as the night. The flame's reflection revealed engravings upon it, identical to those on the stone.
He spoke with biting mockery:
> "You seek the traitor? No need to search further. The gate… did not open on its own."
Barnila staggered back, her face torn between fear and shock. The emperor rose from his throne, his voice thundering:
> "Dan… what have you done?!"
---
The Cliffhanger – The Moment of Explosion
Dan raised the dagger high, sparks seeming to leap from its edge:
> "I did what should have been done long ago. The past cannot be buried… it returns to claim its vengeance."
At that moment, the walls of the hall shook, and a scream echoed from beyond the doors. Soldiers rushed outside, and the air filled with the stench of thick smoke.
The emperor turned, his eyes wide as he roared:
> "The fire… it has reached the palace!"
Frank stepped forward, the stone in his hand blazing brighter than ever, while Barnila gasped as if she had seen a ghost from the past.
And Dan… simply smiled.
---
Curtain of Chapter Eleven:
The gate was no longer a mysterious riddle… it stood open, and the fire that began in the village had found its way into the very heart of the palace.