The dawn outside Valoria's walls never truly penetrated the depths of the prison. Only a faint, pale light filtered through the narrow gaps in the ceiling, reflecting a cold glint on the dewy metal. The morning air carried a sharper chill, making every breath feel like inhaling cold, sharp metal.
Kael awoke, his body stiff from a night of resting against the rough stone wall. His chains jingled softly as he moved his hands. His eyes stared upward, at the faint, mocking light, a reminder that freedom was just a few meters above his head, yet unattainable.
In the next cell, the old man's coughing sound returned. It was low, long, like a breath half-lost in another world.
"Good morning, young man," he murmured hoarsely. "Here, dawn brings no hope. It only reminds us... how many more days we can survive."
Kael averted his gaze. "You speak as if you've been here a long time."
"Too long," he replied, leaning his head against the bars. The dim light revealed his wrinkled face, his sunken eyes holding bitter tales. "I was once an advisor. I knew much about what Valoria worshipped. But when I opposed them… they called me a traitor. Then, I was thrown here, along with the secret whispers their people were not allowed to hear."
Kael felt his heart beat faster. "The dark forces you were referring to last night?"
The old man was silent for a moment. His voice then dropped to a hoarse whisper.
"They call themselves the 'Guardians of Valoria,' a shadowy army never seen in open battle. They are not fully human. They… are the product of something darker. An ancient pact that even the king refuses to remember. That is the price Valoria pays for its power."
Kael frowned, his heart churning. "A deal... with whom?"
Before the old man could answer, the clattering of steel boots rang out again. The sound of keys clashing against chains made the air heavier. Two soldiers arrived carrying a metal bucket filled with watery porridge. They simply set it on the floor, without looking at the prisoners.
But one of them—the young soldier who had warned him the night before—winked briefly at Kael. His movement was swift, almost imperceptible, and then he simply walked away, following his comrade.
Kael lowered his head and looked into the small bucket. At the bottom of the watery porridge, barely covered by a thin layer, was something: a small, tightly folded piece of paper.
His heart skipped a beat. He snatched it up before the other soldiers could see, tucking it into his grasp. He waited until the footsteps had receded before carefully unfolding it.
The small writing was faintly legible in the dim morning light:
"They're hiding something beneath the palace. If you want to know the truth about Valoria, you must stay alive… until the time comes."
Kael clenched the paper tightly, his eyes fixed on the cold stone wall. The questions swirled in his head faster than ever. What was Valoria really hiding? And why would any soldier risk warning her?
The old man beside him spoke again, this time with bitterness.
"You saw it yourself, didn't you? Even among their soldiers, not all are blind. But be careful… snakes can be venomous not only when they attack, but also when they remain silent."
Kael took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil.
That morning, he realized one thing: his battle in Valoria wasn't just against chains and iron walls. He was in the midst of a den of snakes, and every whisper, every step, could be the beginning of the truth… or a deeper trap.
Soft footsteps sounded from the other side of the hallway, unlike the usual rough and heavy thud of steel boots. Kael looked up, recognizing the rhythm. His heart fluttered strangely—a mix of alarm and relief.
Elina appeared in the shadows, her cloak brushing the cold floor. Two guards stopped far down the hallway, keeping a distance. She stepped closer to Kael's bars, her eyes calm, but with something hard to decipher: doubt.
"Kael," she said quietly, as if afraid her voice might be heard by the guards at the other end of the hallway.
Kael looked up, his sharp gaze tracing Elina's features. "You came again?"
Elina sighed. "I had to make sure you... stayed alive. Valoria isn't a place that offers many options for someone like you."
"Someone like me?" Kael leaned forward, his chains rattling softly. "Or someone who's beginning to see the truth?"
Elina's eyes quivered for a moment, but she quickly covered them up. "The truth... Kael, don't speak carelessly. These walls can hear more than you think."
Kael remembered the small piece of paper hidden in his grasp. He considered it, then said in a whisper:
"Valoria keeps something beneath the palace, doesn't she?"
Elina fell silent, her body stiff. For a moment, only the sound of dripping water from the ceiling could be heard. Then, she leaned in a little, her eyes fixed on Kael with tension.
"Who told you that?"
Kael smiled faintly. "Just know that this secret isn't reserved for kings alone. Some dare to whisper the truth even if it means risking their lives."
Elina closed her eyes for a moment, as if weighing her loyalty and conscience. When she looked back at Kael, her eyes were filled with conflict.
"If you truly want to know what lies beneath the palace, you'd better prepare yourself mentally. Because that secret… can shake the hearts of people, even entire kingdoms."
Kael felt his blood boil. The questions in his head grew even more intense.
"Elina… whose side are you really on?"
But Elina didn't answer. He simply bowed his head, then turned around before the guard at the end of the hallway lost his patience.
Before his steps disappeared into the shadows, his voice trembled softly, barely audible:
"I side with those who still have a heart."
Kael was silent for a long time, his chest tight with unanswered questions. The paper in his grip felt increasingly heavy, as if each letter demanded an answer.