The descent into the Vault felt like falling through time itself. The deeper they went, the more the air thickened—ancient power humming through the walls, vibrating against their bones. The narrow passage twisted downward for miles, lined with glowing chains and shifting runes that whispered in a language older than stars.
Kael wiped the sweat from his brow. "Feels like walking through a graveyard that remembers who killed it."
Rai's voice echoed softly ahead of him. "That's not far from the truth."
Seraphine's flame flickered across the stone as she studied the carvings. The murals showed angels bowing, gods screaming, and one man standing above them—his eyes eclipsed, his sword thrust into the heart of heaven itself.
Her hand trembled. "This… this is you."
Rai didn't look back. "The first sin doesn't need a monument. But I left one anyway."
Finally, the tunnel widened into a colossal chamber—the Vault of Aeras.
It was breathtaking. The ceiling stretched so high it disappeared into shadow, and from it hung thousands of luminous chains, each linked to a floating slab of crystal. Inside those crystals were memories—frozen, glowing, eternal. The air shimmered with divine residue, painting the walls with streaks of starlight and ash.
Kael stepped forward, awed. "This is where you sealed them… isn't it?"
Rai nodded. "Each fragment contains the essence of a fallen god. What's left of their power… and their consciousness."
As they moved deeper, one crystal pulsed faintly, as if sensing their presence. Rai froze. The sigil carved into it was familiar—a crescent eclipse surrounded by seven marks. His mark.
Seraphine drew a sharp breath. "That's the first seal."
Rai stepped closer. "The Heart of Eclipse." He extended his hand, and the runes on his wrist ignited in answer. The Vault responded—chains trembled, dust cascaded from above, and the air grew heavy with divine tension.
Kael backed away. "Uh, Rai, you sure this is safe?"
"It was never meant to be," Rai muttered.
As his fingers brushed the crystal, a blinding light burst forth, swallowing the room in gold and black. The sound of chains snapping filled the air. When the light faded, the three stood in a vast memory field—an echo of the past.
They weren't in the Vault anymore. They stood in a throne hall carved of starlight, surrounded by kneeling figures in silver armor. At the far end stood Rai—unchanged, except for his eyes, which burned brighter than the sun. His voice echoed through the illusion, cold and absolute.
"The gods have turned against their own creation. I will seal them, even if it costs my soul."
One of the knights stepped forward—armor radiant, face hidden by a golden helm. But when she spoke, the voice was unmistakable.
"And what of us, my king? If we follow, there is no return."
Seraphine's breath hitched. "That's me…"
Rai (the present one) watched silently. His past self turned toward her, eyes filled with sorrow and conviction.
"You swore to stand beside me until the stars forgot their names. Will you break that vow now?"
The knight removed her helm, revealing Seraphine's face—young, resolute, and utterly devoted.
"Never."
The vision flickered, shifting rapidly—the battlefield of gods, divine light splitting the sky, Rai standing over fallen deities as his knights fought to hold the heavens at bay. Then, betrayal—one of his generals striking from behind, shattering the seal before it was complete. Rai's voice roared in fury.
"You… betrayed the vow!"
The memory shattered like glass, and they were thrown back into the Vault. The crystals around them pulsed violently.
Kael groaned, clutching his head. "What just happened?"
Rai stood still, eyes dark with fury and grief. "We saw the truth. One of the Seven betrayed us during the final sealing."
Seraphine staggered to her feet, her voice shaking. "Who?"
Rai looked at the runes glowing across the nearest wall—seven symbols, one now burning black.
"The Knight of Silence," he whispered. "The one who never spoke. The one I trusted to guard the core of the Eclipse Seal."
Kael frowned. "You mean one of your own knights is still alive?"
Rai's gaze hardened. "Alive… or something worse. If the traitor survived, they might be the reason the gods are stirring again."
The Vault trembled as if reacting to his words. Chains cracked, and faint whispers echoed through the chamber.
"You sealed us once, Vowbound King. But your vow breaks… with every breath."
Rai's eyes glowed faintly gold. "Then it's time I find the one who shattered it."
Seraphine stepped beside him, the faint light of her fire returning. "And when you do?"
Rai's voice was quiet, but filled with an ancient weight. "Then the gods won't be the only ones who fall."
As the Vault's entrance closed behind them, far above the world trembled. On a distant mountain, a cloaked figure watched the stars bleed red—and smiled.
"So… you still remember me, my king."