Chapter 84: The Divided Book

Chapter 84: The Divided Book The moonlight spilled across the private council chamber in cascading silver ribbons, illuminating the tension etched on every face present. Queen Elysia stood beside the massive oak table, her fingers tracing the edge of an ancient tome that Queen Elena had placed before them moments earlier. The book’s cover was weathered leather, but what captured everyone’s attention was its condition—roughly half of it had been torn away, leaving jagged edges like the teeth of some primordial beast. "This," Elena announced, her voice carrying the weight of centuries despite her youthful appearance, "has been passed from mother to daughter in my line since before the Sundering itself." Lyra leaned forward, her curiosity overriding protocol. "A family heirloom?" "Not merely an heirloom," Elena replied, a shadow passing across her features. "This is the same book that led my mother and the Fire Kingdom into war. They managed to keep half of it, as did we." Naia’s eyes widened. "You’ve kept this hidden all these years?" Elena’s gaze remained fixed on the torn tome. "Some knowledge is too dangerous to be shared carelessly, Princess Naia. Even between allies." Commander Maria stood statue-still near the chamber door, her scarred face impassive as she observed the proceedings. Beside her, Mika shifted restlessly, her usual swagger replaced by a barely contained agitation that had been growing since their arrival. "And what knowledge does this torn book contain that warranted bringing it from Thornvale?" Queen Elysia asked, her tone carefully measured. Elena’s fingers danced across the cover with a strange mix of reverence and hesitation. "I have never opened it before," she admitted quietly. "My mother forbade it except in the most dire circumstances." With careful hands, she lifted the cover. The pages within were brittle with age, covered in script so ancient that even the scholars among them had to squint to decipher it. "History," Elena breathed, her eyes widening as she scanned the text. "History that predates the Sundering, before our kingdoms were divided by elemental boundaries." She turned several pages slowly, each one revealing symbols and diagrams that seemed to pulse with ancient knowledge. Then she stopped abruptly at an illustration that made everyone in the room draw closer. The image depicted a figure—tall, ethereal, with features that seemed both elven and something else entirely—surrounded by swirling darkness that appeared to be consuming everything in its path. Everyone leaned forward, studying the intricate details of the drawing—the way the darkness seemed to move even on the static page, the unsettling blend of beauty and horror in the figure’s face. "It calls itself the First Eternal," Elena whispered, her finger tracing words beneath the illustration that none of them had noticed yet. "A mysterious being, wearing the vessel of an elf. According to this text, it existed even before the Sundering itself." Elysia’s brow furrowed as she studied the image. "There’s something familiar about this figure." "You’ve seen it before?" Elena’s head snapped up, her eyes intense. "Not exactly, but..." Elysia hesitated, her gaze distant. "When Kiran took me to the same portal they took Eren through. I never saw its face, just... shadows at the edge of consciousness." Elena nodded grimly. "The First Eternal was said to walk between realms of consciousness and reality. And according to this text, its goal is to turn into its true form back by receiving—" Her finger traced the text to where the page was violently torn, leaving the sentence hanging incomplete. "By receiving what?" Lyra demanded, frustration evident in her voice. "That," Elena replied with a mirthless smile, "is the part the Fire Kingdom possesses." Mika slammed her palm against the wall, the sudden noise making everyone turn. "This is useless! While we stand here debating ancient history, Viva is still missing, and we’re no closer to finding Eren—this ’Veilwalker’ we came here to help locate in the first place!" "Mika!" Commander Maria’s voice cracked like a whip. "Control yourself." "No, Commander, I will not!" Mika stepped forward, her eyes flashing with barely contained fury. "Since we arrived, no one has given me straight answers about Viva’s whereabouts. Princess Naia, are you playing with me? You said she was on reconnaissance, but our sources indicate otherwise." Maria moved with surprising speed for someone in wooden armor, placing herself between Mika and the royalty. "That’s enough, warrior." "I told you not to bring this matter up now," Elena said quietly, her voice laced with warning. Elysia’s eyes narrowed. "You knew about this too?" Her voice was dangerously soft as she turned to Elena. Elena sighed, a weary sound that seemed to age her considerably. "We’ve been dealing with... trust issues, Elysia. We thought it best to handle our own affairs internally before bringing them to you." "Trust issues?" Elysia repeated, her tone sharp. "A warrior is missing within my realm, and you decided to keep that from me? What else are you hiding, Elena? Perhaps you think I’m somehow involved?" "Mother," Lyra interjected, exchanging a quick glance with Naia. "We found Viva’s ring near the eastern corridor of the palace three days ago. I didn’t mention it because I wanted to investigate further before causing alarm." Elysia’s expression softened briefly, but her eyes remained troubled. "Lyra, matters of security should never be withheld from me, regardless of your intentions." She reached out, her fingers brushing her daughter’s arm in a gentle touch before turning back to the others. "We need to combine our efforts if we’re to solve these mysteries." Mika turned to her queen, her posture respectful despite her obvious distress. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, I cannot simply set aside my concern for a fellow warrior of Thornvale. Especially not when we’re being deceived." "No one is being deceived anymore," Elysia stated firmly. "From this moment forward, we share all information. No matter how troubling." Naia reached into her pocket and withdrew a small object that gleamed in the moonlight—a silver ring engraved with the mark of Thornvale’s elite warriors. Mika’s breath caught audibly. "That’s Viva’s." The tension in the room crystallized into something sharp and dangerous. "We need to focus," Commander Maria interjected firmly. "The book, Veilwalker disappearance, and Viva’s absence—they must be connected." Queen Elena nodded, closing the damaged tome with careful hands. "Commander Maria is right. We must consider our next steps strategically. If the First Eternal has returned, if it truly holds the Veilwalker prisoner as your messenger suggested, we need more information." "Is there any way we can approach the Fire Kingdom?" Lyra asked, her tactical mind already working through possibilities. "To see the other half of the book?" Elena’s laugh was bitter and cold. "Never. There is no way except death. The borders of the Fire Kingdom are sealed with magic that burns any foreign element to ash within moments." "I’ve never even seen the Queen of the Fire Kingdom," Elysia admitted. "Not in all my years of rule." Elena’s expression darkened. "Queen Ignacia is not one for diplomatic relations. Her kingdom operates on principles of isolation and strength. Their warriors are born in flame and baptized in blood. Their cities are built on volcanic glass, and their ceremonies involve trials by fire that would kill any of us instantly." A heavy silence descended upon the room as they all absorbed this information. "There is only one way we might gain more insight," Elena finally said, her voice thoughtful. "Through the Vylonia Kingdom." Mika’s head snapped up. "Vylonia? But they rarely engage in matters outside their borders." "Yes, but they’re not completely isolated like the Fire Kingdom," Elena explained. "Their Queen possesses a unique ability. She can enter the dreams of others, walk through their memories. She might be able to see something we cannot." "Like you, Your Majesty?" Mika’s question hung in the air, loaded with implication. Elena ignored the comment entirely, her face betraying nothing. "The Queen of Vylonia is humble in her power, using it primarily for healing and guidance. If anyone could help us untangle this mystery without requiring the missing half of the book, it would be her." "Then we should journey to Vylonia immediately," Elysia suggested. "Request her assistance directly." "I’ll go," Lyra volunteered instantly. Captain Diana, who had been silently observing from the corner, stepped forward. "No, Princess. You’ve been to Thornvale before—eyes will be watching you. We cannot afford another loss, and Prince Eren needs you here." "I’ll go," Mika said abruptly, her voice leaving no room for argument. "I need to do something. I can’t just stand around discussing ancient texts while Viva is missing." Commander Maria assessed her warrior with critical eyes. "We can’t afford to lose you either, Mika. You’re one of our best." "Then don’t lose me," Mika replied, a hint of her usual confidence returning. "Let me do what I do best—move quickly, gather information, and return. Viva would do the same for me in a heartbeat." Maria’s expression softened almost imperceptibly. "Very well. I’ll appoint our strongest warriors to accompany you." "I can assign some of our water manipulators as well," Lyra offered. "The northern route to Vylonia crosses several rivers—having water elements could prove useful." Mika shook her head firmly. "I appreciate the offer, Commander Lyra, but no. Unfamiliar companions would only slow us down. My people know how I operate." "Going to Vylonia doesn’t guarantee you’ll find a solution to where Viva is," Elena cautioned, her fingers resting protectively on the damaged book. "No," Mika agreed, her eyes hard with determination. "But doing nothing guarantees I never will." As the meeting concluded, Elena carefully rewrapped the ancient tome in protective cloth. The image of the First Eternal seemed to linger in everyone’s mind—a figure of shadow wearing an elven form, reaching out across centuries to threaten their world once more. What they couldn’t know was that at that very moment, two Vylonian warriors were already racing toward them with a message that would change everything they thought they knew about the threat they faced.