The journal never left the archive.

That decision alone sparked three separate arguments.

Mason sat at the end of a long table while temple representatives, royal archivists, and several ministers debated ownership of a book that nobody had even finished examining.

"The journal belongs to the temple."

"It was discovered inside a royal archive."

"The contents may concern divine affairs."

"Which makes it even more dangerous."

Back and forth.

Again and again.

Mason rubbed his forehead.

Politics had somehow transformed a dusty journal into a battlefield.

Across the table, Zereth remained unusually patient.

That alone worried Mason.

When Zereth stopped arguing, it usually meant he was thinking.

And when he was thinking, people tended to uncover things they weren’t supposed to find.

Eventually Draca stepped forward.

His voice wasn’t loud.

It didn’t need to be.

"The journal remains under joint protection until its contents are verified."

Silence followed.

Nobody particularly liked the decision.

Which meant it was probably the fairest solution available.

Several ministers reluctantly agreed.

The meeting finally ended.

Mason escaped immediately.

He had reached a point where the sight of government officials physically drained his energy.

The palace corridors felt refreshingly empty compared to the conference room.

For almost five entire minutes nobody interrupted him.

A new personal record.

Then Athlian spoke.

’You’re smiling.’

"I’m free."

’For now.’

"Please don’t ruin this moment."

She laughed softly.

The sound carried through the soul bridge.

Lately it has happened more often.

Not the teasing.

The laughter.

The genuine kind.

Mason noticed it.

He tried not to think about why.

Unfortunately, Athlian noticed that too.

Which made ignoring it significantly harder.

By afternoon, the journal had already become the most discussed object in the capital.

Rumors spread faster than wildfires.

Some claimed it contained forbidden prophecies.

Others insisted it belonged to an ancient king.

One particularly creative rumor suggested it contained recipes capable of granting immortality.

Mason heard that version from a servant.

He wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry.

"People are idiots."

’A universal constant.’

"Glad some things transcend worlds."

Their conversation ended when familiar footsteps approached.

Draca.

The commander carried two cups of tea.

Mason narrowed his eyes.

"You’re bribing me."

"I brought tea."

"Exactly."

Draca handed him one anyway.

The balcony overlooking the gardens remained mostly empty.

The two stood quietly beside the railing.

The silence felt comfortable.

Neither rushed to fill it.

Eventually Draca spoke.

"The investigation is becoming dangerous."

Mason glanced sideways.

"For who?"

"For anyone asking questions."

That answer wasn’t reassuring.

Draca continued.

"Several archive workers reported being followed."

Mason’s expression hardened.

"By whom?"

"We don’t know."

Of course they didn’t.

Mysteries apparently reproduced faster than rabbits.

"The journal isn’t the only thing people are searching for."

Draca stared toward the distant city.

"The Coalition has begun investigating independently."

"That sounds terrible."

"It probably is."

They shared a brief smile.

Then the moment faded.

Mason noticed something unusual.

Draca looked tired.

Not physically but emotionally.

The commander carried responsibility well, but even he had limits.

The kingdom had nearly collapsed.

Political factions were fighting.

The capital was recovering.

And somehow everyone expected Draca to solve everything.

"You should rest."

The words escaped before Mason could stop them.

Draca blinked.

Then smiled faintly.

"That sounds familiar."

"Because you’ve said it to me about fifty times."

"Only fifty?"

"Minimum."

For a moment, genuine amusement appeared in the commander’s eyes.

Then it faded.

Not completely.

Just enough.

Mason found himself strangely relieved.

That realization annoyed him.

Athlian noticed immediately.

’You’re doing it again.’

"Doing what?"

’Worrying.’

"I worry about everybody."

’A lie.’ 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Mason ignored her.

She seemed increasingly satisfied whenever he did.

Which felt suspicious.

Very suspicious.

That night the journal was finally opened under controlled conditions.

Only a small group received permission to attend.

Mason.

Draca.

Zereth.

Seraphine.

Several archivists.

And one deeply unhappy minister who clearly believed everyone else was incompetent.

The first pages contained nothing remarkable.

Dates.

Inventory notes.

Travel records.

Observations.

The handwriting remained neat despite its age.

Then they reached the first unusual entry.

The archivist read aloud.

"’The crown argues with the temple again. Neither realizes what approaches.’"

Silence followed.

The next entry proved stranger.

"’The sky remains quiet. That concerns me more than if it screamed.’"

Another pause.

Mason exchanged a glance with Zereth.

The immortal looked equally puzzled.

Several pages later, the entries became increasingly fragmented.

References to locations that no longer existed.

Mentions of vanished organizations.

Warnings without explanations.

The journal never provided enough information.

Only hints.

Questions.

Fragments.

Like somebody intentionally avoided recording complete truths.

Athlian became unusually silent.

The deeper they read, the quieter she became.

Mason felt it immediately.

Something about the journal disturbed her.

Not because she remembered.

Because she almost remembered.

That difference mattered.

A great deal.

Hours passed.

Most entries revealed little.

Then they reached a page that changed the atmosphere entirely.

The archivist frowned.

"What is it?"

He swallowed.

"This entry is damaged."

"Read it anyway," Zereth said.

The old man nodded.

"’The Tribunal has begun moving openly. Several Witnesses have vanished. We cannot determine whether Heaven knows.’"

Every person in the room froze.

Even Seraphine.

Even Draca.

Nobody spoke immediately.

Because for the first time, the journal connected two names together.

The Tribunal.

The Witnesses.

Not answers.

But a connection.

A bridge.

A thread.

Something real.

Zereth carefully took the journal.

His silver eyes scanned the damaged section.

"There should be more."

"There isn’t?"

"The page was deliberately cut."

The room instantly became colder.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

Someone had altered the journal.

Not recently.

Long ago.

But intentionally.

Which meant somebody had wanted this information hidden.

The question was why.

Mason hated that question.

It appeared far too often lately.

The meeting ended shortly afterward.

Everyone needed time to process the discovery.

Officially.

Unofficially, everyone wanted to investigate without informing anyone else.

Politics again.

Back in his chambers, Mason collapsed onto a couch.

His head hurt.

His patience hurt.

His faith in competent governance had definitely suffered permanent damage.

Athlian remained quiet.

Too quiet.

Finally he spoke.

"You know something."

A long pause followed.

’I know less than I should.’

"That’s not an answer."

’It’s the truth.’

Mason sat up.

For once, there was no teasing in her voice.

Only frustration.

And fear.

That caught his attention immediately.

Fear from Athlian had become increasingly rare.

"What aren’t you telling me?"

Another pause.

Longer this time.

’I don’t know if the memories belong to me.’

The answer startled him.

"What?"

’When fragments appear... some feel familiar.’

Her voice softened.

’Others feel borrowed.’

Mason frowned.

"Borrowed from who?"

’I don’t know.’

The uncertainty sounded genuine.

That worried him more than any clear answer could have.

Before he could ask another question, a sharp knock echoed from the chamber door. Draca entered moments later.

His expression remained calm.

The commander closed the door behind him.

Then handed Mason a folded document.

"What is this?"

"Something you should see."

Never reassuring.

Mason opened it.

His eyes scanned the page.

The first lines appeared ordinary.

Then he reached the bottom and froze.

The document wasn’t an archive record.

It wasn’t a journal entry.

It was a report.

A confidential one.

Submitted only hours earlier.

According to the report, palace guards investigating a sealed section beneath the damaged archives had discovered another hidden chamber.

One that wasn’t listed on any official map.

One that shouldn’t exist.

Mason slowly looked up.

"What did they find?"

Draca’s gaze darkened slightly.

"That’s the problem."

The commander paused.

Then spoke the words that immediately sent a chill through the room.

"The chamber was already empty."

Silence followed.

Heavy one

Because someone had clearly been there first.

And whatever had been hidden inside...

Was now gone.