The next morning, a masked guardian came to their room.
"You're to enter the Archive Labyrinth," he said. "Only Kael. No one else."
Ashen stepped forward. "He's just a boy."
But the guardian didn't flinch. "This is not a test of strength. The labyrinth accepts only those it calls."
Kael stood, confused but curious. "What is the Archive Labyrinth?"
Ashen turned to him. "A living memory vault. It holds the past—everything the island has forgotten. You'll be tested, not by weapons… but by truth."
Kael followed the guardian down a long hallway and through a sealed gate. Strange carvings lined the walls—spirals, faces, and symbols he couldn't understand.
At the end was a massive door made of black stone. As Kael stepped closer, it rumbled—and opened on its own.
"Enter alone," the guardian said.
Kael nodded and stepped in.
The door shut behind him.
Inside, there was no torch, no light source—yet everything glowed faintly. The walls shifted as he walked. The floor moved like it breathed.
Then, the first vision appeared.
A young woman—bloodied, carrying a baby through a burning village.
Kael stepped back.
"That's… me?" he whispered.
The woman screamed as a demon lunged at her—but the vision froze.
A voice echoed, low and cold.
"You were saved. But who paid the price?"
Kael stumbled forward. The vision shattered like glass.
Next, a battlefield.
Dozens of Veilbreakers stood with swords raised. In front of them—an old man with no eyes, chained and laughing.
"You sealed me once," the man growled, "but your seal has cracks."
Kael tried to look away, but his feet wouldn't move.
Then, another vision.
A black room. A man's shadow, tall and strong, holding a crying child.
"This is your father," said the voice.
But when Kael tried to look at his face… it was blank. Covered in smoke.
The vision faded.
Kael finally reached the center chamber.
There stood a mirror—tall, silver, glowing faintly.
He stepped toward it. His reflection stared back… but it looked older. Wiser. And angry.
"Do you know who you are?" the reflection asked.
Kael stayed quiet.
"You are not cursed," it said. "You are the result. The flood is not your enemy—it is your shadow. It comes because of you."
Kael's hands shook. "No… I didn't choose this!"
The reflection's eyes glowed. "Then choose now. Run from it… or rise."
Suddenly, the mirror shattered—and everything went dark.
Kael opened his eyes.
He was lying outside the labyrinth door.
Ashen, Mikaho, and Zehr rushed to him.
"You've been gone for two days," Ashen said.
Kael blinked. "It felt like one hour…"
"What did you see?" Mikaho asked softly.
Kael looked at his hands.
"Truth. And warnings."
Then he stood up.
"I'm not running anymore."
Next Episode Preview:Kael's return brings more than answers. The city watches him now. But when an assassin strikes in the night, secrets begin to unravel—and someone close may be hiding something dark.