The twelve symbols continued to glow.
Artyom stood motionless at the center of the chamber.
Then Dmitri noticed something strange.
"Wait."
Everyone turned toward him.
Dmitri pointed at the floor.
"There are thirteen positions."
Roman stepped closer.
"Twelve houses."
"Exactly," Dmitri said. "But look at the center."
A faint outline appeared beneath Artyom's feet.
A thirteenth symbol.
Unlike the others, it wasn't connected to any house.
It was shaped like a crown surrounded by a circle.
Caelum's expression changed.
"The Thirteenth Throne."
Artyom looked at him.
"There was another ruler?"
"No."
Caelum's voice became quieter.
"There was another position."
He pointed toward the empty space at the head of the chamber.
"The First Family never sat among the twelve."
"They stood above the council."
Artyom looked toward the ancient throne.
"But that throne is empty."
"It has been waiting."
The King's Seal on Artyom's finger suddenly illuminated.
A beam of silver light rose from the floor.
The empty throne began changing.
Stone shifted.
Ancient silver appeared across its surface.
At the top, a single inscription emerged.
THE HEIR WHO CHOOSES SHALL SIT.
Mikhail stared at it.
"So the Sanctuary actually expects Artyom to take the throne."
Artyom shook his head.
"I don't know if I can."
Roman answered calmly.
"Then don't."
Everyone looked at him.
Roman continued.
"A throne means nothing if the person sitting on it doesn't want it."
Artyom looked surprised.
Roman's expression remained firm.
"You are not obligated to become what history expects."
Viktor nodded.
"Your choice matters more than the crown."
Before Artyom could respond, the chamber suddenly shook.
The twelve symbols flickered.
Dmitri looked at his scanner.
"Something's wrong."
Another tremor.
This one stronger.
A crack appeared across the far wall.
Caelum turned toward it.
"They found us."
Roman's eyes narrowed.
"The Eclipse Order?"
Caelum shook his head.
"No."
He looked toward the crack.
"They're already inside the Sanctuary."
Silence.
Nikola immediately moved toward the entrance.
"Impossible."
"The Sanctuary has hidden passages," Caelum explained. "And someone outside knows how to use them."
Dmitri's screen suddenly displayed a new signal.
One unknown identification.
Then another.
Then another.
Dozens appeared beneath the city.
Yelena looked at the screen.
"They bypassed the outer defenses."
Caelum's face became grim.
"There is only one person who could have given them access."
Artyom looked at him.
"Who?"
Caelum hesitated.
Then whispered:
"Someone from the First Family."
The chamber fell silent.
Far above them, ancient bells began ringing throughout the Sanctuary.
Once.
Twice.
Then continuously.
The invasion had begun.
And somewhere within the hidden city...
an enemy who knew the Sanctuary better than anyone was already waiting.