The ancient knock echoed through the underground city long after the sound itself had faded.
It wasn't loud.
It wasn't violent.
Yet every soul standing upon the observation platform felt it reverberate through their very existence. The vibration rose from somewhere impossibly deep beneath the silver foundations of the prison, passing through crystal rivers, ancient bridges, forgotten gardens, and towering observatories before finally reaching the surface. Every bell hanging throughout the city fell silent at once, as though even they feared answering whatever waited below.
Kael remained motionless.
The strange sensation beneath his feet hadn't disappeared.
Instead, it had become clearer.
Rhythmic.
Measured.
Patient.
It wasn't the heartbeat of a living creature.
It was the sound of an enormous mechanism awakening after sleeping for thousands of years.
The Traveler slowly lowered the ancient staff until its tip rested gently upon the silver stone beneath him. The instant the wood touched the surface, countless lines of pale light spread outward across the endless darkness beyond the Door like ripples moving across still water. Even the Watcher remained perfectly still, observing the expanding circles without interfering.
"The Locks are listening."
His quiet voice drifted effortlessly through the prison.
"They've waited longer than any of us."
Kael looked toward the endless city below.
"What exactly are the Locks?"
The Traveler didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he raised one hand toward the sprawling underground metropolis stretching beneath them. Warm silver light flowed from his fingertips before disappearing into the countless runes engraved throughout the city's streets. One after another, enormous circles hidden beneath plazas and towers slowly emerged from the stone, their intricate carvings illuminating with soft golden light.
"They are promises."
Kael frowned.
"Promises?"
The Sleeper stepped beside him.
The silver robes worn by the ancient being drifted gently despite the complete absence of wind, while thousands of delicate chains floated around the throne behind it like rivers of moonlight. Its golden eyes rested upon the glowing circles appearing across the city.
"Every Lock was forged from a vow."
The ancient being extended one hand toward the nearest district.
"There are seven."
As those words echoed through the underground city, seven enormous pillars slowly rose from different parts of the metropolis. They emerged with astonishing grace despite their immense size, lifting themselves from beneath the earth without scattering dust or shattering nearby structures. Each pillar possessed a different color and design. One shimmered with golden runes resembling flowing flames. Another reflected deep blue light like a calm ocean beneath moonlight. A third appeared almost transparent, its surface resembling crystal rather than stone.
They weren't ordinary monuments.
They looked like gigantic keys standing upright within the city itself.
The First Son quietly folded his arms.
"The First Lock."
His golden eyes settled upon the nearest pillar.
"The Lock of Memory."
The Stranger looked toward another.
"The Lock of Truth."
The Sleeper continued.
"The Lock of Time."
One by one, the ancient beings named the remaining pillars.
"The Lock of Life."
"The Lock of Choice."
"The Lock of Sacrifice."
Finally...
"The Final Lock."
Silence followed.
Kael slowly counted them.
Seven.
Just as the Traveler had said.
The black mark upon his arm suddenly pulsed.
Another memory unfolded.
This one felt unlike any before it.
Not warm.
Not peaceful.
Heavy.
The four brothers stood within an enormous circular chamber beneath the ancient city. Seven colossal pillars surrounded them, each towering so high that their upper halves disappeared into darkness. Rivers of silver light flowed between them in carefully carved channels, converging at the center of the chamber where an empty pedestal waited.
The Traveler stood apart from the others.
His expression remained calm.
Yet there was unmistakable sadness in his eyes.
The Fourth Brother broke the silence.
"So this is really happening."
The Traveler nodded.
"It has to."
The First Son clenched one fist.
"There must be another way."
"There isn't."
The Stranger lowered his gaze.
"I've searched every record."
The chamber became silent.
Kael's ancient self looked toward the empty pedestal.
"What happens after the key is placed?"
The Traveler answered honestly.
"The prison awakens."
A long pause followed.
"And us?"
The Traveler smiled sadly.
"We stop belonging to ourselves."
The memory lingered.
No one argued.
No one protested.
Not because they agreed.
Because they already knew.
The decision had been made long before they entered the chamber.
Reality returned.
Kael slowly exhaled.
The weight of that forgotten moment still lingered upon his chest.
He finally understood.
The seven Locks hadn't imprisoned the Door.
They had imprisoned...
The guardians themselves.
The Traveler noticed immediately.
"You've remembered."
Kael nodded.
"We became part of the prison."
The Traveler smiled.
"Exactly."
Aren stared at everyone.
"I hate ancient civilizations."
The First Son looked toward him with faint amusement.
"Why?"
"Because none of you ever solved problems normally."
Even the Sleeper almost smiled.
The underground city suddenly trembled once more.
This time the vibration came directly from the nearest pillar.
The Lock of Memory.
Fine cracks of silver light spread across its surface before converging into an enormous circular symbol carved into the center of the monument. The symbol slowly began rotating, producing a deep metallic sound that echoed across the prison.
The Traveler's expression changed instantly.
"It has chosen."
Kael looked toward the pillar.
"What has?"
"The trial."
The answer immediately silenced everyone.
The First Son stepped forward.
"No."
The Traveler quietly nodded.
"It cannot wait anymore."
The pillar continued glowing.
Ancient runes emerged from every surface before floating into the air like countless silver leaves. They circled the observation platform several times before gathering around Kael, forming an enormous sphere of slowly rotating symbols.
The city had made its decision.
The Sleeper looked directly into Kael's eyes.
"The First Lock will test you."
Kael frowned.
"For what?"
The ancient being's answer came without hesitation.
"To see..."
Its golden eyes reflected the countless runes surrounding him.
"...whether you deserve to remember."
The instant those words were spoken, the silver sphere collapsed inward.
Light swallowed everything.
The city disappeared.
The prison vanished.
The Watcher.
The Traveler.
The ancient guardians.
Everything faded into brilliant white.
Then...
Kael opened his eyes.
He was no longer standing inside the underground city.
He stood alone in the middle of a quiet village.
Children laughed somewhere nearby.
Smoke rose gently from the chimneys of small wooden houses.
Fresh bread filled the morning air with its warm fragrance.
For a moment...
It looked like an ordinary day.
Until a familiar little girl ran toward him, smiling as though nothing had ever happened.
"Good morning!"
Iris grabbed his hand.
"Come on."
She laughed.
"Everyone's waiting for you."
Kael froze.
Because the village...
Had never existed in any of his memories.
Yet somehow...
It felt like home.