The next morning, Chingy City woke to destruction.
Several buildings near the palace had been damaged.
The people were frightened.
Rumors spread through the streets.
Some said the First Dragon had returned.
Others said King Leo had gone mad.
Some believed the end of the kingdom had arrived.
Leo called an emergency council.
Everyone gathered in the great hall.
Farmers.
Teachers.
Warriors.
Doctors.
Builders.
Merchants.
Mothers.
Fathers.
Everyone had a seat.
Leo stood before them.
"I will not hide the truth."
The room became silent.
"Last night, something came through an ancient Gate beneath this palace."
Whispers spread.
"It was an army."
The crowd became nervous.
"But we stopped them."
A man stood.
"Who sent them?"
Leo looked toward the floor.
"I don't know."
Another person asked:
"Will they return?"
Leo didn't answer immediately.
Then he said:
"Yes."
Silence.
A woman stood.
"Then what do we do?"
Leo looked around the room.
"The same thing we have always done."
He placed his sword on the table.
"We stand together."
The crowd slowly began calming down.
But Mira wasn't listening.
She was staring at something behind Leo.
A portrait.
King Austin.
She suddenly noticed something strange.
There was a small mark beneath his portrait.
The same symbol that had appeared on her hand.
Mira walked toward it.
"King Leo."
He turned.
"What?"
"Your father's portrait."
Leo followed her gaze.
He walked closer.
Mira pointed.
"Look."
Leo's face changed.
He had seen the symbol before.
But never there.
He touched it.
A secret compartment opened.
Inside was a small crystal.
The crystal began glowing.
Then a voice came from it.
King Austin's voice.
"Leo."
Leo froze.
"Father?"
The voice continued.
"If you are hearing this, then the Gate has opened."
Everyone became silent.
Austin's voice sounded tired.
"I spent my entire life trying to prevent this moment."
Leo's eyes filled with emotion.
"But I failed."
The crystal glowed brighter.
"There is something I never told you."
Leo whispered:
"What?"
"Your mother was not the first person to carry the power of the Crown."
Leo froze.
The council members stared at one another.
Austin continued.
"Before the Crown of the Future existed, there was another power."
"The Heart of Time."
Mira stepped forward.
"The Heart of Time?"
Austin's voice answered.
"Yes."
"It was not a crown."
"It was not a weapon."
"It was a living source of time itself."
Leo stared at the crystal.
"Where is it?"
Austin's voice became quieter.
"I hid it."
"Where?"
A long silence followed.
Then Austin said:
"Beneath the first city."
The crystal suddenly cracked.
Leo stepped forward.
"Father!"
The voice returned one final time.
"Do not let the future find it before you do."
The crystal shattered.
Leo immediately called Kael and Mira.
"We're leaving."
Mira looked surprised.
"Where?"
"The first city."
Kael frowned.
"That place hasn't existed for thousands of years."
Leo nodded.
"Exactly."
They prepared quickly.
Leo chose only a small group.
Mira.
Kael.
Three trusted warriors.
And an old historian named Elias.
Before leaving, Leo stood before the council.
"I may not return."
The room became silent.
One of the farmers stood.
"Then we will wait."
Leo smiled.
"No."
He looked around.
"If I don't return, don't wait."
The farmer's eyes filled with tears.
"King Leo..."
"Continue."
Leo pointed toward the people.
"Continue building."
"Continue teaching."
"Continue protecting one another."
"Do not let fear become your king."
The people stood.
Then, one by one, they raised their hands.
Leo smiled.
"That's my kingdom."
He turned away.
Mira followed him.
As they left the palace, she looked back.
"Are you afraid?"
Leo smiled.
"Very."
Mira laughed.
"You're the king."
"Kings are allowed to be afraid."
"Then why are you going?"
Leo looked toward the distant mountains.
"Because courage isn't the absence of fear."
He paused.
"It's choosing to move forward anyway."