The sky suddenly turned completely black.
The future Leo looked upward.
"No."
Aria whispered:
"It's here."
Mira looked around.
"What is the Watcher?"
Nobody answered.
Then the stars disappeared.
Every star in the sky.
Gone.
The moon vanished.
The valley became completely dark.
Then one enormous eye opened in the sky.
Gold.
Ancient.
Watching.
Everyone fell silent.
The eye looked directly at Mira.
A voice echoed across the mountains.
"FRAGMENT."
Mira covered her ears.
The voice shook her entire body.
"RETURN TO ME."
Leo stepped in front of her.
"Leave her alone."
The Watcher laughed.
"YOU ARE STILL TRYING TO PROTECT OTHERS."
Leo raised his sword.
"Yes."
"AS YOUR FATHER DID."
Leo froze.
The Watcher continued.
"AND LOOK WHERE IT BROUGHT HIM."
Leo's eyes widened.
"What do you know about my father?"
The Watcher answered:
"I WAS THERE."
Leo stepped forward.
"What happened to King Austin?"
The Watcher laughed.
"HE DID NOT DIE."
Everyone froze.
Mira whispered:
"What?"
The Watcher continued.
"HE WAS TAKEN."
Leo's sword fell slightly.
"Taken where?"
The Watcher looked at him.
"BEYOND THE GATE."
Leo's heart stopped.
"My father is alive?"
The Watcher answered:
"FOR NOW."
The Gate suddenly opened behind the Watcher.
A figure appeared inside.
An old man.
White hair.
A familiar face.
Leo stared.
"Father?"
King Austin was standing on the other side.
But he wasn't alone.
A dark chain was wrapped around him.
He looked directly at Leo.
His lips moved.
"Run."
Then the Gate closed.
Leo stood frozen.
"My father..."
The future Leo looked at him.
"Now you understand why I came."
Leo turned.
"Can we save him?"
The future Leo nodded.
"But there is a price."
"What?"
"You must enter the Gate."
Kael stepped forward.
"I'll go."
Mira stepped beside him.
"So will I."
Leo looked at them.
"No."
Mira shook her head.
"You can't go alone."
Leo smiled.
"You sound like my daughter."
Mira smiled.
"Maybe that's because someone has to stop you from making stupid decisions."
Leo laughed.
For the first time since the Gate appeared, he felt hope.
Then Aria spoke.
"There is one problem."
Everyone looked at her.
"The Gate will only open once."
Leo asked:
"When?"
Aria looked toward Mira.
"When the seven fragments are together."
They returned to Chingy City.
The people were waiting.
Leo told them the truth.
King Austin might still be alive.
The Crown was scattered.
The Watcher was coming.
And the Gate would eventually open.
Instead of panic, something unexpected happened.
The people stood together.
A farmer stepped forward.
"Then we'll help."
A teacher raised her hand.
"Where do we begin?"
A builder said:
"Tell us where the fragments are."
Leo looked at them.
Then he smiled.
"The future belongs to everyone."
The council immediately began organizing expeditions.
One group would travel north.
Another would sail across the ocean.
Another would travel toward the kingdom of fire.
Another would enter the city of shadows.
Mira would remain in Chingy City.
But she refused.
"No."
Leo looked at her.
"You need to stay here."
"Why?"
"Because the first fragment is inside the city."
Mira shook her head.
"I'm coming."
Leo sighed.
"You are stubborn."
"So are you."
Kael laughed.
For the first time, everyone laughed.
But deep beneath the palace, something moved.
A black hand slowly touched the ancient stone.
Then another.
A whisper echoed through the underground tunnels.
"Seven fragments."
A pair of golden eyes opened.
"Seven choices."
A smile appeared in the darkness.
"One future."
Then the voice whispered:
"And I only need one person to betray them."