That night, the palace was quiet.
Everyone slept.
Everyone except one person.
A council member quietly entered the forbidden archive.
He closed the door.
Then removed a small black crystal from his pocket.
"Are you there?"
A voice answered.
"Yes."
The man looked frightened.
"I did what you asked."
"Good."
"I gave you the location of the first fragment."
"And the girl?"
The man hesitated.
"She doesn't know."
"Excellent."
The crystal began glowing.
The man whispered:
"What will happen to the kingdom?"
The voice laughed.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"Whether you survive long enough to see it."
The man froze.
"What?"
The crystal exploded.
BOOM!
The council member fell.
The door opened.
Mira stood outside.
She had seen everything.
"You."
The man slowly looked up.
Mira's face was filled with shock.
"Why?"
He crawled backward.
"I had no choice."
"You betrayed us."
"I was protecting my family."
Mira stepped closer.
"Who was speaking to you?"
The man shook his head.
"I can't tell you."
"Who?"
Suddenly, a shadow passed behind him.
The man looked terrified.
"No..."
Mira turned.
Nothing.
Then she looked back.
The council member was gone.
Only a black symbol remained on the floor.
Mira immediately ran toward Leo's room.
She opened the door.
"Leo!"
The king woke.
"What happened?"
Mira was breathing heavily.
"There's a traitor."
Leo sat up.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"What did they do?"
Mira looked at him.
"They already know where the first fragment is."
Leo's expression became serious.
"Then we have very little time."
At sunrise, the first expedition left Chingy City.
Leo.
Mira.
Kael.
Aria.
Elias.
And twenty warriors.
Their destination was the northern mountains.
The second fragment was hidden there.
But they weren't the only ones traveling north.
Far above them, black dragons flew through the clouds.
And behind them came the future army.
Watching.
Waiting.
The journey was difficult.
Snow covered the mountains.
The wind became stronger.
Eventually, they reached an enormous frozen gate.
Aria touched it.
"Behind this gate is the second fragment."
Leo looked at the enormous doors.
"Open it."
Aria shook her head.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because the gate doesn't open with strength."
Mira looked at the symbols.
"What does it need?"
Aria answered:
"A choice."
Mira stepped forward.
"What kind?"
The gate showed three images.
A crown.
A sword.
A heart.
Words appeared beneath them.
POWER.
VICTORY.
LOVE.
Mira stared.
"Which one?"
Leo said:
"None."
Everyone looked at him.
He stepped forward.
"The Crown of the Future was destroyed because people chose power."
He touched the symbol of the heart.
"But love alone isn't enough."
Then he touched the sword.
"Victory isn't enough either."
Finally, he touched the empty space beneath the three symbols.
"We choose responsibility."
The gate began glowing.
BOOOOM!
The doors opened.
Inside was a giant chamber.
At its center floated the second fragment.
But beside it stood someone they never expected.
The future Leo.
He smiled.
"You found it."
Leo raised his sword.
"You came for the fragment."
"No."
The future Leo shook his head.
"I came to warn you."
"About what?"
The future Leo looked behind them.
"The Watcher has already reached Chingy City."
Mira's face went pale.
"What?"
The future Leo whispered:
"And your kingdom is already under attack."
Then the mountain exploded.
KABOOOOOM!
Snow and stone filled the sky.
The future Leo disappeared.
Leo looked toward the distant horizon.
A dark cloud was rising above Chingy City.
Mira whispered:
"We have to go home."
Leo looked at the glowing fragment.
Then at his people.
Then at the mountains.
He made his choice.
"Take the fragment."
Kael grabbed it.
The moment he touched it, golden energy exploded.
The entire mountain shook.
And somewhere far away, the Watcher opened its eye.
"ONE."
The second fragment had been found.
But the war had begun.