Aria sat quietly in the grand hall, clutching the strange necklace she had found hidden deep within the secret chamber. The air was thick with tension, the council members' eyes flickering between her and the glowing pendant in her hand. The room felt colder somehow, as if the very walls held their breath.
Kael stood beside her, his face unreadable. He had just examined the necklace, his brows furrowed in deep thought. "I've never seen this before," he finally admitted, his voice low. "Where did you find it?"
Aria looked up, her voice barely above a whisper. "At my chamber beneath the entrance. It was hidden behind a loose stone. I didn't know what it was until now."
Suddenly, the heavy doors at the end of the hall creaked open, and Elder Dorian stepped inside, his presence commanding the room. His silver hair caught the light, his eyes steady and serious.
"Enough of these questions," Dorian said, his voice firm but calm. "It is time the truth is told."
The council members exchanged uneasy glances, some whispering among themselves. Maria's lips curled into a sneer, clearly not pleased by the elder's interruption.
Dorian turned his gaze to Aria. "You hold more than just a necklace, child. That is the key to your true heritage. And I am the one charged with protecting that heritage."
Whispers erupted throughout the hall. Kael's eyes narrowed, surprise flickering in them. "Could it be?, you're saying you're the guardian?" he asked, stepping forward.
Dorian nodded slowly. "Yes. I am the last Guardian of the Lunaris Flameborn. I have watched over the ancient powers of our bloodline for centuries, waiting for the one who would carry the Flameborn's legacy forward."
Maria scoffed loudly, standing abruptly. "Liar!!!, this is ridiculous! You've been hiding in the shadows all this time. What proof do you have? Why should we trust you?"
Dorian met her challenge with unwavering calm. "Because I have trained the bloodline's protectors for generations. Because the very necklace you see in Aria's hands is the Seal of the Flameborn—a symbol only the true heir can wield. And because I have seen the awakening of the power within her today."
He gestured toward Aria, who clenched the necklace tightly. The council members' faces shifted from doubt to unease, and some to fear.
"This is outreagous, he's lying, he should be banished from this fortress or maybe still be stoned to death for this atrocity. " Maria advanced towards him.
Kael's voice rang out clearly. "If anyone harms Elder Dorian, they will answer to me. I decree that such an act will be punishable by death."
The room fell into stunned silence. Maria's face twisted in anger, but she dared not oppose Kael openly.
Dorian took a step closer to Aria. "I will be the one to guide you my child, teach you how to control the power that courses through your veins. You are not alone in this."
Aria felt a strange warmth spread through her, despite the weight of the moment. For the first time since arriving at the fortress, she felt a glimmer of hope.
The elder's confession had changed everything. The path ahead would be dangerous and uncertain, but with Elder Dorian's guidance and Kael's protection, she might just survive what was to come.