Chapter 13: The Forbidden Wing

Elysia knew she had no time to waste.

Ephraim’s warning echoed in her mind—the ritual is in the Forbidden Wing of the castle. A place she had never dared to venture, one that even the servants whispered about in hushed, fearful tones.

But if that was where the answers lay, then she would go.

The castle was silent as she slipped through the dimly lit corridors, the torches flickering with an eerie glow. The deeper she went, the colder the air became, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath.

Then, she reached it—the entrance to the Forbidden Wing.

A massive iron door loomed before her, carved with strange symbols that pulsed faintly in the darkness. She hesitated for only a moment before placing her hand against the cold metal.

A shiver ran down her spine.

The door knew her.

Then, with a low groan, it swung open.

She stepped inside.

The corridor beyond was unlike any other part of the castle. The walls were covered in dark vines, pulsing as though they were alive. Strange whispers filled the air, too faint to understand, yet impossible to ignore.

Elysia forced herself to move forward.

She passed door after door, each one locked and sealed with markings she didn’t recognize. Then, at the very end of the hallway, she saw it—a single door left slightly ajar.

Her heart pounded as she pushed it open.

Inside was a small, dust-covered chamber, lined with bookshelves that stretched to the ceiling. The air smelled of parchment and time, and at the center of the room stood a stone pedestal.

Upon it lay an ancient book.

Elysia approached cautiously, her fingers trembling as she reached for it. The moment she touched the cover, a surge of energy pulsed through her, making her gasp.

The book recognized her.

Swallowing hard, she opened it.

The pages were filled with symbols and texts in a language she barely understood, but one thing was clear—this was the ritual. The key to entering the Vale of Shadows.

She traced the words carefully, her breath hitching as she read the final line.

To open the gate, one must offer a piece of their soul.

A chill spread through her veins.

This wasn’t just a simple spell. This was a sacrifice.

But she had come too far to turn back now.

Taking a deep breath, she committed the ritual to memory. She would do whatever it took to break Kael’s curse.

Even if it meant walking into the darkness itself.

As she closed the book, a sudden gust of wind swept through the chamber, extinguishing the torches and plunging her into darkness. For a brief moment, she could have sworn she heard a voice—low and whispering—He is watching.

Elysia's breath hitched as a cold sensation brushed against her skin, like unseen fingers trailing along her arm. She spun around, but the chamber was empty—only shadows shifting unnaturally along the walls.

A shiver ran down her spine.

Was it just her imagination, or had something awakened the moment she touched the book?

Clutching it tightly, she forced herself to move, her steps hurried as she fled the room. But even as she left the Forbidden Wing behind, the eerie whisper echoed in her mind.

He is watching… and he is waiting.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***