Chapter 2: The Disgraced Knight

By sunrise, Elian had left Asterra.

He carried only a backpack, Orin’s old compass, and a strange silver key found beneath the lighthouse.

He was supposed to travel to the capital.

Instead, he found himself arrested.

The soldier who stopped him pointed toward the lighthouse insignia on his coat.

“You’re from Asterra?”

“Yes.”

“Then you’re coming with us.”

Elian was taken to a small coastal fortress.

There, he met Ser Kael Rowan.

The knight was sitting alone in a cell.

His armor was scratched and covered with salt.

“You look disappointed,” Kael said.

“I expected a royal officer.”

“You got me instead.”

“Who are you?”

“Someone who used to be important.”

Kael laughed bitterly.

Elian showed him Orin’s letter.

The knight read it.

His expression changed.

“The lighthouse is failing?”

“Yes.”

Kael stood.

“Then we don’t have much time.”

“You know about it?”

“I know what happened twenty years ago.”

Kael told Elian that he had once commanded a royal expedition into the Mist Sea.

His mission had been to destroy the creatures supposedly living beneath the ocean.

The expedition had failed.

Every ship had disappeared except his.

“I thought I was the only survivor,” Kael said.

“What happened?”

“I broke the pact.”

Before Elian could ask another question, the fortress bells rang.

A soldier burst through the door.

“Monsters!”

Kael grabbed his sword.

Elian followed.

They reached the walls.

Beyond the harbor, dozens of ships were fleeing.

Something enormous rose from the water.

The soldiers fired arrows.

The creature barely noticed.

Kael stared at it.

“That’s not a monster.”

“What is it?”

“A guardian.”

The silver key in Elian’s pocket suddenly became hot.

A voice whispered inside his head.

Find the promise.

Elian looked toward the horizon.

Three black ships were approaching.

Their flags belonged to the royal navy.

Kael’s expression darkened.

“The king knows.”

“Knows what?”

“Everything.”