Chapter 12
Viora came home after a long day of work. She was exhausted.
"Grandpa…" she called, her voice tired.
She lived with her grandparents, and her grandpa was always home at this time.
"Grandpa?" she called again, a little louder.
There was no reply.
A small worry crept into her chest. She walked toward his room, her steps slow and uneasy. Reaching the door, she pushed it open gently.
"Grandpa…" she whispered.
Still no reply.
She stepped inside the room.
Viora stepped inside the room and froze.
The room was a mess. Papers were scattered all over the floor, some crumpled, some covered in strange sketches and notes.
"What was Grandpa doing…?" she murmured to herself.
Her eyes slowly lifted to the wall.
It was covered with drawings doors, dozens of them, pinned in every direction. She stepped closer, her breath growing uneven. Each door looked ancient, carved with strange patterns and symbols she didn't understand.
A thin red thread connected them all.
It stretched from one drawing to another… crossing, twisting
But they all led to a single door.
One door at the center.
She leaned in closer, studying the threads and the strange doors.
Suddenly…
a hand touched her shoulder.
Viora flinched and turned quickly.
"Grandpa…!" she said, a nervous smile spreading across her face.
He stood there calmly, holding a cup of tea. Without a word, he handed it to her.
"How is your work at the library going?" he asked gently.
Viora took the cup with both hands, still a little shaken.
"It's all going well," she said softly.
He sat down in the chair, picked up a book, and began reading.
"Papa…" she said softly, "what are those door pictures on the wall? What are they?"
He looked at Viora, a faint smile forming on his face.
"It's a long story," he said.
"What kind of story?" Viora asked, her curiosity growing.
He let out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair.
"Long ago… before you were born, there was a war in our kingdom."
Viora frowned slightly, still looking at the wall.
"Okay… what's the connection between them?" she asked.
He looked at her, his expression turning serious.
"That war wasn't between two kingdoms… it was because of a single person," he said slowly.
"He came to destroy this land. And in his final moments… he sealed all the doors."
"What…?" Viora blinked, then let out a small laugh.
"Are you kidding, Papa?"
His smile faded.
"That one man…" he said quietly, "he destroyed half the land."
He paused, his voice growing heavier.
"And he took my son with him."
Viora's expression turned serious.
"Who was that?" she asked quietly.
He looked at her for a moment, then began.
"It was a clear full moon night. Everyone in the land was living peacefully. That day was special… a night of celebration.
"Our kingdom ruled over almost every land… except one. We went to conquer it, but we couldn't destroy that kingdom. We almost brought it down… but their king was too strong."
He paused, his eyes distant.
"And on that night of celebration…"
"Your grandmother and I were at the highest point of the land. From there, we could see the entire kingdom," he said softly.
"It was a night of celebration… everyone was enjoying themselves."
He paused, his voice growing quieter.
"Your father and mother were there too… smiling, laughing… enjoying the night."
"In that moment… I saw something covering the moon," he said slowly.
Then suddenly
A massive explosion tore through the center of the village.
"A terrifying aura burst from the explosion, powerful enough to shake the entire village…"
Viora's eyes lit up with excitement.
"They're attacking our land!" she said.
He shook his head slowly.
"Not they…" he said.
"Just one man."
"What…? Just one man?" Viora said, confused.
"When I reached there… he had almost destroyed the land," he said.
"All the soldiers… the guardians… everyone was on their knees in front of him."
"In his final breath… the man used his own blood to seal all the doors."
"That day is something I can never forget."
"That is why no one has been able to awaken their powers."
"If that's true… then how did I awaken my power?" Viora asked, her voice shaking slightly.
"The power is within you… but it hasn't fully awakened."
"It's a long story… and since that day, no one like him has ever returned."
"But… why did he come?" Viora said.
Grandpa looked at Viora, his eyes filled with uncertainty. He let out a quiet breath and gently shook his head, showing he didn't know.
"Go freshen up… you must be tired," Grandpa said.
She slowly stepped out of the room.
Water ran over her, but her thoughts wouldn't stop.
How can the seal be broken…?
How do I awaken the power?
In that moment, curiosity took over her.
She quickly finished her bath, wrapped a towel around herself, and hurried to her grandpa's room. Without waiting, she pushed the door open.
"Papa…" she called out, a little breathless.
"What did he look like?"
"Who…?" Grandpa looked at her, confused.
"The one who came to destroy our land… that man," she said.
Grandpa chuckled softly. "Go change your clothes first."
Only then did she realize she was still wrapped in just a towel.
Embarrassed, she quickly ran to her room, changed her clothes, and then returned to her grandpa's room.
She dragged a chair closer and sat down in front of her grandpa.
"So… you want to know about that man?" he said.
She quietly nodded in agreement.
"When I saw him… he wasn't alone. There were three of them," Grandpa said.
"What…?" she asked, surprised.
"A dragon… a massive ape… and the man," Grandpa said.
"He looked powerful… his white hair moved with the wind, and in his hand, he carried a black sword."
Viora listened carefully, not missing a single word.
"In the war, the dragon was killed… and the giant ape destroyed the prison," he said.
"Then what happened?" Viora asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
"Your father…" he said slowly,
"was the only one who stood against him…
and the one who saved this land."
When she heard this, a soft smile appeared on her face.
After a long silence, she finally asked, "What exactly are those doors?"
Grandpa reached out his hand to the table. A book lay there.
He picked it up and handed it to Viora.
"This book carries the records of every guardian of this land," Grandpa said.
"Find them… and ask them your questions."
"Again…? Every time I ask you anything, you always give me a task," Viora said with a sigh.
He laughed out loud, his voice filling the room.
She turned and quietly left the room.
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In a place where voices have long faded… something remembers.
The wind slows.
Even the leaves seem to hold their breath.
Step…
Step…
The lion does not look around. He does not hesitate.
It is as if he already knows this place knows what happened here.
A broken doorway stands ahead, half covered in vines.
He stops.
For a moment… everything is still.
Then his eyes shift just slightly.
Something unseen moves in the air. A presence. Old. Buried.
The ground beneath him feels heavier… as if the past itself is pressing upward.
The lion exhales.
A low, deep breath.
And then He steps forward.
Not as a wanderer.
But as something that has returned. After walking through the abandoned village, the lion suddenly stopped.
His gaze shifted.
Ahead, on the path, something was covered in thick creepers twisted vines crawling over it, hiding its true form.
He slowly sat down on the path, right in front of the creepers.
For a long time, he just stared at it… unmoving.
The wind passed, but he didn't react.
Then, slowly, he lowered his head.
After a moment, he lifted his head, stood up… and continued walking..
Ahead of him stood a massive gate tall, ancient, and worn by time. Creeping vines and moss clung to its surface, yet it still stood strong.
Without hesitation, he passed through it. Beyond the gate, a long stone staircase stretched upward fifty wide steps leading toward what was once a palace.
The steps were cracked, edges softened by time, and patches of grass pushed through the stone…
But the path remained clear. At the top, the ruined palace waited in silence. He stepped into the hall. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the empty space, each step ringing against the ancient walls. At the far end, an old man sat alone. The lion walked toward him… and quietly sat beside him.
"After all this time… you've returned, Scarface," the old man said quietly.
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