Chapter 30: Lira and Kael’s Journey (3)

The morning air was cool, mist hanging low over the trees as Lira and Kael prepared for the day's journey. Their hearts were heavy, yet the comforting presence of Gobinot, who stood confidently ahead of them, offered some sense of direction. He was already awake, calmly leaning against a tree, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. It was as if he anticipated the challenges ahead, with a calm assurance that seemed both comforting and unsettling.

Lira stretched silently, her eyes constantly watching Gobinot's every move. Despite his composed demeanor and soothing words, something about the man didn't sit right with her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but the more time they spent together, the more uneasy she became. It was as if an unseen shadow loomed over them—something that only she could feel.

Kael, on the other hand, was feeling lighter than he had in days. Gobinot's guidance, his promises of answers, had eased the burden of uncertainty that had weighed on him since losing Alaric. There was something comforting in the idea that someone like Gobinot, with his confidence and knowledge, might be able to help them find the truth.

"We need to be careful," Lira whispered, her tone cautious as she glanced at Kael. "We don't know anything about him."

Kael gave her a tired nod but didn't say a word. He trusted her instincts—he always had—but right now, he just wanted to believe that Gobinot was their key to solving the mysteries they were caught up in.

Gobinot, noticing their hushed conversation, turned and smiled. "The road ahead is still long," he said softly, "but if we keep our pace, we'll reach the old fortress before nightfall. There, we might find answers—maybe even about Alaric."

At the mention of their missing friend, silence fell between Kael and Lira. The wound of Alaric's disappearance was still fresh, and any reminder of him brought an ache neither could shake. Kael's eyes lowered, but Lira's gaze sharpened.

Gobinot's calm smile lingered. He turned and began to lead the way, his stride confident as ever. Too confident, Lira thought. How could this man be so sure of their path, so certain of the answers they were searching for? She clenched her fists, her mistrust growing with every step.

The fortress loomed before them hours later, nestled atop a hill, its stone walls darkened with age and covered in creeping vines. It seemed forgotten, abandoned long ago—yet Gobinot walked toward it as if it had been waiting for them.

"This is where you'll find the truth," he murmured, his voice carrying an eerie weight. "But be cautious. Those who guard this place... they are not fond of outsiders."

The word outsiders echoed strangely in Kael's mind. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, a flicker of concern in his voice.

Gobinot's smile didn't fade. "Let's just say they've been protecting secrets for a long time—secrets connected to an old world, to a place called Alokta."

Lira furrowed her brow. "Alokta? I've never heard of it."

For a moment, Gobinot's gaze drifted far off, as if recalling something from a distant past. "Alokta was once a great empire. Powerful. Some say it vanished, but its mark is still left behind in places like this."

Kael looked intrigued. "Vanished? Like the ruins we explored on Ebony Mountain?"

Gobinot nodded slowly. "Perhaps."

Lira narrowed her eyes. There was always a vagueness in his answers, as though he was telling them just enough to keep them interested but never enough to reveal the full truth. The further they walked, the more unsettled she became.

Inside the fortress, the air was cold and thick with the weight of forgotten history. Damp stones lined the walls, and their footsteps echoed through the narrow, winding corridors. Gobinot led them with unerring certainty, guiding them through the maze until they reached a large hall with vaulted ceilings. The room was dimly lit, with only a few flickering torches casting eerie shadows on the stone.

Standing in the center of the room was a man dressed in black and gold robes, his back turned to them. His posture was stiff, commanding, and his hands were clasped behind him. His face was hidden beneath a hood, but his presence alone was enough to suggest authority.

Gobinot stepped forward, seemingly unperturbed. "This is where it all begins."

The hooded figure slowly turned to face them, revealing a face marked by both age and wisdom. His eyes, deep and dark, seemed to pierce through them.

"What are you doing here, Gobinot?" the man asked, his voice low and cold.

Gobinot smiled faintly. "These young people seek answers. Answers that only you can provide."

Kael and Lira exchanged a glance, uncertainty flashing between them. Something about this felt wrong, but before they could voice their concerns, the man in black stepped toward them, his sharp gaze fixating on each of them in turn.

"What do you know of Alokta?" he asked bluntly.

Kael opened his mouth to respond, but Lira cut him off. "Nothing. We know nothing of Alokta. We're only here because we lost our friend, and we're looking for answers."

The man studied them in silence, as though trying to gauge the truth of their words. "Then you truly are ignorant. How... interesting."

He stepped back, his lips curling into a thin smile. "Alokta is an empire lost to time, a name forgotten by most. But its descendants still walk among us, hidden behind masks."

Lira stiffened. Was this a warning, or a threat? A cold chill ran down her spine, and she glanced at Gobinot, who remained quiet, his expression unreadable.

"What you seek will destroy you," the man continued, his voice chilling. "It would be best if you turned back now, before you delve into matters far beyond your understanding."

Kael felt a bead of sweat slide down his temple. "We just want to know what happened to our friend. That's all."

The man's eyes narrowed, and he took a step forward. "You speak of Alaric, don't you?" He paused, a hint of something strange in his tone. "That name... it's familiar. You seek answers, but perhaps the answers will find you before you're ready to hear them."

Kael, slightly disoriented by the cryptic nature of the man's words, felt a strange pressure weighing on his shoulders. He glanced at Gobinot, who continued to observe in silence, like a spectator in a play whose ending he already knew. And then, something clicked in Kael's mind. He hadn't noticed it before, but there was a symbol engraved on Gobinot's ring—an odd symbol that looked strikingly similar to one he had seen in the ancient texts they'd discovered on Ebony Mountain.

A flicker of doubt crossed Kael's face. Why was this detail surfacing now? And why did it remind him of Kwame, the mysterious man Alaric had briefly mentioned during their travels?

But before he could dwell on it, the man in black stepped back, leaving an uncomfortable silence in the room. "Follow me. If you truly wish to know the truth, there's something you need to see."

They followed the man through a winding set of corridors, descending deeper into the fortress until they reached a small, dimly lit chamber. Chains hung from the ceiling, and in the center of the room stood a crude wooden gallows.

"This is where you will die," the man said flatly.

Kael and Lira froze, their blood running cold. They had walked right into a trap. Gobinot, who had seemed so helpful and kind, now stood off to the side, his expression still unreadable.

"We're here to help!" Kael shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. "We haven't done anything wrong!"

The man in black's smile widened, though there was no warmth in it. "You sought answers in places you were never meant to go. And for that, you will pay the price."

It was in that moment that Lira understood. Gobinot had never truly been their ally. He had been playing them all along, guiding them like pawns in a game they didn't even understand.