The Stolen Heir’s Bond

The door groaned as it swung open, revealing a passageway shrouded in shadows. The golden glow from the runes along the walls barely reached inside, leaving the depths beyond hidden.

Kael's pulse quickened. Every instinct told him to proceed carefully.

Elaria, on the other hand, looked very done with all of this. "Great. Another dark, creepy corridor. Because that's always a good sign."

Kael shot her a look. "Would you rather go back to the king's men?"

She sighed. "Fine. But if something jumps out at us, I'm stabbing you first."

Kael smirked but didn't argue. He stepped through the doorway, and the moment he did—

The whispers started.

Not loud. Just a soft, distant murmuring, like voices carried on the wind.

Elaria stiffened. "Tell me you hear that."

Kael nodded. "I do."

The whispers weren't random. They were speaking a language Kael had never heard before—yet somehow understood.

"Blood remembers. Blood returns."

Kael's fingers twitched at his side. The same feeling he'd had at the archway—the sense of recognition, of being pulled toward something—grew stronger.

Elaria glanced at him warily. "Kael, you're doing that thing again."

"What thing?"

"The thing where magic reacts to you like it knows you."

Kael exhaled. "I'm not doing anything."

The whispers continued. Louder now. Urgent.

"Step forward, child of the lost."

Kael didn't like that.

Elaria grabbed his arm. "We should leave. Right now."

But something inside Kael wouldn't let him move back. He was meant to be here.

Instead, he took another step forward—

And the moment his foot touched the center of the chamber, the floor beneath him lit up with golden sigils.

Elaria swore. "Kael—"

The room came alive.

The walls rippled with ancient magic, the air thick with power older than the kingdom itself. And in the very center of the chamber—

A pedestal began to rise.

And upon it…

A sword.

Not just any sword. A king's sword.

The whispers fell silent.

Kael stared. He knew this blade. He had seen it before.

But that was impossible.

Elaria took a slow step toward him. "Kael… what is that?"

His throat was dry. His heartbeat pounded in his ears.

And in a voice barely above a whisper, he said:

"My father's sword."