The academy had not returned to normal.
Even after the first Veil disappeared, the atmosphere remained heavy. Birds avoided the northern mountains, the wind refused to pass through the eastern towers, and every magical instrument stopped working for a few seconds at midnight.
Something was changing.
And everyone could feel it.
Eiryn stood beside the window, staring toward the distant mountains.
"You're doing it again."
Jay's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Eiryn turned.
Jay stood at the door, holding two plates of breakfast.
"Doing what?"
"Staring at mountains like you're waiting for them to apologize."
Eiryn said nothing.
Jay placed one plate on the table.
"Eat. If you collapse again, I'm not carrying you."
"You carried me last time?"
"No. I called for help. Same thing."
Before Eiryn could reply, the door opened.
Commander Kael entered.
His expression was unusually serious.
"We need to talk."
Jay sighed.
"Does anyone in this academy know how to say good morning?"
Kael ignored him.
"The ancient gate beneath the mountain has opened further."
Eiryn's eyes narrowed.
"How much?"
"Enough for something inside to speak."
Silence filled the room.
"What did it say?" Eiryn asked.
Kael looked directly at him.
"It asked for you."
---
The Seven Seals
Inside the restricted archive, Rei stood before an enormous parchment.
Its surface was covered with symbols that seemed to move whenever someone looked away.
Eiryn approached.
"What is this?"
Rei touched the parchment carefully.
"A record of the Seven Seals."
"Seven realms?"
"No. Seven seals. Each one protects something beyond the known Veils."
Kael crossed his arms.
"What happens if all seven disappear?"
Rei hesitated.
"Something returns. Something that even the old gods refused to name."
Jay slowly raised his hand.
"Just checking... Is there any chance we can leave all seven alone?"
Nobody answered.
Rei continued.
"There is something else. I remember that Eiryn wasn't alone during his time as the Veilbreaker."
Eiryn looked at her.
"Who was with me?"
"I don't know. My memories are blocked. But I remember a voice."
"What did it say?"
Rei closed her eyes.
"The Crown has found its master."
At that exact moment, four bells rang across the academy.
Kael immediately turned toward the entrance.
"Someone has arrived."
---
The Man Without a Shadow
An elderly man entered the archive.
His grey hair reached his shoulders. He wore a long white coat and carried a wooden staff decorated with seven metallic rings.
But something was wrong.
He had no shadow.
The man looked at Eiryn.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he smiled faintly.
"So... the forgotten one has finally awakened."
Kael stepped forward.
"Master Oryn?"
The old man nodded.
"I see the Silver Eye Order still remembers its manners."
Eiryn studied him.
"Who are you?"
"Someone who remembers what the world has forgotten."
Oryn approached him.
"Your power is returning, but you are incomplete. Your memories are incomplete. Even your essence is incomplete."
"Then tell me what happened."
Oryn looked toward Rei.
"That depends. Does she remember the promise?"
Rei lowered her eyes.
"No."
Oryn sighed.
"Then we have very little time."
---
The Seventh Name
Master Oryn led them deeper into the restricted archive.
At its centre stood an ancient stone table.
Seven names were carved into its surface.
Six were visible.
The seventh had been erased.
Eiryn placed his hand over the empty space.
The entire archive trembled.
Blue light spread across the stone.
Letters began appearing.
VEILBREAKER.
Jay stepped backward.
"Why does everything ancient keep reacting to him?"
Oryn answered quietly.
"Because he was not merely one of the guardians."
Eiryn looked at him.
"Then what was I?"
Oryn's expression changed.
"You were the reason the Seven Seals were created."
For the first time, even Commander Kael seemed unable to speak.
Eiryn stared at the name.
A strange pressure formed inside his chest.
He could feel something calling him.
Not from the archive.
From beneath the mountain.
---
The Forgotten King
Far below the academy, beyond the ancient gate, a mysterious figure stood in darkness.
The cracks in the gate spread slowly.
A voice emerged from the other side.
"Find the girl."
Another voice answered.
"She remembers nothing."
"She remembers the promise."
The figure paused.
"And the Veilbreaker?"
A faint smile appeared in the darkness.
"He will remember."
---
The Promise
Eiryn suddenly froze.
The archive disappeared.
He stood inside a vast palace.
Seven enormous pillars surrounded a black throne.
A figure sat upon it.
The figure wore a black crown.
Its face was Eiryn's own.
Beside the throne stood Rei.
The crowned Eiryn looked at her.
"Will you trust me?"
Rei answered without hesitation.
"Always."
The crowned figure lowered his head.
"Then forgive me."
The vision shattered.
Eiryn returned to the archive, breathing heavily.
Rei rushed toward him.
"Eiryn! What did you see?"
He looked at her.
"I was wearing a crown."
Oryn's staff struck the floor.
The seven metallic rings began vibrating.
An inscription appeared across the stone table:
WHEN THE VEILBREAKER REMEMBERS HIS FINAL NAME...
THE ONE WHO WAS ERASED SHALL RETURN.
Nobody moved.
Then, from beneath the mountain, a voice travelled through the stone.
"Welcome back..."
A pause followed.
"My forgotten king."