Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: The floor split open.

A violent wave of heat rushed through the Forge, forcing everyone to shield their faces. Molten rock surged through the cracks before stopping abruptly, as though something beneath the mountain had commanded it to wait.Seraphine stared at the opening.Her expression had changed."This cannot be happening."Garrick gripped his hammer."What is beneath the Forge?"Seraphine didn't answer.Lyra stepped closer."Seraphine."The Guardian finally looked at her."An ancient chamber.""What's inside?""The first prison."A cold silence followed.Kael frowned."Prison for what?"Seraphine looked toward the darkness beneath their feet."For the first creature that ever carried the corruption."A deep growl answered her.The sound wasn't coming from the creature they had already fought.It was coming from below.The black crystal surrounding the Heart of Courage began to fracture again.Seraphine immediately raised her sword."Everyone away from the Heart."Lyra didn't move."If we leave it, the corruption will spread.""And if you stay," Seraphine replied, "you may awaken something that cannot be put back to sleep."Lyra looked at the Heart.The crimson light inside it was growing stronger."Then we don't give it the chance."She raised her hand.The Hope Mark responded with a burst of silver light.Kael stepped beside her."I'll stay."Selene joined them."So will I."Rylan sighed and drew his weapon."I was hoping for a quiet second world."Aurelia gave him a sideways glance."You knew that wasn't happening.""I was hoping anyway."Despite the danger, Lyra smiled.Then the ground beneath them collapsed.Everyone fell.Lyra landed hard on a stone platform.Dust filled the chamber.She pushed herself upright and immediately searched for the others."Kael?""I'm here."His voice came from several feet away.Selene was already standing.Rylan groaned from somewhere behind them."I officially hate this mountain."Aurelia helped him to his feet.Seraphine and Garrick had landed on the opposite side of the chamber.Above them, the opening had sealed.They were trapped underground.Lyra looked around.The walls were covered with ancient carvings.Unlike the symbols inside the Forge, these drawings showed the Seven Hearts before they had been separated.At the center stood a figure surrounded by seven lights.The Creator.But beneath the image was something Lyra had never seen before.A second figure.A shadow standing behind the Creator.Lyra approached the wall."This isn't the Sovereign."Seraphine walked toward her."No.""Then who is it?"Seraphine studied the carving."I don't know."Garrick brushed dust from another inscription."Maybe the old records were right."Lyra turned."What records?"Garrick hesitated."Stories say the Creator didn't create the corruption.""The Creator discovered it."Astraeus suddenly spoke through Lyra's mind."That information was removed from the original records."Lyra stiffened."By whom?"There was a pause."I don't know."That frightened her more than any answer could have.The ancient chamber suddenly illuminated.Seven symbols appeared across the walls.One after another, they began glowing.Compassion.Courage.Wisdom.Faith.Unity.Truth.Balance.The second symbol—Courage—burned brighter than the others.Seraphine looked toward the Heart above them."It's responding."Lyra understood.The Heart wasn't simply being restored.It was showing them something.A voice echoed through the chamber.Not the Sovereign.Not the Devourer.Something older."The Hearts were divided to protect the worlds."Everyone froze.The voice continued."But division created weakness."A shadow moved across the walls."When the Seventh Heart falls, the seal will break."Kael stepped closer to Lyra."What seal?"The chamber shook.The seven symbols vanished.Only one sentence remained glowing on the wall.THE CREATOR WAS NOT THE FIRST.Lyra stared at the words.Before she could speak, the Heart of Courage exploded with crimson light.Seraphine cried out.The corruption surrounding it shattered.For one brief moment, the entire chamber became silent.Then the Heart spoke."Find the First Flame."The light disappeared.Seraphine slowly lowered her sword."That's impossible."Lyra looked at her."Why?"Seraphine's face had gone pale."Because the First Flame was destroyed thousands of years ago."Garrick shook his head."No."He stared at the inscription."The First Flame wasn't destroyed.""It was hidden."Lyra's compass began glowing.The needle turned away from the surface.It pointed deeper into the mountain.A new path opened behind the ancient wall.Kael looked into the darkness."So the Heart has given us our next destination."Lyra tightened her grip on the compass."Not just our next destination."She looked at the seven symbols."Another piece of the truth."Behind them, Seraphine stared at the restored Heart of Courage.For the first time in years, the crimson light no longer felt like a burden.It felt like an invitation.And somewhere beneath Ignis, something ancient had just awakened.