Two days after departing Silverdale, Grim’s party received an urgent ssage from Chen Xing. Their return to the capital was hastened by the contents of the letter.
By the ti they arrived at the Ambrose manor, night had fallen. Despite the late hour, Chen Xing awaited them in the study, surrounded by sketches, notes, and several unusual stone fragnts arranged carefully on Grim’s desk.
"Welco back, my lord," Chen Xing said as he greeted Grim. "The demolition of the Draykar estate has yielded... unexpected results."
"So your ssage indicated," Grim replied, surveying the collection of materials. "What exactly have the terraforrs found?"
Chen Xing selected a large architectural drawing. "As instructed, the demolition team began with the outer buildings, working inward toward the main house. When they reached the central foundation and began removing the stones, they discovered this."
He unrolled the drawing to reveal a detailed rendering of stone structures beneath the Draykar mansion’s foundation.
"These marking aren’t like anything I’ve ever seen," Chen Xing continued.
"Predating the capital itself," Grim observed.
"Precisely. Master Temri believes these structures were already ancient when the first imperial buildings were constructed. The capital was literally built around and over them."
Grim examined the drawings more closely.
"And these?" Grim asked, gesturing to the stone fragnts on his desk.
Chen Xing carefully lifted one of the pieces. "Found embedded in the wall."
The fragnt was a smooth, dark stone that felt unnaturally cool to the touch. These symbols are unlike any symbols Grim recognized.
"Have you consulted scholars about these markings?" Grim asked.
"Master Temri brought in Professor Aldren from the Magic College. He was... perplexed. According to him, the symbols don’t match any known ancient script. His exact words were ’either a previously undiscovered civilization or deliberate obfuscation.’"
"Obfuscation?"
"A code or cipher, designed to be readable only to those with specific knowledge." Chen Xing selected another stone fragnt. "But that’s not the most unusual aspect. These stones contain abudance of mana."
Grim’s interest sharpened.
"Has word of this discovery spread?" he asked.
"No. I instructed Master Temri to maintain absolute discretion. Her team believes they’re preserving historically significant artifacts, nothing more. Only the professor knows the full extent of what was found."
"Good." Grim moved to the window, gazing at the palace. "Have them leave the Chamber alone. We’ll create a passage into the Chamber while building the actual building."
Grim turned back to the desk, silent for a mont as if listening to sothing only he could hear.
[Ancient foundations,] the voice said intrigued.
"Do you know what this is?" Grim asked silently.
[I have suspicions,] the voice replied. [I don’t know what the markings are. But, my geuss would be that its a realm entrance.]
"Can it be reopened?"
[Possibly. But not without first understanding the symbols. They’re likely instructions or warnings—or both. Unsealing a realm entrance without proper preparation would be... unwise.]
Grim returned his attention to Chen Xing, who waited patiently for instructions.
"The construction will proceed as planned," Grim declared, moving to his personal desk and removing a rolled set of architectural plans. "With one modification. The main structure should be positioned directly above the center of the ancient foundation."
He unrolled the plans across the table. Chen Xing leaned forward to look at the docunts.
The blueprints showed a circular building surrounded by eight connected smaller buildings. The central building featured a large circular chamber with a dod roof, surrounded by smaller rooms and passages.
"This is... unexpected," Chen Xing said carefully. "Not a traditional manor house at all."
"We’re not building a manor... you should recognize what this is."
Chen Xing studied the plans more carefully, his eyes widening as realized what it was.
"This is... a cultivation sect," Chen Xing said, his voice barely above a whisper. "The empire doesn’t have a sect.
"Correct." Grim said. "We’re going to transform this empire."
"House Ambrose was never ant to be rely a noble family," Grim said. "That was a compromise forced by imperial politics. We were cultivators first, nobles second. My grandfather gave so history lessons, along with my training."
Chen Xing looked up from the plans. "The other noble houses won’t expect this. The establishnt of a cultivation sect."
Chen Xing rolled the plans carefully. "Does this structure have a na?"
Grim was silent for a mont, his expression thoughtful. "Yes," he said finally. "It does have a na."
He took a blank sheet of paper and wrote down so words for Chen Xing.
Chen Xing read the na, his eyebrows rising slightly. "An appropriate choice, my lord. I’ll ensure it’s recorded correctly."
As Chen Xing gathered the materials to depart, Grim held back one of the stone fragnts—the one with the most elaborate symbols. When he was alone, he studied it more carefully, tracing the strange markings with his fingertip.
"A sealed realm entrance," he murmured. "Hidden beneath a noble house for centuries."
[Not just any noble house,] the voice pointed out.
Grim set the stone down, his mind working through the implications. "I doubt Draykar knew about it. Julius might know about it. If he doesn’t, maybe he has records about it when the kingdom was founded."
[The location of the entrance explains much,] the voice mused. [Why Julius was so eager to defend him more than Lord Terras. The question is—how much does he truly know?]
"We’ll find out," Grim replied, carefully placing the stone fragnt in a locked drawer. "But first, we build."
He turned back to the window, gazing in the direction of the Draykar estate. Soon, where a noble house once stood, a cultivation sect would be built.
[And the symbols?] the voice asked. [Will you seek to translate them?]
"In ti," Grim answered. "First, we need the building."
The moon had risen fully now, casting silver light across the capital. Grim smiled faintly.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Sera entered carrying a ssage.
"My lord, Lady i has sent urgent information regarding Master Korin Silverscale," she said, presenting a sealed envelope.
Grim broke the seal and scanned the contents quickly. His expression grew more focused as he read.
"Is the situation concerning, my lord?" Sera asked.
"Concerning enough." Grim replied.
He glanced down at the detailed notes Lady i had provided. The half-dragon blacksmith’s circumstances were clearly more complex than initially reported.
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