The Fourth Bearer

The unsaid

The Fourth Bearer

— Chapter Seven

The Truth He Could Tell

The alarm continued to echo throughout the city.

Elara stood beside the window, staring at the place where the silver light had disappeared beneath her skin.

"What just happened to me?"

Evren didn't answer immediately.

She turned toward him.

"No more avoiding the question."

His eyes remained fixed on her hands.

"That light wasn't supposed to appear."

"Why?"

"Because no one has seen it in centuries."

Elara's stomach tightened.

"Then tell me what it is."

Evren looked toward the guard who had entered the room.

"Leave us."

The guard hesitated.

"My lord—"

"Now."

The door closed.

Elara crossed her arms.

"I'm waiting."

Evren walked toward the window.

"The mark you saw is called a Bearer's Mark."

"A Bearer's Mark?"

"There have only been three recorded Bearers throughout our history."

Elara's eyes widened.

"Three?"

"Three before you."

The words settled heavily between them.

"You think I'm the fourth."

"I think the evidence is pointing toward it."

"That's not the same thing."

"No."

"Then what else do you need?"

Evren looked at her.

"Proof."

Before Elara could respond, another explosion shook the building.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

Evren reached for his sword.

"We have to move."

Elara didn't.

"You said there were only three bearers."

"Yes."

"What happened to them?"

Evren hesitated.

"They disappeared."

"All three?"

"Not at the same time."

He lowered his voice.

"The last one vanished during the Great War."

"And no one knows what happened?"

"History says she died."

Elara frowned.

"But you don't believe that."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because before she disappeared, she left a message."

Elara waited.

Evren's expression changed.

"She said the Fourth would return."

A chill ran through Elara.

"Return?"

"Those were her words."

Elara looked down at her hands.

"So people have been waiting for me?"

"Some have."

"Why?"

"Because the Fourth Bearer is believed to possess something the others didn't."

"What?"

Evren's gaze met hers.

"The ability to awaken what was buried in the old kingdoms."

Elara thought of the eight banners from her vision.

"The eight kingdoms."

Evren nodded slowly.

"You've seen them."

"Yes."

His expression tightened.

"Then we have a problem."

"Why?"

"Because those kingdoms weren't supposed to appear in your visions."

"Why not?"

"Because the history surrounding them was erased."

"Erased by who?"

"The surviving rulers."

Elara stared at him.

"Why would they erase their own history?"

Evren looked toward the door.

"Because the old kingdoms were destroyed for a reason."

A strange pressure formed in Elara's chest.

"What reason?"

He hesitated.

"That's the truth I can give you."

She frowned.

"That's it?"

"For now."

Elara stepped closer.

"Then I'll find the rest myself."

Something flickered in Evren's eyes.

"That's what I'm afraid of."

A sound echoed through the corridor.

Footsteps.

Several people.

Evren's hand tightened around his sword.

"They're here."

"The Council?"

"No."

He looked toward the door.

"The Council wouldn't arrive this quickly."

Elara's stomach dropped.

"Then who?"

Evren's expression hardened.

"The people who followed you through the breach."

The door suddenly shook beneath a violent impact.

Elara backed away.

Evren moved in front of her.

But this time, she didn't stay behind him.

She looked toward the glowing symbols carved into the floor.

The same silver light began pulsing beneath her feet.

Evren turned.

"Elara, don't."

"I don't know what this is."

"Neither do I."

"Then we're about to find out."

She stepped into the center of the symbol.

The light exploded outward.

For one heartbeat, everything went silent.

Then a woman's voice whispered inside Elara's mind.

Find the one who remembers.

Elara's eyes widened.

And somewhere beyond the door, something answered.

"Bearer."

The doors began to splinter.

Elara looked at Evren.

"We need to move."

For the first time, he didn't tell her to stay behind him.

He simply nodded.

And together, they ran.

Chapter Eight

The Mark

They ran.

Elara's footsteps echoed through the stone corridor as Evren led her deeper into the palace.

Behind them came the sound of splintering wood and shouting.

The Hunters.

“Where are we going?” Elara asked.

“Somewhere they won't think to look.”

“And the people following us?”

Evren glanced back.

“They're not the Council.”

“Then who are they?”

“The Hunters.”

The word sent a chill through her.

“What do they want?”

“To make sure you never awaken.”

Elara's jaw tightened.

“I'm getting tired of people deciding what I am.”

Evren looked at her.

“Then perhaps stop letting them.”

Before she could answer, they reached a narrow staircase.

Evren pushed open a hidden door.

Cold air rushed over them.

Beyond it was an underground passage illuminated by faint blue crystals.

Elara stepped inside.

“How old is this place?”

“Older than Veyra.”

She stopped.

“You knew this existed?”

“I knew of it.”

“That's not the same thing.”

“No.”

Elara shook her head.

“Keep moving.”

They descended deeper.

Then pain shot through her palm.

Elara cried out.

Silver light appeared beneath her skin.

She stared as an intricate symbol spread across her palm.

Eight sharp points surrounded a silver circle.

The mark pulsed.

Evren reached for her.

“Don't touch it.”

“I wasn't planning to.”

The moment she looked at the symbol, the world disappeared.

A vast golden hall surrounded her.

Eight figures stood beneath eight different banners.

And at the center stood Seraphine.

The woman from her earlier visions.

Seraphine lifted her hand.

The exact same symbol glowed in her palm.

Elara stepped closer.

Eight points.

Eight banners.

Eight crowns.

She understood without knowing how.

The symbol was connected to all of them.

Seraphine turned.

Her eyes met Elara's.

Then the vision shattered.

Elara stumbled backward.

Evren caught her arm.

“Elara.”

She pulled herself upright.

“I saw her again.”

“Seraphine?”

She nodded.

“She had the mark.”

Before Evren could respond, a voice came from the darkness.

“Then the old stories were true.”

Elara spun around.

A man stepped from the shadows.

Dark hair.

Black clothing.

A silver dagger at his side.

His eyes immediately settled on her palm.

Evren drew his sword.

“Kael.”

Kael smiled faintly.

“Always so welcoming.”

“You shouldn't be here.”

“And yet I am.”

Elara looked between them.

“You know him?”

“Unfortunately.”

Kael's smile widened.

“I've heard worse introductions.”

A crash echoed through the passage.

Kael's expression changed.

“The Hunters.”

Evren tightened his grip on his sword.

“What are you doing here?”

“Trying to keep you alive.”

“We didn't ask.”

“You rarely do.”

Kael's gaze returned to Elara.

His eyes lingered on the symbol.

“Where did you get that?”

“It appeared.”

His amusement disappeared.

“That shouldn't be possible.”

“So I've been told.”

Kael stepped closer.

Elara noticed the symbol carved into the hilt of his dagger.

Her eyes narrowed.

“That.”

Kael looked down.

“What about it?”

“I've seen it before.”

His expression sharpened.

“Where?”

“In my vision.”

Silence.

Kael slowly covered the dagger with his hand.

“What exactly did you see?”

“Seraphine.”

The name changed something in his face.

Elara noticed.

“You know her.”

“I know of her.”

“That's not an answer.”

“No.”

He looked at the mark again.

“But it's the only one you're getting right now.”

Elara stared at him.

“You expect me to trust you?”

“No.”

Kael glanced toward the tunnel.

“I expect you to survive long enough to decide whether you should.”

Another crash shook the passage.

Evren turned.

“They've found the entrance.”

Kael drew his dagger.

“We need to go.”

Elara looked into the darkness ahead.

Then back at Kael.

“You're coming with us?”

“If you don't want me to, you'll have to stop me.”

Evren muttered something under his breath.

Elara ignored him.

For once, nobody was dragging her anywhere.

She made the decision herself.

“Fine.”

Kael raised an eyebrow.

“Fine?”

“I'm choosing to let you come.”

A slow smile appeared on his face.

“That's much better.”

Elara turned toward the passage.

“Now move.”

The three of them disappeared into the ancient tunnels as the Hunters entered behind them.

And Elara carried one thought with her.

Kael knew what the mark meant.

He simply wasn't ready to tell her.

Yet.