The old prison had waited for centuries.
Hidden beneath layers of stone and silence, it had survived the rise and fall of kingdoms.
Now…
It was waiting for Kaelira.
She descended the spiral staircase alone, carrying only a single lantern.
Each step echoed through the darkness.
The deeper she went, the colder the air became.
At the bottom stood the ancient cell they had discovered beneath Black Hollow.
The one that should have held a monster.
Instead…
It held an old man.
He sat quietly against the stone wall, his silver hair falling over tired eyes. Heavy chains of black iron wrapped around his wrists and ankles, though he made no effort to escape.
He looked up as Kaelira approached.
A faint smile crossed his weathered face.
“I wondered how long it would take you to come.”
Ka
