The night air was crisp, carrying the gentle murmur of the waterfall in the distance. The three siblings sat together upon smooth, flat rocks, their feet submerged in the cool water, the ripples distorting their reflections beneath the starlit sky.

  Ziraiah leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, before breaking the silence.

  A pause.

  Valerius and Eryndor exchanged glances, the revelation still settling within them. The cool breeze swept through, tousling their jet-black hair, but none of them spoke immediately.

  Valerius exhaled, breaking the tension.

  His gaze remained fixed on the rippling water below.

  Ziraiah raised an eyebrow, tilting her head toward him.

  Valerius hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line.

  "

  Eryndor, reclining lazily against the flat rock with his hands folded behind his head, interjected smoothly.

  Valerius snorted, a grin tugging at his lips. He turned to Ziraiah.

  Eryndor’s voice remained calm, but there was a warning undertone as he spoke.

  Valerius raised his hands in mock surrender.

  Ziraiah smirked, shrugging.

  Valerius chuckled, resting back against the rock.

  That was the breaking point.

  The siblings burst into laughter, their shared memories dissolving the weight of their predicament, even if only for a moment.

  Ziraiah grinned, nudging her brother.

  Eryndor, even in his usual composure, allowed himself a soft chuckle.

  They remained that way for a while, lying upon the rock, gazing at the sky, lost in nostalgia and disbelief.

  Eryndor arched an eyebrow, his tone as refined as ever.

  Ziraiah exhaled, her gaze locked upon the twinkling expanse above them.

  Valerius nodded in agreement.

  Eryndor’s voice was contemplative, his words deliberate, measured, and elegant.

  His tone sharpened slightly.

  His green eyes reflected the stars as he continued.

  A somber silence settled between them.

  Ziraiah broke it first, exhaling sharply.

  Valerius sat up slightly, rubbing his chin.

  Ziraiah added, her voice laced with realization.

  Eryndor’s voice remained calm, thoughtful.

  They let that thought linger, their minds grasping at the threads of their mother’s connection to Yilheim, yet unable to weave them into something complete.

  As they gazed at the sky, lost in speculation, footsteps approached.

  They turned their heads in unison.

  A towering figure emerged from the shadows—a man 9 feet 6 inches tall, his brown skin illuminated under the moonlight. Massive blue wings folded neatly behind him, partially concealed beneath the scholar’s coat he wore. A pair of thin-rimmed glasses rested upon his sharp nose, his demeanor poised and calculated.

  He stopped a few paces away from them, his expression neutral, yet inquisitive.

  His voice was smooth, scholarly, yet filled with quiet curiosity.

  The siblings sat up immediately, exchanging silent glances before turning their attention back to the man.

  Eryndor’s gaze was unwavering as he responded, his tone remaining as regal as ever.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  The man blinked before inclining his head slightly, as if conceding the point.

  He then removed his coat, unfurling his majestic blue wings, displaying them in full.

  Valerius whistled.

  Gefubin merely smiled before continuing.

  He glanced at the three siblings before asking, his voice tinged with both caution and intrigue.

  Eryndor, ever calculating, narrowed his gaze slightly. Without a word, he focused on Gefubin and activated the Gauge System.

  Two stars appeared above the Hysor’s head.

  A breath of relief left Eryndor’s lips, though he did not let it show.

  This man poses no immediate danger.

  With a subtle nod, he gestured toward the open space beside them.

  Gefubin returned his coat to his shoulders, concealing his wings once more, before lowering himself onto the rocks, his feet dipping into the water.

  For a moment, he simply sat there, letting the silence stretch, as if measuring his words carefully.

  Then, finally, he spoke.

  His gaze flickered between them.

  ---

  The Hidden Truth

  Gefubin rose to his full height, his bare feet touching the cool stone floor. His deep, contemplative gaze lingered on the siblings before he spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a weight of unspoken knowledge.

  Without waiting for a response, he turned and began walking, his coat shifting lightly with each step.

  The siblings exchanged glances before Eryndor, ever composed, made the decision.

  With that, they stood, the chill of the stone beneath their bare feet grounding them as they followed him through the hideout.

  The path led them toward an entrance concealed within the mountain itself, a stone stairway descending into the depths. The flickering light from the torches along the walls illuminated their path as they descended.

  Valerius, eyes darting around, let out a whistle.

  The walls were smooth, perfectly chiseled, as if time itself had preserved them, untouched by decay. With each step, the torches along the walls ignited on their own, lighting the way before them.

  They reached the bottom, standing before an immense door, its surface engraved with an intricate web of symbols and inscriptions. Gefubin placed his hand upon it, and with a low rumble, the door parted, revealing a vast chamber beyond.

  Ziraiah took a step forward and gasped.

  The chamber stretched far beyond what they had expected, shelves upon shelves of books stacked to the ceiling, neatly arranged. Tables and chairs were scattered throughout, and in the center of the chamber stood a large stone, its surface etched with the same ancient inscriptions they had seen in Ignir.

  Valerius took a step forward, recognition flashing across his features.

  Eryndor’s gaze narrowed as he examined it.

  Gefubin stood behind them, his voice carrying a scholarly precision.

  They approached, their fingers tracing the surface of the stone, feeling the perfectly carved inscriptions beneath their touch.

  Eryndor leaned in, his eyes scanning the intricate carvings, his mind racing through his vast recollection of knowledge. Then, a memory surfaced—a book he once read on Earth, one that bore the image of a similar stone. His breath hitched slightly as realization struck.

  His mind sharpened, connecting the threads.

  That confirms it. Every book their mother had written—every mineral, every unknown plant—they were never about Earth. They were about Yilheim.

  Valerius raised an eyebrow.

  He stepped forward, studying the stone more closely.

  Ziraiah scoffed. "Says the guy who always complained."

  Gefubin, standing silently behind them, observed their exchange with intrigue.

  They recognize the composition of the stone?

  He folded his arms, deep in thought.

  But that cannot be. The stone's name is not Yeru… It is called Helaid.

  His eyes flickered with curiosity before he spoke.

  Ziraiah, distracted by her newfound excitement, nodded.

  Gefubin tilted his head slightly.

  At that moment, Eryndor’s mind sharpened, the pieces falling into place.

  Then… Yeru must be its name in Synelee.

  And then, as if a lock had been undone within his mind, a realization struck with the force of a tidal wave.

  Of course.

  His mother had written two types of books for them—one in English, and one in Synelee.

  The English books contained common, established knowledge—things that could be found in any scholarly text but more advanced than what earths scientists had discovered.

  But the Synelee books?

  Every single one of them contained completely unheard-of information—minerals, creatures, languages, sciences… none of it existed on Earth.

  His lips curled into a slow smile, admiration blooming in his chest.

  I admire you even more, Mother.

  You placed the truth before us, yet veiled it so perfectly.

  He said nothing aloud, merely running his fingers along the inscriptions once more.

  The more he read, the more his expression shifted from intrigue to astonishment.

  Then, abruptly—

  Valerius’s voice rang out in English, breaking the heavy silence.

  The three of them snapped their heads toward him, their eyes widening.

  Without thinking, they instinctively switched to English, their voices hushed yet urgent.

  Ziraiah whispered,

  Valerius exhaled sharply, still staring at the stone.

  Unbeknownst to them, Gefubin stood nearby, his mind racing.

  What language was that?

  He had devoted his life to studying tongues—yet this… this was something entirely foreign.

  Valerius leaned back, arms crossed.

  Eryndor finally tore his gaze away from the stone, his voice measured.

  Ziraiah crossed her arms, exhaling sharply.

  Valerius snorted. "

  Ziraiah tapped her fingers against her arm.

  As they pondered their options, they slowly turned their gaze toward Gefubin.

  The scholar watched them with an unreadable expression.

  The three of them turned back to each other instantly.

  Valerius’s voice dropped to a whisper.

  Eryndor’s brow twitched slightly, his gaze turning toward his younger brother.

  Valerius grinned, placing a mock-affectionate hand on his brother’s shoulder while looking up at him.

  Eryndor exhaled, shaking his head in mild exasperation.

  He turned, striding toward Gefubin with an effortless grace, his expression betraying nothing.

  Gefubin straightened, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

  Eryndor clasped his hands behind his back, his posture poised, his voice the epitome of refinement.

  He met Gefubin’s gaze, unreadable, unreadable.

  Gefubin’s eyes narrowed slightly.

  Eryndor smiled—composed, effortless.

  To Be Continued...