The bell rang a fourth time.
Its sound travelled across the mountains, passing through the ruined settlement of Ashford and disappearing into the endless darkness.
Nobody spoke.
Garrick, the former Legion knight, stood beside the doorway, his eyes fixed upon the distant golden light.
"It has begun," he whispered.
Edric adjusted the sword at his waist.
"How many survivors have answered?"
"Not enough."
"How many?"
"Seven that I know of. Perhaps more."
Caelan shook his head. "Seven? After twenty years?"
Garrick looked at him. "Some of us had families. Others were hunted. A few simply lost the courage to remember what we once were."
Edric's expression hardened.
"Then perhaps it is time they remembered."
He turned towards Orynth.
"We leave now."
They travelled through the remaining hours of darkness, following a narrow mountain path that gradually climbed towards the eastern heights.
The road became increasingly difficult. Loose stones shifted beneath their feet, and the cold wind carried the smell of rain.
Orynth walked beside Garrick.
"Why did you kneel when you saw me?"
Garrick glanced at him.
"Your pendant."
"It's just an old necklace."
"No. It is an insignia."
"What does it signify?"
Garrick hesitated.
"Your family was entrusted with something important. Something that existed before the Legion became an order."
Orynth frowned.
"Why does everyone speak about my family as though it were some great mystery?"
"Because it is."
"Did you know my father?"
Garrick stopped walking.
For a moment, his expression softened.
"I served beneath his command."
Orynth's eyes widened.
"Was he a good man?"
Garrick smiled faintly.
"He was the kind of man who would stand between an army and a child without considering whether he could survive."
He resumed walking.
"And he was the kind of man kings feared."
Orynth wanted to ask more, but Garrick offered nothing further.
By what should have been morning, they reached the mountain pass.
Beyond it stood Dawnspire.
Orynth stopped.
The fortress was enormous.
Its towers rose from a mountain of black stone, surrounded by broken walls and ancient battlements. Once, its architecture must have been magnificent. Golden pillars stood along the entrance, though many had fallen, and the remains of enormous statues guarded the outer courtyard.
A vast circular symbol had been carved above the main gate.
Seven rays surrounding a single circle.
The symbol of the Dawn Legion.
But the fortress was not entirely ruined.
Golden light shone from several windows.
And the gates were open.
"Welcome to Dawnspire," Caelan said quietly.
Orynth stared at the fortress.
"This is where the Legion lived?"
"Where it served," Edric corrected. "The Legion belonged to no fortress."
Garrick approached the entrance.
"Wait."
He placed his palm against the ancient symbol.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the golden markings began to glow.
A deep rumble travelled through the mountain.
The enormous gates slowly opened wider.
Orynth stepped backwards.
"What activated them?"
Garrick looked at him.
"Recognition."
The broken sword trembled beneath its wrapping.
Edric noticed.
"Keep it covered."
But it was already too late.
A brilliant golden line appeared across the blade.
The fortress responded.
One by one, the lights within its towers awakened.
Then a voice echoed from somewhere inside the walls.
"IDENTIFY YOURSELVES."
Garrick stood upright.
"Survivors of the Dawn Legion."
Silence.
Then the voice returned.
"STATE YOUR OATH."
Garrick drew his sword and held it upright.
"While darkness draws breath, we shall stand. While the sun remembers its name, we shall endure."
Caelan repeated the words.
Edric followed.
The three remaining riders raised their weapons.
Orynth hesitated.
He had never sworn such an oath.
He barely understood what it meant.
But he looked towards the fortress, then at the broken sword.
Something within him stirred.
He raised the weapon.
"While darkness draws breath," he began.
His voice trembled.
"We shall stand."
The golden light intensified.
"While the sun remembers its name..."
He looked towards the endless darkness above them.
"We shall endure."
The gates opened completely.
Inside Dawnspire, the air smelled of dust, old stone and forgotten memories.
They entered a vast courtyard surrounded by ruined buildings. Statues of ancient knights stood along the walls, their faces weathered by centuries.
At the centre stood a fountain.
It had long since run dry.
Yet its basin contained a faint golden glow.
Several people emerged from the surrounding buildings.
There were seven of them.
Some wore old Legion armour. Others dressed like ordinary travellers.
But each carried the insignia of the Dawn Legion.
An elderly woman stepped forward.
Her hair was white, and a long scar crossed her cheek.
She looked at Edric.
"You're late."
Edric gave a tired smile.
"I was occupied."
Her gaze moved towards Caelan.
"Still alive, I see."
"Disappointed?"
"Frequently."
Then she noticed Orynth.
Her expression changed.
She approached him slowly, studying his face.
"What's your name?"
"Orynth Veyr."
The woman closed her eyes.
For a moment, she seemed to be fighting an emotion.
Then she knelt.
The others followed.
Orynth stepped backwards.
"Please, don't."
The woman raised her head.
"Your father once stood in this courtyard."
Orynth swallowed.
"Who was he?"
She looked at the broken sword.
Then back at him.
"Someone whose name we were forbidden to speak."
Edric stepped forward.
"Enough, Seraphine."
The woman rose.
"Then perhaps you should finally tell him the truth."
Before Edric could respond, the fountain at the centre of the courtyard suddenly illuminated.
A golden flame rose from its empty basin.
Every person present fell silent.
A deep voice emerged from the flame.
"THE HEIR HAS RETURNED."
The broken sword began to glow.
Then a second message followed.
"THE FIRST VOW IS FAILING."
The flame flickered.
And beneath Dawnspire, something struck the ancient foundations.
Once.
Twice.
Then a third time.
Seraphine looked towards the ground.
Her face had gone pale.
"Impossible."
Garrick drew his sword.
"What is it?"
The elderly woman turned towards Orynth.
"The fortress has recognised you."
She paused.
"But something beneath it has recognised you too."
Far below their feet, behind seven sealed doors, an ancient voice whispered a name.
Veyr.
And the first of the seven seals began to break.