The footsteps continued down the stairs.
One step. Then another. The sound echoed through the underground chamber, growing louder with every second.
Nobody moved. Rin stood beside Kaelith, watching the darkness above them.
Kaelith's magic remained gathered around his hand, ready to strike at the slightest movement.
Kaan stayed close to Lucien. The twelve former Divine Knights had gathered together, their expressions tense.
Even Sol had stopped making jokes. The crystal floating above the pedestal continued to glow faintly.
Then a figure appeared at the bottom of the stairs. An old man.
He wore a long, damaged robe covered in ancient Divine symbols. His hair was almost completely white, and several old scars crossed his face.
But what caught Rin's attention wasn't his appearance. It was the symbol around his neck.
The same symbol that had appeared on the crystal. Kaan immediately stepped backward.
"I know that symbol."
The old man stopped.
"You should."
