Feeling Imu's gaze on him, Ezra D. Vale kept his expression calm and unreadable, but his heart was beating a little faster than usual.
After a moment, Imu let out a soft laugh.
"Alright, I understand. If you want to look for information, then go ahead."
A trace of joy flashed in Ezra's eyes.
"Thank you, Imu."
Imu gently pinched his cheek.
"Who told you you aren't my little brother?"
Then she paused slightly.
"But…"
Ezra frowned.
"But what?"
Imu shook her head lightly and did not continue.
"Hmm… it is not time to tell you that yet."
With that, she turned and walked toward her private room.
Soon after, she returned with a key and handed it to Ezra.
But Ezra's mind was still stuck on the unfinished words she had just said.
"Alright, stop thinking about it. When the time comes, I will tell you everything."
Ezra rolled his eyes.
"Imu, you always say that just to get me to stop asking."
Imu chuckled and patted his head.
"You little brat, how is that misleading you?"
"Go on, head to the archives. If you find anything interesting, come tell me."
"Understood, Imu," Ezra replied.
Then he turned and left the room.
Imu remained standing there, quietly watching his back as he disappeared down the corridor.
No one knew what she was thinking.
Will he discover it…? He should be able to.
She murmured softly, a complicated look flashing in her crimson eyes.
She wanted him to find the truth, yet she was also afraid of what he might become once he did.
But Ezra had no way of knowing any of that.
After leaving Imu's room, he headed straight for the meeting hall.
He still did not know the exact location of the archives.
Pushing open the doors, he saw the Five Elders still waiting respectfully.
"Welcome, young master!" they said in unison.
Ezra nodded slightly.
"Lead the way. Take me to the archives."
Only then did the Five Elders relax a little.
They looked at each other, then at the key in Ezra's hand, and finally sighed in relief.
"Of course, young master. Please follow us."
They immediately led him deeper into Pangaea Castle.
As they walked, Ezra could feel the atmosphere growing heavier and more isolated.
Although this was not the same path leading to Imu's chambers, he could tell they were already deep within the core of Pangaea Castle.
Finally, they stopped in front of a massive door.
"Please wait a moment, young master," one of them said.
Ezra nodded.
The Five Elders stepped forward, not opening the door directly.
Instead, they searched along the edges of the frame until they found a hidden mechanism.
Click.
A faint mechanical sound echoed.
Then came the sound of gears turning.
Click, click…
The ground suddenly began to shift.
Ezra raised an eyebrow.
"So the real archive is underground…"
One of the Elders explained respectfully.
"Yes, young master. This mechanism was personally designed by Lady Imu."
"Oh? Anything special about it?"
The Elder smiled faintly.
"For now, it is just a normal elevator system."
"But the real features… are further inside. Please be patient."
The platform continued to descend for several minutes before finally coming to a stop.
Ezra exhaled lightly.
"This depth is… something else."
The Elder led him forward.
"Please follow me."
He pressed a switch on the wall.
Instantly, the entire underground space lit up.
The light did not come from lamps, but from strange glowing stones Ezra had never seen before.
"These are Lumina Stones, created by Lady Imu herself," the Elder explained.
Ezra looked around carefully.
They were now standing before another massive gate.
The structure was ancient, impossible to estimate how long it had existed.
"How long has this place been here?" Ezra asked.
The Elder shook his head.
"We do not know, young master."
"It has existed since before we became the Five Elders…"
Ezra's eyes narrowed slightly.
If even they had served for over five hundred years, then this place was far older than that.
He became even more interested in what secrets were hidden inside.
"Open it," he said.
"Yes, young master!"
The Five Elders stepped forward.
A new mechanism appeared in front of them.
Five slots opened up.
Without hesitation, all five of them inserted their arms inside.
A moment later, a sharp pain flashed across their faces.
Blood traces appeared on their arms when they pulled back.
Ezra frowned slightly.
So it requires a price to open.
The Elder stepped forward again.
"Please wait a moment, young master."
Then the mechanism changed again.
The center of the door revealed a strange device.
"The final step depends on you," the Elder said.
Ezra raised an eyebrow and stepped forward.
"You only need to place your finger here. It will extract a drop of blood. It may hurt slightly."
Ezra did not hesitate.
He pressed his finger into the device.
A sharp sting followed.
A drop of blood was taken.
Then he pulled his hand back.
"This final step confirms whether Lady Imu acknowledges the entrant," the Elder added quickly.
Ezra nodded slightly.
So it is a blood verification system…
Most likely tied to Imu herself.
A faint mechanical hum filled the air.
The device shifted.
The gears inside began to move.
Click… click…
Then, with a deep rumbling sound, the massive door slowly opened.
-----------------------------
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