The room fell silent.
Daniel couldn't take his eyes off the ancient map.
His hands trembled.
"The... Forgotten Kingdom?"
Bill nodded slowly.
"It was once the greatest kingdom in history."
"No country appears on today's maps."
"Because it no longer exists."
Daniel frowned.
"What happened to it?"
Bill walked toward the window.
"It disappeared."
Felix, Mary, Lucy, Noah, David, Lily, and Zoya had been called to the Headmaster's office as well.
They listened quietly.
Bill continued.
"Five hundred years ago, a terrible war destroyed the kingdom. The survivors scattered across the world, and everything about it was erased from history."
David suddenly held his head.
"The whispers..."
Everyone turned toward him.
"They know that name."
Bill's eyes narrowed.
"What are they saying?"
David closed his eyes.
A faint voice echoed inside his mind.
"The Kingdom never fell..."
"It was sealed."
David opened his eyes.
"They're saying it wasn't destroyed."
"It was sealed."
Bill didn't look surprised.
"I was afraid they'd say that."
Daniel looked between them.
"You already knew?"
"I suspected."
Bill sighed.
"But suspicion isn't proof."
He pointed to the map.
"If Ava is alive..."
"...this is the only place she could be."
Mary crossed her arms.
"So what's our plan?"
Felix answered before anyone else could.
"We go there."
Lucy immediately frowned.
"We've just survived a war."
"Half the academy is still recovering."
Noah nodded.
"She's right."
Bill raised his hand.
"No one is leaving today."
Everyone became quiet.
"The Academy War may be over..."
"...but the world isn't safe yet."
Just then—
A Ghost Killer rushed into the office.
He was breathing heavily.
"Headmaster!"
Bill turned.
"What is it?"
"We've received reports from the eastern region."
"What kind of reports?"
The Ghost Killer swallowed.
"Entire villages..."
"...have disappeared."
The room fell silent.
"Disappeared?"
The man nodded.
"No bodies."
"No survivors."
"Nothing."
Daniel's expression darkened.
"The Ghost Army?"
The messenger shook his head.
"We don't know."
Bill immediately unrolled another map.
Red circles marked several locations.
Daniel's eyes widened.
"They're connected."
Bill nodded.
"They're moving in a straight line."
David suddenly stepped closer.
His face turned pale.
"No..."
"What?"
David pointed to the final point on the map.
"The last place..."
"...is here."
Bill slowly followed his finger.
His expression changed instantly.
"The Forgotten Kingdom..."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Whatever was taking people...
Was heading toward the same place Ava had supposedly been taken.
That evening...
Daniel stood alone at Mr. Stone's grave.
The fresh flowers were still untouched.
He knelt quietly.
"I finally have a direction, Master."
He placed a hand on the gravestone.
"I don't know what's waiting for me."
"But I promised you."
"I'll find the truth."
"And I'll bring Ava home."
A soft breeze passed through the cemetery.
The leaves of the old oak tree rustled gently.
Daniel smiled faintly.
"...I hope you're watching."
Far away...
Beyond mountains no map could name...
Inside a vast underground chamber...
Thousands of glowing chains stretched across the darkness.
At the center...
A young girl sat with her eyes closed.
She looked exactly as she had years ago.
She had not aged.
Ancient runes covered the chains surrounding her.
Suddenly...
Her eyes opened.
One tear rolled down her cheek.
She whispered into the darkness—
"Daniel..."
The chains around her wrist glowed brighter.
Then—
A deep, unfamiliar voice echoed through the chamber.
"So..."
"The Vessel has survived."
A tall figure stepped out of the shadows.
His face remained hidden beneath a black hood.
He looked at Ava with cold eyes.
"The time has almost come."
Ava slowly lifted her head.
"You'll never use my brother."
The hooded man smiled.
"We'll see."
The chamber fell silent.
And deep beneath the Forgotten Kingdom...
Something ancient began to awaken.
To Be Continued...