The Royal Archives – Solon Citadel, Tavara
The marble towers of Solon Citadel shimmered in the morning light like silent guardians of secrets long buried. Beneath them, secured by quantum locks and biometric guardians, rested the Royal Archives of Tavara—off-limits to the public, protected even from most within the government.
Damien, Nora, and Evelyn approached the entrance dressed in diplomat-issued disguises. Behind them, Kiyomi and Elijah maintained overwatch from a high vantage point across the hill.
"This place gives me the creeps," Evelyn murmured, glancing up at the stone gargoyles that lined the upper turrets.
"It should," Damien said. "Every blood pact, political deal, and royal betrayal of Tavara's history is sealed in these walls."
Nora handed her clearance badge to the gatekeeper—an AI-generated hologram that flickered with a humanoid form.
"Access granted," it replied. "Level Six. Vault Chamber."
Inside, silence consumed them.
Walls of encrypted manuscripts, ancient scrolls preserved in glass, digital archives with DNA-coded entry keys. Nora's eyes locked onto a golden emblem engraved with her family crest—the Wyldes.
---
Location; Vault Chamber Delta
"Here," she said, scanning the seal. It opened with a hiss.
Inside, a cylindrical pedestal rose from the ground. Projected above it was a map—no cities or borders—just bloodlines. Red and gold threads ran through hundreds of names, interlinking dynasties, families, traitors.
Damien approached slowly. "There's my father... and Nora's parents. And… Rhea's line."
Evelyn zoomed in, isolating an encrypted line marked Vantari-7.
"This is the ancestral genome Rhea was talking about," she whispered. "A secret project initiated during the Tavaran-Kirovian Peace Treaty. But there's more. Look—Archer Grey's family appears on the chart."
Nora's expression froze. "But Archer's not royal."
"No," Damien said. "But his grandfather was. Illegitimate. A bastard child of the Tavaran throne."
The silence thickened.
Then Nora's voice cut through. "That's why he's doing this. It's not just vengeance—it's reclamation. He believes the throne should've been his all along."
Evelyn activated another console, and a diary entry surfaced.
"Greyblood Protocol initiated. Infiltrate, assimilate, dominate. The crown must return to the blood."
Nora stepped back. "My mother tried to warn me. Her fragmented memories—Archer wasn't just a shadow operator. He's building an empire rooted in stolen legacy."
"And if we don't stop him," Damien added, "he'll burn Tavara and every other nation that ever defied his bloodline."
Suddenly, lights in the chamber dimmed. The Archive's AI voice returned:
"Unauthorized access detected. Lockdown initiating in 90 seconds."
"Let's move!" Damien barked.
As they turned to exit, a hidden compartment flicked open near the pedestal. Inside lay a sealed crystal vial—etched with the Vantari symbol.
Nora grabbed it, heart pounding.
Whatever was inside, it wasn't just historical.
It was the key to ending everything—or unleashing it.
---
Later – Geneva Safehouse
Kiyomi placed a hand on Rhea's forehead as she shivered under sedation.
"She's deteriorating."
Nora showed her the vial. "Then we better find out what this really is. Fast."
Damien stepped into the room, holding a call tablet. "We just intercepted a private comm from Archer. He's heading to Cairo. The final piece of his bloodline lies buried in the tombs beneath Giza."
Nora's eyes widened.
"Then we're going to Egypt."