CHAPTER 2: THE CITY BENEATH THE WORLD
The road split apart.
A gigantic stone gate rose from the ground.
Covered in glowing symbols.
The sight was impossible.
The gate was larger than a skyscraper.
Hidden beneath the earth for centuries.
The babies stopped crying completely.
Instead, they stared at the gate as if they recognized it.
The youngest child laughed.
The gate began opening.
Slowly.
Deep inside, a city emerged.
A city made of crystal towers and floating bridges.
An entire civilization hidden beneath the world.
Elena could barely breathe.
"What is this place?"
The elegant woman answered.
"Aurelia."
"The First Kingdom."
Thousands of lights awakened inside the underground city.
People appeared on balconies.
Warriors in silver armor.
Scholars carrying glowing books.
Children running through crystal streets.
All of them looked upward.
Toward Elena.
Toward the babies.
Then something shocking happened.
Every citizen dropped to one knee.
Millions of people.
All bowing.
The man in the suit lowered his head.
"The rulers have returned."
Elena shook her head.
"No. They're just children."
The woman looked directly at her.
"They were children once before."
"What?"
"Their souls are ancient."
The crystal city suddenly darkened.
Alarm bells rang through the underground kingdom.
A soldier appeared from the gate.
His armor was covered in blood.
He fell to his knees.
"They found us!"
Panic spread instantly.
The woman grabbed Elena's arm.
"We have no time."
"Who found us?"
The soldier looked up.
Terror filled his face.
"The Shadow King."
At that moment the sky above the gate turned black.
Not with clouds.
With wings.
Millions of dark creatures descended from the heavens.
Their screams shook the world.
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The Shadow King's army had arrived.
And they wanted the heirs dead.
