A monumental coliseum stood beneath the tree. The kingdom's most important events were held there, including public speeches, combat tournaments, funeral rituals, and national spectacles. But few knew that, beneath this structure, lay an underground complex of passages that wound beneath the entire capital—the hypogeum[1].
This place, jealously guarded, was open only to members of House Aelvoran, the ruling family of Hathor. The remains of their ancestors rested there in a sacred columbarium[2], next to an altar dedicated to the deity they worshipped.
Flames flickered in the bronze candlesticks, casting elongated shadows on the stone walls. Statues of dancing figures flanked the passageways, where the echo of hurried footsteps could be heard in the distance.
A shadow glided swiftly through the winding tunnels. The silhouette of a teenage girl emerged from the vaporous lights. She wore a flowing tunic and loose-fitting trousers, while carrying a little one draped in a black silk toga in her arms. The child buried his face in her shoulder and clutched her garment with small, trembling fingers.
Elyraen seemed unaffected by the weight she carried; her steady stride broke the silence with a relentless rhythm. However, her somber expression betrayed the uneasiness that pervaded her.
At the end of the corridor stood a domed chapel, its immaculate marble walls contrasting with the wisteria and roots that clung to its surface. The harmony between architecture and nature enveloped the place in a sacred air, as if time had stopped to honor the repose of the spirits that wandered there. In front of the threshold stood two motionless figures, their silhouettes illuminated by the warm light of the candlesticks.
Klezara, who appeared to be in her forties, wore short, pale orange hair. Her wheat-colored skin was enhanced by a low-cut, amber dress that draped elegantly, adorned with extravagant jewels that proclaimed her lineage. Her stern features betrayed her austere and indifferent disposition as she meticulously scrutinized the closed door before her.
Samira, a shorter and somewhat younger woman, stood beside her. Her plum-colored hair was pulled back into a high ponytail that fell in waves to her waist. A hairpin decorated with small flowers adorned her hairstyle, matching her exotic robe. Her fine features were subtly furrowed with worry, and her restless eyes scanned the room as if nervously awaiting something.
"Erna!" the young woman called urgently.
Both women turned just in time to see Elyraen running toward them. Klezara knew her daughter usually trained early, and her disheveled appearance was proof that she had likely been on her way to the training grounds. The boy she was carrying had features similar to Samira's. His clothes were also disheveled, as if he had put them on in a hurry.
When Samira saw her son, she breathed a sigh of relief and her distraught face finally relaxed. Ishvan began to fidget, trying to get down. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he ran to his mother, who knelt down to receive him in her arms. Feeling her warmth and familiar scent, Ishvan finally relaxed his muscles, tense with fear, and burst into silent tears.
"Thank you for bringing him, Lyra," Samira said, hugging her son tightly. Then she stood up, continuing to soothe him. Elyraen gave a gentle smile and greeted the Erna—her father's second wife—before looking at her mother, who was indifferently observing the exchange between them.
"Mot…" Elyraen quickly corrected herself, remembering that her mother did not tolerate a lack of formality, no matter the situation. "Great Erna." She greeted her. One more mistake, and she'd end up being thrown into endless etiquette classes, again.
Klezara—the Great Erna and the monarch's first wife—nodded wordlessly and returned her attention to the chapel. Elyraen, accustomed to such apathy, shrugged and decided to emulate her attitude.
The chamber's vault was enveloped in the thick roots of the Enedina tree, which extended downwards along the pillars. The walls were covered with sealed niches, and the chapel door was carved with an intricate mosaic of symbols and text.
Seeing both women waiting outside, Elyraen knew immediately what it meant—her father, the Great Rhig, was inside. Without hesitation, she pushed her way through and stood before the door. The inscription etched across its surface was written in Anatta. Despite her years of study, the ancient language remained challenging for her. Luckily, she didn't need to translate everything, just recite a specific verse. Otherwise, they could be stuck there for hours… or days.
"Burning in the poison of my devotion," Elyraen recited with the ease of someone who had repeated those words ad nauseam.
Her voice echoed through the chamber as the inscription flashed briefly. The chapel doors opened with a shrill creak, revealing a prominent altar inside. Beneath it lay a collection of carefully arranged offerings: gems, dried flowers, books, and other objects that House Aelvoran deemed valuable and dedicated to the deity who watched over the lands of Hathor.
Elyraen took a deep breath to prepare herself and crossed the threshold. As soon as she stepped inside, her vision blurred for an instant. She knew then that the ceremony had begun. It was said to test the obedience, loyalty, and devotion of those who dared to enter, and a single mistake could have severe consequences.
The energy—which they called aether—emanated from within the chapel and crashed against hers. It enveloped her in an uncomfortable sensation as if trying to subdue her. Still, she continued forward until she reached the circular platform in front of the offerings.
When she reached the center, she knelt on the ground, closed her eyes, and tried to calm her frantic heartbeat. She guided the flow of aether within her body, concentrating it in her left hand.
"Here I am, a remnant of your lineage," Elyraen murmured in Anatta.
The platform's tiles, covered in symbols, began to rotate with a slow, precise cadence. Markings shaped like water lilies appeared on the back of her hand; at first, they were barely visible, blurred against her skin, but within seconds, they intensified to a pure white.
"I present to you proof of the blessing. Grant me your permission." She placed her palm on the platform, which glowed in response.
The Enedina on the surface creaked with force, its branches swaying in protest. Ishvan, still in his mother's arms, hid his face against her chest and clung to her tightly. His red, swollen eyes continued to shed tears, and his small face twisted into a grimace of pain. Yet not a single sound escaped his lips.
{Mom, it's crying... It's hurting…} These thoughts, transmitted by telepathy, echoed in Samira's mind.
In response, she rubbed her cheek against the boy's silky hair, gently stroking his back in an attempt to calm him. Her gaze darted across the platform, but Elyraen was no longer there.
She had vanished.
[1] [Lore Fragments]: A hypogeum is an ancient underground chamber or building, often serving as a tomb or temple. It is essentially an underground construction or excavation used for burial, religious purposes, or as a vault. The term comes from ancient Greek: "hypo" (beneath) and "geos" (earth), literally meaning "underground."
[2] [Lore Fragments]: A columbarium is a structure or space intended for the storage of funerary urns containing the ashes of deceased individuals. Columbaria can be standalone structures, part of a larger mausoleum, or even incorporated into the walls of churches or cemeteries.