Fate of deception

Chapter 21 - Umaizah's POV

Layna and I successfully left the house, our adventure awaiting for us. Layna had gotten a cottage styled basket because Nova asked us to buy some extra fruits for her. She mentioned she wanted to bake a cake, decorating it with fruits she hadn't tried before. According to Layna, there were new fruits growing in gardens, parks and forests.

Our steps purposeful as we made our way toward the center of the village. The cobblestone paths beneath our feet were worn out with age, the stones smoothed by countless footsteps over the centuries. The village was quiet, almost unnervingly so, as if it held its breath in anticipation of what we might uncover.

The houses around us were modest, built from timber and stone, with thatched roofs that looked as though we had seen better days. Vines crept up the walls of some buildings, here and there, the remnants of once-vibrant gardens lay untended. Despite the quietude, there was an air of mystery that clung to the village, as if it was a place where time had slowed down, waiting for something or someone to awaken the secrets it guarded.

My thoughts were a whirl of possibilities. The journals we sought, written by past royal of the Serendrian Palace, could contain information that might change everything I knew about the Kingdom's history. If they were hidden here, in the Serendrian Village, it meant the village was once more than it appeared - a place of refuge, or perhaps a vault for knowledge too dangerous to be left in plain sight.

"We should start by asking the village elder," Layna suggested, her voice barely above a whisper as if speaking too loudly might disturb the quietude of the place. "They would know more about the history of this place, about any old buildings where such things might be kept."

I nodded in agreement, Layna's eyes were distant, clearly occupied with her mother's request. We needed to find the fruits she asked for - a rare type that only grew within this region. Layna and I would have to split up to cover more ground.

We entered the village square, a small open bordered by ancient oaks that seemed to watch over the village like silent sentinels. In the center stood well, its stone edges worn and smooth from centuries of use. The air was cool, carrying the scent of earth and the distant fragrance of ripening fruit from orchards beyond the village.

"Layna, you check the orchards. I'll go see the elder," I said, my gaze lingering on the old well as I spoke. Something about it caught my attention, a faint memory tugging at the edge of my mind. "We'll meet back here in an hour."

With a brief nod, Layna led herself toward the orchards, leaving me alone in the square. As her footsteps faded, I approached the well, my hand brushing the rough stone. It was old, perhaps older than the village itself. I leaned over, peering into its depths, but all I saw was complete darkness. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to this place.

Shaking off the thought for now, I turned and made my way toward the elder's house. It was easy to spot, the largest and most well-maintained building in the village, with a small garden blooming with herbs and flowers.

I knocked on the door, it creaked open a moment later to reveal an elder woman with sharp eyes that belied her years.

"May I help you?" The elder asked, her voice raspy yet strong.

"I hope so," I replied, stepping inside as the elder woman gestured me in. The interior of the house was simply but cozy, with a fire cackling in the hearth and shelves lined with books and trinkets. "I'm looking for some old journals. They may have been written by members of the Serendrian royal family, and I believe they were hidden here, in this village."

The elder's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of recognition crossing her features. "The Serendrian royals, you say? It's been many years since anyone spoke of them here."

I nodded, sensing that I was right on track. Though, many people knew of my family, the Serendrian royals. Why did no one speak of us here? "Yes, I think the journals contain information that could be dangerous in the wrong hands."

My words were uncontrollable. I didn't mean to tell her why I wanted the journals. The atmosphere of this elder woman's house felt uncanny.

The elder woman sighed, her gaze distant as she seemed to weigh my words. After a moment, she spoke. "There is a place, a hidden chamber beneath the old well in the square. Few know of its existence, and even fewer have entered it. If the journals are anywhere, they would be there."

My heart quickened. The well–I had felt something there after all. "How do I access the chamber?"

The elder stood slowly, moving a small chest tucked in the corner of the room. She retrieved a key, old and rustled, it's metal gleaming faintly in the firelight. "This will open the way. But be warned–there are traps and wards meant to protect what lies within. You must be careful."

I took the key, it's weight heavy in my hand. "Thank you," I said, my voice filled with gratitude. "Anything you want in return?" There was no way she didn't want something for trade.

"No, my dear," The corners of her mouth quirked. "Your payment was paid a while ago."

I thanked her again. "I'll be careful." Leaving the elder's house, I hurried back to the well. The village square was still deserted, the shadows lengthening as the sun was beaming brightly.

I knelt by the well, searching for a keyhole, it didn't take long to find–a small, barely noticeable indentation in the stone at the base of the well. I inserted the key and turned it, hearing a soft click as the stone shifted.

A portion of the well's stone edge slid away, revealing a narrow staircase spiralling downward into darkness. I hesitated only for a moment before descending, the air growing cooler with each step. The walls were damp, the scent of earth and stone filling my senses as I reached the bottom.

The chamber was small, its walls lined with shelves that held a few dusty scrolls and books. In the center was a stone pedestal, and on it lay a single, leather-bound journal, it's cover adorned with the royal crest of Serendrian. I approached it with reverence, reaching out to lift the book. The leather was soft, worn with age, and as I opened it, I felt the weight of history within my hands.

The pages were filled elegant script, detailing events, thoughts, and secrets that had been hidden away for generations. I scanned the entries, realising the importance of what I held. These were not just journals; they were the key to understanding the past—and possibly the future—of Serendria.

My heart pounded with excitement and fear. This knowledge was powerful, but it was also dangerous. I knew she couldn't linger here. Closing the journal, I carefully placed it in the satchel, ensuring it was secure. As I turned to leave, a faint sound caught my attention.

A whisper of movement in the shadows.

I froze, my senses high on alert. The darkness around me seemed to pulse, as if alive with the presence of something ancient and unseen. I didn't dare to move, my breath shallow as I listened intently. But the sound didn't come again. After, a long, tense moment, I slowly made my way back up the stairs.

As I emerged from the wall, the sun had hidden beneath the clouds, the village darkening slightly. I sealed the well behind me, ensuring the entrance to the chamber was hidden once more.

I returned to the square as Layna was coming back from the orchards, the basket being full of fruits that Nova had requested. The relief on Layna's face was evident, I offered her a small, reassuring smile.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Layna asked, hushing her voice as if she sensed the gravity of what I had just done.

"Yes," I replied, my hand resting on the satchel. "But we need to leave now. There's much to discuss, and even more to protect."

Together, we set off from the village, the weight of our discoveries heavy on our shoulders. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear — what we had found today would change everything.