Ch: 22 [The vault pt2]

After taking enough gold from the huge mountain, Jack remembered the key he had obtained from the old man inside the veil.

Jack retrieved the key from his pocket and examined it closely. Its intricate design and resemblance to the key that opened the vault caught his attention. Curiosity surged within him as he wondered about the connection between the two.

He turned to the goblin, who had been silently observing their exploration of the vault. Holding up the key, Jack asked, "Do you know anything about this key? It looks similar to the one that unlocked the vault."

The goblin's eyes widened as he took the key from his hand and studied it, his sharp gaze honing in on the intricate details. After a moment of contemplation, he asked in a low, gravelly voice, "That key... Are you the owner of it?"

The goblin's question caught Jack off guard. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much he should reveal. After all, the goblins were known for their shrewdness and their tendency to guard valuable information.

"Yes," Jack replied cautiously. "I am the owner of this key. I obtained it from a mysterious man inside..."

"The Veil!" The Goblin interrupted, his voice filled with a mix of astonishment and recognition. "If you are done here, follow me. It's better to see with your eyes than hear from someone unknown like me."

Intrigued by the goblin's reaction, Jack exchanged a glance with Sara and Jax, silently agreeing to follow the goblin.

The goblin closed the vaults door and pointed them to get on the cart again.

Jack, Sara, and Jax climbed back onto the cart, their curiosity piqued by the goblin's mysterious words. As the cart rumbled back along the tracks, the trio exchanged excited whispers, wondering what awaited them beyond the vault and why the goblin seemed so intrigued by the key.

The cart continued to go down and down, descending deeper into the bowels of the underground. The air grew colder, and the flickering torches lining the walls became the only source of light.

Jack grabbed Sara's hand, noticing her shivering in the cold. Jax's eyes were gleaming in the darkness as he never imagined entering the restricted part of the bank.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the cart came to a halt.

The sight before them took their breath away. The towering waterfall cascaded down, its roaring sound echoing through the chamber. Jack, Sara, and Jax looked up, but the top and bottom of the waterfall remained obscured in darkness.

The goblin stepped forward and raised his hands, murmuring an incantation under his breath. A wave of magic rippled through the air, causing the water to part, revealing a hidden passage behind the waterfall.

As the water cleared, a glowing green door emerged, emanating an otherworldly light. It was ornately decorated with intricate carvings, depicting scenes of magical creatures, ancient spells, and unknown symbols. The door seemed to pulsate with an energy that called out to Jack, drawing him closer.

"Revelio!" The Goblin uttered a spell, and the glowing door responded, its carvings shimmering with an ethereal light. The door swung open slowly, revealing a passage that led into darkness. The goblin turned to Jack, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, "Whatever you see or hear after we cross this gate, bury it in your heart, and don't utter a single word if you wish to live to see the next sunlight."

Jack's heart raced as he listened to the goblin's warning. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on him, and he knew that whatever lay beyond that door held immense significance. He glanced at Sara and Jax, silently conveying the importance of the goblin's words.

With a deep breath, Jack nodded in understanding. He knew that the secrets they were about to uncover were not to be taken lightly. The weight of his parents' letter and the responsibility he felt towards his family's legacy fueled his determination to proceed cautiously.

"I promise," Jack whispered, his voice filled with determination. "I will keep the secrets hidden within my heart."

Sara and Jax nodded in agreement, their expressions serious and resolute. They understood the magnitude of the moment and the potential dangers that awaited them.

The cart began to move once again.

The trio, accompanied by the goblin, entered the glowing green door, leaving the comforting light of the vault behind. The passage beyond was dimly lit, with torches flickering along the stone walls, casting eerie shadows in their wake.

As the cart rolled deeper into the passage, the air grew colder, sending a chill down their spines. The silence was broken only by the sound of their own breathing and the rhythmic rumble of the cart's wheels on the stone track.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached the end of the passage. The cart came to a halt, and the goblin gestured for them to step off. As they did, they found themselves standing in a vast chamber, lit by an ethereal glow that seemed to emanate from the very walls themselves.

The chamber was filled with ancient artifacts, magical objects, and books lining countless shelves that stretched up into the darkness above. The air buzzed with a palpable energy, and a sense of reverence washed over them.

The goblin used the key he had taken from Jack to unlock a small wooden door hidden among the shelves. As the door swung open, a gust of wind blew through the chamber, carrying with it a whisper of long-forgotten secrets.

They followed the goblin through the doorway and found themselves in a hidden library. The room was filled with rows upon rows of books, their spines adorned with intricate symbols and titles written in various languages.

The goblin led them to a table at the center of the room, where a book lay open. Its pages were filled with faded ink and illustrations that seemed to come to life as they gazed upon them.

"This is the Tome of Lost Chronicles," the goblin explained, his voice filled with a mix of reverence and awe. "It contains the hidden history of our world, the stories, and knowledge that have been erased or forgotten."

Jack, Sara, and Jax leaned in, their eyes scanning the pages filled with tales of ancient civilizations, powerful artifacts, and legendary beings. They were drawn to a section that spoke of a prophecy, a prophecy that hinted at the truth behind their family's past and the destiny that awaited them.

"The Prophecy of the Veil," Jack whispered, his voice barely audible.

The goblin nodded solemnly. "Indeed. It is said that a chosen one will rise, bearing a key and the power to unveil the truth. The prophecy speaks of a lost lineage, a family torn apart, and the responsibility of restoring balance to the world of magic."

Sara's eyes widened, her small hand reaching out to touch the page. "Does this mean... Jack's family is a part of this prophecy?"

"Maybe, maybe not, since he isn't the only one with the key. Till now, there have been three people chosen by the Veil who entered this room, Jack is the fourth one. They all possessed different types of keys and out of those three, one went missing, one became the strongest wizard in the history of magic, and the third one..."

The Goblin paused for a moment, before continuing, "We don't speak the name of the third one. He killed the original owner of the key and tried to take the power the key unlocks. That's all you need to know. But that's not what we are here for. You see that key hole on that wall?"

Jack's eyes went toward the wall with a tiny key hole, "Yes."

"Use the key and go in. Inside awaits a unique power for you, left by a certain someone. It will help you on your journey in the realms of magic or Veil," The goblin explained.