Chapter Sixteen

Riding a sled through the Northern Pass at night, Royo narrates the tense silence between Mikail and Euyn as they push north toward a lake near the old capital. The route is simple but visibility is poor. Royo checks directions while gauging Mikail’s unusual quiet.

When prompted, Mikail admits he is considering the consequences of success and the nature of Baejkin rule, hinting at doubts he avoids stating within Euyn’s earshot. He produces a lavish jade-and-gold key stolen from the ambassador, noting its intricate make and suggesting it opens an extraordinary lock.

They speculate the key might grant access to the underwater Temple of Knowledge, whose buried glass dome would require some hidden entry. Mikail questions why the ambassador would possess such a key, considering whether the discovery was staged to lure them. He further suspects Zeolin anticipates their search for a Rule of Distance exception and could be setting an ambush.

Royo’s worry for Aeri spikes as he considers the risk to the separated group, but Mikail abruptly senses danger. Both men scan the treeline until multiple eyes glint back at them—zaybears. The chapter ends with the trio confronted by predators as their mission and doubts collide with immediate survival.