Chapter 2718: Story 2719: The Mother of the Dead

The word “MOTHER” echoed through the chamber.

Ronan stood frozen.

The pale woman slowly climbed from the darkness beneath the broken throne.

Her hair was long and white.

Her clothes were torn.

Her skin was covered with ancient scars.

But Ronan knew those eyes.

He had seen them in his dreams since childhood.

“Mother...”

The woman reached toward him.

“My son.”

Ronan stepped forward.

His father grabbed his shoulder.

“Don’t touch her.”

Ronan turned angrily.

“That’s my mother!”

His father shook his head.

“Look at her eyes.”

Ronan stared.

They glowed red.

But behind the red light, something human remained.

His mother smiled sadly.

“You grew so much.”

Ronan’s sword lowered.

“I thought you were dead.”

“I was.”

Her voice trembled.

“But death did not keep me.”

Kael slowly approached.

“What happened to you?”

She looked at him.

“You already know.”

Kael’s face went pale.

“The prison...”

She nodded.

“I was its first guardian.”

Ronan stared at his father.

“You said Father was the guardian.”

His father looked away.

“We both were.”

His mother stepped closer.

“The First Kingdom needed two guardians. Your father protected the prison from outside.”

She touched her chest.

“I protected it from within.”

Ronan’s voice broke.

“Why did you leave me?”

“I didn’t.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“The First King took you.”

Ronan froze.

“He took me?”

“Yes.”

His mother looked toward the darkness.

“He feared what your blood would become.”

Elias suddenly moved.

Everyone turned.

He was standing beside the broken crown.

His body was covered in black cracks.

“She’s lying.”

Ronan looked at him.

“Why?”

Elias laughed weakly.

“Because she knows what happened that night.”

His mother stared at Elias.

“You remember.”

Elias’s smile disappeared.

“I remember everything.”

Ronan stepped between them.

“What happened?”

Elias looked at him.

“The village wasn’t attacked by zombies.”

Silence filled the chamber.

Ronan’s father closed his eyes.

Elias continued.

“The First King ordered the attack.”

Ronan’s hands tightened.

“Why?”

His mother answered.

“To find you.”

Ronan’s breathing became heavy.

“They came for me?”

She nodded.

“You were the First Son.”

Suddenly, the red light in her eyes disappeared.

For one moment, she looked completely human.

Then she screamed.

A wave of darkness exploded from her body.

The dead voices began chanting again.

“MOTHER... MOTHER... MOTHER...”

Ronan’s mother grabbed her head.

“Run!”

Ronan stepped toward her.

“Mother!”

“RUN!”

Her body twisted.

Black veins spread across her neck.

Something inside her began moving.

His father shouted:

“She’s losing control!”

Ronan raised his sword.

“I won’t leave her!”

His mother looked at him one last time.

“My son...”

Her voice became a whisper.

“Find the place where the First King buried the truth.”

Ronan stared.

“Where?”

She pointed beneath the broken throne.

“Where your blood began.”

Then her body disappeared into darkness.

The chamber became silent.

Ronan stood trembling.

Kael looked toward the passage beneath the throne.

“What did she mean?”

Ronan raised his sword.

“I don’t know.”

A deep heartbeat echoed below.

THUMP.

Then another.

THUMP.

His father looked terrified.

“The First King’s tomb.”

Ronan stared into the darkness.

And from somewhere beneath them, a child’s voice whispered:

“Brother... come find me.”