“What is the original chamber?” Adria asked, her voice hallow.
“Originals, dear,” Helen said. “It’s a chamber where, legend has it, the original Triune locked away a secret too big for the Nine to handle as a whole—something that needed absolute secrecy.”
“Only the original Triune members know where it was and only the Originals can open it,” Sean added, his tone grave.
Adria shook her head. “But Alessandro is the only seat left of the Originals.”
“True,” Helen said. “But that doesn’t mean the information is dead. Families are still out there. Look—” She pointed to another letter on the wall. “Here are the signatures of the Original Nine.”
Sean paced further into the room, pulling down a portrait that hung on the far wall, revealing a safe with two keyholes. “This key, along with another, opens the box that holds all the information the Nine have on the original Triune.”
“Where would Alessandro have left the other?” Helen asked.
“I was rather hoping we would find it in here,” Sean said, poking through a stack of papers on the desk.
Adria’s gaze continued to drift along the wall; a folded piece of paper with the Serra symbol caught her eye.
Sean and Helen were behind her, combing the office, but Adria fell into absolute silence. The world seemed to narrow around her, a moment that felt benign yet monumental. Her mother’s symbol was here, in Alessandro’s office—a photo of her relative sat front and center in a web of confusing clues and breadcrumbs of truth.
Her fingers trembled as she unfolded the ancient paper. A key clattered to the ground, but Adria ignored it, her mind consumed with wanting to know why Alessandro had been so fixated on the Serras.
I, Marcelo Virelli, write this entry willingly and without coercion, as the Head of the Nine and one of its original founders.
On April 27th, Isadora Serra, founder, and first Seat of the Triune, entered into marriage with Viktor Fedorov. The union was sanctioned by theNine and, by all outward appearances, was one of affection and strategic harmony.
For two years, they lived in peace and produced an heir. However, in the second year, I noted a shift. Viktor began cultivating relationships with other founders—conversations behind closed doors, alliances that undermined the balance we had built. Whispers of betrayal followed.
Months later, Isadora was found dead in her private quarters. The cause of death remains officially unconfirmed, but many of us suspected foul play.
With the Serra heir too young to undergo their Ascension Trials, Viktor Fedorov assumed control of the Seat and the Serra estate.
At the time, I had suspicions—but no proof. I recorded this entry as I understood the truth then.
**Addendum — Logged by Alaric Duvant, Current Head of the Nine
In light of recent revelations, I am compelled to amend the above entry.
We now believe Marcelo Virelli was compromised. All prior entries under his name should be reviewed with caution, and any claims made therein considered suspect.
It is believed that Isadora Serra succumbed to the weight of running the Nine and took her own life. This type of cowardice will not stand, and the Serra lineage has been formally stricken from the record. From now on, the Seat shall remain under the authority of the Fedorov bloodline.
Let this stand as an official record.
Adria’s hands trembled along the paper. Her mother had not mentioned that Isadora was a founding member of the Nine. No not justafounding member,thefounding member. Isadora
Serra had sat on the first seat.
“Well that explains quite a bit, actually,” Helen said from over Adria’s shoulder.
Adria turned to see the woman had been reading from behind her.
“Alessandro was always adamant that you were not ready to ascend. Every chair that you rose into, Sean and I voted you in,” Helen said, handing the letter to Sean.
Adria was speechless. She numbly walked to Alessandro’s desk.
“This is very odd,” Sean said. “Why would he want to keep a discovery like this a secret.”
“Because he didn’t want to share,” Helen said. “If Adria was revealed to be an Original, Triune or not, he would be required to share things with her. Perhaps he was close to finding the chamber; I imagine he didn’t want to share that either.”
