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A word before the story continues:
You can find the previous part behind these blue words.

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Chapter Five

Lily sat in a small chair across from the Curator’s desk, the camera placed on the polished wood between them. It had been cleaned meticulously since she had handed it over and now it gleamed beneath the lanterns, looking as pristine as it must have on the day it was first made. She couldn’t take her eyes off it. It shone with a promise of the future, a future she so desperately longed for.

Clasping her hands together, she forced herself to sit still as the Curator flipped through a thick stack of papers in front of him. The room was quiet except for the rustle of parchment, and each time he turned a page his gaze shifted to her, assessing, measuring.

Lily tried to swallow her nerves, but her throat was dry. After the Curator had said that he might make an exception for her, she thought that this would be easier. But as he studied her with those sharp, calculating eyes she felt more like a guilty child than an explorer who had made a great discovery.

Finally, he pulled out a small notebook and positioned a pen over it.

“Your name?” He asked, his tone polite, almost disinterested.

“Lily— Lilian Marie Kale,” she replied quickly, straightening her posture.

“Age?”

“Seventeen.”

The Curator nodded, making a note on the page before him. His pen moved with practiced ease, the scratch of ink filling the silence between them. Lily’s eyes darted back to the camera, the sight of it settling her nerves ever so slightly. That was why she was here. This was why she’d risked everything. To find something that mattered.

“Quite an interesting record you have here,” the Curator said, patting the larger pile of parchment on the desk. A small, dangerous smile played on his lips and Lily’s heart sank as he continued, “A fair few minor offences, wouldn’t you say? Setting off a cave-in in one of the old tunnels?” He gave her a disapproving glance over the rim of his spectacles. “Seriously?”

Lily opened her mouth to explain, to somehow defend herself, but the Curator carried on, shaking his head. “Trespassing in the western mines… entering restricted zones without permission.” He dropped the notebook on the desk and leant forward, his sharp eyes locking onto hers. “These are not the actions of a sensible young woman.”

“I— I can explain, sir—“ Lily stammered, trying to find her voice, but the words felt like flour clumping in her throat.

“Miss Kale,” the Curator’s voice cut through her like a blade, cold and sharp. “Explain to me why you believed it was acceptable to visit the surface.”

The question slammed into her like a fist, and Lily’s heart stuttered. He had seemed so pleased yesterday, so intrigued by her discovery, but now… his voice was so cold that it sent a shiver down her spine. This ‘discussion’ had transformed from an interview into an interrogation.

She fought the instinct to look away, forcing herself to meet his eyes.

“I just—“ she faltered, then steadied herself, meeting his eyes with a glimmer of determination. “I’ve always wanted to join the surface expedition team. I thought… if I found something valuable, something that could help, maybe my parents would let me apply.”

“And you thought disobedience would prove your worth?” The Curator lowered his voice, though it wasn’t a soft and gentle change, it had lowered to a depth that rapidly grew more dangerous. “You thought it was wise to endanger the city to achieve your goal?”

“No, I—“ Lily’s voice cracked with the desperation she could no longer hold back. “I didn’t mean for that! I wasn’t trying to disobey, I just wanted—“

“You wanted to what?” He leaned closer, his shadow falling across the camera like a dark omen. “To prove yourself at any cost? Do you really think that’s what we need on the surface? Recklessness? Disobedience? We are tasked with unearthing the past! Not with foolishly running into danger for glory.” His eyes bore into hers and Lily shrunk back in her seat, instinctively trying to hide from his anger. “Can you follow orders, Lilian Marie Kale? Or are you simply more trouble than you’re worth?”

Lily nodded rapidly.

“I can follow orders!”

The Curator examined her for a long moment, considering the emotions flashing across her face.

“Your desire to explore is admirable, Miss Kale.” He paused, the weight of his words hanging in the air. “But desire alone is not enough. The expeditions require discipline, obedience, and respect for the dangers above. A single error — a single defiant choice — could be fatal. For you. For the team.”

Lily’s heart raced, her hands tightening into fists, her hopes and dreams shattering in an instant.

“I—I can follow orders,” she insisted. “Please… just give me a chance.”

The Curator sat back in his chair, eyes closed for a long moment as he tapped his fingers against the desk. Lily’s whole world seemed to balance on that moment — that slow, deliberate tapping, that silence so thick she could barely breathe, and then, suddenly, his eyes snapped open.

“Guardsman!” he barked, his voice echoing through the room and out into the Museum.

The door swung open and her blood turned to ice. She twisted in her chair, half expecting to see a stranger in Captain’s armour, sword pointed, ready to drag her away. Her hands went cold and her breath froze in her lungs. Every fear she had choked on since approaching the surface tunnels suddenly felt real and sharp. She hadn’t made her case. She was about to be dragged off to face the punishment she thought she had avoided. Her fingers clutched the arms of the chair as the room spun circles.

“Guardsman Alexander,” the Curator’s voice cut through the fog of fear. “Come in.”

Xander stepped inside, his green eyes full of confusion and concern as they flickered between Lily and the Curator. It was clear he had no idea why he had been summoned, nor why Lily was sitting there, pale-faced and trembling. “Sir?” he asked carefully.

The Curator’s voice remained hard as steel. “This is Miss Kale. She is to join the next surface expedition as a chronicler.” He paused, each word like a stone dropping into the room. “You will be responsible for keeping her in line. Ensure she follows every order given, and ensure that her… enthusiasm does not put the team in jeopardy. Understood?”

Lily’s heart leapt, hope and disbelief crashing through her at once. She almost didn’t trust her ears — had he really said that? Did this mean…?

Xander’s eyes met hers, a thousand questions unspoken in his gaze. “Yes, sir,” he said slowly, nodding. “I understand.”

“Good.” The Curator’s voice was final, his decision made. He turned back to Lily, the edges of his gaze softer now, but still firm. “Lily, your actions were foolish. But your find…” He gently lifted the camera from the desk and cast a reverent eye over it. “…is invaluable. We will use this, and we will use you, to uncover the mysteries of the surface. You will be our chronicler. You will capture the world we are rediscovering — its beauty, its history, and its dangers.”

Lily’s hands shook as the Curator passed the camera to her, the device heavy with purpose. She could feel the importance of what he was entrusting to her, but the weight of his words lingered in the air. One misstep and she’d be off the team as quickly as she was put onto it.

“Thank you, sir,” she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath. “I won’t let you down.”

“You are dismissed. Prepare yourself, the expedition leaves in three days.”

Lily hurriedly stood, desperate to leave the room, her hands gripping the camera tightly as she walked to the door. Xander stepped aside to let her pass, and she offered him a shaky smile as she moved by him. She was going to have a lot of questions to answer, but that was okay. It was doubtful anything Xander had to say would be as frightening as what the Curator had just subjected her to.

Outside of the office, Lily paused in the grand hall of the Museum. She was surrounded by artifacts of the old world — tools, trinkets, pieces of history carefully preserved behind glass — but today, they felt different. Today, they were the future. Her future. She would be a part of this collection now, chronicling the world as they uncovered it. She couldn’t help but wonder what discoveries she would make, what stories her camera would capture, and who would one day admire those finds as they perused the displays.

Her chest grew lighter the longer she stood in the Museum, but there was also a lingering uncertainty. The Curator’s reaction… his questioning… it haunted her. What if she failed him? What if she couldn’t handle such a prestigious role — the chronicler? It sounded so important.

“I missed you at breakfast.”

Lily spun around. Xander stood just behind her, leaning against one of the display cases with a small, amused smile. “Was this why you were so upset yesterday?” he asked, his eyes softening as he looked at her.

She blushed, fiddling nervously with the leather strap attached to the camera. “Yes… well, sort of.” She hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one was listening before leaning closer to Xander. “I couldn’t tell you. I thought… you’d arrest me if you knew.”

Xander chuckled softly, shaking his head as though he couldn’t quite believe her. “Arrest you, huh?” He studied her for a moment longer, the laughter in his eyes dimming slightly. “Guess I’m going to have my hands full, aren’t I? Chronicler Lilian.”

Lily’s grin widened as she hugged the camera closer to her chest.

“Guess so, Guardsman Alexander.”

For a moment they simply stood there, sharing the unspoken thrill of what was to come. There was an ease between them that felt new, the kind of unspoken understanding that could only come from knowing that their futures were now tied together. He gave a small nod towards a row of artifacts.

“Come with me,” he said, his voice lowering to a gentler tone. “Since we’re here, why don’t I show you a few things?”

Lily blinked in surprise but nodded eagerly, her excitement bubbling to the surface once more. Xander turned, leading the way between the displays and she followed close beside him, the camera cradled tightly in her arms.

The low lantern light flickered softly over each case, casting a gentle glow on the worn metal, glass and wood that whispered of the world above. Xander walked beside her, the space between them small enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him. Each step they took together was a reminder that they were now bound by more than a chance friendship. He was to be her guardian on the surface, their fates intertwined in this new adventure.

Xander paused in front of a small glass display. He stepped even closer, close enough that Lily’s heart fluttered in her chest, and pointed at the object within. It was a checkered board, black and white, with black and white figurines set atop several of the squares on either side. “This one,” he said, the corners of his lips lifting into a smile. “This one was from the last surface expedition I was a part of. It was found half-buried beneath some old pavement — the researchers were ecstatic! It’s a board game. All pieces intact, they said.”

Lily’s eyes widened as she leaned closer to the case, inspecting the carefully crafted figurines. A couple were shaped like strange beasts she had only seen in storybooks, a couple of others wore crowns as though they were royalty. “You… you’ve been to the surface? You found this?”

Xander chuckled softly, the sound low and warm in the empty hall. “Of course. All of the guardsman go up there at some point, it’s part of the rotation.” He shifted, resting his hand on the case as he spoke, and Lily could see the memories playing behind his eyes, distant but vivid. “We protect the researchers. Keep watch. It’s important work.” He sent her a light assessing look, his green eyes gleaming. “It can be dangerous, too.”

Dangerous. The word sent a shiver of excitement down Lily’s spine. “Did you see the sky?” she asked, her voice almost breathless. “It’s so beautiful, isn’t it? And… and all that space! Stretching on forever and ever. And the ruins — I can’t believe how many there were.” She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a soft, eager whisper. “Was there… did you face any danger when you went up there?”

Xander’s smile widened, his amusement clear in his eyes as he took in her enthusiasm. “You’re really excited, huh?” he said, shaking his head with a chuckle. “I’m sure we’ll talk all about it in coming days. After all, we’re going to be spending a lot of time together, aren’t we?”

Lily nodded, her cheeks flushed with excitement. Yes, they were going to be spending a lot of time together. It was all she could do to keep from breaking out into a ridiculous grin.

“I have to get back to my duties,” Xander said, the words light as his gaze lingered on hers. “I’ll see you tomorrow, alright?”

“Yes, tomorrow,” Lily replied, overly quickly.

Xander’s lips twitched into a teasing smile. “I can’t start the day without a visit to the bakery.” There was an undercurrent to his words, something playful and warm that reddened the blush that already sat on Lily’s cheeks. She quickly dropped her gaze to the floor.

And just like that, Xander stepped back and turned away, returning to his post. Lily raised her eyes slightly to watch him go, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she tucked the camera closer to her chest. Tomorrow. She would see him tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. She could scarcely wait to be up on the surface once more, this time with Xander at her side.

She hurried out of the Museum, her heart racing, the thrill of the day burning through her veins. The cool underground air hit her cheeks as she dashed down the bustling streets of the city, weaving between traders, children and carts. It felt like the whole world was moving in a blur around her — the only thing clear in her mind was the pounding of her heart and the excitement that bubbled up as she realised she needed to share the news.

The tavern came into view quickly, its worn wooden sign swaying as she approached. Sammy! He would be so happy for her. Lily pushed open the door and the familiar warmth and noise of the tavern enveloped her like a blanket — the laughter, the hum of conversation and the clinking of mugs. The rush of voices surrounded her, but it all felt distant, like background noise to the elation pounding in her veins.

Her eyes darted around until they landed on Sammy, who was standing at the counter alongside his brother, Hunter. The two of them were deep in conversation, leaning against the bar with a relaxed ease that only brothers shared. Sammy, of course, was all big gestures and wide smiles while Hunter kept his movements subtle, his presence more like a steady shadow beside his lively sibling.

Lily couldn’t contain herself. “Sammy!” she called out breathlessly, her voice high with excitement as she wove through the tables toward them.

Sammy’s head snapped up, his face breaking into a wide grin. He pushed away from the bar to meet her halfway, concern and excitement mingling in his expression. “Lily? What happened? Did he—”

“I’m on the team!” she burst out, the words tumbling over each other. “I’m on the expedition — I’ll be chronicling it. I’m the Chronicler!” The last word came out almost as a squeal and she couldn’t help the way her face lit up with joy.

For a second, Sammy just stood there, stunned into silence, his mouth slightly open as if the words hadn’t quite registered. And then, with a whoop of pure exhilaration, he grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around, nearly knocking over a few mugs in the process. “You’re on the team? You’re on the team!” His voice rang out, full of pride and disbelief. “That’s... that's incredible!”

Without warning, Sammy leapt onto a chair, his energy sparking through the room like wildfire. “Oi!” he shouted, his voice booming over the tavern’s clamour. “Listen up, everyone! Our Lily is gonna be a part of the expedition team! All hail the new Chronicler!”

A wave of cheers and applause rose up in the tavern, filling the air with laughter and congratulations. People raised their mugs, toasting Lily as she stood blushing furiously at the attention, but smiling widely. All around her, people called out well wishes — hearty, genuine pride from the patrons who had known her all her life. Being a part of the expedition team wasn’t just any job; it was one of the greatest honours in their society, a role that connected their world to the mysteries of the surface.

Lily ducked her head, grinning ear to ear. “Sammy, stop it!” she laughed, trying to pull him down from the chair, but Sammy only wrapped an arm around her shoulders, still beaming at her like a proud older brother. “You did it, Lily! You’re gonna be famous!”

Hunter, who had watched the exchange with a more restrained smile, finally spoke up, his voice calmer than his brother’s. “Congratulations, Lily,” he said. His eyes were darker than Sammy’s — quieter, more intense. There was pride in his gaze, but also a glimmer of something else… caution, or maybe even doubt. “It’s important work. Just… be careful up there, alright?”

Lily blinked, not quite sure how to respond to his serious tone. The way he looked at her felt like he was trying to tell her something — something she wasn’t quite grasping. “Thanks, Hunter,” she said, offering a tentative smile. “I’ll… be careful.”

Sammy waved a dismissive hand, caution the last thing on his mind. “Pfah! She’s gonna be great. You’re gonna be great. This is what you’ve always wanted, right?”

Lily nodded, her grin growing wider, excitement dancing in her eyes. “Yeah, it’s... it’s everything I’ve ever wanted.”

Hunter’s expression softened, but only slightly. “Well, I guess we’ll just have to see what happens,” he said. He picked up his drink and lifted it in a toast, the barest hint of a knowing smile touching his lips. “To Lily. And to great discoveries.”

Sammy followed suit, lifting his mug high. “To Lily!” he shouted again, and the rest of the tavern joined in, their voices swelling with cheers and clinking mugs.

For a moment Lily let herself bask in the noise and joy — the thrill, the pride, the sheer, unrestrained elation of knowing that this dream she’d chased for so long was finally, truly happening. But then she caught Hunter’s eye again, and for a brief second the cheers and applause seemed to fade. Beneath his smile was a shadow, a look that spoke of things unspoken, a warning disguised as congratulations.

It was unnerving and she wondered what he could possibly be warning her about, but she pushed it away. This was her moment and she was going to hold on to it.

With that, she threw her head back, laughing as Sammy dropped a giant mug of ale in front of her, his arm around her shoulders and the noise of the tavern surrounding her like the warmth of a second home. Whatever came next, whatever the coming expedition held… she’d be ready for it.

She was the Chronicler.