The woman remained standing in the center of the ancient room.
She was identical to Celestine.
The same hair.
The same face.
The same posture.
But there was something different.
Her eyes glowed with a golden light, and an ancient aura surrounded her body like a silent flame.
Celestine gripped her sword tighter.
— Who are you?
The woman smiled.
— I already answered.
She raised her sword.
— I am you.
Leonhardt immediately positioned himself beside Celestine.
— It doesn't matter who she is. You won't fight alone.
The woman looked at him.
— Leonhardt.
He froze.
— How do you know my name?
— I know everyone who has walked beside her.
Seris took a step back.
— That's impossible.
The woman looked at her.
— Seris Valtor.
Then at Aldren.
— Aldren Vael.
And finally at the Guardian.
Her smile disappeared.
— And you...
The Guardian stood motionless.
— You shouldn't be alive.
Silence filled the room.
Celestine looked at him.
— What did she mean?
The Guardian didn't answer.
The woman turned her attention back to Celestine.
— You brought all of them here.
— Yes.
— Then they will die with you.
Leonhardt raised his sword.
— Try it.
The woman disappeared.
In the next instant, she appeared before him.
Their swords clashed.
Leonhardt was forced backward.
Celestine advanced.
The woman's golden blade met her sword.
The impact made Celestine slide several steps backward.
— You're strong.
The woman smiled.
— So are you.
Celestine attacked again.
A horizontal strike.
The woman blocked.
Another strike.
She dodged.
Celestine spun and tried to strike her legs.
The woman jumped.
In midair, she spun her sword and attacked.
Celestine raised her own blade.
The two swords collided.
Celestine felt her entire arm go numb.
She retreated.
— Who are you really?
The woman remained motionless.
— My name was Aelira.
Celestine frowned.
— Aelira?
— That was the name I was given when I was born for the first time.
The Void inside Celestine grew restless.
It's not a lie.
Celestine was surprised.
— So you really are me?
Aelira nodded.
— A part of your soul.
Seraphina stepped forward.
— Aelira was created before Elyndra.
Celestine looked at her.
— Created?
Seraphina closed her eyes.
— Aelira was the first attempt to create a soul capable of withstanding the power of the Void.
Celestine felt her heart race.
— The first attempt?
— Yes.
Aelira lowered her sword.
— I was the first.
Celestine remained silent.
— But I failed — Aelira continued.
— Why?
— Because my soul couldn't withstand the power.
Aelira touched her own chest.
— So they divided me.
Celestine understood.
— One part of you became...
— Elyndra.
Aelira looked at her.
— And another part continued to exist.
Celestine took a deep breath.
— Me.
— Exactly.
Leonhardt looked at Seraphina.
— So Celestine and Elyndra aren't simply different parts.
Seraphina nodded.
— They are fragments of the same original soul.
Celestine felt the Void move within her.
Now you understand.
She closed her eyes.
— And you want to take my body.
Aelira shook her head.
— No.
— Then why are you fighting me?
— Because I need to know if you deserve to carry what you received.
Celestine tightened her grip on her sword.
— And who decided that?
Aelira replied:
— I did.
— You have no right.
Aelira smiled.
— Perhaps not.
She raised her sword again.
— But I'm going to test you anyway.
Celestine took a deep breath.
— Then come.
Aelira attacked.
This time, Celestine didn't try to win through strength.
She observed.
Aelira's movements were similar to hers.
Every strike felt familiar.
Every defense seemed like something Celestine had already learned instinctively.
It was like fighting her own reflection.
Aelira attacked from the left.
Celestine blocked.
Attack from above.
Dodge.
Thrust.
Celestine spun.
The two moved apart.
Aelira smiled.
— You're learning.
— I always learn.
— Then learn this.
Aelira struck her sword against the ground.
A golden circle appeared.
Dozens of blades of light emerged from the floor.
Celestine's eyes widened.
— Leonhardt!
He pulled Seris out of the way.
Aldren protected Lyra.
The Guardian created a barrier.
Celestine remained alone in the center of the circle.
The blades advanced.
She closed her eyes.
The Void enveloped her body.
Trust me.
Celestine breathed.
— I trust you.
She disappeared.
One blade passed through where she had been.
Then another.
And another.
Celestine appeared behind Aelira.
Her sword touched the woman's neck.
— It's over.
Aelira remained motionless.
Then she began to laugh.
— No.
Celestine felt a presence behind her.
Aelira had left a copy of herself in her place.
The real one appeared behind Celestine.
But before she could attack, Celestine spun around.
Their swords clashed again.
This time, however, Celestine did not retreat.
She concentrated all the Void's energy into her blade.
Aelira did the same with her golden energy.
The two forces collided.
Black against gold.
The room began to tremble.
Seraphina shouted:
— Stop!
Neither of them heard her.
Celestine felt the Void within her.
Not as a weapon.
But as a part of her own soul.
She advanced.
Aelira did the same.
Their blades crossed.
An explosion filled the room.
When the dust cleared, both women were kneeling.
Their swords were broken.
Aelira looked at Celestine.
— You won.
Celestine was breathing heavily.
— Why?
— Because you didn't try to destroy my soul.
Aelira touched her own chest.
— You could have done it.
Celestine stood up.
— I didn't want to.
Aelira smiled.
— That was the answer I was looking for.
A golden light began to surround her body.
Celestine's eyes widened.
— What's happening?
— I'm returning to you.
— No!
Aelira approached.
— Don't be afraid.
She placed her hand over Celestine's chest.
A warm energy passed through her body.
Celestine fell to her knees.
Thousands of memories passed through her mind.
A girl training with a sword.
A young woman fighting monsters.
A woman crying before a grave.
Elyndra.
Seraphina.
The Void.
Battles.
Losses.
Friends.
Lives.
They all passed before her like pages in a book.
Then everything went dark.
Celestine opened her eyes.
Aelira had disappeared.
The broken sword lay on the floor.
The Void remained silent.
Celestine placed a hand over her chest.
She felt different.
More complete.
Seraphina approached.
— Are you all right?
Celestine slowly stood.
Her eyes glowed for a moment with a faint golden light.
— I am.
Leonhardt smiled.
— So it's over?
Celestine looked at the door at the back of the room.
— No.
She could feel something.
A distant presence.
A person.
Someone watching.
— Now I can remember.
Seraphina became serious.
— What?
Celestine looked at her.
— Who destroyed my first life.
Everyone fell silent.
— And I know where to find him.
Celestine tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword.
— In the king's castle.