Dawn had arrived.
After the confrontation with Aelira, the group left the ancient chamber and followed a narrow corridor that led out of the ruins.
Celestine walked in silence.
Ever since Aelira had disappeared into her, her memories had been different.
They were not merely memories.
They were sensations.
Scents.
Voices.
Fears.
She remembered a sword in her hands.
A field covered in snow.
Elyndra crying.
And a castle.
Always the same castle.
— Are you all right? — Leonhardt asked.
Celestine kept walking.
— I'm trying to understand what I saw.
— Did you remember something?
— Yes.
She stopped.
— I remembered the man who destroyed my first life.
Seris approached.
— Who was he?
Celestine looked at the distant mountains.
— The king of Aureon.
Seraphina froze.
— The king?
— Yes.
— That doesn't make sense.
— Why?
Seraphina took a deep breath.
— Because the king died hundreds of years ago.
Celestine replied:
— Then someone is using his name.
The Guardian looked at Seraphina.
— Or he never died.
Aldren tightened his grip on his sword.
— Where is the castle?
Seraphina pointed toward the horizon.
— Beyond the Forest of Kings.
Leonhardt looked at the mountains.
— How long?
— Two days.
Celestine began walking.
— Then we can't waste any time.
The group followed.
During the first few hours, almost no one spoke.
The landscape slowly changed.
The ruins gave way to an enormous forest.
Ancient trees covered the sky.
Thick roots crossed the path.
The wind carried a strange scent.
Celestine felt the Void awaken.
Stop.
She immediately stopped.
Leonhardt noticed.
— What happened?
— There's something here.
Everyone drew their weapons.
Seris looked around.
— I don't see anything.
A branch moved.
Then another.
A creature emerged from the shadows.
It looked like a wolf.
But it was much larger.
Its eyes were golden.
And black markings covered its body.
Leonhardt stepped forward.
Celestine grabbed his arm.
— Wait.
The creature did not attack.
It only watched.
Celestine took a step.
— You're injured.
The animal growled.
She lowered her sword.
— I won't hurt you.
The creature slowly approached.
When it came closer, Celestine noticed a small mark on its forehead.
It was identical to Lyra's mark.
Lyra immediately touched her neck.
— I know this.
Celestine looked at her.
— What is it?
— A symbol of the ancient guardians.
The creature lowered its head.
Then it disappeared into the forest.
Seraphina's expression became serious.
— That's not a good sign.
— Why?
The Guardian replied:
— The guardians no longer exist.
The Guardian answered:
— Some still do.
Everyone looked at him.
— Where?
He pointed down the path.
— At the castle.
---
Two hours later, the group found a small village.
The houses were simple.
The people were gathered in the square.
When they saw Celestine and her companions, they began to move away.
An elderly man approached.
— Did you come from the castle?
Seraphina answered:
— No.
— Then leave.
Celestine frowned.
— Why?
The man looked at her.
His face went pale.
— You have her eyes.
Celestine felt a chill.
— Whose?
The man did not answer.
A woman behind him whispered:
— The princess.
Celestine froze.
— Princess?
The man closed his eyes.
— The princess died many years ago.
Seris looked at Celestine.
— This is getting strange.
The man continued:
— She tried to stop the king.
— Stop what?
— The ritual.
Celestine felt the Void pulse.
— What ritual?
The man began to tremble.
— The ritual that would transform the king into something that no one could kill.
Celestine grew serious.
— And did he succeed?
The man looked toward the distant castle.
— Yes.
— Then he's still alive.
The man nodded.
— He is.
Leonhardt placed his hand on his sword.
— How long?
The man answered:
— Four hundred years.
Silence filled the square.
Celestine looked at the castle.
Now everything made sense.
The person she had seen in her memories.
The man responsible for her first death.
He was still alive.
And he was waiting.
---
That night, the group camped outside the village.
Celestine could not sleep.
She sat beside the fire, watching the flames.
Leonhardt sat beside her.
— Are you afraid?
She thought for a few seconds.
— Yes.
He smiled.
— At least you admit it.
— I don't want to lie to myself.
Leonhardt remained silent.
— When I recover all my memories — Celestine said — maybe I'll discover things I don't want to know.
— Maybe.
— And what if I discover that I did terrible things?
Leonhardt replied:
— Then you decide who you want to be now.
Celestine looked at him.
— You really believe that?
— I do.
She smiled.
— Thank you.
Leonhardt stood.
— Try to sleep.
— I'll try.
He walked away.
Celestine closed her eyes.
The Void appeared in her mind.
You are afraid.
— Yes.
I am too.
Celestine opened her eyes.
— You're afraid?
I am.
— Of the king?
No.
She became serious.
— Then of what?
The Void took a moment to answer.
Of what you are going to discover about yourself.
Celestine remained silent.
Then she heard a voice behind her.
— That is exactly what he wants.
Celestine turned.
Seraphina was there.
— You can't sleep either?
— No.
Seraphina sat down.
— Tomorrow will be difficult.
— You know the king.
— Yes.
— Then tell me the truth.
Seraphina looked at the flames.
— His name was Edran.
Celestine paid close attention.
— He was the greatest king of his time.
— And why did he become a monster?
Seraphina answered:
— Because he was afraid of dying.
Celestine frowned.
— So he tried to achieve immortality.
— Yes.
— And he succeeded.
— Not exactly.
Seraphina raised her eyes.
— He did not become immortal.
— Then?
— He became incapable of dying.
Celestine felt a chill.
— What's the difference?
— An immortal can continue living.
Seraphina looked at the castle.
— Edran cannot die, but he also cannot leave this world.
Celestine understood.
— He's trapped.
— Yes.
— And what does that have to do with me?
Seraphina remained silent.
Then she answered:
— You were the only person capable of killing him.
Celestine's eyes widened.
— In my first life?
— Yes.
— So that's why he killed me.
Seraphina nodded.
— You discovered how to destroy his immortality.
Celestine clenched her fists.
— And what happened?
— Edran discovered it before you could finish.
— So he killed me.
— Yes.
Celestine remained silent.
Seraphina stood.
— But this time will be different.
— Why?
Seraphina looked at Celestine's sword.
— Because now you have the Void.
Celestine gripped the sword's hilt.
— And I have all of you.
Seraphina smiled.
— Exactly.
In the distance, a bell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Everyone in the camp woke up.
The Guardian ran toward them.
— The castle.
Celestine stood.
— What happened?
He pointed toward the horizon.
A red light had appeared at the top of the castle tower.
Seraphina went pale.
— He knows we're here.
Celestine drew her sword.
— Then we don't need to look for him anymore.
Leonhardt approached.
— Shall we go?
Celestine looked at the castle.
— Let's go.
At the top of the tower, a figure watched the group.
A man dressed in ancient royal armor.
His hair was completely white.
His eyes glowed red.
He held a black sword.
And he smiled.
— Finally...
King Edran tightened his grip on the sword.
— My old enemy has returned.
And, for the first time in four hundred years, the castle bell rang to announce a war.