The castle bell continued to ring.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The sound traveled through the forest and reached the small village where Celestine and her companions had spent the night.
The villagers were frightened.
Some closed their doors.
Others extinguished the lights in their homes.
No one wanted to look at the castle.
Celestine remained standing before the extinguished campfire.
Her eyes were fixed on the distant tower.
— So he knows we've arrived.
Seraphina nodded.
— And now he won't wait.
Leonhardt placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
— Good. Then we don't have to look for him.
Aldren looked at the sky.
— It won't be that simple.
— Why? — Seris asked.
— Because that castle is not merely a fortress.
The Guardian continued:
— It is a prison.
Celestine turned.
— A prison for Edran?
— Yes.
She remained silent.
— Then, if he can't leave...
Seraphina replied:
— We'll have to go inside.
Celestine took a deep breath.
— Then let's go.
---
The group left the village before sunrise.
The road to the castle was narrow and surrounded by ancient trees.
No birds sang.
No animals appeared.
Even the wind seemed to avoid that place.
After several hours, they reached the top of a hill.
The castle stood before them.
It was enormous.
Black towers rose above the walls.
Red banners fluttered at the top.
A stone bridge crossed a deep chasm.
At the center of the castle stood a tower much taller than the others.
Celestine felt the Void pulse.
There.
— The central tower.
Seraphina looked at her.
— Are you sure?
— Yes.
— Then that's where Edran is.
Celestine drew her sword.
— Let's go.
They crossed the bridge.
When they reached the gate, it opened on its own.
Leonhardt stopped.
— Is that a good thing?
Aldren replied:
— Definitely not.
Seris looked at Celestine.
— It looks like they're inviting us in.
Celestine entered.
— Then let's accept the invitation.
The inside of the castle was completely silent.
Large statues of ancient kings stood along the corridors.
Celestine passed one of them.
She stopped.
The statue was holding a sword.
Its face looked familiar.
Very familiar.
She touched the stone.
A memory surfaced.
A girl running through that same corridor.
A woman holding her hand.
A voice saying:
— Never trust the king.
Celestine quickly pulled her hand away.
— I've been here before.
Seraphina approached.
— In your life as Aelira.
Celestine nodded.
— I remember a woman.
— Who?
— I don't know.
Before Seraphina could answer, a voice echoed through the corridor.
— You were always too curious.
Celestine raised her sword.
A figure appeared at the end of the corridor.
Edran.
He was wearing his ancient royal armor.
The black sword rested on his shoulder.
His red eyes were fixed on Celestine.
— Finally.
Celestine took a step.
— Edran.
He smiled.
— You remember my name.
— Not completely.
— It's enough.
Leonhardt stepped forward.
— You killed Aelira.
Edran looked at him.
— She was a threat.
Celestine tightened her grip on the sword.
— Am I one too?
— No.
He began walking slowly.
— You are something much worse.
Celestine frowned.
— What?
Edran stopped before her.
— A second chance.
Celestine remained silent.
— Aelira was strong — he continued. — Very strong. But she made one mistake.
— What?
— She believed she could win alone.
Celestine replied:
— I'm not alone.
Leonhardt, Seris, Aldren, Lyra, and the Guardian stepped closer.
Edran looked at the group.
— I see you've learned.
Seraphina stepped forward.
— Edran.
He turned his face.
— Seraphina.
— Four hundred years, and you're still wearing the same face.
Edran smiled.
— Some curses are convenient.
— This isn't immortality.
— I know.
Seraphina became serious.
— Then you know what will happen.
Edran's smile disappeared.
— Yes.
Celestine looked at him.
— What did she mean?
Edran replied:
— That my existence is bound to this land.
Celestine understood.
— You cannot die.
— No.
— But you also cannot leave.
— Exactly.
Celestine raised her sword.
— Then I'll set you free.
Everyone looked at her.
Edran smiled.
— You still speak like Aelira.
— I'm not Aelira.
— No.
He looked deeply into her eyes.
— You're more dangerous.
Edran raised his sword.
— Because you possess her memories...
He pointed the blade at Celestine.
— ...but you also possess Ayumi's experiences.
Celestine froze.
Her heart raced.
— How do you know that name?
Edran smiled.
— So you still don't remember.
Seraphina immediately stepped in front of Celestine.
— Don't listen to him.
Celestine moved her aside.
— No.
She looked at Edran.
— Tell me.
— Do you really want to know?
— Yes.
Edran slowly lowered his sword.
— Ayumi Natsuki.
Celestine felt a sudden pain in her head.
A room appeared in her mind.
A window.
A city filled with lights.
A school.
People speaking Japanese.
A girl holding a phone.
A laugh.
A completely different life.
Celestine held her head.
— Ayumi...
Leonhardt grabbed her shoulder.
— Celestine!
She breathed with difficulty.
— I remember...
Seraphina was surprised.
— What did you see?
— A city.
Celestine closed her eyes.
— I was at a school.
The memory disappeared.
Edran watched in silence.
— Now you understand.
Celestine raised her eyes.
— You knew I would reincarnate.
— I knew your soul would survive.
— Then you were waiting for me?
Edran replied:
— For four hundred years.
Celestine clenched her fists.
— Why?
— Because only you can put an end to my existence.
The corridor fell silent.
Edran extended his hand.
— Come.
Celestine did not move.
— For what?
— I want to show you the place where Aelira died.
Seraphina immediately shouted:
— Don't go!
Celestine looked at her.
— Why?
— Because it's a trap.
Edran laughed.
— She's right.
Celestine narrowed her eyes.
— Then why admit it?
— Because the trap isn't meant to kill you.
He turned around.
— It's meant to make you remember.
Edran began walking toward the central tower.
— If you want to discover who Aelira truly was...
He looked over his shoulder.
— ...come.
Celestine remained still.
Leonhardt approached.
— You don't have to do this.
Celestine looked at the tower.
— I do.
— Why?
She tightened her grip on her sword.
— Because I want to know the whole truth.
Leonhardt nodded.
— Then I'm going with you.
The others also began walking.
Seraphina sighed.
— I knew I wouldn't be able to stop you.
The group followed Edran.
The higher they climbed the tower, the stronger the presence of the Void became.
Until they reached an enormous door.
Edran opened it.
Inside was a circular chamber.
In the center stood an altar.
Celestine stopped.
Her heart began pounding violently.
She recognized that place.
Aelira had been there.
Elyndra had been there.
Edran had been there too.
A memory began to surface.
Aelira was kneeling before the altar.
Edran held his sword.
— You cannot kill me.
Aelira replied:
— I don't need to kill you.
She raised her eyes.
— I only need to destroy what keeps you alive.
Edran advanced.
The memory ended.
Celestine opened her eyes.
— The sword...
Edran smiled.
— Exactly.
He drew the black sword from its sheath.
— This is the sword that killed Aelira.
Celestine felt the Void tremble.
Edran continued:
— But she didn't know one thing.
— What?
Edran pointed the sword toward the altar.
— The sword also holds part of her soul.
Celestine froze.
— Then...
— Yes.
Edran smiled.
— If you want to recover all your memories...
The black sword began to glow.
— You'll have to take this sword from me.
Celestine drew her own sword.
— Then let's fight.
Edran smiled for the first time genuinely.
— I've been waiting for this for four hundred years.
The two swords collided.
And the battle for the truth finally began.