The clouds above the castle had disappeared.
In their place, an enormous darkness spread like a storm.
Celestine watched it through the tower window.
For the first time, she could feel the Void in a different way.
It was not merely a force within her.
It was as if a part of that power was calling out to her.
Come back.
Celestine closed her eyes.
— The Temple of the Void...
Seraphina approached.
— You remembered?
— A little.
— Where is it?
Celestine pointed toward the mountains.
— Beyond the Forest of Kings. There is a mountain surrounded by a lake.
The Guardian turned pale.
— Lake Lumen.
Celestine looked at him.
— You know it?
— I do.
— Then you know how to get there.
The Guardian nodded.
— But no one should go there.
Leonhardt frowned.
— Why?
— Because the temple does not belong to the living.
Seris crossed her arms.
— That doesn't explain much.
The Guardian took a deep breath.
— The temple was built before the first kingdom. They say that those who enter can hear the voices of their own souls.
Celestine became serious.
— Then that's where I'll find the answers.
Seraphina replied:
— Perhaps.
— And the Abyss?
— If the seal is truly breaking, the temple may be the only way to restore it.
The First Inquisitor, still wounded, let out a laugh.
— You still believe the seal should be restored?
Celestine turned toward him.
— What do you know?
He replied:
— The Abyss isn't trying to escape.
Everyone fell silent.
— Then what's happening? — Leonhardt asked.
— It's calling for Celestine.
She felt the Void pulse.
— For me?
— Yes.
— Why?
The First Inquisitor smiled.
— Because you are the only one capable of opening the door.
Celestine narrowed her eyes.
— What door?
— The door that exists inside the temple.
The man said nothing more.
Celestine approached.
— You will take us there.
— No.
She raised her sword.
— Then I'll take you.
The First Inquisitor smiled.
— You still don't understand.
— What?
— I don't need to go.
He looked at the sky.
— The temple already knows you're coming.
Shortly afterward, the group left the castle.
Edran remained in the tower.
His immortality had been destroyed, but he still had not regained his freedom.
Celestine stopped before him before leaving.
— You're staying here?
Edran nodded.
— It's where I belong.
— When I return, I want answers.
He smiled.
— If I'm still alive.
Celestine became serious.
— You will be.
— Are you sure?
— No.
She turned around.
— But I hope so.
Edran watched Celestine walk away.
— Aelira...
Celestine stopped.
— What?
Edran corrected himself:
— Celestine.
She looked at him.
— You finally chose your own name.
Celestine smiled faintly.
— Yes.
And she left.
The journey to the Forest of Kings took an entire day.
The sky remained dark.
Small black particles fell from the clouds.
Seris held out her hand.
— Is this snow?
Seraphina shook her head.
— No.
A particle landed in her hand.
It disappeared immediately.
— It's energy from the Abyss.
Leonhardt looked at Celestine.
— Can you feel it?
— Yes.
She touched her chest.
— It's getting stronger.
Lyra walked silently.
The mark on her neck was glowing.
Celestine noticed.
— Lyra.
She stopped.
— Yes?
— Your mark is glowing.
Lyra touched her neck.
— I know.
— Does it hurt?
— No.
She looked toward the forest.
— It's calling.
The Guardian became serious.
— Calling whom?
Lyra replied:
— Me.
When they reached the entrance to the forest, the enormous wolf appeared again.
It was the same animal they had encountered before.
It emerged from the shadows.
Its golden eyes were fixed on Lyra.
Lyra took a step.
The wolf did not retreat.
Celestine looked at the mark on its forehead.
It was exactly the same as Lyra's.
— Maybe it knows the way.
The Guardian nodded.
— The ancient guardians protected the entrance to the temple.
Leonhardt looked at the animal.
— Then we should follow it.
The wolf turned around.
It began to walk.
Lyra followed.
Celestine and the others followed behind them.
For hours, they crossed the forest.
They encountered no creatures.
No enemies.
It was as if all life had abandoned that place.
Then they heard water.
The forest came to an end.
A huge lake appeared before them.
Its surface was completely still.
On the other side stood a mountain.
At its center was an enormous stone door.
Celestine stopped.
A memory surfaced.
Aelira stood before that same door.
A voice said:
— When the world forgets your name, come back here.
Aelira touched the door.
It opened.
The memory disappeared.
Celestine took a deep breath.
— I've been here before.
Seraphina approached.
— Do you remember how to open it?
Celestine looked at Lyra.
The mark on her neck was glowing intensely.
— I don't think I'm the one who should open it.
Lyra's eyes widened.
— Me?
The wolf walked toward her.
Then it lowered its head.
Lyra touched its forehead.
Her mark glowed.
So did the wolf's.
A light traveled across the lake.
The water began to part.
A stone bridge slowly emerged.
Seris was impressed.
— Was that underneath the water?
The Guardian replied:
— No.
He looked at Lyra.
— It was created just now.
Lyra looked frightened.
— I did that?
— Not alone.
The wolf looked at her.
For a moment, a small image appeared in Lyra's mind.
She saw a child.
A girl with light-colored hair.
The girl was holding someone else's hand.
Then she saw the same wolf, much smaller.
The image disappeared.
Lyra put a hand to her head.
— I know him.
Celestine approached.
— From where?
Lyra shook her head.
— I don't know.
The wolf began walking across the bridge.
Lyra followed.
When they reached the other side, the mountain door began to open.
An icy wind came from within.
There were no torches.
Even so, the walls glowed with a bluish light.
Celestine entered.
The group followed.
After a few meters, the door closed behind them.
Leonhardt looked back.
— Great.
Seris sighed.
— We're trapped.
Celestine continued walking.
— No.
— How do you know?
— Because the temple wants us to move forward.
The corridor ended in a huge chamber.
In the center were three statues.
The first depicted a warrior holding a sword.
The second depicted a girl wearing clothes that were strange for this world.
The third depicted a young woman with a sword covered in a black aura.
Celestine froze.
She recognized all three.
Aelira.
Ayumi.
Herself.
Seraphina approached.
— They recorded all your lives.
Celestine touched Ayumi's statue.
A memory appeared.
Ayumi was in her room.
She looked out the window.
She was crying.
— I wish I could have lived longer...
Celestine felt tears welling up.
— I remember.
Leonhardt stood beside her.
— What happened?
— I was afraid.
— Of dying?
Celestine nodded.
— But I didn't want to leave anyone behind.
The memory disappeared.
Celestine touched the third statue.
This time, no memory appeared.
The statue spoke.
— You are not Aelira.
Celestine was surprised.
The voice continued.
— You are not Ayumi.
The entire temple began to tremble.
— You are Celestine.
A door appeared behind the statues.
Celestine looked at it.
The Void spoke inside her mind.
Now you can enter.
She walked toward the door.
— What is in there?
The voice answered:
Your true beginning.
Celestine placed her hand on the door.
It opened.
On the other side was nothing but darkness.
But at its center, a figure was waiting.
A woman with long hair.
Golden eyes.
Dressed in ancient armor.
Celestine recognized her immediately.
Aelira.
But this time, she looked different.
Older.
More serious.
And she was holding a broken sword.
— You're late — Aelira said.
Celestine clenched her fists.
— Are you alive?
Aelira smiled.
— Not in the way you imagine.
She raised the broken sword.
— Come.
Celestine took a step.
— Where?
Aelira replied:
— To the place where your soul was born.
And behind her, an enormous stone door began to open.