Celestine remained standing before the door.
Aelira was on the other side.
No matter how familiar her appearance was, there was something about her that Celestine could not explain.
It was like looking at an ancient reflection.
A reflection that had lived hundreds of years before her.
— You said this is the place where my soul was born — Celestine said.
Aelira nodded.
— Yes.
— Then why are you here?
Aelira looked at the broken sword in her hand.
— Because a part of me was never able to move on.
Celestine felt the Void stir.
She is telling the truth.
— Are you only a memory?
Aelira smiled.
— More than a memory. Less than a person.
Celestine entered the room.
The others tried to follow her, but an invisible wall appeared before them.
Leonhardt slammed his hand against it.
— Celestine!
She turned around.
— I'm fine!
Seraphina tried to cross the barrier.
— The temple is separating you from us.
— Why?
The Guardian answered:
— Because this place was made for a single soul.
Celestine looked at Aelira.
— Then I have to enter alone.
— Yes — Aelira replied.
Leonhardt did not like the idea.
— We don't know what's inside.
Celestine smiled.
— Neither do I.
She placed her hand against the barrier.
— But I'll come back.
Leonhardt held her hand from the other side.
— Promise me.
Celestine looked at him.
— I promise.
She released his hand and continued forward.
The door closed.
---
The silence was absolute.
Celestine walked through a stone corridor.
There were no torches.
There were no windows.
Even so, she could see.
Small lights floated around her.
Each one seemed to contain a memory.
Celestine touched one.
Immediately, she saw Aelira.
The young warrior was training with a sword.
Her movements were fast and precise.
An older man watched her.
— Again.
Aelira attacked.
— Again.
She repeated it.
— Faster.
Aelira continued until her arms were trembling.
The memory ended.
Celestine opened her eyes.
— She trained a lot.
Aelira appeared beside her.
— I had to.
— To face Edran?
— To face the world.
Celestine continued walking.
— Did you know you would be used as a vessel for the Void?
— Since I was a child.
— And you weren't afraid?
Aelira took a while to answer.
— I was.
— Then why did you accept it?
Aelira looked at her.
— Because I believed I could protect people.
Celestine lowered her eyes.
— Did you succeed?
Aelira smiled sadly.
— Some of them.
The corridor ended in a huge chamber.
In the center stood a tree.
Its roots covered the floor.
Its trunk was white.
And its leaves were black.
Celestine felt the Void pulse intensely.
— What is this?
Aelira answered:
— The Primordial Tree.
— Is it alive?
— No.
Aelira approached it.
— But it isn't dead either.
Celestine touched the trunk.
A force passed through her body.
This time, she did not see one memory.
She saw thousands.
People being born.
Kingdoms rising.
Wars.
Friendships.
Love.
Death.
And among all those images, she saw a little girl.
Aelira.
Then Ayumi.
Then Celestine.
The three of them stood before the tree.
Celestine pulled her hand away.
— All of my lives...
Aelira nodded.
— Were connected to it.
— Who created this tree?
— No one.
Celestine was confused.
— Then how does it exist?
Aelira answered:
— Because not everything needs to be created.
A voice echoed through the chamber.
— Finally, you understand.
Celestine turned around.
There was no one there.
— Who spoke?
The tree began to glow.
An ancient voice emerged once again.
— The Void was not born.
Celestine felt a chill.
— Then where did it come from?
— It has always existed.
Aelira closed her eyes.
— That is why the creators could never control it.
Celestine looked at her.
— They tried?
— For centuries.
— And you were one of those attempts.
— Yes.
Celestine stood before the tree.
— So my soul was created to control the Void?
The voice answered:
— No.
Celestine was surprised.
— Then what for?
— To understand it.
The chamber fell silent.
Celestine felt a tear run down her cheek.
— Then was that the reason for all my lives?
— No.
— Then what was the reason?
The answer came slowly.
— Choice.
Celestine frowned.
— Choice?
— Aelira received power.
The tree glowed.
— Ayumi received humanity.
Another light appeared.
— Celestine received freedom.
Celestine stood motionless.
Aelira smiled.
— That is why you were able to do what I never could.
— What?
— Choose who you wanted to be.
Celestine felt her chest tighten.
— I still don't know who I am.
Aelira approached her.
— You don't have to decide now.
— But I have to face the Abyss.
— Yes.
— And Edran.
— Yes.
— And the First Inquisitor.
— Yes.
Celestine gripped her sword.
— Then I need to become stronger.
Aelira shook her head.
— Not just stronger.
— What else?
— You need to learn to use the sword without relying on the Void.
Celestine was surprised.
— Why?
Aelira answered:
— Because the enemy who is coming cannot be defeated by the Void.
Celestine became serious.
— Who?
Aelira looked toward the darkness above the tree.
— The true enemy.
Before Celestine could ask, the room began to shake.
The tree lost its leaves.
One by one.
Aelira looked at the ceiling.
— He noticed.
— Who?
— The Abyss.
A roar tore through the temple.
Celestine fell to her knees.
The Void inside her became restless.
He is waking up.
— Then we have to leave.
— Not yet.
Aelira pointed toward the tree.
One of the roots began to split open.
Inside it was a sword.
It was not golden.
It was not black.
It was a simple sword.
Silver.
Without jewels.
Without ornaments.
But Celestine felt something different when she looked at it.
It was familiar.
— This sword...
Aelira nodded.
— It was mine.
Celestine approached it.
— Did you fight Edran with it?
— Yes.
— Then why is it here?
Aelira answered:
— Because it is the only thing that survived my first death.
Celestine grasped the hilt.
The sword slowly emerged from the root.
The instant she touched it, an explosion of memories rushed through her mind.
Aelira fighting.
Aelira crying.
Aelira smiling.
Aelira standing before Edran.
And finally, Aelira handing the sword to someone.
A hooded figure.
Celestine opened her eyes.
— Who is that person?
Aelira did not answer.
— Aelira.
She remained silent.
— Who was wearing the hood?
Aelira finally spoke:
— The First Inquisitor.
Celestine's eyes widened.
— He received your sword?
— No.
— Then?
Aelira looked at the blade.
— He tried to destroy it.
Celestine ran her fingers along the sword.
— But he failed.
— No.
Aelira smiled.
— Because it recognizes your soul.
Celestine raised the sword.
A silver light enveloped the blade.
Aelira began to disappear.
— Wait!
— I cannot stay.
— Will I see you again?
Aelira smiled.
— You already carry me within you.
Celestine's eyes filled with tears.
— Thank you.
— Don't thank me.
Aelira disappeared completely.
— Live.
Celestine was left alone.
Then she heard a voice behind her.
— What a beautiful family reunion.
She turned around.
The First Inquisitor was standing at the entrance.
Celestine gripped the silver sword.
— How did you get in?
He smiled.
— The temple allowed me to enter.
Celestine became serious.
— Why?
The man looked at the sword.
His smile disappeared.
— Because I came to destroy it.
Celestine pointed the blade at him.
— You won't touch it.
The First Inquisitor raised his own sword.
— Then we'll have to fight.
Behind them, the Primordial Tree began to crack.
A gigantic shadow appeared among the roots.
The First Inquisitor looked back.
For the first time, fear appeared on his face.
— No...
Celestine turned around.
— What is it?
He answered in a low voice:
— We're too late.
The roots split apart.
From inside the tree, two enormous eyes opened.
And a voice echoed throughout the temple:
— CELESTINE...
She tightened her grip on the sword.
The Void inside her became completely silent.