— Celestine...
The voice echoed through the temple once again.
The walls trembled.
The silver sword in Celestine's hands began to vibrate.
The First Inquisitor took a step back.
— It shouldn't have awakened yet.
Celestine looked at him.
— You know what that is?
— I know enough to be afraid.
The roots of the Primordial Tree began to split apart.
A dark shadow spread across the floor.
Celestine held Aelira's sword tightly.
— What is beneath the tree?
The First Inquisitor answered:
— Something that should not exist.
A huge crack appeared in the center of the chamber.
A hand emerged from inside.
Then another.
Celestine prepared to attack.
— Everyone, behind me!
The First Inquisitor laughed.
— You really think your sword can defeat it?
Celestine did not answer.
The creature began to emerge from the darkness.
It was enormous.
Its body seemed to be made of shadows.
Two red eyes appeared on its face.
But there was something strange.
It did not attack.
It simply stared at Celestine.
— You have returned.
Celestine felt her heart race.
— Who are you?
The creature tilted its head.
— You do not remember.
— Then make me remember.
The creature extended a hand.
The Void inside Celestine reacted immediately.
Don't touch her.
Celestine stepped back.
— Why?
Because she knows you.
The creature spoke:
— I know all your lives.
Celestine tightened her grip on the sword.
— Aelira?
No answer.
— Ayumi?
Silence.
Then the creature said:
— Celestine.
She froze.
— Only Celestine.
The creature moved closer.
— That is why you are different.
The First Inquisitor raised his sword.
— Enough!
He charged at the creature.
His blade passed through the shadow.
Nothing happened.
The creature looked at him.
— You still haven't learned.
A wave of energy struck the First Inquisitor.
He was thrown against the wall.
Celestine was surprised.
— You could kill him.
— I could.
— Then why don't you?
The creature looked at her.
— Because he still has a purpose.
Celestine frowned.
— What purpose?
— To lead you to the truth.
The First Inquisitor slowly stood up.
— Don't listen.
Celestine looked at him.
— You're afraid.
— No.
— You are.
He wiped the blood from his face.
— You don't understand what will happen if you discover everything.
Celestine walked toward him.
— Then tell me.
— I can't.
— You don't want to.
The man remained silent.
Celestine pointed her sword at him.
— Who ordered Aelira's death?
The First Inquisitor looked at the silver blade.
— You aren't ready yet.
— I've heard that too many times.
She charged.
The man blocked.
The swords clashed.
Celestine spun and attacked again.
The First Inquisitor dodged.
He was skilled.
Much more than Celestine had expected.
— You fight like Aelira — he said.
Celestine replied:
— But I'm not her.
She attacked.
The man blocked.
— That's the problem.
Celestine managed to strike his shoulder.
He stepped back.
— You possess Aelira's strength...
She advanced.
— And Ayumi's humanity.
Another strike.
He dodged.
— But you have something neither of them possessed.
Celestine stopped.
— What?
The First Inquisitor smiled.
— Choice.
He disappeared through the door.
Leonhardt appeared on the other side of the barrier.
— Celestine!
The barrier began to disappear.
She ran toward her companions.
Leonhardt grabbed her shoulders.
— Are you okay?
— Yes.
— And that man?
— He escaped.
Seraphina looked at the creature.
— No.
She pointed.
— He didn't escape.
Celestine turned around.
The First Inquisitor was standing before the exit.
But he wasn't alone.
Several hooded men stood around him.
Seris drew her sword.
— He brought reinforcements.
The First Inquisitor raised his hand.
— Kill them all.
The soldiers charged.
Leonhardt and Aldren moved to the front.
Seris stayed beside Lyra.
The Guardian created a barrier.
Celestine stood in the center.
— Don't let anyone get through.
The battle began.
Swords clashed.
Shouts echoed throughout the temple.
Leonhardt knocked down two enemies.
Aldren faced three at once.
Seris protected Lyra.
The Guardian maintained the barrier.
Celestine charged into the group.
Aelira's sword felt light in her hands.
Every movement came naturally.
She spun.
Dodged.
Attacked.
An enemy tried to strike her from behind.
Celestine ducked.
The blade passed above her head.
She spun and struck her opponent.
The man fell.
Celestine took a deep breath.
— I really do fight like Aelira.
The Void answered:
You fight like yourself.
Celestine smiled.
— Even better.
She charged forward.
Shortly afterward, the last enemies were defeated.
The First Inquisitor had disappeared.
But the creature remained.
Celestine approached it.
— Why didn't you attack?
— Because I did not come to fight.
— Then why did you come?
— To deliver something.
The creature opened its hand.
A small golden sphere appeared.
Celestine immediately recognized it.
It was similar to the sphere she had found in the previous chapter.
— What is this?
— A memory.
Celestine took the sphere.
The instant she touched it, everything around her disappeared.
She was standing in a field.
There was snow.
Aelira was kneeling.
Edran stood before her.
But there was a third person.
A woman with long hair and white clothing.
Celestine did not recognize her.
The woman held Aelira's hand.
— You need to run.
Aelira replied:
— I can't.
— They will kill you.
— If I run, they will kill everyone else.
The woman cried.
— Then take me with you.
Aelira shook her head.
— No.
Edran appeared in the distance.
Aelira stood up.
— When I die...
She handed the silver sword to the woman.
— Keep this.
— Why?
— Because one day she will return.
The woman looked confused.
— Who?
Aelira smiled.
— My next life.
The memory ended.
Celestine opened her eyes.
She was crying.
— Who was that woman?
Aelira appeared before her.
This time, her expression was sad.
— Someone you knew.
— When?
— Before my death.
— What was her name?
Aelira looked at Seraphina.
Celestine followed her gaze.
Seraphina was pale.
— Seraphina?
Aelira nodded.
Celestine was shocked.
— You knew Aelira?
Seraphina closed her eyes.
— Yes.
— Why didn't you ever tell me?
— Because I was afraid your memories would destroy you.
Celestine stepped closer.
— Tell me everything.
Seraphina took a deep breath.
— Aelira was my sister.
The chamber became completely silent.
Celestine could not answer.
— Your sister?
Seraphina nodded.
— We were both born into the same family.
Aelira slowly began to disappear.
Before leaving, she said:
— Now you are close to the truth.
Celestine looked at Seraphina.
— You are Aelira's sister.
Seraphina began to cry.
— Yes.
Celestine held the silver sword.
— Then you know who ordered her death.
Seraphina did not answer.
Celestine insisted:
— You do?
After a few seconds, Seraphina finally raised her face.
— I do.
— Who?
Seraphina looked toward the ceiling.
— The man who created the First Inquisitor.
Celestine frowned.
— Who?
Seraphina answered in a low voice:
— The former Emperor of Aureon.