Morning arrived slowly.
The campfire had gone out during the night.
Celestine opened her eyes when the first rays of sunlight passed through the trees.
For a few seconds, she remained silent.
Then she looked at the silver sword beside her.
The memory of Aelira was still alive in her mind.
— Aelira...
She touched the blade.
Nothing happened.
Celestine smiled.
— You really do know how to appear whenever you want.
— Are you talking to yourself again?
Leonhardt's voice came from behind her.
Celestine turned around.
— Perhaps.
He placed some firewood over the extinguished fire.
— Did you sleep well?
— Yes.
— After entering your own soul?
— When you put it that way, it sounds strange.
Leonhardt laughed.
— Because it is strange.
Celestine stood up.
— We need to continue.
The others began to wake up.
Seraphina was sitting near a tree, staring at the horizon.
The Guardian was checking their surroundings.
Seris was preparing the horses.
Lyra was with the marked wolf.
Celestine approached her.
— Did he stay here all night?
Lyra stroked the animal's head.
— Yes.
— He didn't leave?
— No.
The wolf looked at Celestine.
Its golden eyes seemed to be watching something beyond her.
Celestine felt a small vibration within the Void.
— He's seeing something.
Lyra became serious.
— I feel it too.
— What?
Lyra looked at the sky.
— Someone is watching us.
Everyone became alert.
Seris gripped her sword.
— Where?
Lyra closed her eyes.
— I don't know.
Celestine looked toward the forest.
Nothing.
No movement.
No sound.
But there was a strange feeling in the air.
As if someone were waiting.
— Let's go — Celestine said.
---
The journey to Edran's castle took almost two days.
The closer they got, the quieter the region became.
On the second day, they found a completely abandoned village.
The doors were open.
The houses were intact.
But there was no one there.
Seris entered one of the houses.
— There are no signs of a struggle.
Leonhardt examined the floor.
— They simply left.
Celestine looked around.
— Why?
The Void answered:
Fear.
— Fear of what?
Of what is coming.
Celestine left the house.
In the sky, a small black crack had grown larger.
Seraphina approached.
— The influence of the Abyss is growing.
— Then we need to reach the castle before it's too late.
---
At the end of the afternoon, they finally arrived.
But Celestine stopped the moment she saw the walls.
The castle was completely silent.
No guards.
No flags moving in the wind.
No light in the windows.
Leonhardt dismounted.
— This isn't normal.
The Guardian nodded.
— No.
Celestine walked toward the gate.
It was open.
— Edran should know that we would return.
Seraphina looked toward the towers.
— Perhaps he's dead.
Celestine closed her eyes.
She felt the Void.
Nothing.
No presence.
— I can't sense Edran.
Leonhardt asked:
— Then?
Celestine gripped her sword.
— Let's go inside.
---
The interior of the castle was exactly as they had left it.
The statues.
The corridors.
The great doors.
But there was one difference.
Not a single torch was lit.
Celestine walked at the front.
The wolf followed beside Lyra.
When they passed through the hall where they had fought Edran, Celestine stopped.
There was dried blood on the floor.
But Edran was not there.
— He disappeared.
Seraphina approached.
— No.
She pointed toward a wall.
There were deep sword marks.
— There was a fight after we left.
Leonhardt examined the marks.
— Who fought?
Seraphina shook her head.
— I don't know.
Celestine noticed something on the floor.
A piece of black fabric.
She picked it up.
— The First Inquisitor's.
The Guardian became serious.
— Then he returned.
— Yes.
Celestine clenched her fist.
— But why take Edran?
A voice came from behind them.
— Because Edran knew too much.
Everyone turned around.
A woman was standing in the corridor.
She wore a long white cloak.
Her face was partially hidden.
Celestine immediately raised her sword.
— Who are you?
The woman did not answer.
The wolf growled.
Lyra became frightened.
— He knows her.
Celestine looked at the animal.
— Are you sure?
Lyra nodded.
— He's afraid.
The woman took a step forward.
— I didn't come to fight.
Seris did not lower her sword.
— Then what did you come here for?
The woman looked at Celestine.
— To deliver a message.
— From whom?
— From Edran.
Celestine froze.
— He's alive?
— Yes.
Seraphina stepped forward.
— Where is he?
The woman looked at her.
— In a place you've already been.
Seraphina went pale.
— No...
Celestine noticed her reaction.
— Where?
The woman answered:
— In the ruins of the ancient palace of Aureon.
Seraphina closed her eyes.
— They took him there.
— Who?
The woman smiled.
— The man you are looking for.
Celestine tightened her grip on the sword.
— The First Inquisitor.
— Yes.
— Why?
— Because he needs Edran to open a door.
Celestine felt the Void react.
— The door between worlds?
The woman nodded.
— Exactly.
Leonhardt asked:
— And what does he need from Celestine?
The woman looked directly at her.
— Her soul.
Celestine showed no fear.
— Then he can wait.
The woman seemed surprised.
— You're not going after Edran?
— I am.
— Even knowing it could be a trap?
Celestine smiled.
— Of course it's a trap.
Leonhardt looked at her.
— And you're going anyway?
— Yes.
She sheathed her sword.
— Because if he wants me to go there, it means there is something in that place that he cannot obtain on his own.
The Guardian smiled faintly.
— She's learning.
Seraphina looked at Celestine.
— The ruins of the palace are dangerous.
— Then we'll be careful.
The woman turned around.
Celestine asked:
— Wait.
She stopped.
— Who are you?
The woman remained silent for a few seconds.
— My name is Elyndra.
Celestine felt the Void tremble.
That name awakened a memory.
Aelira was standing before a woman.
The same woman.
Elyndra.
Aelira said:
— If I ever disappear, protect my sister.
The memory ended.
Celestine looked at the woman.
— You knew Aelira.
Elyndra slowly turned around.
— I did.
— She trusted you.
Elyndra replied:
— More than she should have.
Seraphina was surprised.
— Elyndra...
The woman looked at her.
— It's been a long time, Aelira's sister.
Celestine remained still.
— You knew Seraphina too?
Elyndra nodded.
— The three of us knew Aelira.
Seraphina approached.
— Why did you disappear?
Elyndra replied:
— Because someone had to survive.
Celestine realized something.
— You know more about Aelira's death.
Elyndra looked at her.
— I do.
— Then tell me.
— Not yet.
Celestine frowned.
— Why?
Elyndra pointed toward the silver sword.
— Because Aelira left one final order.
Celestine was surprised.
— What was it?
Elyndra replied:
— Don't tell Celestine the truth until she is ready to choose for herself.
Celestine remained silent.
— Then she knew I would exist.
— She hoped.
Elyndra began walking.
— Tomorrow, we will leave for the ruins.
Celestine looked at Leonhardt.
— Tomorrow?
Elyndra stopped.
— Yes.
She looked at the sky.
The black crack had grown even larger.
— Because the day after tomorrow, there may no longer be a way back.
Elyndra disappeared down the corridor.
Celestine stared at the place where she had been standing.
Then the wolf began to growl.
Lyra looked at him.
— What is it?
The animal stared at a window.
Celestine approached.
In the sky, above the mountains, there was a black silhouette.
It looked like a gigantic creature flying.
The Void spoke within her:
It has awakened.
Celestine tightened her grip on the sword.
— Who?
The answer came immediately.
The first fragment of the Abyss.
Celestine watched as the creature disappeared among the clouds.
— Then we don't have any more time.
She turned toward her companions.
— We leave now.
Leonhardt smiled.
— I knew you'd say that.
Seraphina picked up her sword.
— Then let's go.
Celestine looked one last time at the empty castle.
Somewhere far away, Edran was still alive.
And the First Inquisitor was preparing his ritual.
But for the first time, Celestine did not feel like she was merely running from her destiny.
She was going to meet it.