The wind stopped.
For a few seconds, no one moved.
Celestine remained before Aelira's statue, the silver sword firmly held in her hand.
Ahead of her, among the ruins of the ancient palace, a figure slowly walked toward the group.
It was Edran.
But something was wrong.
Celestine narrowed her eyes.
— You...
Leonhardt immediately placed his hand on his sword.
— Don't come any closer.
The figure stopped.
Edran raised his face.
His gaze seemed empty.
— Celestine...
Seraphina stepped forward.
— This is impossible.
— Seraphina...
The voice was truly Edran's.
She went pale.
— We left Edran on the other side of the door.
The Guardian carefully observed the figure.
— That's not him.
Celestine felt the Void pulse.
It isn't.
She tightened her grip on the sword.
— Then what is it?
Edran's figure smiled.
— A memory.
The body began to change.
Edran's appearance slowly disappeared, as if an image were being carried away by the wind.
In its place appeared a young woman.
Long golden hair.
Bright eyes.
A white dress marked by the passage of time.
Celestine immediately recognized her.
— Aelira...
Seraphina covered her mouth.
— My sister...
Aelira looked at Seraphina.
— You survived.
Seraphina began to cry.
— Aelira...
She ran toward her.
But when she tried to touch her, her hand passed through the luminous body.
Seraphina fell to her knees.
— No...
Aelira looked at her sadly.
— I am no longer the one you knew.
Celestine remained still.
— Then why are you here?
Aelira turned toward her.
— Because you crossed the door.
— You told me not to open it.
— And you didn't open it.
Celestine frowned.
— Then who opened it?
Aelira looked at the red sky.
— The door itself.
Silence filled the ruins.
Leonhardt asked:
— Why?
— Because someone tried to force it open for centuries.
Aelira looked at the ruined palace.
— But the door did not recognize the First Inquisitor as its true owner.
Celestine understood.
— It recognized me.
— Yes.
Aelira approached her.
— Because your soul carries the mark of those who came before.
Celestine held the sword.
— Aelira, I need to know the truth.
— Which one?
— All of it.
Aelira smiled faintly.
— That's a dangerous word.
Celestine did not look away.
— I've already discovered that you died four hundred years ago to stop the emperor's ritual. I discovered that Seraphina is your sister. I discovered that my soul continued after your death.
She took a deep breath.
— But I still don't know why the Void is inside me.
Aelira remained silent.
The wind began to blow again.
The black petals scattered across the ground began to swirl.
— Because the Void was never simply inside you.
Celestine was surprised.
— What?
Aelira touched her own chest.
— It was connected to my soul long before you were born as Celestine.
— Then it was inside you?
— Yes.
The Void answered inside Celestine's mind.
I remember.
She closed her eyes for a moment.
Aelira continued:
— But don't think of the Void only as a destructive force.
— It can destroy cities.
— It can.
— Then what is it?
Aelira looked toward the sky.
— A force that refuses to accept limits.
Celestine became thoughtful.
— And the emperor wanted to control it.
— He wanted to use something he could not understand.
Seraphina stood up.
— He wanted to turn Aelira into a weapon.
— Yes.
— And Edran?
Aelira lowered her eyes.
— Edran tried to stop him.
Seraphina clenched her fists.
— But he killed you.
Aelira answered softly:
— Because I asked him to.
Seraphina began crying again.
— I know...
Celestine looked at the two of them.
The story she had heard so many times seemed different now.
There wasn't simply a killer and a victim.
There were people trying to stop something much greater.
Aelira turned her attention back to Celestine.
— Edran has carried that guilt for centuries.
— He's alive.
— I know.
— He was captured by the First Inquisitor.
Aelira became serious.
— Then you need to return.
Leonhardt asked:
— Return where?
— To the Empire of the Crimson Sun.
Celestine was surprised.
— Why?
Aelira pointed toward the sword.
— Because their next move will not be in Aureon.
Celestine looked at Lúmina.
The ancient inscriptions began to glow.
— Where will it be?
— In the place where your current life began.
Celestine felt a shiver.
— The Empire.
Aelira nodded.
— The First Inquisitor knows he won't be able to control Aureon while you're here.
— Then he'll go after the Empire.
— No.
Aelira stared at Celestine.
— He will make the Empire come after you.
Leonhardt immediately understood.
— Using Celestine's reputation.
Seris narrowed her eyes.
— He can spread word that she's responsible for what happened here.
Aelira nodded.
— And when the Empire believes that Celestine has become a threat, they will send soldiers.
Celestine remained silent.
She thought about the execution decree she had received.
She thought about the title of villainess.
She thought about the original story.
Throughout her life as Celestine, she had tried to escape that destiny.
But now she realized something frightening.
The enemy didn't need to kill Celestine directly.
All they had to do was make the world believe she was the villainess.
She clenched her fists.
— Then he wants to repeat the story.
Aelira answered:
— Exactly.
Celestine raised her head.
— Not this time.
Leonhardt looked at her.
— What do you intend to do?
Celestine sheathed her sword.
— Return.
Seris was surprised.
— To the Empire?
— Yes.
— It could be a trap.
— I know.
Leonhardt approached.
— Then I'm going with you.
Celestine looked at him.
— Leonhardt...
— I won't let you face this alone.
She smiled.
— Thank you.
Seraphina looked at Aelira.
— Are you coming with us?
Aelira shook her head.
— I can't.
— Why?
— Because this place is where my memory belongs.
She looked at Celestine.
— And you need to learn to walk without me.
Celestine felt her eyes fill with tears.
— I'm still afraid.
Aelira smiled.
— I was afraid too.
— You?
— Many times.
Aelira approached and touched Celestine's forehead.
A soft light surrounded them both.
Celestine saw a memory.
Aelira walking alone through the palace.
Seraphina running after her.
Edran kneeling before her.
The emperor watching everything from the shadows.
Then she saw one final scene.
An imperial hall.
Red banners.
A throne.
And a woman holding a document.
The woman said:
— Celestine d'Arnoir must return to the Empire immediately.
The vision disappeared.
Celestine opened her eyes.
— What was that?
Aelira answered:
— The future that is beginning.
Celestine looked at her companions.
— We need to leave.
The Guardian nodded.
— The passage may still be opened.
Everyone began preparing.
Before leaving, Celestine turned toward the statue.
— Aelira.
The manifestation was disappearing.
— Yes?
— I won't live your life.
Aelira smiled.
— I know.
— Nor Ayumi's life.
— I know.
Celestine placed her hand over her heart.
— I will live as Celestine.
Aelira closed her eyes.
— That's exactly what I wanted to hear.
The light disappeared.
The ruins became silent.
Celestine looked at the statue one last time.
Then she turned around.
Leonhardt was waiting.
Seraphina was there too.
Lyra called the wolf, which silently approached.
The group began walking.
Behind them, among the ancient stones, a small black rose bloomed.
And far away, inside the ancient palace of Aureon, an unknown voice whispered:
— She has finally chosen.
In the red sky, a small crack appeared.
Celestine raised her eyes.
The Void pulsed.
The path back had begun.
She held her sword tightly.
This time, she would not run from destiny.
She would face it head-on.