Night had fallen over the ruins of Aureon.
The moon remained hidden behind the red clouds that covered the sky.
Celestine walked in silence.
The sword Lúmina was fastened to her waist.
Each step took her a little farther from Aelira's statue.
She did not look back.
Not because she didn't want to.
But because she knew that if she did, she might not be able to leave.
Leonhardt walked beside her.
For several minutes, neither of them said a word.
Until he finally asked:
— Are you okay?
Celestine took a deep breath.
— I don't know.
— That's different from being unwell.
She looked at him.
— Maybe.
Leonhardt smiled faintly.
— Then I'll consider that we still have hope.
Celestine let out a small laugh.
— Do you always try to find hope in everything?
— No.
He looked at the ruins.
— Only when I'm by your side.
Celestine looked away.
— Leonhardt...
— You don't have to answer.
He continued walking.
— I just wanted you to know.
Celestine remained silent.
But a small smile appeared on her face.
Behind them, Seris watched the two of them.
— Can you two really talk about feelings in the middle of a cursed ruin?
Lyra laughed softly.
— They're always like this.
Seris sighed.
— Impressive.
The Guardian stopped.
— We've arrived.
Everyone looked ahead.
Between two large broken columns stood a stone circle.
It was similar to the symbol found in the Temple of the Void.
Three lines formed a design in the center.
But there was one difference.
There was a small opening within the circle.
Celestine immediately recognized it.
— It's the same passage.
The Guardian nodded.
— It can take us back.
Seraphina approached.
— But we need a key.
Everyone looked at Celestine.
She held Lúmina.
— The sword.
— Yes — the Guardian replied.
Celestine placed the sword in the center of the circle.
The inscriptions began to glow.
The ground trembled.
A silver light appeared.
Then a voice echoed.
Destiny recognized.
Celestine frowned.
— I didn't choose any destiny.
The Void answered inside her:
That's why the passage accepted you.
The light grew brighter.
An opening appeared before the group.
On the other side, they could see a forest.
There were no ruins.
No red sky.
It was the road that led back to the lands of the Empire of the Crimson Sun.
Leonhardt watched it.
— We did it.
Celestine removed the sword from the circle.
The passage remained open.
But before anyone could cross, Seraphina stood still.
— Wait.
She looked back.
— What is it? — Celestine asked.
Seraphina was looking at Aelira's statue in the distance.
— I spent four hundred years waiting to see her again.
Celestine approached her.
— She's not really here.
— I know.
Seraphina smiled sadly.
— But knowing that doesn't make it any easier.
Celestine took the hand of the sister from her past life.
— She's still with me.
Seraphina looked at her.
— Yes.
— And as long as I continue living, part of her story will continue as well.
Seraphina squeezed her hand.
— No.
Celestine was surprised.
— No?
— Her story has ended.
Seraphina looked directly at Celestine.
— Now it's your story.
Celestine smiled.
— You learned from Aelira.
— Perhaps.
The two of them walked toward the passage.
One by one, the others crossed.
When it was Celestine's turn, she stopped.
She looked at the ruins once more.
A breeze passed by.
For an instant, she heard Aelira's voice.
Alive.
Celestine closed her eyes.
— I will live.
Then she crossed.
---
The group emerged on the other side.
The air was different.
Warmer.
The sky was blue.
The forest seemed peaceful.
For a few seconds, no one spoke.
Then Lyra took a deep breath.
— Finally.
Seris looked around.
— We're back.
The Guardian nodded.
— Territory of the Empire of the Crimson Sun.
Celestine looked at the road in the distance.
That road led directly to the heart of the empire.
To her former home.
To the place where she had been called a villainess.
To the world where her story as Celestine had begun.
Leonhardt noticed her expression.
— Are you afraid?
— A little.
— So am I.
Celestine looked at him.
— You?
— Yes.
— You never show it.
Leonhardt smiled.
— Because someone has to look brave.
Celestine laughed.
But then the Guardian drew their attention.
— We have a problem.
Everyone looked.
There was an abandoned carriage on the road.
Its wheels were broken.
The horses were gone.
Seris approached.
— There was a fight.
There was dried blood on the ground.
Lyra found a piece of red fabric.
— This belongs to imperial soldiers.
Celestine became serious.
— Soldiers of the Empire?
Seris nodded.
— Yes.
Celestine looked at the road.
— Then it has already begun.
Leonhardt asked:
— What?
She answered:
— The lie.
The group fell silent.
Celestine knelt down and picked up a document lying near the carriage.
The imperial seal was broken.
She opened it.
Her eyes moved across the words.
Her expression changed.
— What does it say? — Seraphina asked.
Celestine handed the document to her.
Seraphina read it.
It was an imperial order.
"By decree of the throne, Duchess Celestine d'Arnoir is considered a threat to the security of the Empire of the Crimson Sun."
Leonhardt clenched his fists.
— They've already started hunting her.
Celestine continued reading.
There was a second sentence.
"Anyone who offers protection to the duchess shall be considered an accomplice."
Seris was furious.
— They're turning you into an enemy of your own empire.
Celestine folded the document.
— Exactly as the First Inquisitor wanted.
Seraphina looked at her.
— What will we do?
Celestine remained silent for a few seconds.
Then she answered:
— We'll return to the capital.
Leonhardt's eyes widened.
— Even knowing they're looking for you?
— Especially because of that.
— It's dangerous.
— I know.
Celestine placed her hand over Lúmina.
— I've spent too much time trying to escape the destiny they wrote for me.
She looked at the road.
— Now I want to find out who's writing my story.
The Void pulsed.
Choice.
Celestine smiled.
— I've already chosen.
---
That same night, far away, inside a dark room, a man placed a new document on a table.
The First Inquisitor stood before it.
Edran remained restrained in a stone chair.
The golden-eyed man entered.
— The passage has closed.
The First Inquisitor raised his gaze.
— Then she returned.
— Yes.
Edran smiled.
— You made a mistake.
The First Inquisitor approached.
— What mistake?
Edran answered:
— You thought Celestine would return to run away.
He looked at the imperial seal on the table.
— But she's going back to face you.
The golden-eyed man remained silent.
For the first time, he seemed concerned.
Edran continued:
— You're not hunting a victim.
A smile appeared on his face.
— You're creating your own enemy.
---
In the forest, Celestine walked toward the capital.
The sun was beginning to rise.
She watched the first rays illuminate the road.
Her former life.
Her past.
Aelira.
Ayumi.
Everything was part of her.
But none of those lives would choose for her.
Celestine tightened her grip on Lúmina.
— This time...
She continued walking.
— I will write my own destiny.
And in the distance, the towers of the capital of the Empire of the Crimson Sun began to appear on the horizon.