The capital's bell continued to ring.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The sound spread through the streets of the Empire of the Crimson Sun, causing merchants to abandon their shops and soldiers to rush toward the walls.
At the top of the imperial palace, Celestine watched the sky.
The enormous black crack continued to grow.
It looked like an open wound in the heavens.
Leonhardt remained beside her.
— This wasn't here when we arrived.
— No — Celestine replied.
Seraphina looked at the sky.
— The presence of the Void is growing stronger.
The Guardian closed his eyes.
— It's not just the Void.
Celestine turned toward him.
— What do you mean?
He slowly opened his eyes.
— There's another presence.
A cold wind swept across the terrace.
The imperial flags began to whip violently in the wind.
Edric appeared behind them.
— The city is falling into panic.
Celestine looked at him.
— How many soldiers do we have?
— Enough to protect the capital.
— And the walls?
— All of them are being reinforced.
Seris approached.
— If whatever is in the sky is a passage, the walls won't be enough.
Edric nodded.
— I know.
Celestine stared at the crack.
— Then we won't wait for something to cross through.
Leonhardt looked at her.
— What do you intend to do?
— Find out where it begins.
The Guardian pointed toward the center of the city.
— The energy is coming from there.
Everyone looked.
At the heart of the capital stood the ancient imperial square.
At its center was an enormous statue of the first emperor of the Crimson Sun.
Celestine felt Lúmina vibrate.
— The square.
Edric became serious.
— No.
— What?
— No one enters that square during an emergency.
Celestine narrowed her eyes.
— Why?
Edric remained silent.
Seraphina noticed.
— You know something.
The emperor took a deep breath.
— There's a chamber beneath the square.
Celestine stepped closer.
— What is down there?
— An ancient sanctuary.
The Guardian froze.
— A sanctuary of the Void?
Edric nodded.
— It was built before the founding of the empire.
Celestine tightened her grip on Lúmina.
— Then that's where we're going.
— Celestine...
— If that presence is emerging in the capital, we can't wait.
Edric looked at Leonhardt.
— Protect her.
Leonhardt answered immediately:
— Always.
---
The streets were filled with people.
Soldiers tried to organize the population while children cried and families ran toward the shelters.
Celestine walked in the center of the group.
Some people recognized her.
— It's her!
— The duchess!
— The woman from the decree!
The whispers grew louder.
Celestine kept walking.
A stone was thrown.
Leonhardt blocked it with his arm.
— Who did that?
Celestine grabbed his arm.
— No.
— But...
— We don't have time to waste.
She looked at the people.
— They're afraid.
Seraphina answered:
— And fear makes people believe anything.
Celestine continued walking.
— Then I'll show them the truth.
When they reached the square, they found dozens of soldiers.
The captain knelt before the emperor.
— Your Majesty.
Edric raised his hand.
— Clear the way.
The soldiers obeyed.
Celestine looked at the statue.
There was a small crack in the stone.
The same shape as a rose.
Lúmina began to glow.
— It's reacting.
The Guardian approached.
— Place the sword against the stone.
Celestine hesitated.
— Are you sure?
— No.
She looked at him.
— That wasn't very reassuring.
— But it's necessary.
Celestine placed Lúmina against the crack.
The ground trembled.
The statue began to move.
A passage appeared beneath their feet.
Stairs descended into darkness.
Seris lit a torch.
— After you.
Celestine began to descend.
Leonhardt followed closely behind.
---
The passage seemed endless.
The walls were covered with ancient inscriptions.
Seraphina ran her fingers across one of them.
— I know this writing.
Celestine looked at her.
— Is it from Aureon?
— No.
Seraphina became serious.
— It's older.
The Guardian confirmed:
— This language existed before Aureon.
Celestine continued descending.
— Then this sanctuary is even older than the empire.
— Yes.
At the bottom of the stairs stood an enormous door.
A black rose was engraved at its center.
Celestine felt her heart race.
— The same rose from the pendant.
Leonhardt gripped his sword.
— We're being watched.
Seris looked down the corridors.
— I don't see anyone.
— Neither do I — Leonhardt said.
The Void pulsed.
He's here.
Celestine closed her eyes.
— I know.
A voice emerged from the darkness.
— Very good.
Everyone turned.
A figure appeared at the end of the corridor.
The golden-eyed man.
Valerian.
He slowly walked toward them.
Seris raised her sword.
— Stop.
Valerian did not obey.
Celestine stepped forward.
— Did you come alone?
— No.
The ground began to tremble.
Valerian smiled.
— I brought the past with me.
A shadow appeared behind him.
Then another.
And another.
They were soldiers.
But their armor was ancient.
So ancient that they seemed to have come directly from a battle four hundred years ago.
Seraphina went pale.
— Those symbols...
Valerian answered:
— Guards of the ancient emperor.
Celestine raised Lúmina.
— They're dead.
— Yes.
— Then how are they here?
Valerian spread his arms.
— For the same reason you can still hear Aelira.
Celestine fell silent.
Valerian pointed toward the sword.
— Death is not the end for that which is connected to the Void.
Leonhardt stepped forward.
— We're not getting anywhere by talking to him.
He attacked.
Valerian blocked.
Seris joined the fight.
Aldren did as well.
Swords began clashing throughout the corridor.
Celestine remained before the door.
She could feel something behind it.
Something familiar.
Something terrible.
Aelira appeared in her mind.
Don't open it.
Celestine gripped Lúmina tightly.
— I won't open it.
Valerian looked at her while fighting.
— You don't have to.
Celestine's eyes widened.
— What?
Valerian smiled.
— It's already open.
The door began to tremble.
A red light appeared between the stones.
The symbol of the black rose began to glow.
Celestine stepped back.
— No...
The Void inside her answered.
Celestine.
— What's happening?
Someone is calling for me.
The door began to open.
This time, Celestine had not touched it.
A deep voice echoed from the other side.
— Finally.
Everyone stopped.
Even Valerian stood motionless.
The voice continued:
— The daughter of the rose has returned to the throne.
Celestine felt a shiver.
— I am no one's daughter.
The voice answered:
— You carry the blood of those who ruled before this empire.
Edric, who had descended with them, became completely still.
Celestine turned.
— Emperor?
Edric did not answer.
She realized.
— You knew.
He lowered his eyes.
— I suspected.
— About what?
Edric stared at the door.
— About your family.
Celestine felt her breathing grow heavy.
— My family?
The voice from the other side spoke again.
— Open the door, Celestine d'Arnoir.
She raised Lúmina.
— No.
The voice fell silent.
Then it answered:
— You have always been the key.
Celestine felt the Void stir.
But this time, it did not seem to threaten her.
It seemed to protect her.
A dark energy enveloped her body.
Leonhardt approached.
— Celestine.
She gripped the sword with both hands.
— I am not a key.
Her eyes became determined.
— I am the one who decides whether the door will be opened.
The crack in the sky disappeared for an instant.
And for the first time, the voice on the other side seemed to hesitate.
Celestine smiled.
— Then listen carefully.
She raised Lúmina.
— I won't let you choose my destiny.
The sword shone.
The door began to close.
Valerian shouted:
— NO!
The energy exploded through the corridor.
Everyone was thrown backward.
When the light disappeared, the door was closed.
But a small black rose had appeared on the ground before Celestine.
She crouched down.
She did not touch it.
She simply watched.
Then she heard Aelira inside her mind:
Now the true battle begins.
Celestine stood.
Outside, the bells of the capital began ringing again.
The Empire of the Crimson Sun stood before a threat that no one understood.
And at the center of it all, Celestine finally realized that her destiny was not merely connected to the Void.
It was connected to the throne itself.