BOOK TWO: THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE GATE
Chapter 9: The Road of Forgotten Stars
The Hall of Echoes was bathed in silver light.
The glowing path leading to the Black Mountain shimmered before the Six Heirs like a ribbon of stars stretching into the unknown.
No one spoke.
They all understood what this journey meant.
There would be no turning back.
The little silver-haired girl stood beside the Memory Core.
Its surface was now covered with two long cracks.
Every pulse from the crystal had become weaker.
She smiled at Riva despite the pain in her eyes.
"The Hall will stay alive..."
"...for as long as I remember."
Riva stepped forward.
"We'll return."
The little girl nodded.
"I know."
"But remember what I told you."
"When someone calls your name..."
"Don't answer immediately."
Riva frowned.
"Why?"
The girl looked toward the distant mountains.
"Because not every voice belongs to the living."
Outside, Cassian prepared the expedition.
The Royal Guards would remain behind to defend the Hall of Echoes.
Selene walked beside Cassian.
"If the Hall falls..."
"The world forgets itself."
Cassian looked toward the Six Heirs.
"Then we'll make sure it doesn't."
Before leaving, Eva opened one of the ancient books she had taken from the Final Archive.
Several blank pages suddenly filled with silver writing.
The compass floated above the book.
The words slowly appeared.
The Road of Forgotten Stars
Those who walk this road will lose one memory at every milestone.
Only those who trust one another will reach the Seventh Gate.
Eva's face became pale.
"This road..."
"It's another trial."
Lucien nodded.
"The Gate tests more than strength."
"It tests identity."
The journey began.
The silver path carried them through forests untouched by time.
The trees glowed with blue leaves.
The rivers flowed upward instead of downward.
The sky constantly changed colors.
Morning became evening.
Evening became dawn.
Time itself refused to obey.
Parna looked around in amazement.
"This forest..."
"It's alive."
"It remembers every traveler."
Elian smiled.
"It's called the Forest of Echoes."
"It only appears when the Gates awaken."
Hours later...
They reached the First Milestone.
An ancient stone pillar stood beside the path.
Upon it was written:
Leave behind what you cannot carry.
The moment the Six Heirs stepped past it—
A sudden wave of dizziness struck them.
Riva staggered.
Eva grabbed her arm.
"You alright?"
Riva blinked several times.
"I..."
She frowned.
"I can't remember..."
"My favorite song from the orphanage."
A small memory.
Gone forever.
Eva checked the ancient book.
Another line appeared.
The First Memory has been claimed.
Everyone looked at one another.
The trial had begun.
That night they camped beside a glowing lake.
For the first time since leaving the fortress...
They relaxed.
Aarvi poked the campfire with a stick.
"I hate magical roads."
Lucien smiled faintly.
"You'll hate the second milestone even more."
"Oh, wonderful."
Orion sat quietly away from the group.
His sword rested across his knees.
The more he traveled...
The more his forgotten memories returned.
He remembered a battlefield.
He remembered protecting someone.
But he still couldn't remember...
Why.
Suddenly—
He heard someone whisper.
"Orion..."
He looked around.
No one was there.
Again.
"Orion..."
The voice sounded familiar.
Soft.
Kind.
Almost comforting.
He stood and followed it into the trees.
Meanwhile...
Riva woke suddenly.
Her pendant was glowing.
She looked toward the forest.
She remembered the little girl's warning.
Don't trust the first person who calls your name.
Without hesitation, she followed Orion.
Deep inside the forest...
Orion found a woman standing beneath a glowing tree.
She wore white robes.
Long silver hair flowed in the wind.
Her face was hidden.
"You came."
She smiled.
"I've missed you."
Orion took another step.
"Who are you?"
The woman slowly lifted her head.
"I am your past."
The moment Orion reached toward her—
Riva grabbed his arm.
"Don't!"
The woman instantly froze.
Then...
She smiled.
A smile far too wide to be human.
Her face cracked like broken porcelain.
Darkness poured from the cracks.
The forest trembled.
The woman laughed.
"You remembered the warning."
Her body dissolved into black smoke.
Then dozens of identical figures appeared between the trees.
Every one of them wore the face of someone the Heirs loved.
Eva saw her grandmother.
Aarvi saw her uncle.
Parna saw the little girl from her vision.
Riva saw the matron from the orphanage.
Each illusion whispered the same words.
"Come with me."
Lucien immediately drew his sword.
"They're Memory Phantoms!"
"Don't believe anything they say!"
The phantoms charged.
Unlike ordinary enemies...
They didn't attack with weapons.
They embraced.
The first phantom reached Eva.
The moment it touched her—
She forgot her grandmother's voice.
She screamed.
Another phantom grabbed Aarvi.
She suddenly couldn't remember the day her uncle gave her the mysterious box.
"No..."
Aarvi whispered through tears.
"Please..."
Riva realized what was happening.
"They're stealing our happiest memories!"
Parna slammed both hands against the ground.
Massive glowing vines burst from the earth.
Instead of attacking...
The vines wrapped around the phantoms.
The creatures hissed in pain.
Lucien raised his black sword.
"Everyone!"
"Close your eyes!"
"Fight with your hearts—not your memories!"
The Six Heirs joined hands.
The Star Marks on their bodies began glowing together.
Six beams of light pierced the forest.
The Memory Phantoms screamed as brilliant silver light surrounded them.
One by one...
They dissolved into glowing particles.
Silence returned.
Everyone breathed heavily.
Eva wiped tears from her face.
"I can't remember my grandmother's lullaby anymore."
Aarvi smiled sadly.
"I can't remember the color of my uncle's favorite scarf."
Lucien lowered his sword.
"The Road has taken its price."
"But it left you something more important."
Riva looked at him.
"What?"
Lucien smiled.
"You protected each other."
"That's what the Road wanted to see."
As dawn broke...
The crimson moon disappeared.
For a brief moment, sunlight returned.
The group continued walking.
Hours later...
They reached the Second Milestone.
This one was different.
A massive archway of black stone blocked the path.
Above it was carved a single sentence.
Only those who remember the First Kingdom may pass.
The Six Heirs stopped.
None of them knew the answer.
None...
Except one.
The ancient warrior who had awakened beneath the Black Mountain slowly stepped out from behind the archway.
His stone armor was cracked.
His eyes burned with golden light.
He rested an enormous sword upon the ground.
Then he looked directly at Lucien.
His deep voice echoed through the silent valley.
"Prince..."
"...you have finally returned."
End of Chapter 9