BOOK THREE: THE FALL OF THE FIRST KINGDOM
Chapter 32: The Seven Keepers
The seven Flames burned across the heavens.
For the first time since the First Kingdom had fallen...
The entire sky was illuminated.
Gold.
Blue.
Red.
White.
Green.
Violet.
And silver.
Each Flame carried a different power.
Each one seemed to possess its own heartbeat.
Riva stared upward.
"They're beautiful."
Elara smiled.
"They're alive."
---
Aurelion stood beneath the Seven Flames.
His expression had completely changed.
The calm confidence was gone.
"You don't understand what you've awakened."
The First Guardian stepped forward.
"We understand enough."
Aurelion shook his head.
"No."
"You understand the Flames."
"You don't understand their Keepers."
---
Suddenly...
The first Flame descended.
It burned crimson.
The Flame of Courage.
It crossed the sky and disappeared beyond the mountains.
A distant roar followed.
Then the second Flame descended.
White.
The Flame of Wisdom.
It vanished toward the northern horizon.
The third...
Green.
The Flame of Compassion.
It traveled toward the forests.
The fourth...
Violet.
The Flame of Sacrifice.
It disappeared beyond the sea.
The fifth...
Silver.
The Flame of Beginning.
It remained above the First Gate.
---
Riva looked at the remaining Flames.
"How do we find their Keepers?"
The First Guardian answered:
"They will find you."
---
The ground suddenly shook.
A crack opened beneath the Archives.
A figure emerged from the darkness.
A young woman.
Her clothing was covered in red markings.
Her eyes glowed like burning embers.
The Crimson Flame hovered above her.
She looked at Riva.
Then smiled.
"You called."
---
Everyone froze.
Lucien stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The woman looked at him.
"My name is Seraphine."
She touched the Crimson Flame.
"It chose me."
"The Flame of Courage."
---
A second figure appeared.
An elderly man carrying a staff covered in ancient symbols.
The White Flame floated above him.
"My name is Elias."
He bowed.
"The Flame of Wisdom."
---
A young boy walked out of the forest.
Flowers grew wherever he stepped.
The Green Flame followed him.
He smiled shyly.
"I'm Milo."
"The Flame of Compassion."
Aarvi smiled.
"I like him already."
---
Then...
A woman emerged from the violet light.
She wore a simple black dress.
Her expression was calm.
Her eyes held deep sadness.
She looked toward the Covenant.
"I'm Nyra."
"The Flame of Sacrifice."
---
The Seven Keepers now stood together.
Riva looked around.
"So..."
"There are seven of us."
The First Guardian nodded.
"Not exactly."
He pointed toward the silver Flame.
"The Flame of Beginning has already chosen someone."
Everyone looked toward it.
The Flame slowly descended.
It stopped above Caelan.
Caelan froze.
"No..."
The Flame touched his chest.
A silver symbol appeared over his heart.
The entire chamber went silent.
---
Caelan dropped to his knees.
Images flooded his mind.
Aster.
Elara.
The First Gate.
The creation of Aurelia.
The first Promise.
Then...
A secret.
Something no one had ever known.
Caelan opened his eyes.
"I remember."
Riva rushed toward him.
"What?"
He looked at her.
His voice trembled.
"Aster wasn't the first child."
Elara's expression changed.
"He remembered."
---
Caelan continued.
"Before Aster..."
"There was another."
Aurelion stepped backward.
"No."
Caelan looked directly at him.
"You erased him."
The First Guardian looked confused.
"Who?"
Caelan whispered:
"The First Son."
---
Aurelion raised his hand.
The entire chamber exploded with energy.
Everyone was thrown backward.
The Seven Flames scattered.
Riva hit the ground.
Lucien immediately helped her up.
"What just happened?"
Elara shouted:
"He doesn't want Caelan to remember!"
---
Aurelion's calm expression disappeared.
"Enough."
Dark energy spread across the Archives.
The Seven Keepers raised their Flames.
Seraphine's courage burned brighter.
Elias's wisdom created a shield.
Milo's compassion healed the wounded.
Nyra's sacrifice absorbed the darkness.
Caelan's silver Flame opened the path toward the First Gate.
---
Riva looked at the Flames.
"We can fight him."
The Last Unwriter shook his head.
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because he isn't the real enemy."
Riva stared at him.
"Then who is?"
The Unwriter looked toward the First Gate.
"The thing he has been protecting."
---
Aurelion suddenly stopped attacking.
He looked toward the Gate.
His face filled with fear.
The First Guardian whispered:
"The Gate is opening again."
---
A deep heartbeat echoed.
BOOM.
The Seven Flames flickered.
BOOM.
The Archives shook.
BOOM.
The Gate cracked.
Aurelion slowly turned toward it.
"No..."
A voice came from beyond the Gate.
It was deep.
Ancient.
And strangely familiar.
"You kept me waiting."
Aurelion closed his eyes.
"I was trying to protect them."
The voice laughed.
"You were protecting yourself."
The First Guardian looked horrified.
"Who is speaking?"
Caelan slowly stood.
Tears filled his eyes.
"I know that voice."
Riva looked at him.
"Who is it?"
Caelan turned toward the Gate.
"The First Son."
The Gate exploded open.
A figure stepped through.
He looked almost exactly like Caelan.
Same eyes.
Same face.
Same silver mark.
But unlike Caelan...
His eyes were completely black.
He looked at Riva.
Then smiled.
"Hello, brother."
Caelan froze.
And the Seven Flames suddenly went dark.
End of Chapter 32