BOOK FOUR: THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE LAST GATE
Chapter 3: The King Without a Shadow
The city screamed.
Every Gate in Elaris had opened.
Darkness poured through the streets like smoke.
People ran from their homes.
Soldiers shouted orders.
The bells rang without stopping.
And above the palace...
The crimson moon turned completely black.
Riva couldn't move.
She stared at the man standing on the balcony.
Aeron.
Her father.
The missing King of Elaris.
He looked at her with a strange calmness.
"You've grown."
Riva's voice trembled.
"You aren't my father."
Aeron smiled.
"Of course I am."
"No."
She stepped backward.
"My father didn't abandon me."
Aeron's expression changed.
"You don't know what happened."
"Then tell me."
---
The Queen stepped between them.
"Don't listen to him."
Aeron laughed.
"Still protecting her."
The Queen raised her hand.
The black crown released a wave of energy.
Aeron blocked it effortlessly.
The impact shattered several palace windows.
Caelan pulled Riva away.
"Move!"
The Covenant rushed into the palace.
---
Inside...
The palace was enormous.
Its walls were covered with portraits.
Kings.
Queens.
Warriors.
Children.
Riva stopped suddenly.
One portrait caught her attention.
A woman stood beside a silver-haired man.
Between them...
Was a little girl.
Riva.
She touched the painting.
"I remember this."
Aarvi looked at her.
"You do?"
Riva shook her head.
"Not the memory."
"The feeling."
---
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"I was happy here."
Eva looked at the portrait.
"But if this is your family..."
"Why did the Guardian take you away?"
Before anyone could answer...
A voice echoed through the palace.
"Because I asked him to."
Everyone turned.
The Queen stood at the entrance.
Riva stared at her.
"You?"
The Queen nodded.
"I sent you away."
---
Riva's face hardened.
"You lied to me."
"I protected you."
"You abandoned me."
"I saved you."
"From what?"
The Queen looked toward the ceiling.
"From your father."
---
Aeron's voice echoed from above.
"Don't listen to her."
He appeared on the staircase.
The darkness followed him.
"Your mother always blamed me."
The Queen glared at him.
"Because you deserved it."
Aeron smiled.
"You still believe that?"
"I know it."
---
Riva looked between them.
"Enough!"
Her voice echoed throughout the palace.
Both stopped.
"I don't care who is lying."
"I want the truth."
The silver key in her hand began glowing.
"Everything."
The palace suddenly became silent.
Then...
A hidden door opened behind the portrait.
---
Eva stepped forward.
"There's a room behind it."
The First Guardian's expression changed.
"That room should have been destroyed."
Riva looked at him.
"Then that's where we're going."
---
They entered.
The room was small.
Unlike the rest of the palace, it contained no gold.
No weapons.
No royal symbols.
Only a wooden table.
On it...
Lay a single box.
Riva approached it.
The moment she touched the lid...
The box opened.
Inside was a letter.
Her name was written on it.
RIVA.
---
She opened it.
The handwriting was unmistakably familiar.
Her mother's.
Riva began reading.
"If you are reading this..."
"then Elaris has awakened."
"And your father has returned."
Riva's hands trembled.
"I need you to understand something."
"Aeron is not the King you remember."
"The man you see is not entirely him."
Riva looked up.
The First Guardian whispered:
"Keep reading."
---
"The Last Gate changed him."
"It showed him a kingdom beyond death."
"A world where no one could ever lose anyone."
"He believed he could bring that world back."
"But the Gate demanded a price."
Riva's breathing stopped.
"It took his shadow."
"And when it took his shadow..."
"it took part of his soul."
---
Caelan stepped closer.
"His shadow?"
The First Guardian nodded.
"The Last Gate doesn't simply transport people."
"It changes them."
Riva continued reading.
"If Aeron returns..."
"he will try to use you."
"Because you carry something he needs."
The next line was smeared with tears.
"You carry the part of me he could never take."
---
Riva whispered:
"What?"
The final sentence appeared.
"Your heart is the true Key."
The room became silent.
The silver key in Riva's hand suddenly cracked.
A golden light appeared beneath her skin.
Aeron's voice came from outside.
"She found it."
Everyone turned.
The doors slammed shut.
Darkness surrounded the room.
Aeron stood on the other side.
His eyes glowed black.
"Open the door, Riva."
She stepped backward.
"No."
Aeron smiled.
"You don't understand what you are."
Riva clenched her fists.
"Then tell me."
Aeron's expression became strangely gentle.
"You aren't my daughter."
The Queen gasped.
Riva froze.
Aeron continued:
"You are the daughter of the Last Gate."
The room went silent.
The silver light inside Riva's chest exploded.
And somewhere beneath Elaris...
Something ancient opened its eyes.
End of Chapter 3