BOOK FOUR: THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE LAST GATE
Chapter 9: The Name They Stole
Riva stared at the First King.
The word echoed through the darkness.
Aurelia.
She shook her head.
"No."
The First King smiled.
"That's what they wanted you to believe."
"My name is Riva."
"Riva is the name of the life you were given."
He stepped closer.
"Aurelia is the name of what you were born as."
---
Riva looked around.
The Hall of Mirrors was gone.
There was only the black throne behind her and endless darkness surrounding them.
"Where am I?"
"Inside your own memory."
"I don't remember this place."
"You were never allowed to."
Riva looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because remembering would have awakened you."
---
The First King raised his hand.
A small golden flame appeared.
Inside it...
Riva saw a little girl.
She was standing beneath the White Tree.
Beside her were two boys.
Caelan.
Aren.
But they looked much younger.
Riva watched them laughing together.
Then she saw herself.
Not as a baby.
As a little girl.
She was holding Caelan's hand.
"That's impossible."
The First King shook his head.
"No."
"You simply forgot."
---
The memory changed.
Riva saw herself running through the palace.
A young Caelan chased her.
"Wait!"
She laughed.
"You'll never catch me!"
Aren stood nearby.
"She always wins."
Caelan frowned.
"That's not fair."
Little Riva stuck out her tongue.
"Then run faster."
Riva stared at the scene.
"I knew them."
"Yes."
"Before the First Kingdom?"
"Before Aurelia."
---
The memory changed again.
The three children stood before the First Gate.
A woman in a black crown stood behind them.
The Queen.
But she looked younger.
And beside her...
Aeron.
The King.
The Queen placed her hands on little Riva's shoulders.
"Promise me you'll never open the Gate."
Little Riva nodded.
"I promise."
Then Aeron stepped forward.
He whispered something into her ear.
Riva couldn't hear it.
The memory ended.
---
Riva looked at the First King.
"What did he tell me?"
"He told you the truth."
"What truth?"
"That the Gate wasn't a prison."
Riva frowned.
"What was it?"
"A door."
"To where?"
The First King smiled.
"Home."
---
Suddenly...
Riva heard Caelan's voice.
"Riva!"
She turned.
Nothing.
Again.
"Riva!"
She ran toward the sound.
The darkness began cracking.
A golden light appeared.
Caelan stood beyond it.
His hand was reaching toward her.
"Come back."
Riva ran toward him.
The First King grabbed her wrist.
"Don't."
She looked back.
"Why?"
"Because if you leave..."
"...you'll lose the truth."
Riva pulled against him.
"I don't care."
"You should."
He tightened his grip.
"You want to know why Caelan remembers you?"
Riva froze.
"What?"
The First King smiled.
"Because he was the one who erased you."
---
Riva stopped breathing.
"No."
"He was ordered to."
"You're lying."
"He was young."
"He didn't understand."
"But he did it."
Riva stared at him.
"What did he erase?"
"Your name."
"Your memories."
"Your connection to Elaris."
"Everything that made you Aurelia."
Riva whispered:
"Why?"
"Because he was afraid of what you would become."
---
The golden light grew brighter.
Caelan shouted again.
"Riva!"
She looked toward him.
His face was filled with fear.
The First King whispered:
"Ask him."
Riva stepped toward the light.
"Caelan!"
He froze.
"Did you erase me?"
Silence.
Riva's heart sank.
"Answer me."
Caelan lowered his head.
"Yes."
The darkness exploded.
Riva stepped backward.
"You knew."
"I remembered pieces."
"How long?"
"Since we entered Elaris."
"You knew I was Aurelia?"
Caelan shook his head.
"Not everything."
"But you knew."
"Yes."
---
Riva's eyes filled with tears.
"You should have told me."
"I was trying to protect you."
"Everyone says that."
Her voice broke.
"Everyone lies and calls it protection."
Caelan stepped forward.
"I was wrong."
Riva looked at him.
"I know."
---
The First King laughed.
"Beautiful."
Riva turned.
"What?"
"The cycle begins again."
"What cycle?"
"You trust someone."
"They betray you."
"You forgive them."
"They betray you again."
"You call it love."
Riva's expression hardened.
"That's enough."
---
The silver mark on her chest began glowing.
The Seven Flames appeared around her.
But this time...
They didn't bow.
They surrounded her like guardians.
The First King stepped backward.
"What are you doing?"
Riva looked at him.
"Choosing."
"You cannot choose."
"I just did."
---
The Flame of Hope entered her chest.
Then Memory.
Courage.
Wisdom.
Compassion.
Sacrifice.
Beginning.
Seven lights merged into one.
Riva's eyes turned silver.
The First King screamed.
"No!"
Riva raised her hand.
The darkness shattered.
---
She woke in the Hall of Mirrors.
Caelan was kneeling beside her.
"Riva!"
She pushed herself upright.
He reached for her.
She stopped him.
"Don't."
Caelan froze.
Riva looked at him.
"I remember."
His face went pale.
"Everything?"
"Enough."
She stood.
The First Guardian stared at her.
"Who are you?"
Riva looked toward the broken mirrors.
Then at the silver mark on her hand.
"My name is Riva."
She paused.
"But I was once called Aurelia."
The Queen began crying.
Riva turned toward her.
"And now..."
She looked at Caelan.
"...I'm going to find out why everyone was so afraid of me."
---
A deep sound echoed beneath the palace.
BOOM.
The floor shook.
Then another.
BOOM.
Aren looked toward the ground.
"Something is coming."
The First Guardian's face went white.
"No."
"What?"
"The original Gate."
Riva frowned.
"I thought we were already inside Elaris."
The Guardian shook his head.
"We are."
"Then what's underneath us?"
He looked at Riva.
"The kingdom beneath the kingdom."
The floor cracked.
A massive golden eye opened beneath the palace.
And a voice whispered:
"Aurelia has awakened."
The entire city fell silent.
Then every person in Elaris...
turned toward Riva.
And knelt.
End of Chapter 9