BOOK FOUR: THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE LAST GATE
Chapter 12: The Memory She Refused to Lose
The black chain tightened around Caelan's chest.
He struggled to breathe.
"Riva..."
She took one step forward.
The First King held up his hand.
"Another step..."
The chain tightened again.
Caelan fell to one knee.
Riva stopped.
"What do you want?"
The First King smiled.
"I already told you."
"Your memories."
"All of them."
Riva stared at him.
"Every memory I've ever had?"
"Every memory that makes you who you are."
---
The First King pointed toward the golden river.
"Step into it."
Riva looked at the river.
"What happens?"
"You'll forget."
"Everything?"
"Everything."
"Who I am?"
"Yes."
"My friends?"
"Yes."
"My mother?"
"Yes."
"Caelan?"
The First King smiled.
"Especially him."
---
Caelan shook his head.
"No."
Riva looked at him.
"Don't do it."
"I have to."
"You don't."
"If I don't..."
"You'll lose yourself."
Riva looked at him.
"Then I'll find myself again."
Caelan stared at her.
"Riva..."
She smiled.
"I've already been forgotten once."
"I survived."
---
She stepped toward the river.
The First King watched carefully.
"One more step."
Riva entered the golden water.
A wave of light passed through her.
Her childhood memories appeared around her.
The orphanage.
The first time she met Aarvi.
The first time she saw the Seven Flames.
Her first journey to Aurelia.
Every battle.
Every loss.
Every friendship.
Every moment with Caelan.
They floated around her like stars.
---
Riva reached for one memory.
She saw herself and Caelan sitting beneath a tree.
He was laughing.
She was pretending to be angry.
"You cheated."
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
He smiled.
"You still lost."
The memory began fading.
Riva's eyes filled with tears.
"No."
The First King smiled.
"Let it go."
Riva closed her eyes.
The memory disappeared.
---
Another appeared.
Caelan holding her hand after the battle.
"Don't leave me."
"I won't."
The memory began fading.
Riva screamed.
"Stop!"
The First King laughed.
"You chose this."
Riva fell to her knees.
The golden river rose around her.
She felt herself forgetting.
Her name.
Her childhood.
Her friends.
Her fear.
Her dreams.
Everything.
---
Then...
She heard something.
Not the First King.
Not the Gate.
Caelan.
"Riva."
She opened her eyes.
He was still standing across the river.
The black chain remained around his chest.
But he was smiling.
"Don't remember me."
Riva stared at him.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"Don't remember me."
The First King looked surprised.
Caelan continued.
"If forgetting me saves everyone..."
"Then forget me."
Riva shook her head.
"No."
"Riva."
"No!"
The river began glowing brighter.
Caelan shouted:
"Choose them!"
Riva screamed back:
"I choose you!"
---
The First King suddenly laughed.
"You fool."
Riva looked at him.
"I've been trying to make you understand."
"Understand what?"
"Memories aren't what make people who they are."
Riva stood.
The golden river began rising around her.
"You can't erase love."
The First King's smile disappeared.
Riva lifted her hand.
"You can erase a memory..."
"...but you can't erase what it changed inside me."
---
The seven Flames appeared.
Hope.
Memory.
Courage.
Wisdom.
Compassion.
Sacrifice.
Beginning.
They surrounded Riva.
The First King stepped backward.
"No."
Riva looked at him.
"You made one mistake."
"What?"
"You thought I needed my memories to know who I am."
The golden light exploded.
"I don't."
---
The black chain around Caelan shattered.
He fell forward.
Riva caught him.
The First King screamed.
The Archive shook violently.
Thousands of forgotten memories returned.
The names Riva had spoken earlier began echoing through the chamber.
King Arion.
Queen Selene.
Keeper Mael.
Princess Elira.
One after another...
The Forgotten Army disappeared.
Not into darkness.
Into light.
The First King covered his face.
"No!"
---
The golden river rose.
It surrounded the First King.
He struggled.
"Stop!"
Riva walked toward him.
"You wanted to be remembered."
"You wanted everyone to remember your pain."
"You wanted to force the world to carry it."
She looked into his eyes.
"But being remembered doesn't give you the right to control anyone."
The First King stared at her.
"You are part of me."
Riva nodded.
"Maybe."
"But I am not you."
---
The First King suddenly smiled.
"You think this changes anything?"
Riva stopped.
He pointed toward the ceiling.
The Archive began cracking.
"The Last Gate is already open."
Riva looked upward.
A massive black crack appeared above them.
Beyond it...
Was another world.
A world filled with stars.
And at its center...
A gigantic throne.
Someone was sitting on it.
Riva couldn't see the face.
The First King whispered:
"I was never the final enemy."
Riva's blood ran cold.
"Then who is?"
The figure on the throne slowly stood.
The entire Archive fell silent.
The First King smiled.
"Her."
---
The figure stepped forward.
A woman emerged from the darkness.
She wore a white crown.
Her face was hidden beneath a veil.
But Riva recognized her voice.
It was the voice from the Gate.
"Aurelia."
Riva froze.
The woman removed the veil.
Riva stared.
It was her.
Not the older Riva.
Not the Queen.
Not the First King.
Another version.
A perfect version.
Calm.
Beautiful.
Completely emotionless.
The woman smiled.
"You finally remembered."
Riva tightened her grip on Caelan.
"Who are you?"
The woman answered:
"I am the first version of you."
Silence.
"I am the Aurelia who never forgot."
The First King lowered his head.
"Your true Queen."
The woman looked at Riva.
"And you..."
"...are the mistake I created."
Riva's eyes widened.
The woman raised her hand.
Every Gate in existence opened.
"Now let us correct it."
End of Chapter 12