BOOK FOUR: THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE LAST GATE
Chapter 14: The Child Who Was Never Forgotten
Caelan couldn't breathe.
Riva stared at him.
"You remember her?"
He nodded slowly.
"I remember pieces."
"What pieces?"
Caelan closed his eyes.
"The night she was born."
Riva's heart began pounding.
"Tell me."
Caelan looked toward the First Aurelia.
"I don't think she wants us to remember."
The First Aurelia remained silent.
For the first time...
She looked afraid.
---
Riva stepped closer to Caelan.
"What happened that night?"
He swallowed.
"The Last Gate was already open."
"The city was burning."
"People were running."
"Everyone thought the kingdom was going to disappear."
Riva listened without speaking.
"Then you came out of the palace."
"You were holding a baby."
Riva whispered:
"My daughter."
Caelan nodded.
"Yes."
---
The memory returned.
A younger Riva stood beneath the burning sky.
She held the newborn baby against her chest.
Caelan stood beside her.
The Queen was crying.
Aeron was injured.
The First Guardian was fighting shadows.
And above them...
The Last Gate was open.
Past Riva looked at Caelan.
"You have to take her."
Caelan shook his head.
"No."
"Listen to me."
"I'm not leaving you."
"You have to."
Riva handed him the baby.
Caelan held her carefully.
The little girl opened her silver eyes.
And smiled.
---
Riva watched the memory.
Tears filled her eyes.
"What was her name?"
Caelan looked at her.
"I don't know."
The memory blurred.
But then...
A voice appeared.
Riva's voice.
"Her name is Elara."
Riva froze.
"Elara."
The name felt familiar.
Like something buried deep inside her.
She whispered it again.
"Elara."
The entire city shook.
---
The First Aurelia immediately raised her hand.
"Stop."
Riva turned.
"Why?"
"That name should never be spoken."
"Why?"
The First Aurelia's expression became cold.
"Because she is the one thing I couldn't control."
Riva's eyes widened.
"My daughter."
"Yes."
"Where is she?"
The First Aurelia didn't answer.
Riva stepped closer.
"Where is Elara?"
Silence.
Then...
A voice came from behind them.
"She's alive."
Everyone turned.
The Queen stood there.
---
Riva stared at her.
"You knew."
The Queen looked at her.
"Yes."
"Where is she?"
"I don't know."
Riva's expression hardened.
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"Then tell me what happened."
The Queen looked toward Caelan.
"After the Gate opened..."
"Elara disappeared."
Riva shook her head.
"No."
"I searched for her."
"We all did."
"Then where did she go?"
The Queen whispered:
"Beyond the Gate."
---
Riva looked toward the First Aurelia.
"You took her."
The First Aurelia shook her head.
"No."
"Then who did?"
She looked toward the darkness.
"She went willingly."
Riva froze.
"Why?"
"Because she could hear the Gate."
---
The First Guardian stepped forward.
"That's impossible."
The First Aurelia looked at him.
"Is it?"
He didn't answer.
She continued:
"Elara inherited something from Riva."
"What?"
"The ability to speak to the Gate."
Riva touched her chest.
"Like me."
"No."
The First Aurelia smiled.
"Unlike you."
"She doesn't need the Gate."
"The Gate needs her."
---
The ground shook.
A golden crack appeared beneath Riva's feet.
Something moved inside it.
A small hand emerged.
Riva stepped backward.
Then a child's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Mother?"
Riva stopped breathing.
She knew that voice.
Even though she had never heard it before.
"Elara?"
The hand disappeared.
The crack closed.
Riva dropped to her knees.
"Elara!"
Nothing answered.
---
Caelan knelt beside her.
"She's alive."
"How do you know?"
"Because I remember the last thing she said."
Riva looked at him.
"What?"
Caelan's eyes filled with tears.
"She told me to find you."
Riva stared.
"What else?"
Caelan whispered:
"She said..."
He struggled to continue.
"Tell Mother..."
"...I didn't forget her."
Riva covered her mouth.
---
The First Aurelia turned away.
Riva stood.
"You knew she was alive."
"Yes."
"You knew where she was."
"Yes."
"Then tell me."
"No."
Riva's eyes hardened.
"Why?"
"Because if you find her..."
The First Aurelia looked at Riva.
"...the Last Gate will open completely."
---
Everyone became silent.
Aren stepped forward.
"Why would her daughter open it?"
The First Aurelia answered:
"Because Elara isn't the Key."
Riva looked at her.
"Then what is she?"
The First Aurelia whispered:
"She's the lock."
---
Riva's face went pale.
"If Elara is the lock..."
"Then what am I?"
The First Aurelia smiled.
"You are the door."
---
Suddenly...
The seven Flames returned.
They didn't fly toward Riva.
They appeared around Elara's name.
Seven symbols burned in the air.
The First Aurelia stepped backward.
"No."
Riva noticed.
"You are afraid."
The First Aurelia shook her head.
"You don't understand."
Riva smiled faintly.
"Then explain."
The First Aurelia looked toward the darkness.
"The prophecy wasn't about you."
Riva's smile disappeared.
"What prophecy?"
The First Aurelia whispered:
"When the Mother opens the Door..."
"...the Daughter will decide whether the world survives."
---
A deafening sound echoed through Elaris.
BOOM.
Every Gate opened.
The city disappeared.
The Archive vanished.
The ancient memories shattered.
And in the darkness beyond the Last Gate...
A little girl stood alone.
Silver eyes.
Golden hair.
A tiny crown on her head.
She looked toward the darkness.
Then smiled.
"Mother is coming."
Behind her...
Something enormous opened its eyes.
The girl whispered:
"Finally."
End of Chapter 14