BOOK FOUR: THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE LAST GATE
Chapter 17: The Eighth Flame
The light spread across the First Kingdom.
It wasn't gold.
It wasn't silver.
It wasn't any color Riva had ever seen.
It seemed to contain every color at once.
The Eighth Flame.
Choice.
The Devourers stopped in the sky.
For the first time...
They were afraid.
Riva stared at the light floating above her hand.
"What did I just create?"
Elara smiled.
"You didn't create it."
"You remembered it."
---
The First Aurelia stepped backward.
"No."
Riva looked at her.
"You know what this is."
The woman shook her head.
"It shouldn't exist."
"Why?"
"Because I removed it."
Riva frowned.
"From what?"
"From you."
---
The older Riva stepped closer.
"What did you do?"
The First Aurelia looked at her.
"I removed Choice from every version of her."
"Why?"
"Because Choice was the reason the first Aurelia rebelled."
Riva stared.
"So you removed my ability to choose?"
The First Aurelia nodded.
"Every life."
"Every version."
"You were supposed to follow the path."
Riva's eyes hardened.
"And I never did."
"No."
The First Aurelia looked at the Eighth Flame.
"That's why every world ended."
---
The ground shook.
The First Kingdom began changing.
The golden buildings cracked.
Underneath them appeared enormous black roots.
Aren stepped back.
"What are those?"
The older Riva answered:
"The roots of the First Gate."
"They're waking."
---
The First Guardian suddenly fell to his knees.
"The prophecy."
Eva looked at him.
"What prophecy?"
He whispered:
"When the eighth flame appears..."
"The First Gate will choose its Guardian."
Riva looked toward the enormous palace.
"Who?"
The First Guardian raised his head.
"You."
---
Riva felt the ground beneath her feet disappear.
The palace doors opened.
A path of white light appeared.
It led directly toward the throne.
Riva looked at Elara.
"Should I go?"
Elara nodded.
"Yes."
Caelan stepped forward.
"I'll come."
The First Guardian stopped him.
"No."
Caelan frowned.
"Why?"
"The throne chooses only one."
Riva looked at him.
"I'll be back."
Caelan shook his head.
"You don't know that."
Riva smiled.
"I know."
She kissed his forehead.
"Trust me."
Then she walked away.
---
The palace was silent.
Every step echoed.
Portraits lined the walls.
Riva recognized every face.
The first Riva.
The second.
The third.
The fourth.
The fifth.
The sixth.
The seventh.
Seven versions.
Seven lives.
Seven endings.
At the end of the hallway...
There was one empty portrait.
Riva approached it.
The painting changed.
It showed her.
But not as she was now.
As an old woman.
Holding Elara's hand.
Standing beside Caelan.
A peaceful kingdom behind them.
Riva touched the painting.
"Is this my future?"
A voice answered:
"One of them."
She turned.
The older Riva stood behind her.
"You followed me."
"I did."
"Why?"
"Because I need to tell you something before you reach the throne."
---
Riva looked at her.
"What?"
The older version lowered her sword.
"I lied."
Riva's expression changed.
"About what?"
"I said there were seven lives."
"There weren't."
"How many?"
The older Riva whispered:
"Eight."
Riva froze.
"What?"
"The eighth version of you survived."
"Where?"
The older Riva pointed toward the empty portrait.
"Here."
---
The portrait changed.
Riva saw a woman sitting on the throne.
She looked exactly like her.
But there was something different.
She wasn't alone.
Caelan stood beside her.
Elara stood on her other side.
And behind them...
The First Aurelia was kneeling.
Riva stared.
"That's impossible."
"No."
"That's the life that was erased."
"Why?"
"Because she made the one choice the First Aurelia feared."
"What choice?"
The older Riva smiled.
"She forgave her."
---
Riva stared at the portrait.
"You mean the First Aurelia?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because the First Aurelia wasn't the real enemy."
Riva turned.
"Then who was?"
The older Riva's expression became serious.
"The Gate."
---
The palace shook.
A deep voice echoed through the walls.
"COME."
Riva looked toward the throne room.
The doors opened.
Inside...
The First Flame floated above the throne.
It was enormous.
Bigger than the Seven Flames combined.
The First Aurelia stood beneath it.
But she wasn't smiling anymore.
She looked exhausted.
"You're here."
Riva stepped inside.
"You knew I would come."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because every version of you does."
Riva stopped.
"Then what's different this time?"
The First Aurelia looked at the Eighth Flame.
"You."
---
Riva raised her hand.
The Eighth Flame moved closer to the First Flame.
The two lights touched.
The entire palace shook.
The First Aurelia screamed.
"Don't!"
Riva stopped.
"What happens if they merge?"
"You'll see everything."
"Everything?"
"Every life."
"Every death."
"Every betrayal."
"Every choice."
Riva looked at her.
"Then show me."
---
The First Flame exploded.
Riva screamed.
Memories flooded her mind.
Seven lives.
Seven deaths.
Seven versions of Caelan.
Seven versions of Elara.
Seven versions of the First Kingdom.
She saw herself sacrificing Elara.
She saw herself killing Caelan.
She saw herself becoming the First Aurelia.
She saw herself destroying Elaris.
She saw herself saving it.
She saw countless possibilities.
Then...
One final memory.
A version of Riva stood before the Gate.
The First Aurelia stood opposite her.
But neither attacked.
Riva simply reached out her hand.
The First Aurelia took it.
And the Gate closed.
No sacrifice.
No death.
No destruction.
Just choice.
---
Riva opened her eyes.
Tears ran down her face.
The First Aurelia was crying too.
"You remember."
Riva nodded.
"You were never my enemy."
The First Aurelia whispered:
"I was afraid."
"Of what?"
"Of being forgotten."
Riva stepped toward her.
"You don't have to be."
The First Aurelia looked at the Eighth Flame.
"I don't know how to live without controlling everything."
Riva smiled sadly.
"Then learn."
---
Suddenly...
The throne cracked.
The First Flame disappeared.
The palace screamed.
The First Guardian's voice echoed from outside:
"RIVA!"
She turned.
The Devourers had entered the First Kingdom.
And they weren't attacking the city.
They were heading directly toward Elara.
Riva's expression changed.
"Elara."
She ran.
---
Outside...
Caelan stood between Elara and the Devourers.
His sword was broken.
Aren was injured.
The First Guardian was bleeding.
The Devourers surrounded them.
Elara looked toward the palace.
"Mother..."
A black creature reached for her.
Then—
A wall of white fire exploded outward.
Riva appeared.
Her eyes were silver.
The Eighth Flame burned behind her.
The Devourers stopped.
Riva looked at them.
"You want my daughter?"
The darkness answered:
"She is the lock."
Riva stepped forward.
"No."
She raised her hand.
"She's a person."
The Eighth Flame expanded.
"And I choose her."
The Devourers screamed.
For the first time...
They began to retreat.
But one of them remained.
It stepped forward.
Its body became human.
A familiar face appeared.
Riva's face.
The creature smiled.
"You finally chose."
Riva stared.
"Who are you?"
The creature answered:
"I am the consequence."
End of Chapter 17