BOOK FOUR: THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE LAST GATE
Chapter 23: The City Beneath the Sea
The journey north took three days.
They traveled through forests, across empty plains, and finally reached a coastline none of them recognized.
The ocean stretched endlessly before them.
There were no ships.
No villages.
No signs of civilization.
Only waves.
Elara stood at the edge of the water, holding the blue ring.
"It's here."
Riva looked at the sea.
"Where?"
"Underneath."
Caelan sighed.
"Of course it is."
Riva smiled.
"You wanted adventure."
"I wanted an adventure with dry clothes."
Elara laughed.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Then the ring began glowing.
The ocean split.
A staircase appeared beneath the waves.
It descended into darkness.
---
Aren stared.
"That's impossible."
Aarvi smiled.
"We stopped using that word a long time ago."
The First Guardian remained at the shore.
"I'm not coming."
Riva looked at him.
"Why?"
He looked toward the staircase.
"Because I've been there before."
"What's down there?"
The old man hesitated.
"A kingdom that remembers you."
Riva frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"You'll understand."
---
Riva, Caelan, and Elara descended.
With every step...
The water moved farther away.
A transparent wall surrounded the staircase.
Fish swam beside them.
Strange glowing creatures moved through the darkness.
After several minutes...
The staircase ended.
A city appeared.
It was enormous.
Glass towers rose from the ocean floor.
Bridges connected them.
Thousands of lights illuminated the streets.
People moved through the city.
Some had silver eyes.
Some had blue skin.
Others looked completely human.
Riva whispered:
"Who are these people?"
Elara answered:
"The people who survived the second world."
Riva looked at her.
"Second world?"
Elara nodded.
"The world before Elaris."
---
They entered the city.
Everyone stopped.
People stared at Riva.
Some whispered.
Others bowed.
One woman began crying.
Riva didn't understand.
"Why are they looking at me?"
Elara shook her head.
"I don't know."
A man approached.
He was old.
His eyes were completely white.
He touched Riva's forehead.
Then whispered:
"She returned."
Riva stepped backward.
"Who am I?"
The man smiled.
"The Queen who drowned."
---
Riva froze.
"Queen?"
The man nodded.
"Seven lives ago."
Caelan stepped forward.
"Tell us everything."
The old man looked at him.
"You are the reason she drowned."
Caelan's expression changed.
"What?"
Riva looked at him.
"Don't."
The man continued:
"In that life..."
"Riva was the Queen of the Underwater Kingdom."
"Caelan was her enemy."
"And Kael..."
He stopped.
Riva waited.
"Kael was her husband."
---
Riva's head began hurting.
A memory appeared.
She was standing on a balcony.
Water surrounded the palace.
Kael was beside her.
He held a black crown.
Caelan stood across the room.
They were fighting.
Riva screamed:
"Stop!"
The memory disappeared.
She fell to her knees.
Caelan caught her.
"Riva."
"I'm okay."
"You don't have to remember."
She looked at him.
"I think I do."
---
They reached the center of the city.
A massive palace stood there.
Its doors opened automatically.
Inside...
A young man was waiting.
He had dark hair.
Pale skin.
And bright blue eyes.
A blue crown rested on his head.
Elara whispered:
"That's him."
The young man looked at Riva.
His expression changed.
"Mother."
Riva froze.
"What?"
The boy stepped forward.
"You came back."
Caelan immediately moved between them.
"Stay away from her."
The boy looked at him.
Then smiled.
"You still hate me."
Caelan frowned.
"Who are you?"
The boy answered:
"My name is Naren."
He looked at Riva.
"But she once called me..."
He paused.
"...her son."
---
Riva couldn't breathe.
"My son?"
Naren nodded.
"In the second world."
"You were my mother."
Riva looked at Elara.
Then at Naren.
"How old are you?"
Naren smiled sadly.
"Older than your memories."
---
Kael's voice echoed through the palace.
"Tell her the truth."
Riva looked around.
"Where are you?"
A black shadow appeared on the wall.
Kael's face formed inside it.
"You abandoned him."
Riva shook her head.
"I don't remember."
"Exactly."
Kael smiled.
"You always forget."
Naren looked down.
"You promised you wouldn't leave me."
Riva felt tears forming.
"I didn't know."
"You never do."
---
Caelan stepped forward.
"Kael, enough."
Kael laughed.
"You've always been good at taking her away from me."
Caelan raised his sword.
"This isn't about you."
"It always was."
The shadow disappeared.
Naren looked at Riva.
"He's coming."
"Who?"
"Kael."
"Why?"
"Because he wants the Blue Crown."
Riva looked at the crown.
"What does it do?"
Naren touched it.
"It controls memory."
Riva's heart sank.
"Then he can erase people."
Naren shook his head.
"No."
"He can choose which memories survive."
---
Elara stepped closer.
"Can he erase my mother?"
Naren looked at her.
"Not anymore."
"Why?"
"Because she has the Eighth Flame."
Riva looked at her hand.
The flame flickered.
Naren continued:
"That's why Kael fears her."
"Not because she can defeat him."
"But because she can remember."
---
Suddenly the palace shook.
The city lights went out.
Naren looked toward the ceiling.
"They're here."
Caelan drew his sword.
"Who?"
Naren whispered:
"The Black Crown army."
---
The ocean above them turned black.
Hundreds of shadow creatures descended toward the city.
People screamed.
Buildings began collapsing.
Riva raised the Eighth Flame.
"Can we stop them?"
Naren shook his head.
"Not all of them."
"Then we don't fight all of them."
Riva looked at Elara.
"What do you suggest?"
Elara pointed toward the palace.
"The Crown."
Riva understood.
"If Naren gives it to me..."
"He loses his memories."
Naren nodded.
"But the Blue Crown can protect the city."
Riva looked at him.
"Then we need another way."
Naren smiled.
"You always said that."
Riva stared.
"What?"
"In my world..."
"You always said there was another way."
---
Kael appeared above the palace.
He was holding the Black Crown.
"You still haven't changed."
Riva looked up.
"I don't have to become the person I was."
Kael smiled.
"Then prove it."
He raised his hand.
The ocean began collapsing.
Riva looked at Naren.
"Can you control the water?"
Naren nodded.
"With the crown."
"Then use it."
Naren hesitated.
"If I do..."
"You might forget me."
He looked at Riva.
"I already lost you once."
He placed his hand on the Blue Crown.
"I won't lose you again."
The crown exploded with blue light.
The entire ocean stopped moving.
Every wave froze.
Every creature stopped.
The city became silent.
Then...
Naren looked at Riva.
His eyes were empty.
"Who are you?"
Riva's heart shattered.
Naren had forgotten her.
Kael smiled.
"Now..."
"...let's see whether you can make him remember."
End of Chapter 23