BOOK FOUR: THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE LAST GATE
Chapter 26: The Sister Beyond Memory
Riva couldn't speak.
The words kept repeating inside her head.
Your sister.
She had never had a sister.
Not in this life.
Not in any memory she could remember.
Yet Seris had said it with absolute certainty.
"In the first life," Riva whispered.
Seris nodded.
"Her name was Lyra."
Riva looked toward the dark ocean.
"Where is she?"
Seris answered:
"Coming for you."
---
The tower shook.
A red light appeared beyond the city.
It wasn't like the other Crowns.
The blue Crown felt like memory.
The black Crown felt like darkness.
But the red Crown felt like rage.
Every person in the city felt it.
People stopped moving.
Weapons appeared in their hands.
Old enemies suddenly attacked one another.
Friends turned against friends.
Families began fighting.
Caelan looked around.
"What is happening?"
Seris whispered:
"The Crown of War has awakened."
---
Riva raised the Eighth Flame.
The rage around them weakened.
But only slightly.
Seris looked at her.
"Your Flame can resist it."
"Then I'll stop it."
"You can't."
"Why?"
"Because the Crown of War doesn't control bodies."
"What does it control?"
"Conflict."
Riva frowned.
"That's not possible."
Seris shook her head.
"It doesn't make people fight."
"It gives them a reason."
---
A scream came from below.
Elara looked over the edge.
"Mother!"
Riva rushed toward her.
The entire city was fighting.
People were remembering old betrayals.
Arguments from centuries ago.
Wars that had ended thousands of years earlier.
The Crown was bringing every conflict back.
Riva clenched her fists.
"We have to find Lyra."
Seris nodded.
"Before she reaches the city."
---
They left the tower.
Naren remained behind.
Riva looked at him.
"Are you coming?"
He shook his head.
"The Blue Crown is still unstable."
"If I leave..."
"The city will fall."
Riva understood.
"Then protect them."
Naren smiled.
"I will."
He looked at Elara.
"Take care of her."
Elara smiled.
"You too."
---
Riva, Caelan, Elara, and Seris left the city.
They traveled east.
The sea gradually became shallower.
Then the water disappeared.
They reached a ruined battlefield.
Thousands of broken weapons covered the ground.
Seris stopped.
"She's here."
Riva looked around.
"Where?"
A voice answered:
"Behind you."
Riva turned.
A woman stood among the ruins.
Long black hair.
Red eyes.
A crimson crown floated above her head.
She looked almost exactly like Riva.
But her expression was colder.
She smiled.
"Hello, little sister."
Riva stared.
"Lyra."
The woman laughed.
"So you remember my name."
"I just learned it."
"Then you remember nothing."
---
Lyra walked closer.
"You always were the forgetful one."
Riva raised the Eighth Flame.
"Why are you doing this?"
Lyra looked at the battlefield.
"Because this is what our family created."
"What?"
"War."
She touched the red Crown.
"The First Kingdom was built on it."
Riva shook her head.
"No."
Lyra laughed.
"Ask Seris."
Riva turned.
Seris looked away.
"She's telling the truth."
Riva's eyes widened.
"You knew?"
"I remembered."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you weren't ready."
Lyra smiled.
"She's never ready."
---
Riva looked at her.
"Why do you hate me?"
Lyra's expression changed.
"I don't."
"Then why are you attacking us?"
"Because I hate what you represent."
"What do I represent?"
"Choice."
Riva froze.
Lyra continued:
"You think choice is freedom."
"It isn't."
"It's chaos."
"People choose."
"People betray."
"People kill."
"People abandon."
"People destroy."
Riva answered quietly:
"People also love."
Lyra shook her head.
"Love is just another choice."
"Exactly."
---
Lyra raised the Crown of War.
The battlefield came alive.
Thousands of ghostly soldiers rose from the ground.
Caelan drew his sword.
"How many?"
Seris looked around.
"Too many."
Riva stepped forward.
"Then we don't fight them."
Caelan looked at her.
"What?"
"We end the reason they're fighting."
Lyra laughed.
"You can't."
Riva raised the Eighth Flame.
"Watch me."
---
The ghosts charged.
Riva didn't attack.
She walked forward.
The Eighth Flame spread across the battlefield.
Every soldier stopped.
The ghosts began remembering why they had died.
Some lowered their weapons.
Others cried.
One by one...
They disappeared.
Lyra's smile vanished.
"No."
Riva continued walking.
The Crown of War became unstable.
Lyra screamed:
"STOP!"
Riva reached her.
"You don't have to keep carrying this."
Lyra's eyes filled with tears.
"You don't understand."
"Then tell me."
"I was left behind."
Riva froze.
"By whom?"
"You."
---
A memory exploded inside Riva's mind.
Two young girls.
Riva and Lyra.
Running through a palace.
Laughing.
Holding hands.
Then...
Fire.
The First Kingdom collapsing.
Lyra reaching for Riva.
"Don't leave me!"
Riva turned.
But someone grabbed her.
The First Aurelia.
She was pulled through a Gate.
Lyra remained behind.
Alone.
Riva screamed.
"Lyra!"
The memory ended.
Riva fell to her knees.
"I remember."
Lyra stared.
"You do?"
"Yes."
"You left me."
"I didn't choose to."
"You still left."
Riva stood.
"I'm sorry."
Lyra's eyes hardened.
"Sorry doesn't bring back thousands of years."
"No."
"But maybe I can stop you from spending another thousand years alone."
---
Lyra looked at her.
For a moment...
The Crown of War dimmed.
Then Kael appeared.
"Don't listen to her."
Lyra turned.
"Kael."
He smiled.
"She'll betray you."
Riva looked at him.
"You're afraid."
Kael laughed.
"Of you?"
"No."
"Of her."
Kael's smile disappeared.
Riva pointed toward Lyra.
"Because if she remembers who she was..."
"...she won't need you."
---
Lyra stared at Kael.
Something inside her changed.
"Did you know?"
Kael remained silent.
"Did you know Riva didn't abandon me?"
He said nothing.
Lyra's eyes filled with rage.
"You lied to me."
Kael finally spoke.
"I gave you purpose."
"You gave me hatred."
"Same thing."
Lyra raised the Crown.
The red light struck Kael.
He disappeared.
Riva stared.
"Where did he go?"
Lyra shook her head.
"I don't know."
Then Seris screamed:
"Behind you!"
Kael appeared behind Elara.
His hand reached for her.
Riva turned.
"ELARA!"
The Eighth Flame exploded.
Kael was thrown across the battlefield.
But before he disappeared...
He smiled.
"You still don't understand."
Riva stared.
"Understand what?"
Kael's voice echoed across the ruins.
"Lyra was never the Crown-bearer I wanted."
Riva's blood ran cold.
Kael looked at Elara.
"She was."
Elara froze.
"What?"
Kael smiled.
"The Crown of War was always meant for you."
The red Crown suddenly flew from Lyra's head.
It moved toward Elara.
Riva reached for her daughter.
"No!"
The Crown touched Elara's forehead.
Everything went black.
End of Chapter 26