The message disappeared from the sky.
For several breaths, nobody moved.
The battlefield was still covered with broken weapons, shattered stones, and traces of silver energy. The black creatures had vanished, the portal had closed, and the countless worlds that had appeared beyond the heavens were now silent.
Yet the silence did not feel peaceful.
It felt like the world was holding its breath.
Ayan stood at the center of the ruined city with his weapon lowered.
His face was pale.
His eyes remained fixed on the place where the silver words had disappeared.
The First Mother Has Returned.
The sentence repeated itself inside his mind.
But the thing that frightened him wasn't the message.
It was Kai's words.
That's not your mother.
The thing that created your mother.
Ayan slowly turned toward him.
"Kai."
The black-eyed child didn't answer.
"Kai."
This time, the child looked up.
His face was unusually serious.
Ayan had seen Kai frightened before, but never like this.
"What is she?"
Kai looked toward the sky.
"I don't know."
Ayan's expression hardened.
"You said you knew."
"I knew what she wasn't."
"That's not enough."
Kai lowered his head.
"Then I need to remember."
Ayan frowned.
"You can remember?"
"Sometimes."
"How?"
Kai placed a hand against his chest.
"There are things inside me that aren't mine."
Ayan stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Memories."
Kai's voice became quieter.
"Memories from before I became Kai."
Ayan stepped closer.
"Then recover them."
"I can't."
"Why?"
Kai looked at Ayan.
"Because they're afraid of her."
The words made Ayan's expression change.
Even Kai's memories were afraid.
Ayan looked around.
The people were beginning to emerge from the shelters. Some were wounded. Others were carrying stones and helping the injured. Nobody knew exactly what had happened, but everyone understood that the danger had temporarily passed.
Lumen walked toward Ayan.
His face was covered in dust.
There was a small cut above his eyebrow.
Ayan immediately crouched.
"You're hurt."
Lumen touched the cut.
"It's nothing."
Ayan looked at him.
"You say that like me."
Lumen smiled.
"Maybe I learned it from you."
Ayan carefully wiped the blood away.
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't learn that."
Lumen laughed softly.
Then his smile disappeared.
"Who was that woman?"
Ayan didn't answer.
Lumen waited.
"Ayan."
"I don't know."
"Was she your mother?"
Ayan looked toward the sky.
"She looked like her."
"But?"
Ayan's expression became grim.
"But I don't think she was."
Lumen nodded.
He didn't ask anything else.
That was one of the things Ayan had taught him without realizing it.
Sometimes people didn't need an answer immediately.
Sometimes they simply needed someone to stand beside them while they searched for one.
The city slowly began to recover.
The people from the fourth world remained among them.
They had no way to return.
The portal had disappeared.
The roads between worlds were closed.
For now, they were trapped.
Ayan approached the golden-eyed stranger.
The creature was sitting near the remains of the city wall, its spear lying beside it.
It looked exhausted.
Ayan crouched nearby.
"You said your world had seen those creatures before."
The creature nodded.
"We called them Hollowborn."
"Hollowborn?"
"Because they have no soul."
Ayan frowned.
"What happened when they appeared?"
The creature looked toward the ground.
"Our world fought."
"And?"
"We lost half our continent."
Ayan's expression tightened.
"How did you stop them?"
"We didn't."
The creature looked at him.
"They stopped."
"Why?"
"We don't know."
Ayan remained silent.
The creature continued.
"One day they simply disappeared."
"How long ago?"
"Three hundred years."
Ayan's eyes narrowed.
"Three hundred years."
The creature nodded.
"Why did you come here?"
"We saw the roads opening."
"And?"
"We thought your world caused it."
Ayan looked toward the sky.
"You were wrong."
The creature shook its head.
"No."
Ayan looked at him.
"We were wrong about you."
The creature picked up its spear.
"We thought you were the threat."
Ayan nodded.
"And now?"
The creature looked toward the ruined city.
"Now I think you are the only reason we're alive."
Ayan smiled faintly.
"Don't put too much faith in me."
The creature tilted its head.
"Why?"
"Because I don't know if I can protect you."
The creature looked at him for a long moment.
Then it smiled.
"Neither can I."
Ayan laughed.
"Fair enough."
The creature stood.
"My name is Rhael."
Ayan nodded.
"Ayan."
"I know."
Ayan raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
Rhael pointed toward the sky.
"Everyone knows your name now."
Ayan looked upward.
He suddenly realized something.
The worlds had seen him.
The civilizations had seen him.
The Outside had seen him.
And now the name Ayan wasn't simply a name belonging to one person.
It had become a signal.
A warning.
A legend.
Perhaps even a target.
Ayan sighed.
"I liked it better when nobody knew me."
Seraphine approached from behind.
"Too late."
Ayan looked at her.
She smiled.
"You've become famous."
"I hate it."
"I know."
She glanced toward Rhael.
"Who is he?"
"Rhael. Fourth world."
Rhael nodded politely.
Seraphine returned the gesture.
Then she looked at Ayan.
"Rowan wants you."
Ayan sighed.
"That usually means trouble."
"It does."
They walked toward the temporary medical center.
Doctor Rowan was surrounded by injured soldiers and several strange devices.
When he saw Ayan, he immediately stood.
"Finally."
Ayan looked around.
"What happened?"
"The portal left residue."
"Can you study it?"
"I already did."
Ayan waited.
Rowan's expression was grim.
"The portal wasn't created from energy."
Ayan frowned.
"Then what?"
"Memory."
Ayan stopped.
"What?"
Rowan held up a small crystal.
"This contains traces of the portal's structure."
Ayan looked at it.
"You're saying the portal was made from memory?"
"Yes."
"Whose memory?"
Rowan looked at him.
"Yours."
Ayan's expression changed.
"Mine?"
"Every part of the portal contained fragments of your memories."
Ayan stared at the crystal.
"That's impossible."
"I thought so too."
Rowan handed it to him.
Ayan touched the crystal.
A memory appeared.
A white room.
A small child.
A woman.
Ayan pulled his hand away.
The crystal cracked.
Rowan stared.
"What did you see?"
Ayan didn't answer.
He had seen the woman.
Not the woman from the portal.
Another woman.
Younger.
Human.
She was holding the hand of a little boy.
The boy was Ayan.
But the woman wasn't his mother.
She was crying.
And behind her stood the colorless eye.
Ayan's breathing became unsteady.
Seraphine noticed.
"Ayan?"
He looked at her.
"I remember her."
"Who?"
Ayan looked at the cracked crystal.
"The woman who raised me."
Rowan frowned.
"You said your mother."
"I was wrong."
Ayan closed his eyes.
"My memories were altered."
Seraphine stepped closer.
"By whom?"
Ayan shook his head.
"I don't know."
The Bridge suddenly activated.
Silver lines appeared around him.
One connection formed.
Then another.
Ayan saw the memory again.
The woman was running.
She was carrying the young Ayan.
Behind her, something was chasing them.
The Outside.
The woman reached a Door.
She opened it.
Then she pushed the child through.
Ayan watched in horror.
She stayed behind.
The Door closed.
The memory ended.
Ayan opened his eyes.
"She sent me away."
Seraphine's expression softened.
"To protect you?"
Ayan nodded.
"Yes."
"Then she wasn't your enemy."
"No."
Ayan looked toward the mountain.
"She was the reason I survived."
Kai appeared beside him.
The child looked at the broken crystal.
"That's her."
Ayan looked at him.
"You know her?"
Kai nodded.
"Yes."
"Who was she?"
Kai hesitated.
"Her name was Elira."
Ayan's heart tightened.
"Elira."
The name felt familiar.
Very familiar.
He repeated it quietly.
"Elira."
A memory stirred.
A warm hand.
A quiet room.
A voice telling him stories.
A small wooden toy.
A promise.
Ayan felt tears appear in his eyes.
"I remember."
Seraphine touched his shoulder.
"What?"
Ayan smiled sadly.
"She used to tell me stories."
"About what?"
"About a world where people could choose their own lives."
Seraphine smiled.
"She sounds like someone you would like."
Ayan laughed softly.
"Yes."
Kai looked toward the mountain.
"She is still alive."
Ayan froze.
"What?"
Kai nodded.
"Elira is alive."
Ayan's heart began pounding.
"Where?"
Kai pointed toward the sealed Door.
"Beyond it."
Ayan immediately stood.
"Then we're going."
Seraphine grabbed his arm.
"Wait."
Ayan turned.
"What?"
"We don't know what's there."
"I know."
"You just fought something that came from there."
"I know."
"And you want to walk through that Door?"
Ayan looked toward the mountain.
"She's there."
Seraphine stared at him.
For a moment, she didn't speak.
Then she sighed.
"I knew you were going to say that."
Ayan smiled.
"You don't have to come."
She stared at him.
"Don't insult me."
Ayan laughed.
"Fine."
Mira walked toward them.
"I'm coming too."
Maren followed.
"Apparently we're all making terrible decisions today."
Doctor Rowan picked up his equipment.
"I'll come."
Ayan looked at him.
"You should stay."
Rowan shook his head.
"I have spent my entire life searching for answers."
He adjusted his glasses.
"I'm not letting the greatest mystery I've ever encountered disappear behind a Door."
Ayan smiled.
"Fair enough."
Rhael approached.
"I will come."
Ayan looked at him.
"You don't have to."
Rhael shook his head.
"My people are trapped here."
He tightened his grip on his spear.
"If there is a way back, I need to know."
Ayan nodded.
"Then we'll go together."
Lumen stepped forward.
"I want to come too."
Ayan immediately shook his head.
"No."
Lumen frowned.
"Why?"
"Because this isn't safe."
"You said the same thing before."
"And you nearly died."
"But I helped."
Ayan looked at him.
"Yes."
Lumen stepped closer.
"I want to help again."
Ayan was silent.
The child looked at him seriously.
"I'm not asking you to protect me."
Ayan's expression softened.
"I'm asking you to let me choose."
The words struck Ayan.
He remembered teaching him that.
Choice.
Freedom.
Trust.
Ayan finally nodded.
"Stay close."
Lumen smiled.
"I will."
Veyra lowered its enormous head.
"And me?"
Ayan looked at the dragon.
"You can't fit through the Door."
Veyra looked offended.
"I can make myself smaller."
Ayan blinked.
"You can?"
The dragon smiled.
Its body began shrinking.
The enormous dragon folded inward.
Its wings disappeared.
Its scales compressed.
Within seconds, the massive creature had become a creature roughly the size of a large horse.
Maren stared.
"I hate this world."
Veyra looked at him.
"You are simply unfamiliar with possibility."
Maren pointed at it.
"Don't start sounding like Eon."
Veyra laughed.
Ayan shook his head.
"Fine."
He looked toward the mountain.
"Everyone stays together."
They walked.
The journey to the Door felt different this time.
Nobody spoke much.
The mountain seemed to recognize them.
Silver symbols appeared along the walls as they approached.
Rhael stared at them.
"I've seen these."
Ayan looked at him.
"Where?"
"In the ruins of my world."
"Same symbols?"
"Yes."
Ayan's expression became serious.
"So the civilizations were connected before the roads opened."
Rhael nodded.
"Maybe."
They reached the Door.
Ayan placed his hand against it.
Nothing happened.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
Lumen stepped closer.
"Maybe it doesn't want you."
Ayan looked at him.
"That's reassuring."
Lumen smiled.
Then Kai appeared.
The black-eyed child walked toward the Door.
He placed his hand beside Ayan's.
The symbols immediately activated.
Seven circles.
Then eight.
Then nine.
The Door opened.
Cold air poured from the darkness.
Ayan stared inside.
There was no white room this time.
There was a city.
An ancient city.
Millions of lights flickered in the distance.
Tall buildings stretched into the sky.
The architecture looked strangely familiar.
Ayan stepped forward.
Rhael whispered:
"This is impossible."
Ayan looked at him.
"What?"
Rhael pointed.
"My people."
Ayan stared.
Across the distant city were enormous statues.
They depicted creatures from the fourth world.
The same golden eyes.
The same horns.
The same armor.
Rhael's face became pale.
"That city disappeared three thousand years ago."
Ayan looked toward the ruins.
"Then this is where they went."
Rhael's hands trembled.
"My ancestors."
They stepped through the Door.
The moment Ayan crossed the threshold, the Door closed behind them.
The mountain disappeared.
The eighth world disappeared.
They were trapped.
The city was silent.
Dust covered the streets.
Ancient machines were frozen in place.
Statues stood everywhere.
But there were no people.
Rhael walked toward one of the statues.
His fingers trembled as he touched it.
"This is our old king."
Ayan looked at the statue.
"Your civilization came here."
Rhael nodded.
"But why?"
Ayan activated the Bridge.
The city responded.
Memories appeared.
People.
War.
The Door.
The Outside.
Then Ayan saw it.
A massive structure at the center of the city.
A tower.
And at the top...
a throne.
Someone was sitting there.
Ayan's breathing stopped.
The figure slowly stood.
A woman.
Long silver hair.
A white dress.
A familiar face.
Ayan whispered:
"Elira."
The woman turned.
She smiled.
But something was wrong.
Her eyes were completely colorless.
"Ayan."
He froze.
She walked toward them.
"My child."
Ayan's throat tightened.
"Mother."
Elira smiled.
"Come closer."
Ayan took one step.
Seraphine grabbed his arm.
"Wait."
Elira looked at her.
Her expression became cold.
"Remove your hand."
Seraphine didn't move.
Elira's eyes narrowed.
"I said..."
The entire city trembled.
"...remove your hand."
Ayan stepped between them.
"Don't."
Elira looked at him.
For one brief moment, her expression softened.
Then she smiled.
"You finally came home."
Ayan stared.
"This isn't home."
Elira's smile disappeared.
"No."
She looked toward the ancient city.
"It isn't."
Then she raised her hand.
The entire city awakened.
Thousands of machines began moving.
Ancient weapons emerged from the ground.
The streets lit up.
Rhael raised his spear.
Mira drew her bow.
Maren prepared himself.
Rowan stared in disbelief.
Lumen stepped closer to Ayan.
Veyra growled.
Elira looked at them all.
"You brought them with you."
Ayan's expression became cold.
"They're my friends."
Elira smiled.
"Friends."
She whispered the word as though it were unfamiliar.
Then she looked directly into Ayan's eyes.
"You still haven't learned."
Ayan frowned.
"Learned what?"
Elira's face became sorrowful.
"That everyone you love becomes a weakness."
Ayan's heart sank.
The machines aimed their weapons.
Elira raised one hand.
And thousands of ancient weapons pointed toward Ayan and his companions.
Then she whispered:
"Let me teach you again."
The first weapon fired.
And the ancient city erupted into war.