CHAPTER 26
THE GUARDIAN'S MEMORY
The Frozen Fortress trembled.
Snow rained from the ceiling.
Ancient pillars cracked one after another.
The battle had not yet begun—
Yet the entire fortress felt as though it feared what was about to happen.
The young man stood between the Four Heirs and the army of Seekers.
His silver hair swayed gently despite the still air.
His crimson eyes remained fixed on the Elite Seeker.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Ancient.
The Elite Seeker tightened its grip on its spear.
For the first time since the heirs had met the Seekers—
Its voice trembled.
"You..."
"It is impossible."
The young man tilted his head.
"I know you."
His voice was quiet.
"But I cannot remember your name."
Suddenly he grabbed his head.
Fragments of memories exploded inside his mind.
Fire.
A palace.
A throne room.
Queen Aurelia smiling.
Five children laughing.
The Four Heirs...
And himself.
Then—
Darkness.
A scream.
A blinding black light.
Everything vanished.
He fell to one knee.
Pain shot through his body.
Riva instinctively rushed toward him.
"Are you alright?"
The young man slowly looked at her.
His eyes softened.
"I know your voice..."
"I've waited..."
"So long..."
The moment Riva touched his shoulder—
A blinding flash engulfed them both.
THE SHARED MEMORY
Everyone disappeared.
The battlefield vanished.
The fortress vanished.
They found themselves standing inside the royal palace of Aurelia.
Alive.
Beautiful.
Filled with laughter.
The Four Heirs watched their younger selves running through a magnificent garden.
Only this time—
There was a fifth child.
A silver-haired boy.
He was smiling.
Laughing.
Protecting the girls whenever they stumbled.
Helping Aarvi climb a tree.
Teaching Eva an ancient symbol.
Listening to Parna talk to flowers.
Watching Riva draw strange gates.
He was their brother.
Not by blood.
But by choice.
Queen Aurelia approached the five children.
"You are the Five Stars."
"You were never meant to shine alone."
She placed her hands on each of their heads.
"When one falls..."
"The others must carry the light."
The memory suddenly changed.
Years passed.
The children became teenagers.
They trained together.
Studied together.
Protected Aurelia together.
The silver-haired boy was always first to stand before danger.
Always first to smile.
Always first to sacrifice.
Then...
The memory broke.
A massive black storm swallowed the sky.
Citizens screamed.
The palace shook violently.
The Five Heirs stood together.
The silver-haired boy stepped forward.
"No."
"I'll stop it."
Riva's younger self grabbed his hand.
"Don't leave."
He smiled.
The same gentle smile.
"If I don't..."
"You'll never have a future."
He walked toward the darkness.
The memory shattered before anyone saw what happened next.
Everyone returned to reality.
Silence filled the hall.
Aarvi wiped tears from her face.
"I don't even remember him..."
"But why does it hurt so much?"
Eva couldn't answer.
Her own eyes were wet.
Parna quietly placed a hand over her heart.
"It feels like..."
"We've lost him twice."
The young man slowly stood.
"I remember..."
He whispered.
"My name..."
Everyone looked at him.
"My name is..."
Before he could finish—
The Elite Seeker threw its spear.
It flew across the hall like lightning.
Straight toward Riva.
Everything happened in an instant.
The silver-haired young man disappeared.
A deafening crash echoed.
He had caught the spear with his bare hand.
Black and silver energy exploded through the fortress.
The floor shattered beneath his feet.
The Elite Seeker stared in disbelief.
"No..."
The young man slowly crushed the ancient spear into dust.
His crimson eyes blazed.
"You still attack her first."
He said quietly.
"Just like before."
The Elite Seeker stepped backward.
"It really is you..."
The young man finally remembered.
"My name..."
"...Orion."
The name echoed through the fortress.
The walls reacted instantly.
Thousands of ancient symbols illuminated.
The statues bowed.
The Final Archive awakened.
Even Queen Aurelia smiled sadly.
"Welcome home..."
"Orion."
Suddenly the fortress bells began ringing.
Not one.
Not two.
All of them.
Selene's face turned pale.
"They're inside."
The great doors behind the throne room exploded inward.
Hundreds of Seekers poured into the fortress.
Behind them marched dozens of Elite Seekers.
Not three.
Not five.
Nearly twenty.
Even Orion's expression hardened.
"This many..."
Then another familiar voice echoed from outside.
"You're late."
A wave of crimson flames swept through the entrance.
Dozens of Seekers were thrown backward.
Kael stepped into the throne hall.
His coat torn.
His arm bleeding.
His face covered with scars from the battle at the Star Archive.
Yet he was smiling.
"I leave you alone for one day..."
"...and you start a war."
Aarvi rolled her eyes despite the danger.
"You have terrible timing."
Kael laughed.
"So I've been told."
He stood beside Elias, who had also entered through another passage with Lyra.
The three old guardians were together again.
Now joined by Orion.
The Four Heirs looked around.
For the first time...
They were no longer running.
No longer hiding.
No longer divided.
Every ally had finally gathered.
Every enemy stood before them.
Orion drew an ancient sword from beneath the frozen floor.
The blade shone with silver starlight.
He pointed it toward the Seekers.
"No more running."
Outside, a blizzard swallowed the mountains.
Inside the Frozen Fortress—
The final battle for the legacy of Aurelia was about to begin.
End of Chapter 26