THE GIRL FROM THE PAST
The crystal shattered.
Thousands of fragments scattered across the sanctuary floor.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Uncertain.
Dangerous.
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The young woman stepped forward.
Her silver-and-gold robes seemed untouched by time.
Not a single wrinkle.
Not a single sign she had spent fifty years trapped inside crystal.
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The four heirs stared.
Unable to speak.
Unable to understand.
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Only Elias moved.
His face had turned pale.
For the first time since Black Hollow, genuine fear appeared in his eyes.
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"No..."
he whispered.
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The woman's gaze remained fixed on him.
Cold.
Careful.
Suspicious.
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"You are still alive."
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Elias didn't answer immediately.
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Finally he nodded.
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"Apparently."
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The woman looked toward the four heirs.
Her expression softened slightly.
Almost sadly.
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"So they survived."
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Riva immediately stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
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The woman studied her carefully.
Almost as if she were looking at a ghost.
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Then she smiled.
A small smile.
A painful smile.
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"My name is Lyra."
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The name meant nothing to the girls.
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But it clearly meant something to Elias.
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"You shouldn't be here."
Elias said.
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"And yet here I am."
Lyra replied.
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Before anyone could continue—
The sanctuary shook.
Violently.
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A deep rumble echoed through the mountain.
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Everyone turned.
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The ancient doors were closing.
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Fast.
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Then something slammed against them from outside.
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Boom.
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The entire sanctuary trembled.
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Boom.
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Another impact.
Stronger.
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The compass immediately reacted.
Its silver needle spun wildly.
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Aarvi's box began glowing.
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Parna felt the trees outside panicking.
Nature was afraid.
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Very afraid.
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Elias cursed under his breath.
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"He's here."
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Nobody needed to ask who.
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Another impact shook the mountain.
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Boom.
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Cracks spread across the sanctuary walls.
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Lyra's expression darkened.
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"Kael."
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The name echoed through the chamber.
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She knew him.
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Which meant she knew Aurelia.
Perhaps better than Elias.
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The girls exchanged nervous glances.
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"Who exactly is Kael?"
Eva asked.
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The question had haunted them since Black Hollow.
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This time Lyra answered.
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"He was once the kingdom's greatest protector."
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Silence.
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The answer surprised everyone.
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"What?"
Aarvi almost shouted.
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Lyra nodded.
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"He defended Aurelia from countless enemies."
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Another impact hit the sanctuary.
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Boom.
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Dust fell from the ceiling.
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"Then why is he trying to kill us?"
Riva asked.
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A shadow crossed Lyra's face.
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"Because something happened."
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Another pause.
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Something painful.
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Something she didn't want to discuss.
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Something connected to the fall of Aurelia.
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But before she could continue—
The mountain exploded.
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A section of the wall collapsed inward.
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Dark smoke filled the chamber.
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Everyone stepped back.
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Then a figure emerged.
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Tall.
Calm.
Terrifying.
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Crimson eyes glowed within the darkness.
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Kael.
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He had found them.
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The atmosphere immediately changed.
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The air became colder.
The shadows became longer.
Even the light from the sanctuary seemed weaker.
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Kael smiled.
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"How touching."
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His eyes shifted toward Lyra.
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"And you finally woke up."
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Lyra stepped in front of the heirs.
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"You shouldn't be here."
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Kael laughed.
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"I've heard that sentence many times."
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The ground trembled again.
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The compass released silver light.
The box released golden light.
The sanctuary symbols began glowing.
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Everything was reacting to Kael's presence.
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Riva suddenly experienced a vision.
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A younger Kael.
Standing beside the king.
Laughing.
Smiling.
Trusted.
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Then another image.
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The same man.
Alone.
Broken.
Angry.
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The vision disappeared.
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Riva staggered backward.
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"He wasn't always evil."
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Kael's smile faded.
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Only slightly.
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But enough.
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Lyra noticed.
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So did Elias.
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The old wounds still existed.
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The old pain still remained.
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Kael slowly walked toward them.
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No one could stop him.
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No one felt powerful enough.
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Then he stopped.
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His gaze moved across the four heirs.
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One by one.
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Riva.
Parna.
Eva.
Aarvi.
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Almost as if confirming something.
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Almost as if searching for someone.
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Then he nodded.
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"Interesting."
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"What?"
Eva demanded.
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Kael ignored her.
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Instead he looked toward Elias.
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"They know almost nothing."
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The accusation hit hard.
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Because it was true.
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The heirs knew fragments.
Nothing more.
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Kael smiled.
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"You've been protecting them from the truth."
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Elias's jaw tightened.
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"I've been protecting them."
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"Same thing."
Kael replied.
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The tension became unbearable.
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Then Lyra stepped forward.
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"Leave."
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Kael looked amused.
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"Or what?"
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The sanctuary responded.
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Ancient symbols illuminated every wall.
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Golden energy flowed through the chamber.
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The entire structure awakened.
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For a brief moment—
Even Kael seemed surprised.
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The sanctuary had recognized danger.
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And it intended to defend itself.
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The symbols formed a massive barrier between Kael and the heirs.
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Light filled the room.
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The mountain trembled.
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Kael stared at the barrier.
Then smiled again.
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"This changes nothing."
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His crimson eyes shifted toward the heirs.
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"We'll meet again soon."
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A chill ran down everyone's spine.
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Because somehow they knew he wasn't threatening them.
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He was promising.
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The shadows surrounded him once more.
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Slowly.
Silently.
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Then he vanished.
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The sanctuary became quiet.
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The danger was gone.
For now.
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Nobody spoke for several moments.
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Finally Aarvi broke the silence.
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"Well..."
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Everyone looked at her.
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"I officially hate him."
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To everyone's surprise—
Even Lyra laughed.
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The tension eased slightly.
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Only slightly.
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Because bigger questions remained.
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Lyra turned toward the heirs.
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"Kael won't stop."
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Her expression became serious.
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"He believes something is hidden within the Memory Sanctuaries."
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Elias frowned.
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"He doesn't know?"
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Lyra shook her head.
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"No."
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For the first time, uncertainty appeared on Elias's face.
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Whatever secret Kael was searching for—
Even he didn't fully understand it.
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Which meant the mystery had become much larger.
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The four heirs exchanged glances.
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Black Hollow.
The sanctuaries.
The visions.
Kael.
Lyra.
Aurelia.
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Every answer seemed to create another question.
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Then the compass suddenly pointed toward a new location.
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Not the mountain.
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Not Black Hollow.
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Somewhere far beyond both.
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A distant coastline.
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At the same moment, Aarvi's box projected a new image into the air.
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An island surrounded by endless mist.
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The Third Memory Sanctuary.
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Their next destination.
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And somewhere beyond the sea, another piece of Aurelia waited.
Another memory.
Another truth.
And perhaps—
Another danger.
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The journey continued.