After the battle at the Southern Gate ended, I stood atop the broken remains of the battlefield, my breath still heavy in my chest. The sky of Valendria—once bright and pure—was now shrouded in a shadow no eyes could see, but every soul could feel.
It was as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to begin.
At midnight, I returned to the lower chambers of the castle. The place was once reserved only for the meditation of royal ancestors, but Aurelia had granted me special access. Floating crystals of magic drifted slowly through the air, glowing with a soft blue light—almost as if they knew I was about to recall something long forgotten.
I sat in the center of an ancient magic circle, untouched for centuries.
Zephyros—the dragon within my blade—spoke gently.
"Are you ready, Ace?"
I nodded once.
> [System Notification: Locked Memory Fragment – Synchronization Initiated…]
[Soul Connection Active – Reverse Reincarnation Mode Unlocked]
Suddenly, I felt my body detach from the physical world. My soul floated into a vast, dark space.
Far in the distance… a flame flickered to life—orange and red, pulsing like a living heart. Slowly, from within the fire… a figure emerged.
A girl.
She stood with quiet grace, her long hair flowing like fire in the wind, her eyes glowing with sadness—orange, red, and full of forgotten emotion.
"So… you've finally come."
Her voice—soft, yet laced with a sorrow that crushed my chest.
"Who are you?" I asked, trying to calm the wild beating in my heart.
She looked at me, eyes shimmering. "You don't remember my name… Kael?"
That name struck me like lightning.
> [Memory Fragment Detected – "The Final Day of the Old World"]
—Flashback—
The sky of the old world cracked open, fire swallowing the horizon. I—Kael—stood among the ruins of civilization, bleeding, barely alive.
In front of me, the girl was crying, holding my hand tightly.
"I can't follow you to the new world… But my soul will wait. If you're reborn… find me."
I hooked my pinky with hers, binding our vow in the sacred Origin Flame.
"I'll find you. No matter how long it takes…"
Then, everything crumbled into blinding white light.
—Back to the Present—
I gasped for air. My body trembled.
Tears fell before I even realized it.
Zephyros spoke in a low, reverent tone. "She is… Seraphina. The final Guardian of the Origin Flame. The woman you left behind when the old world was destroyed."
Soft footsteps echoed behind me.
Aurelia entered the room, concern in her eyes. "Ace… you look like you've just seen death."
I turned to her, my voice hoarse. "I just saw… a life I once had."
She paused, then sat beside me. "Do you… love her?"
I looked down. My chest felt pierced by memories and regret.
"I don't know. But I once made her a promise. And now… she's still waiting. Somewhere on the other side of this world."
Aurelia gave a small smile—one that couldn't hide the pain in her eyes.
"Then we'll keep that promise. We'll find her. Together."
Suddenly, the entire castle trembled. Cracks split through the floating crystals around us.
> [Alert: Dimensional Energy Linked to the Sunspire Tower]
[Warning: Original Soul of the Origin Flame – Awakened]
A voice thundered from the heavens—rough, ancient, and filled with rage.
> "My heir has awakened… but this world is no longer yours. Now, it is time for the Old World to be erased completely."