Chapter 2642: Story 2643: The Man Before Kael

Kael stood alone in the darkness.

Only the whisper remained.

“Remember.”

Kael closed his eyes.

“I am Kael Draven.”

The darkness answered.

“No.”

Images appeared around him.

A ruined kingdom.

A red moon.

Three infants sleeping inside a circle of crimson symbols.

A woman kneeling beside them.

And a younger version of the Sleeping King, holding a sword covered in blood.

“Who are they?”

The woman lifted her head. Her face was hidden beneath a silver crown.

Then the image changed.

The infants were older.

A boy with black hair stood before a massive gate.

A girl with glowing red eyes stood beside him.

Another boy held a broken blade.

“They’re us.”

A voice answered, “They were never supposed to become you.”

Kael turned.

A figure stood in the darkness.

It looked exactly like him.

But the stranger wore ancient armor and carried no sword.

“Who are you?”

The stranger smiled.

“The name you were given was Kael.”

He stepped forward.

“But that was not your first name.”

Kael’s blood began burning.

“What was it?”

The stranger pointed toward the darkness. “Look.”

The world shattered.

Kael saw himself as a child standing before the King Before Kings.

But this time, he saw what happened next.

The ancient king placed his hand against the child’s forehead.

Crimson light entered him.

Then the king whispered a name.

“Azrael.”

Kael staggered backward.

“No.”

The memory continued.

The child screamed.

The King Before Kings looked away, tears falling from his ancient eyes.

“He must forget,” the king said.

The Sleeping King appeared.

He carried Lena and Elias in his arms.

“You promised me they would be safe,” the Sleeping King said.

“They will be,” the ancient king answered.

“Then why erase his memory?”

“Because the darkness has already found him.”

The ancient king touched the child’s forehead again.

Everything disappeared.

The kingdom. The voices. The parents. Even the child’s own name.

Kael fell.

“You erased me.”

The stranger stepped beside him. “No. They hid you.”

Kael looked up.

“From what?”

The stranger’s smile vanished.

“From yourself.”

A thunderous heartbeat shook the darkness.

BOOM.

BOOM.

The stranger pointed behind Kael.

A colossal shadow opened its eyes.

Kael felt terror.

“What is that?”

“The King Before Kings feared it.”

“Then why did he call me his son?”

“Because you are.”

The shadow moved closer.

“But you are also the key.”

Kael gripped his sword.

“To what?”

The stranger whispered.

“To opening the kingdom that existed before the First Kingdom.”

Three voices echoed through the darkness.

Lena. Elias. The Sleeping King.

“Kael!”

A crimson doorway appeared.

Beyond it stood Lena and Elias, trapped behind glowing chains.

He ran toward them.

The doorway began closing.

Lena screamed, “Remember who you are!”

He reached forward.

His blood exploded with crimson light.

The stranger whispered one final word.

“Azrael.”

The doorway shattered.

Kael disappeared into the light.

And beyond reality, something ancient finally smiled.

Then another voice whispered from behind the darkness.

“Your true name has awakened.”

Kael opened his eyes.

Something inside him answered.

And the forgotten king began to rise.