Chapter 125: I promise

The chamber had gone silent. Not peaceful. Not calm.

It was the kind of silence that came after too many secrets had been dragged into the light.

Rin stood in front of Kaan, watching him carefully. Kaan’s expression was completely different from the one he usually wore.

There was no childish smile. No teasing. No playful comments.

For the first time, he looked exactly like what he truly was—

a Divine Knight who had survived centuries.

Rin crossed his arms.

"You said you remembered something else."

Kaan nodded.

"I did."

Lucien immediately turned toward him.

"What?"

Kaan hesitated.

"The thirteenth."

Lucien frowned.

"The thirteenth what?"

"The thirteenth Divine Knight."

Silence. Lucien stared at him.

"There were twelve."

Kaan shook his head.

"No."

His voice was quiet.

"But there were thirteen."

Rin felt a strange chill.

"How sure are you?"

"Very."

Kaan looked down at his hands.

"I don’t remember everything about him. But I remember enough."

Lucien stepped closer.

"What do you remember?"

Kaan took a slow breath.

"He existed before Kaelith."

The room became completely still. Rin’s eyes widened.

"Before Kaelith?"

"Yes."

Kaan nodded.

"He was created before Kaelith."

Rin stared at him.

"Created?"

Kaan nodded again.

"He wasn’t born like the rest of us."

"Then what was he?"

"I don’t know."

Kaan closed his eyes.

"But I remember the order."

His voice became distant.

"First, there was the thirteenth."

A pause.

"Then Kaelith came later."

Rin felt something inside his chest tighten.

"And what happened to the thirteenth?"

Kaan’s expression darkened.

"He was erased."

"By World?"

"I don’t know."

Kaan looked toward the ancient walls.

"That’s the problem. I remember that he existed. I remember fighting beside him. I remember hearing his voice."

He touched his forehead.

"But whenever I try to remember his face..."

He stopped.

"It’s gone."

Rin’s expression became serious.

"Someone erased the memory..."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I don’t know."

Kaan looked at Rin.

"But there is one thing I remember clearly."

"What?"

"The thirteenth knew Aelion."

Rin froze. Again, that name. Aelion. Something about it always felt strangely close.

Like hearing the name of someone he had known for years, even though he couldn’t remember ever meeting him.

Kaan continued.

"He knew Aelion before Aelion became what he was supposed to become."

Rin’s heart began beating faster.

"Before he became a God?"

Kaan nodded slowly.

"I think so."

Lucien looked at Kaan.

"And Kaelith?"

"He came after."

Rin swallowed.

"So the thirteenth was there before Kaelith..."

"Yes."

"And he knew Aelion?"

"Yes."

Rin opened his mouth to ask another question but a cold drop landed on his cheek.

He blinked. He touched it. Water. Another drop fell. Then another.

Lucien looked upward.

"What..."

Sol’s expression immediately changed.

"That’s impossible."

Rin looked around.

"We’re underground."

"I know."

The ancient chamber suddenly trembled. The stone walls vibrated. Dust fell from the ceiling.

Then the ceiling itself seemed to disappear. Beyond it was the sky.

Dark. Almost completely black. Heavy clouds covered the heavens. Thunder rolled across the distance and then the rain began.

It fell harder and harder until the entire chamber seemed to exist beneath a storm.

Rin stared upward. Something was wrong. He could feel it.

Not with his body. With something deeper. Something inside his soul.

Then—

a voice entered his mind.

Rin.

He froze. Nobody around him had spoken. He looked toward Sol. Nothing. Lucien. Nothing. Kaan. Nothing.

Who are you?

Silence.

Then the voice answered.

Aelion.

Rin’s eyes widened. The voice wasn’t the System. It wasn’t World. It wasn’t someone standing nearby. It was inside him. Close, quiet and almost familiar.

You’re Aelion?

Yes.

Rin’s breathing became shallow.

Why can I hear you?

Aelion remained silent for several seconds.

Then—

Because it is time.

Rin frowned.

Time for what?

The answer came softly.

For you to see the beginning.

Rin’s heart skipped.

What beginning?

Mine.

Rin looked down at his hands.

What am I supposed to do?

Go back.

Back where?

Aelion didn’t answer. Instead, another voice suddenly entered Rin’s mind.

A man’s voice. Deep. Tired. Filled with a strange sadness.

It is time my love...

Rin froze. The voice sounded ancient. Like someone who had been waiting for centuries.

He didn’t know who it was but somehow, his soul recognized it.

Aelion spoke again.

Listen to him.

Rin’s eyes widened.

Who is he?

Silence.

Who is that?

Aelion’s voice became quieter.

Someone who has been waiting for you, for me.

Rin’s heart pounded.

Before he could ask anything else—

the sky screamed.

A violent crack of lightning split the darkness. And then another voice echoed through the world.

NO!

The rain suddenly became wild. World. Rin knew immediately. The voice wasn’t simply angry. It was terrified.

THIS CANNOT HAPPEN!

Everyone in the chamber looked upward. Sol’s expression changed.

"What is that?"

World screamed again.

AELION!

Rin’s entire body froze.

YOU CANNOT RETURN!

Aelion answered inside Rin’s mind.

I know.

World’s voice shook with fury.

THEN STOP!

No.

The word was quiet but absolute. The ancient symbols surrounding Rin suddenly lit up.

Golden light spread across the floor. Rin stepped backward.

"What is happening?"

Kaelith immediately turned toward him.

"Rin."

Rin looked at him. Kaelith was already moving.

"Don’t move!"

"I don’t know what’s happening."

"I said don’t move!"

Kaelith reached for him but the golden light rose around Rin.

Kaelith’s expression changed.

"No."

He accelerated.

"Rin!"

Rin reached toward him.

"Kaelith!"

Their hands almost touched.

Then—

the force separating them became stronger.

Kaelith grabbed Rin’s wrist.

"I’ve got you."

Rin cried out as the magic pulled him backward.

"Kaelith!"

"I’m not letting go!"

Black magic erupted around Kaelith. The entire chamber shook.

Sol shouted:

"Kaelith!"

"I said I’m not letting go!"

Kaelith pulled Rin toward himself. The golden light became brighter. Rin’s body began becoming transparent.

Kaelith’s eyes widened.

"No."

He tightened his grip.

"No, no, no..."

Rin’s tears began falling.

"I don’t know how to stop this."

"Then stay!"

"I can’t!"

"You can!"

Kaelith’s voice broke.

"You always find a way!"

Rin shook his head.

"I don’t know where I’m going!"

"I don’t care!"

Kaelith pulled harder.

"I’ll go with you!"

"You can’t!"

"Then I’ll find you!"

World’s voice thundered across the sky.

YOU WILL NOT TAKE HIM!

Kaelith looked upward.

"Get out!"

World didn’t answer him. Instead, the golden light around Rin exploded. Kaelith was thrown backward.

"RIN!"

He slammed into the stone floor, immediately getting back up. He didn’t even seem to feel the impact.

He ran again. Rin was already being pulled away.

"Rin!"

Rin reached toward him.

"Kaelith!"

Their fingers touched. Kaelith grabbed his hand.

"I have you!"

Rin cried.

"I’m going!"

"No!"

"I have to!"

"No!"

Kaelith’s voice cracked.

"You don’t have to do anything!"

"I do!"

"Why?!"

Rin looked at him through tears.

"Because I need to know the truth!"

Kaelith stared at him.

"What truth?"

"I don’t know!"

Rin’s voice trembled.

"I don’t know yet!"

The golden light climbed higher. Aelion’s voice whispered inside Rin’s mind.

Now.

Rin shook his head.

I’m scared.

I know.

What if I can’t come back?

There was silence. Then Aelion answered:

You will.

Rin looked at Kaelith. He could see the fear in his eyes. The fear of someone who had already lost too much.

Someone who couldn’t bear watching Rin disappear.

"I’ll come back."

Kaelith shook his head.

"Don’t say that."

"I will."

"You don’t know that."

"I know."

Rin smiled through his tears.

"I’ll come back to you. I promise."

Kaelith’s eyes widened.

"Rin..."

Their hands slowly separated. Kaelith tried to hold on.

"NO!"

His fingers slipped.

"RIN!"

Rin reached for him.

"I’ll come back!"

"RIN!"

"I PROMISE!"

Kaelith screamed his name as loudly as he could.

"RIN!"

The light swallowed Rin.

For a single second, Kaelith could still see his face.

Then—

nothing.

Rin disappeared.

Kaelith stood completely still. His hand remained stretched toward the empty space.

Rain continued falling. Nobody spoke. Then Kaelith whispered:

"Rin..."

No answer. His expression slowly changed. Fear became desperation. Desperation became rage.

"RIN!"

His voice echoed through the sanctuary. He turned toward Sol.

"Bring him back."

Sol stared at him.

"I don’t know how."

"THEN FIND OUT!"

Black magic exploded around Kaelith. Lucien stepped forward.

"Kaelith!"

"DON’T!"

Kaelith’s voice shook.

"He was right there."

He looked at the place where Rin had disappeared.

"He was right there..."

His breathing became uneven.

"I had him."

His hand slowly closed into a fist.

"And now..."

His voice became almost inaudible.

"He’s gone. AGAIN!"

Sol looked at him sadly. Kaelith lowered his head.

"Rin..."

He whispered the name again. As if saying it enough times could make him return.

But Rin was already gone. Far beyond their reach. Far beyond their time.

Rin fell. There was no ground. No sky. No light. Only darkness. He couldn’t tell whether he was falling upward or downward.

He couldn’t feel his body anymore. Then Aelion’s voice appeared beside him.

Don’t be afraid.

Rin swallowed.

I’m trying.

You will see my memories.

Your memories?

Yes.

What will happen?

You will live them.

Rin frowned.

Can I change them?

Aelion was silent. Then:

No.

Rin closed his eyes.

Then why am I going there?

Because you need to know how it began.

The darkness swallowed Rin completely.

Then—

warmth.

He felt sunlight against his face. A gentle breeze moved through his hair, and grass brushed against his fingers. Rin slowly opened his eyes. He sat up, confused.

"Where am I...?"

Before he could stand, a voice suddenly called from behind him.

"Aelion!"

Rin froze. His heart skipped. The voice came closer.

"Aelion! Are you alright?"

Rin slowly turned around. A boy was running toward him. He looked about seventeen, with dark hair and worried eyes.

"Thank God. You scared me."

Rin stared at him. The boy stopped.

"...Aelion?"

Rin looked around again. Then back at him.

"Who are you?"

The boy’s expression froze.

"What?"

"Where am I?"

The boy stepped closer, clearly worried.

"You’re in the forest. We need to go home."

"Home?"

"Yes."

He looked at Rin strangely.

"Are you sure you’re okay?"

Rin didn’t answer. Something inside him felt wrong. Then the boy smiled faintly.

"Come on, Aelion. We’ve known each other since we were children. Is this a joke, why you look like this?"

Rin’s eyes widened.

Aelion?

That name. It wasn’t his. Yet somehow, it belonged to the body he was standing in. The boy reached for his hand.

"Let’s go."

Rin hesitated.

"What is your name?"

The boy blinked, then smiled.

"Eryndor."

And somewhere deep inside Rin’s mind, Aelion whispered:

Welcome back.