Chapter 36: The Road Beneath the Snow

Morning came quietly.

For once, Rin was grateful for it.

There had been too many nights filled with strange voices, divine threats, impossible revelations, and dreams he couldn’t explain. He had almost forgotten what an ordinary morning was supposed to feel like.

Almost.

Rin stood on the northern balcony of the fortress, looking toward the mountains.

They were enormous.

Dark peaks disappeared into a sea of clouds, their slopes covered in snow. Somewhere beyond them was the Moon Forest.

And somewhere beyond the Moon Forest... His mother.

Rin still couldn’t quite believe it. For years, she had existed only as fragments.

A face he barely remembered. A voice from dreams. A warmth that sometimes appeared in his memories without explanation.

Now he knew she was alive. At least...

She had been alive when Eryon last saw her. That thought was enough to make his stomach twist.

"You’re going to stare at the mountains until they move?"

Rin didn’t turn around.

"No."

A pause.

"Probably."

Noctis came to stand beside him.

His long silver hair moved gently in the morning wind. He had changed into darker traveling clothes, leaving most of his usual royal-looking garments behind.

Rin glanced at him.

"You look suspicious."

Noctis raised an eyebrow.

"Suspicious?"

"Yes."

"Because?"

"You look like someone who is about to disappear into the mountains and reveal that he was secretly the king of something."

Noctis stared at him.

"I was a prince."

Rin blinked.

"That’s worse."

A small smile appeared on Noctis’s face.

"I suppose it is."

Rin looked back toward the mountains. For several moments, neither spoke. Then Noctis asked quietly:

"Are you afraid?"

Rin thought about it.

"Yes."

"Of finding her?"

"Of finding out why she left."

Noctis didn’t respond immediately. Rin continued.

"I’ve spent so long wondering if she abandoned me."

His fingers tightened around the balcony railing.

"And now I know she didn’t."

Noctis looked at him.

"That should make you feel better."

"It does."

Rin smiled faintly.

"But it also makes everything worse."

"How?"

"Because now I have questions."

"Many?"

"A million."

Noctis gave a quiet laugh.

"Of course."

Rin sighed.

"Why did she leave? Why did she fight the God? Why did she know about my fate? What happened during the first timeline? Why does Eryon know her? Why does the God fear him?"

Noctis looked toward the mountains.

"And why did she know you would fall in love with a demon."

Rin turned sharply.

"Noctis."

"What?"

"You don’t have to remind me."

"I didn’t mean anything by it."

"You definitely meant something."

Noctis smiled. Rin shook his head.

"You’re impossible."

"Apparently, your mother said that about Eryon."

"Everyone is becoming too comfortable using my mother against me."

Noctis laughed. For a moment, the tension disappeared.

Then footsteps approached. Kaelith.

The Demon General stopped several steps away. His armor had been replaced with lighter travel gear. His sword remained at his side.

"Rin."

Rin turned.

"Ready?"

Kaelith nodded.

"The horses are prepared."

Rin looked toward the courtyard. Several soldiers were already preparing supplies.

"How long?"

"Three days to reach the northern pass."

"And then?"

Kaelith’s expression became more serious.

"The maps end there."

Rin frowned.

"What?"

"The Moon Forest hasn’t appeared on a map in centuries."

Noctis crossed his arms.

"Eryon said it still exists."

"I know."

Kaelith looked toward the mountains.

"But if the forest exists outside normal geography..."

Rin finished for him.

"We might not be able to find it."

"Exactly."

Rin sighed.

"Of course."

Sol appeared behind them carrying a bag that looked far too large for him.

Rin stared.

"What is that?"

"Supplies."

"Why is it bigger than you?"

"Because I prepared efficiently."

Rin opened the bag. Inside were books. Dozens of them. Rin stared.

"You brought books?"

"Information is essential."

"These are novels."

Sol blinked.

"Information can be entertaining."

Rin pulled one out.

"Why does this have a romance cover?"

Sol immediately took it from him.

"Classified."

Noctis laughed. Kaelith closed his eyes.

"I already regret this journey."

Rin smiled.

"Too late."

They left before noon. The fortress gates opened slowly. Rin looked back once.

The walls that had become familiar during the last few weeks suddenly seemed strangely distant.

He had arrived here expecting to survive. Now he was leaving to find his mother.

Everything had changed. But perhaps that was the problem. Everything always changed around him.

Except the things that mattered. The road north was quiet. For the first few hours, they traveled without incident.

Snow covered the old road. The trees became thicker as they moved away from the fortress.

Kaelith led the group.

Noctis stayed near Rin.

Sol rode behind them, occasionally opening System windows and staring at them with increasing frustration.

Aiden had stayed behind at the fortress.

He had refused to come.

"Someone needs to make sure the council doesn’t destroy itself while you’re gone," he’d said.

Rin suspected Aiden simply wanted to avoid another encounter with Eryon.

He couldn’t blame him. The first night passed peacefully.

They camped beside a frozen river. Rin sat near the fire while Noctis prepared food.

Kaelith was sharpening his sword. Sol was reading.

Rin watched them.

It was strange.

A demon prince.

A demon general.

A System in human form.

And him.

Somehow, this had become his life. Rin looked into the fire.

"Can I ask something?"

Kaelith didn’t look up.

"Yes."

"Do demons sleep?"

Noctis looked offended.

"Of course."

"I didn’t know."

"We aren’t monsters."

"I never said you were."

"You were thinking it."

"I was not."

"You were."

Rin pointed toward Kaelith.

"Ask him."

Kaelith continued sharpening his sword.

"Demons sleep."

Rin nodded.

"Good."

Noctis narrowed his eyes.

"Why?"

"Because I was wondering if you two were going to stand outside my tent all night."

Kaelith finally looked up.

"I wasn’t planning to."

Noctis looked at him.

"You were."

"I was not."

"You were."

Rin stared at them.

"Why would either of you do that?"

Kaelith answered first.

"Security."

Noctis nodded.

"Exactly."

Rin sighed.

"I’m not five."

"No," Kaelith said.

"You are considerably more troublesome."

Rin stared.

"Was that an insult?"

"Yes."

"Thank you."

Noctis laughed. The conversation continued for a while.

Simple things. Nothing important. Rin didn’t realize how much he needed that.

He had spent too long discussing gods and curses. It was nice to talk about something meaningless.

Eventually, everyone went to sleep. Everyone except Rin.

He remained beside the dying fire. The mountains were visible through the trees.

Something about them bothered him.

Not fear.

Recognition.

He had seen them before. Rin closed his eyes.

A memory appeared.

Snow.

A small hand in his. A woman’s voice.

"Don’t look back."

Rin opened his eyes. The memory disappeared. He stood abruptly.

"Mom?"

The forest remained silent. Rin looked around. Nothing.

Then—

A System window appeared.

[MEMORY FRAGMENT DETECTED.]

Rin froze.

"Sol?"

No response.

Another message appeared.

[Memory does not belong to current timeline.]

Rin’s heart began beating faster.

"Then whose?"

The System flickered.

[UNKNOWN.]

"Can you access it?"

[Attempting.]

A second later—

[ACCESS DENIED.]

Rin frowned.

"By who?"

The screen remained blank. Then a single line appeared.

[WARNING: MEMORY PROTECTED BY EXTERNAL AUTHORITY.]

Rin’s eyes widened. External authority. There was only one person he could think of.

"Eryon."

The screen flickered.

[NEGATIVE.]

Rin frowned.

"Then who?"

No answer. The memory returned.

Snow. A woman. His mother. She was holding his hand. But Rin was not the age he remembered.

He was younger. Much younger. Perhaps five. Maybe six. His mother knelt in front of him.

"Rin."

Young Rin looked at her.

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe."

"Is Daddy coming?"

His mother’s expression changed. There was pain in her eyes.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because he can’t."

Young Rin frowned. Then his mother touched his forehead.

A soft silver light appeared.

"Listen carefully."

"Okay."

"One day, you may forget me."

Young Rin’s eyes widened.

"I won’t!"

She smiled sadly.

"I know."

"Then why?"

"Because forgetting might keep you alive."

The memory suddenly shattered. Rin gasped. He stumbled backward.

The fire had nearly gone out.

"That wasn’t..."

He couldn’t finish. His mother had known. She had expected him to forget.

Why?

Rin looked toward the darkness.

"Sol."

The System appeared immediately.

[Yes?]

"You were awake."

[Yes.]

"Did you see that?"

[Yes.]

"Can you explain it?"

There was a pause.

[No.]

Rin sighed.

"Why not?"

[Because I am missing data.]

"How much?"

[A significant amount.]

Rin sat down.

"Can you tell me one thing?"

[Ask.]

"Was that really me?"

The System remained silent for several seconds.

Then:

[Yes.]

Rin closed his eyes.

"Then I really knew her."

[Yes.]

He swallowed.

"More than I remember."

[Yes.]

Rin looked toward the mountains.

"Then why did I forget?"

The System didn’t answer. A second later, another voice came from behind him.

"Because she wanted you to."

Rin turned. Kaelith stood there. Rin blinked.

"You heard?"

"I heard you speaking."

"Not that."

Kaelith looked at him.

"I saw the light."

Rin hesitated.

"You believe me?"

Kaelith looked genuinely confused.

"Why wouldn’t I?"

Rin smiled faintly.

"Sometimes I think you’re the only normal person here."

Noctis’s voice came from the darkness.

"That’s insulting."

Rin looked over. Noctis emerged from between the trees.

"You were awake too?"

"Yes."

"Does nobody sleep?"

"We’re demons."

Rin sighed.

"Right."

Noctis sat beside the fire.

"What did you see?"

Rin told them. He didn’t hide anything. When he finished, neither demon immediately spoke.

Finally, Kaelith said:

"Your mother was protecting you."

"That’s what it looked like."

Noctis looked toward the mountains.

"But from what?"

Rin stared at the fire.

"I don’t know."

Sol appeared beside them.

"There is something else."

Rin looked up.

"What?"

The System opened.

[MEMORY FRAGMENT ANALYSIS COMPLETE.]

[ONE DETAIL IDENTIFIED.]

Rin leaned closer.

"What?"

A single symbol appeared. A silver circle. Inside it was a broken line.

Rin stared. He knew that symbol.

"Eryon."

Kaelith frowned.

"You recognize it?"

"I saw it on him."

Noctis looked at the symbol.

"So he was involved."

Sol shook his head.

"Not necessarily."

Rin looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

"The symbol predates Eryon."

"By how much?"

Sol hesitated.

"Before the first timeline."

Silence. Rin stared at the symbol.

"Then what is it?"

Sol’s expression became serious.

"I don’t know."

For once, Rin didn’t feel frustrated.

He was beginning to understand something. Not every mystery needed to be solved immediately. Some answers had to wait.

The next morning, they continued north.

The landscape changed. The trees became older. The snow became deeper.

The air colder. By sunset, they reached the northern pass.

Kaelith stopped.

"This is where the maps end."

Rin looked ahead. There was nothing. Only mountains.

No forest. No path. No Moon Forest.

Noctis looked around.

"It should be here."

"Should be?"

"According to the old records."

Kaelith dismounted.

"Then Eryon was right."

Rin frowned.

"About what?"

"The forest isn’t where it should be."

Rin looked at him.

"What does that mean?"

Kaelith pointed toward the valley.

"Look."

Rin did.

The snow was moving. Not falling. Moving. It was flowing backward.

Up the mountain. Rin stared.

"That’s not normal."

Noctis stepped closer.

"No."

Sol’s eyes glowed blue.

[Spatial distortion detected.]

Rin’s heart began racing. The air rippled. The mountains seemed to bend.

Then the landscape changed. Trees appeared. Hundreds of them. Thousands. Silver trunks.

White leaves. Flowers glowing beneath the snow.

Rin stared. The Moon Forest.

It had been there the entire time. Hidden behind something. Not an illusion. A boundary.

Rin suddenly understood.

"Eryon."

Noctis nodded.

"He said he belongs wherever boundaries exist."

Kaelith looked toward the forest.

"And this one is enormous."

Rin stepped forward. The moment his foot crossed the invisible boundary, the world changed.

The wind disappeared. The cold disappeared. Even the sound of their footsteps vanished.

Rin looked around. The forest was beautiful. Too beautiful.

Every tree had silver bark. Every branch carried small white flowers. The sky above them was purple instead of blue.

And somewhere in the distance...

A bell rang.

Once.

Rin froze.

Noctis looked toward him.

"What is it?"

Rin whispered:

"I remember that sound."

Kaelith’s hand moved toward his sword.

"From where?"

Rin didn’t answer. Because another memory had appeared.

A temple.

White flowers.

His mother.

And a young Rin standing before a massive silver tree. She was crying.

Not because she was afraid. Because she knew she was about to leave him.

The memory shifted. Someone else stood behind her.

A man with silver eyes.

Eryon.

But he looked different.

Younger. Angrier. And his voice echoed through the memory.

"You cannot save him by destroying yourself."

Rin’s mother answered:

"Then I will find another way."

"You know what the Law will do."

"I know."

"It will punish him."

"I know."

"It will follow him."

"I know."

Eryon stepped closer.

"Then why?"

His mother looked at young Rin.

"Because he deserves the chance to choose his own life."

The memory broke. Rin staggered. Noctis caught his arm.

"Rin."

Rin looked at him.

"I saw them."

"Your mother and Eryon?"

"Yes."

"What were they doing?"

Rin stared toward the heart of the forest.

"Arguing."

Kaelith frowned.

"About what?"

Rin swallowed.

"Me."

A soft sound echoed through the trees. Footsteps. Someone was approaching.

Rin turned. A woman stood between the silver trees.

Long silver hair. A pale dress. A pendant around her neck.

She looked older than the woman in Rin’s memories.

But there was no doubt. Rin knew her. His breath caught.

"Mom..."

The woman stopped.

Her eyes widened. For several seconds, neither moved.

Then her hand rose to her mouth. Tears filled her eyes.

"Rin."

His heart broke. Not from pain. From recognition. He had forgotten her face.

But some part of him had never forgotten her voice.

Rin took one step forward.

Then another. His mother didn’t move.

She simply waited.

Until finally—

Rin ran.

She caught him in her arms. And for the first time in a million lives he could not remember...

Rin felt like he had finally come home.