Chapter 43: The Prince Who Never Died

Nobody moved.

The ruined city beyond the gate remained completely silent.

Hundreds of demons stood in the streets, their heads lowered toward Noctis.

Rin looked at them. Then at Noctis. Then back at the demons.

"Noctis..."

The demon prince didn’t answer. Rin took a step closer.

"They’re calling you their prince."

"I heard them."

"You said your kingdom was gone."

"It was."

Rin frowned.

"Then why are they here?"

Noctis stared at the ruined palace in the distance.

"Because they never left."

The elderly demon slowly rose. His body was old, but his presence was powerful enough to make the air feel heavy.

"My prince."

Noctis finally looked at him.

"What is your name?"

The old demon bowed.

"Lord Vaeron."

Noctis’s expression changed.

"Vaeron."

"You remember?"

"I remember everyone who served my family."

Vaeron smiled sadly.

"Then you remember me."

"I remember you as a younger man."

Vaeron laughed softly.

"And I remember you as a child."

Rin looked between them.

"You knew him?"

Vaeron turned toward Rin.

"We knew him before he became the prince."

Rin blinked.

"Before?"

"Before the crown."

Noctis looked away. Vaeron’s eyes moved toward Rin’s glowing palm.

His expression changed. Fear. Not of Rin or what Rin represented.

"My prince..."

Noctis frowned.

"What?"

Vaeron looked at the symbol.

"He brought him back."

Noctis’s face hardened.

"Who?"

Vaeron didn’t answer. Rin stepped forward.

"Who brought me back?"

The demon looked at him.

"The World."

Rin frowned.

"I thought the World saved me."

"It did."

"Then what’s the problem?"

Vaeron lowered his voice.

"The World saved your soul."

He looked toward the sky.

"But someone else gave it a place to return to."

Rin’s blood ran cold.

"My mother."

Vaeron nodded.

"Yes."

Sol stepped forward.

"Then the vessel..."

"Was created by Lady Seraphine."

Sol frowned.

"But why does the Lost Realm recognize him?"

Vaeron looked at him.

"Because the soul inside that human vessel isn’t human."

Rin’s hand slowly closed.

"I know."

"No."

Vaeron shook his head.

"You know you were once a god?"

Rin stared.

"You don’t know what that means."

Silence.

Vaeron continued.

"Your soul carries a mark older than this world."

Rin looked at the symbol.

"The three circles."

"Yes."

"What does it mean?"

Vaeron hesitated.

"It is not merely a symbol."

"Then what?"

"It is a seal."

Rin froze.

"A seal?"

Vaeron nodded.

"Your original authority was divided into three parts."

Sol immediately looked at the System.

"Three?"

"Body."

Vaeron raised one finger.

"Soul."

Another.

"And memory."

Rin’s expression changed.

"Memory was sealed."

"Yes."

"By the God?"

"No."

"Then who?"

Vaeron looked at him.

"That answer belongs to your father."

Rin’s frustration returned.

"Why does everyone know something about my father except me?"

Noctis stepped forward.

"Because he wanted it that way."

Rin turned toward him.

"You knew?"

Noctis shook his head.

"Not everything."

"Then what do you know?"

Noctis looked at the ruined palace.

"Your father came here."

Rin’s eyes widened.

"Here?"

"Many years ago."

"When?"

"Before the Lost Realm fell."

Rin stared.

"What did he do?"

Noctis hesitated.

"He asked me to protect something."

Rin’s heart skipped.

"What?"

Noctis looked at him.

"You."

Rin went silent.

"You weren’t even here yet."

"No."

"Then how could he ask you to protect me?"

Noctis’s gaze lowered.

"Because he knew what would happen."

Rin looked toward the palace.

"Did he know I would die?"

Noctis didn’t answer. Rin understood.

"He knew. He knew something would happen."

"That’s not the same thing."

"I know."

Rin stared at him. Noctis continued.

"He never told me everything."

"Why?"

"Because he believed knowing too much could change the outcome."

Rin laughed quietly.

"Everyone is terrified of changing the outcome."

Noctis looked at him.

"Perhaps because the outcome has already changed too many times."

That sentence silenced Rin. Kaelith finally spoke.

"We’re standing in the middle of a ruined demon kingdom."

Everyone looked at him.

"We should probably discuss why it isn’t as abandoned as we believed."

Vaeron nodded.

"General Kaelith."

Kaelith’s eyes narrowed.

"You know me too."

"Of course."

Vaeron looked at him carefully.

"You were the one who remained."

Kaelith’s expression hardened.

"Someone had to."

Rin looked between them.

"You were here?"

Kaelith shook his head.

"Not when it fell."

"Then what does he mean?"

Kaelith looked toward the palace.

"I came afterward."

Vaeron nodded.

"He helped the survivors."

Rin’s expression softened.

"You never told me."

"It wasn’t important."

"It is if it involves you."

Kaelith looked at him.

"I didn’t do it for recognition."

Rin smiled slightly.

"I know."

Noctis looked toward Kaelith. For a moment, something passed between the two demons.

Not hostility. Recognition. Two people who had survived the same history from different sides.

Vaeron noticed.

"You both returned."

Noctis frowned.

"Returned?"

"You and the General."

Vaeron looked toward the city.

"Perhaps the old prophecy wasn’t about one demon."

Rin immediately asked:

"What prophecy?"

Vaeron hesitated. Noctis spoke first.

"Don’t."

Vaeron looked at him.

"My prince..."

"I said don’t."

Rin frowned.

"Noctis."

Noctis looked at him.

"Some prophecies are dangerous."

"Everything is dangerous."

"Exactly."

Rin sighed.

"Fine."

He looked toward the ruined city.

"But I’m not forgetting about it."

"I know."

They entered the Lost Realm. The moment Rin crossed the boundary, his System changed. The blue interface flickered. Then disappeared.

Sol stopped walking.

"What?"

Rin turned.

"Sol?"

"I can’t access the System."

Rin’s expression changed.

"What?"

Sol stared at his hands.

"I can still feel it."

"Then why can’t you use it?"

"The Lost Realm is blocking the connection."

Vaeron shook his head.

"Not the realm."

Sol looked at him.

"What?"

"Your original authority."

Sol frowned.

"Explain."

"The System is an artificial form."

Vaeron looked at Rin.

"But your brother’s soul is not."

Sol’s expression became serious.

"You think I’m stronger without the System?"

"No."

Vaeron smiled faintly.

"I think you are more yourself without it."

Sol didn’t answer. Rin looked at him.

"How does that feel?"

"Strange."

"Bad?"

"No."

Sol looked at his hands.

"Actually..."

Blue light appeared between his fingers.

"...lighter."

The light grew. A small sphere appeared above his palm. It wasn’t like the System interface.

It was alive. It moved like a star. Rin stared.

"Sol."

"I know."

The sphere suddenly transformed. A constellation appeared. Three stars.

One bright. Two smaller. Rin felt something inside his chest respond.

The symbol on his palm glowed. Sol looked at him.

"That’s you."

Rin stared at the brightest star.

"And the other two?"

Sol hesitated.

"I don’t know."

Vaeron looked at the constellation. His face became pale.

"Three souls."

Rin looked at him.

"What?"

Vaeron stepped backward.

"That constellation shouldn’t exist anymore."

"Why?"

"Because two of those stars were extinguished."

Sol frowned.

"Who?"

Vaeron shook his head.

"I don’t know."

Rin’s heart tightened.

"Then why can I see them?"

Vaeron looked at him.

"Because someone has brought them back."

Rin stared at the constellation. The three stars slowly moved. One of the smaller stars disappeared. Then returned.

Sol’s expression changed.

"Someone is interfering."

Noctis immediately summoned dark magic.

"Where?"

Sol closed his eyes.

"I can’t tell."

"Try."

"I am."

The sphere suddenly exploded. Sol staggered. Rin caught him.

"What happened?"

Sol looked terrified.

"Someone touched the connection."

"Who?"

"I don’t know."

A voice whispered through the realm.

"Found you."

Everyone froze.

Rin recognized it.

The same voice from the World Gate. The one that had sent the creature. Kaelith drew his sword.

"Show yourself."

A shadow appeared at the far end of the ruined street. Wrapped in dark robes. Its face remained hidden.

Noctis stepped forward.

"You."

The figure tilted its head.

"You remember me."

Noctis’s expression hardened.

"Unfortunately."

Rin looked at him.

"You’ve seen it before?"

"Once."

"When?"

"Before the First War."

The figure laughed.

"That was a long time ago."

Rin’s stomach dropped. Noctis summoned more power.

"What do you want?"

The figure looked at Rin.

"Him."

Rin frowned.

"Why?"

"Because he doesn’t belong here."

Rin’s expression hardened.

"This is getting repetitive."

The figure laughed.

"You still joke when you’re afraid."

Rin froze. Noctis noticed.

"What?"

The figure continued.

"That’s one thing you never changed."

Rin stared.

"You knew me?..."

"Yes."

"Before?"

"Long before."

"Who are you?"

The figure raised one hand. A black symbol appeared. The same three circles. But broken. Rin’s palm burned. He cried out.

Kaelith immediately moved between them.

"Stay back."

The figure smiled.

"You cannot protect him from what he already is."

Kaelith’s eyes turned crimson.

"Watch me."

The figure laughed.

"You are still the same."

Kaelith froze.

"What?"

"You protected him then."

Kaelith’s expression changed. Rin looked at him.

"What does he mean?"

"I don’t know."

The figure disappeared. Not moved. Not teleported. Simply vanished.

Vaeron looked around.

"He’s gone."

Sol shook his head.

"No."

Everyone looked at him.

"He’s still here."

Sol pointed toward Rin.

"Inside the connection."

Rin felt cold.

"What does that mean?"

Sol looked frightened.

"He isn’t following us."

A pause.

"He’s following you."

That night, the ruined palace was prepared for them. Vaeron insisted that Noctis stay in the royal chamber. Noctis refused.

"I haven’t been your prince for centuries."

Vaeron bowed.

"You always will be."

Rin watched silently. There was something painful about the exchange. Noctis looked at the room.

Everything was covered in dust. The throne had cracked. Old banners hung from the walls. A broken crown sat on a table.

Noctis picked it up. His fingers trembled. Rin stood beside him.

"You remember?"

"Yes."

"What happened here?"

Noctis stared at the crown.

"The night the kingdom fell."

Rin didn’t ask for details instead, he sat on the edge of the old throne.

"Was it your fault?"

Noctis looked at him.

"No."

"Then why do you look guilty?"

Noctis was silent. Finally:

"Because I survived."

Rin frowned.

"That’s not something to feel guilty about."

Noctis smiled faintly.

"Tell that to someone who lost everyone."

Rin didn’t know what to say. So he simply stayed. After a while, Noctis sat beside him.

Neither spoke. There was no romance in the silence. Just two people sharing an old wound.

Rin eventually said:

"You don’t have to tell me tonight."

Noctis looked at him.

"Thank you."

Rin smiled.

"Eventually, though."

Noctis laughed quietly.

"You’re persistent."

"So I’ve been told."

Elsewhere in the palace, Sol was standing alone. His System window still refused to appear instead, the strange constellation hovered before him.

Three stars.

One bright.

Two unstable.

Sol reached toward it. The moment his finger touched the light—

A man’s voice returned.

"Little star."

Sol closed his eyes.

"Father."

The constellation brightened. Light surrounded him. His father stood before him. Rin was beside them. Both boys were younger.

Their father placed one hand on each of their heads.

"You don’t have to become what I was."

Young Rin frowned.

"What were you?"

The man smiled.

"Someone who made too many mistakes."

Young Sol laughed.

"That’s not an answer."

"You’ll understand when you’re older."

"Everyone says that."

Their father laughed. Then his expression became serious.

"If I ever disappear..."

Young Rin looked worried.

"You’re not going anywhere."

The man smiled.

"I hope you’re right."

The memory changed. The man was standing alone. Seraphine was crying.

"Take them away."

"I can’t."

"Please."

"If I run, they’ll follow me."

"Then let them follow you."

"And what happens to the boys?"

Silence.

"They survive."

The memory shattered. Sol opened his eyes. Tears were running down his face. He wiped them away.

"Why can’t I remember the rest?"

A voice answered.

"Because you weren’t meant to."

Sol turned. Eryon stood in the doorway. Sol stared.

"You knew."

Eryon nodded.

"Yes."

"Who is he?"

Eryon didn’t answer.

"Where is my father?"

"Somewhere safe."

"That’s not enough."

"I know."

Sol stepped closer.

"You’ve been protecting us for centuries."

"Yes."

"Why?"

Eryon looked at him.

"Because I promised."

"To him?"

"To both of you."

Sol’s eyes narrowed.

"Did he ask you to protect Rin?"

"Yes."

"And me?"

Eryon smiled.

"He specifically said you would be more trouble."

Sol stared.

"Seriously?"

"His exact words."

Sol laughed despite himself. Then his expression became serious.

"Did he know Rin would become the God of Love again?"

Eryon’s smile disappeared.

"He knew what Rin was."

"Did he know about the curse?"

"Yes."

Sol’s breath caught.

"Then why didn’t he stop it?"

Eryon looked away.

"Because he couldn’t."

"Why?"

"Because he was fighting something else."

"What?"

Eryon was silent. Sol waited. Finally, Eryon whispered:

"The same thing that created the curse."

Sol’s blood ran cold.

"You know what it is."

"Yes."

"Then tell me."

Eryon shook his head.

"Not yet."

Sol sighed.

"Of course."

Eryon smiled.

"You really are brothers."

Sol looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because you both hate that answer."

Far beyond the Lost Realm... The God stood before a vast golden mirror. The surface trembled. Inside it, he could see Rin.

He could see Noctis. Kaelith. Sol. And the ruins of the Demon Realm. His expression darkened.

"The Lost Realm."

A divine servant knelt behind him.

"Yes."

"The Prince has returned?"

"Yes."

"And the God of Love..."

The servant hesitated.

"...has awakened."

The God closed his eyes. For the first time, his voice carried something close to desperation.

"Then the prophecy was wrong."

The servant looked up.

"What prophecy?"

The God didn’t answer. Instead, he turned toward the darkness.

"Prepare Heaven."

"My lord?"

"We are going to war."

Back in the Lost Realm, Rin woke suddenly. He sat upright. Something had awakened inside him.

Not his divine power. Not the curse. Something else.

A memory. A single sentence. A man’s voice.

"If they ever tell you that love is a weakness..."

Rin closed his eyes. The voice continued.

"Remember that it was the only thing powerful enough to make a god disobey Heaven."

Rin opened his eyes. He looked toward the window. The moon was red. Outside, the demons were gathering. Kaelith stood in the courtyard. Noctis beside him. Sol was approaching from the palace.

And above them... the sky was beginning to crack.

Rin stepped outside. Kaelith looked up.

"The God."

Rin stared at the fractured heavens.

"No."

Noctis looked at him.

"What?"

Rin could feel it. Something much older. Something that had been waiting behind the curse. Something that had noticed his awakening.

He whispered:

"Not the God."

The crack widened.

A voice echoed through the Lost Realm.

Not divine.

Not demonic.

Not human.

"You finally remember the way home."

Rin’s blood turned cold. The symbol on his palm ignited. And somewhere deep within his soul...a locked door opened.

Just a little. Enough for Rin to hear the voice of the person he had once been.

"Run."