Chapter 45: The First Name

Rin stared at the place where the System had disappeared.

AEL—

That was it. Three letters, a fragment of a name that somehow felt heavier than every answer he had received so far.

Sol sat beside him, still looking exhausted.

"Well."

Rin slowly turned toward him.

"Well what?"

"At least we got something."

Rin stared.

"Sol."

"Yes?"

"That’s three letters."

"I know."

"That’s not a name."

"It’s the beginning of one."

Rin sighed.

"You sound like you’re trying to convince yourself."

"I am."

Despite everything, Rin laughed. The sound felt strangely normal. For a few seconds, nobody spoke. Then Noctis looked toward the place where the Door had disappeared.

"We shouldn’t stay here."

Kaelith nodded.

"Agreed."

Rin looked at him.

"Why?"

Kaelith’s eyes remained fixed on the sky.

"Because whatever happened here wasn’t unnoticed."

As if summoned by his words, the ground trembled. Once. Twice.

Then the entire ruined city shook. Distant buildings cracked. Dust fell from the palace walls. The demons outside began shouting.

Vaeron rushed into the courtyard.

"My prince!"

Noctis immediately stood.

"What happened?"

"The eastern wall!"

Kaelith drew his sword.

"Attack?"

Vaeron shook his head.

"No."

He looked toward the horizon.

"The dead are waking."

Rin frowned.

"The dead?"

Vaeron’s face had gone pale.

"The old soldiers."

Noctis froze.

"What?"

"They’re coming out of the graves."

Silence. Noctis immediately walked toward the courtyard. Rin followed. The others moved behind them.

When they reached the outer wall, Rin understood why Vaeron had been afraid. Beyond the ruined city, hundreds of figures were slowly emerging from the snow.

Demons, whit old armor and broken weapons.

Some were missing pieces of their armor. Others carried banners bearing the symbol of a kingdom that no longer existed. But none of them attacked.

They simply stood. Watching the palace. Watching Noctis. Rin looked at him.

"Noctis..."

He didn’t answer. His face had gone completely still, one of the figures stepped forward, an old demon with a scar across his face.

He lowered his weapon.

"My prince."

Noctis closed his eyes.

"I thought you were dead."

The demon smiled.

"We were."

Rin’s stomach tightened.

"Then..."

Noctis looked at him. The demon spoke again.

"We were waiting."

"For what?"

The old soldier looked at Rin.

"For him."

Rin felt the symbol on his palm warm. The soldier slowly lowered himself to one knee. One by one, the entire army knelt. Not toward Noctis. Toward Rin.

Rin stared.

"What are they doing?"

Vaeron whispered:

"Recognizing their God."

Rin’s heart skipped.

"No."

He stepped backward.

"I’m not their god."

Vaeron looked at him.

"Not in this world."

Rin froze. The old demon continued:

"But souls remember."

Rin looked around. Hundreds of demons were kneeling. Some were crying. Some were smiling. Some simply stared at him as though they had waited centuries for this moment.

Rin didn’t know what to do. So he did the only thing that felt right.

He walked forward.

"Please stand."

Nobody moved.

Rin swallowed.

"I’m serious."

The old soldier looked at Noctis. Noctis nodded.

"Stand."

The demons obeyed. Rin breathed again. He didn’t want them worshipping him. Not now. Maybe not ever.

He looked at Noctis.

"What happened here?"

Noctis’s gaze remained on the army.

"They were my soldiers."

"Before the kingdom fell?"

"Yes."

"Then why did they return?"

Noctis didn’t answer. Vaeron did.

"Because the curse affected more than your lives."

Rin turned.

"What do you mean?"

"When the Prince died..."

Vaeron stopped. Noctis looked at him.

"Don’t."

Vaeron bowed his head.

"My apologies."

Rin understood. Noctis still couldn’t speak about it. So Rin didn’t force him.

Instead, he asked:

"What does the curse have to do with this realm?"

Vaeron looked toward the palace.

"When the Prince disappeared, the Lost Realm began dying."

Rin frowned.

"Why?"

"Because his soul was tied to the kingdom."

Noctis finally spoke.

"I was the last heir."

Vaeron nodded.

"The realm survived for a while. Then the God sealed it."

Rin’s eyes narrowed.

"He sealed the entire realm?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because he feared what would happen if the demons remembered."

Rin looked toward Noctis.

"Remembered what?"

Vaeron looked at him.

"That the Prince had not truly died."

Rin’s expression changed.

"Then the God knew."

"He always knew."

Noctis’s voice was quiet.

"He knew I survived."

Rin looked at him.

"How?"

Noctis stared at his hands.

"The curse."

Rin waited. Noctis continued.

"When the God created the punishment, he bound my memories to your soul."

Rin’s chest tightened.

"Every time you died..."

"I remembered."

"And your kingdom?"

"I remembered them too."

Rin frowned.

"How?"

"Because they were part of my soul."

The answer was quiet.

"But I couldn’t return."

"Why?"

"Because the curse wouldn’t let me."

Rin looked at the ruined city.

"So when I came here... The seal weakened."

Noctis looked toward the army.

"And when you awakened your divine power..."

"The kingdom woke with you."

Rin stared. That meant something. His awakening wasn’t just affecting him, it was affecting the entire world. Maybe even worlds beyond it. He looked at his palm.

AEL—

The fragment suddenly burned.

Rin gasped. A vision appeared. A temple. White stone. Golden light. A throne. And someone kneeling before him.

"Your Grace."

Rin heard himself answer:

"Stand."

The vision vanished. Rin stumbled. Kaelith caught him.

"Rin."

"I’m fine."

"You keep saying that."

Rin looked at him.

"Because I keep being fine."

Kaelith raised an eyebrow.

"You’re impossible."

"Apparently."

Noctis watched them silently. There was no jealousy in his expression. Only something thoughtful. Perhaps he was beginning to understand that this Rin was not the same person he remembered.

And that was okay. Rin looked toward the palace.

"I want to go inside."

Noctis nodded.

"Then I’ll take you."

Kaelith immediately followed.

Sol did too. Vaeron remained behind with the soldiers. The palace was larger than Rin had expected.

Even ruined, it was beautiful. Long corridors stretched beneath enormous arches.

Paintings covered the walls. Most were damaged. Some had been burned. But several remained intact.

Rin stopped before one. It showed a young Noctis. He was wearing a crown. Beside him stood another figure.

Rin. But not the Rin he knew.

The divine Rin. White robes. Six wings. A golden mark on his forehead.

Noctis was smiling. Rin stared.

"You remember this?"

Noctis stood beside him.

"Yes."

"What was happening?"

"It was the day I became prince."

Rin looked at the painting.

"You were happy."

"For a while."

Rin noticed something. In the painting, Noctis wasn’t looking at the artist. He was looking at Rin.

And Rin was looking back. Not romantically.

Not yet. But there was trust. Deep trust. Rin smiled faintly.

"You trusted me."

Noctis nodded.

"I trusted you more than anyone."

Rin looked at him.

"Even before..."

"Yes."

Noctis paused.

"Before everything."

Rin looked at the painting again.

"I wish I could remember."

Noctis’s expression softened.

"Maybe someday."

Rin smiled.

"That’s becoming everyone’s favorite answer."

Noctis laughed. They reached the throne room. The old throne stood at the far end. Broken. Covered in dust.

Noctis walked toward it. He stopped several steps away. Rin noticed his expression.

"What’s wrong?"

"I remember the last time I sat there."

"When?"

"The night before the kingdom fell."

Rin waited. Noctis looked at the throne.

"You were there."

Rin’s heart skipped.

"What happened?"

"You told me to leave."

"Why?"

"Because the army was coming."

"And you?"

"I stayed."

Rin frowned.

"Why?"

Noctis smiled faintly.

"Because I was the prince."

Rin shook his head.

"That’s stupid."

Noctis looked at him.

"You would have said the same thing then."

"Probably."

Noctis smiled. Then his expression darkened.

"But there was something else."

"What?"

"You told me something."

Rin waited.

Noctis’s voice became quiet.

"If you survive, don’t look for me."

Rin froze.

"I said that?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I don’t know."

Rin stared at him.

"Did I know I was going to die?"

Noctis looked away.

"I think you knew something."

"What?"

"That your soul would be taken."

Rin’s heart stopped.

"You knew?"

"No."

Noctis shook his head.

"I only understood it later."

Rin looked toward the throne. A faint golden light appeared. Then a voice echoed through the chamber.

Not the God. Not the Keeper. Not Eryon. Rin’s own voice.

"Don’t let them find the door."

Rin froze. Sol immediately looked toward the walls.

"What door?"

Rin didn’t answer. The throne began to move. Stone scraped against stone. A hidden passage opened beneath it. Noctis stepped back.

"I didn’t know that was there."

Rin looked at him.

"You were prince."

"I didn’t know everything."

Sol walked toward the opening.

"There’s magic."

Kaelith stopped him.

"Don’t."

Sol looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because we don’t know where it leads."

Rin stared into the darkness.

"I think I do."

Everyone looked at him.

"What?"

Rin pointed toward the passage.

"Home."

They descended. The stairs seemed endless. The deeper they went, the colder the air became. The walls were covered in symbols.

Some belonged to the Demon Realm. Others were unfamiliar. Rin recognized one. The three circles. Then another.

His incomplete divine name.

AEL—

Rin stopped.

"This was made for me."

Noctis looked at the wall.

"Yes."

"How do you know?"

"I remember seeing these symbols."

"When?"

"Before the First War."

Rin frowned.

"Then why didn’t you tell me?"

"Because I didn’t understand them."

"Do you now?"

"No."

Rin sighed.

"At least you’re honest."

They continued. Eventually, they reached a massive door. Three circles were carved into it. In the center was a space shaped like a hand.

Rin stared. Sol stepped closer.

"That’s your mark?"

Rin placed his palm against it. The door opened. Light exploded into the corridor. Everyone shielded their eyes.

When the light faded, Rin stepped inside. He stopped. It wasn’t a room. It was a library.

Thousands of books. Ancient scrolls. Crystal tablets. Records. Everything preserved.

Sol stared.

"This place survived."

Noctis looked around.

"This was the Royal Archive."

Rin walked toward the nearest shelf. A book moved by itself. It flew into his hands. The cover was blank.

Rin opened it. The first page contained only one sentence.

The God of Love did not belong to this world.

Rin stopped breathing. Sol stepped closer.

"Keep reading."

Rin turned the page.

He came from beyond the World Gate.

Another.

His death was not the beginning of the curse.

Another.

His arrival was.

Rin’s hands began shaking.

"What does that mean?"

Noctis stared at the book.

"I don’t know."

Rin turned another page. Most of it was unreadable.

Then—

A name.

Not complete.

AEL—

Rin stared. Below it was a title.

THE ONE WHO BINDS WHAT CANNOT BE BOUND.

Rin whispered:

"God of Love."

The page turned by itself. A final sentence appeared.

If he ever returns, do not allow Heaven to make him remember the night he died.

Rin froze. The book slammed shut. At the same moment, every candle in the archive went out.

Sol’s System appeared.

[MEMORY LOCK DETECTED.]

[DO NOT FORCE.]

Rin stared.

"Why?"

The System responded.

[THE MEMORY IS NOT YOURS TO OPEN.]

Rin frowned.

"What does that mean?"

The System disappeared. Then another voice spoke, was Eryon.

"Because someone else is waiting for you to remember it."

Rin turned.

Eryon stood at the entrance. His expression was grave. Rin walked toward him.

"You knew this place existed?"

"Yes."

"You knew about the book?"

"Yes."

"You knew about the symbol?"

"Yes."

Rin’s frustration finally broke.

"Then why didn’t you tell me?"

Eryon didn’t move.

"Because you weren’t ready."

Rin stared.

"Don’t say that."

Eryon almost smiled.

"You really hate that sentence."

"I hate being kept in the dark."

"I know."

"Then tell me."

Eryon looked at the book.

"The night you died is the one memory I cannot give you."

"Why?"

"Because I was there."

Rin froze.

"You saw it?"

"Yes."

"And my father?"

"Yes."

"Noctis?"

Eryon’s expression changed.

"Yes."

Rin’s breath caught.

"All three of you were there?"

Eryon nodded.

"That night changed everything."

Rin stepped closer.

"What happened?"

Eryon looked directly into his eyes.

"You tried to save someone."

Rin waited.

"And?"

Eryon’s voice became quiet.

"You succeeded."

Rin’s eyes widened.

"But you died."

Silence. Rin felt a strange mixture of relief and sadness.

"So I didn’t die for nothing."

"No."

Eryon smiled sadly.

"You never did."

Rin looked at the book.

"Who did I save?"

Eryon shook his head.

"That..."

He paused.

"...is the part you have to remember yourself."

Rin closed his eyes. He wasn’t satisfied. But for once, he didn’t argue.

Because something inside him told him that Eryon was right. That memory wasn’t merely information. It was a wound.

And opening it before he was ready might destroy more than the curse ever could.

Suddenly, Sol gasped.

"Rin."

Rin turned. Sol was staring at one of the crystal tablets.

"What?"

"This is about me."

Rin walked over. The tablet lit up. Words appeared.

THE SECOND CHILD SHALL CARRY THE VOICE OF THE WORLD.

Sol stared.

"Second child."

Rin looked at him.

"You."

Sol nodded.

Another line appeared.

HE SHALL BE BORN WITHOUT A WORLD OF HIS OWN.

Sol’s expression changed.

"What does that mean?"

Eryon stepped closer. His eyes widened.

"I’ve never seen this record."

Rin looked at him.

"Then who wrote it?"

The crystal displayed one final sentence.

THE FATHER.

Sol stopped breathing. Rin stared. Their father had left records.

Not only for Rin. For Sol too. And underneath the writing, another symbol appeared.

The same three circles but this time, a fourth line crossed through them.

Eryon’s expression became grim.

"That’s impossible."

Rin looked at him.

"What?"

Eryon pointed.

"That symbol belongs to something that predates the gods."

Rin’s stomach tightened.

"The curse."

Eryon shook his head.

"No."

He looked at Sol.

"It belongs to your father."

Silence.

Sol slowly reached toward the crystal. The moment his fingers touched it, a voice filled the archive.

The voice of their father.

"If you’re hearing this..."

Sol froze. Rin’s heart stopped.

"...then I’ve failed to keep you hidden."

The crystal flickered.

"And if Rin is beside you..."

A pause.

Then, softer:

"...then perhaps it’s time you both learned why I had to disappear."

The archive doors slammed shut. And the entire palace began to shake.