Chapter 58: The Ruins That Remembered

The next morning, Rin woke up with one thought in his mind.

The northern ruins.

He had tried to ignore them. He had tried to tell himself that the strange object found there was probably nothing important. He had even managed to convince himself that he could spend one entire day without chasing another mystery.

That had lasted approximately twelve hours. Rin stared at the ceiling.

"...I’m going."

A voice came from beside the door.

"No."

Rin nearly fell out of bed. Kaelith stood there. Rin stared at him.

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough."

"That’s creepy."

"You said you were going to the northern ruins."

"I didn’t say that out loud."

"You talk in your sleep."

Rin froze.

"I do not."

Kaelith smiled slightly.

"You do."

"What do I say?"

"Mostly complaints."

Rin covered his face.

"Please tell me I don’t say anything embarrassing."

"You complained that Vorak ate your cake."

"He did."

"You also threatened to replace him with a goat."

Rin lowered his hands.

"...I stand by that."

Kaelith laughed. Rin smiled. Then Kaelith’s expression became serious.

"You shouldn’t go alone."

"I wasn’t planning to."

"Good."

Rin looked at him.

"You were already planning to come."

"Yes."

"Why?"

Kaelith shrugged.

"Because you attract trouble."

Rin pointed at him.

"That’s unfair."

"Is it?"

Rin opened his mouth.

Then closed it.

"...Maybe a little."

They didn’t leave alone. Lucien insisted on coming. Selena insisted on coming because Kaelith was going. Vorak insisted on coming because Selena was going. Sol insisted on coming because Rin was going. Noctis eventually joined because, according to him, "someone needed to supervise all of you."

Rin stared at the group.

"This is getting ridiculous."

Lucien adjusted his cloak.

"We’re protecting you."

"I can protect myself."

Selena smiled.

"We know."

"Then why are you coming?"

"Because we like you."

Rin became quiet. Vorak immediately ruined the moment.

"And because the northern ruins supposedly have rare mushrooms."

Rin stared.

"That’s your reason?"

Vorak nodded.

"Very important mushrooms."

Selena sighed.

"Ignore him."

"I am trying."

The journey took most of the morning. The road north was quiet. Snow covered the mountains in the distance.

Rin walked beside Kaelith. Every so often, he glanced at him. He still couldn’t understand the strange feeling that appeared whenever they were together.

It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t exactly familiarity. It was something deeper.

Like remembering a song without knowing its name. Kaelith noticed him staring.

"Something wrong?"

"No."

"Then why are you looking at me?"

Rin smiled.

"I’m trying to remember something."

"About me?"

"Maybe."

Kaelith didn’t ask further. Instead, he said:

"If you remember, tell me."

Rin looked at him.

"Even if it’s something bad?"

Kaelith thought for a moment.

"Especially then."

Rin smiled.

"I’ll remember that."

A few steps behind them, Selena watched. She quietly leaned toward Lucien.

"They’re strange."

Lucien nodded.

"Very."

Vorak appeared between them.

"I think they’re going to kiss."

Selena immediately covered his mouth.

"Quiet."

Vorak blinked.

"Why?"

"Because you’re terrible at subtlety."

Lucien sighed.

"I agree."

Rin turned around.

"What are you three whispering about?"

"Nothing."

Selena answered too quickly. Rin narrowed his eyes. Vorak grinned. Lucien looked away.

Rin stared at them.

"You’re all suspicious."

Selena smiled.

"Keep walking."

By afternoon, they reached the northern ruins. Rin immediately recognized the atmosphere.

The moment he stepped inside the abandoned temple, the warmth in his chest returned. The strange object from yesterday had been taken with them.

It was now wrapped in cloth and carried by Selena. She handed it to Rin.

"Here."

Rin took it. Nothing happened. He stepped farther into the ruins. Still nothing.

Then—

a faint golden light appeared beneath his feet.

Everyone stopped. Rin looked down.

A symbol was glowing on the floor. Kaelith immediately moved closer.

"What is that?"

"I don’t know."

The bell didn’t sound. Rin was telling the truth. The symbol expanded. Lines appeared across the floor.

They formed a circle. Then another. Then another. The entire room lit up. Vorak stepped backward.

"That’s probably bad."

Lucien drew his sword.

"Probably?"

Vorak nodded.

"Very probably."

Selena sighed.

"Why are you always like this?"

"Like what?"

"Like you enjoy danger."

"I do."

"Of course you do."

Rin ignored them. He was staring at the center of the circle. Something was appearing.

A stone door. It hadn’t been there before. Rin walked toward it. Kaelith caught his wrist.

"Wait."

Rin looked at him.

"What?"

"Don’t touch it yet."

"Why?"

"We don’t know what’s behind it."

Rin smiled.

"That’s usually when I touch things."

"I know."

Kaelith didn’t release his wrist. Rin looked down at their hands. Then back at Kaelith.

"You can let go."

Kaelith immediately did.

"Sorry."

"It’s fine."

Rin smiled. Then looked at the door.

"We should open it."

Kaelith sighed.

"I knew you would say that."

The door opened without resistance. Beyond it was a long staircase. It descended deep underground. No one spoke.

Even Vorak had stopped joking. They walked downward. The deeper they went, the colder it became.

Rin felt something pulling at him like something inside his soul scream at him. He couldn’t explain it.

At the bottom was a circular chamber. The walls were covered with paintings.

Rin froze. He recognized one. The same image from before.

A young figure, white clothing, golden light and another figure beside him.

But this time...the second figure’s face wasn’t damaged.

Rin stepped closer. His heart stopped. He couldn’t see the person’s face clearly.

It was still blurred but he recognized the hair.

Dark. The same color as Kaelith’s.

Rin slowly turned. Kaelith was standing behind him. He hadn’t noticed the painting yet.

Rin looked back. His heart was pounding. He didn’t know what it meant.

He refused to assume. It could be coincidence. It had to be.

Then the painting changed.

Everyone saw it. The two figures turned toward each other.

The younger Rin reached out and the other figure took his hand.

Rin’s breath caught. The room suddenly filled with sound.

A child’s voice.

"I choose you."

Rin stumbled backward. Kaelith caught him.

"Rin!"

Rin looked up. For one second, he wasn’t in the ruins.

He was somewhere else. Somewhere ancient.

He was looking at Kaelith but not the Kaelith standing in front of him.

Another Kaelith. Younger. Smiling and Rin was holding his hand.

Then—

the vision shattered.

Rin gasped. Kaelith steadied him.

"What did you see?"

Rin looked at him.

He wanted to answer but he couldn’t.

"I don’t know."

Kaelith believed him. He didn’t press.

The painting suddenly cracked. Everyone stepped backward.

A voice echoed through the chamber. Not from the walls.

From the System.

[MEMORY RESONANCE DETECTED.]

Rin stared.

[ANCIENT MEMORY: PARTIAL.]

He whispered:

"Show me."

The System responded.

[ACCESS DENIED.]

Rin frowned.

"Why?"

[MEMORY OWNER: UNKNOWN.]

Rin froze. Memory owner? What did that mean?

Before he could ask, another message appeared.

[CAUTION.]

[DO NOT FORCE MEMORY.]

Rin stared at the words. Then they disappeared. The chamber became silent. Lucien looked at him.

"Did you see something?"

Rin hesitated.

"Yes."

"Was it dangerous?"

"I don’t know."

Selena looked at the painting.

"It seems connected to you."

"Yes."

Vorak raised his hand.

"I have a question."

Rin sighed.

"What?"

"Why are mysterious ruins always connected to you?"

Rin stared.

"I don’t know."

Vorak nodded seriously.

"Maybe stop visiting mysterious ruins."

Rin laughed despite himself.

"That’s actually good advice."

Kaelith smiled.

"Will you follow it?"

"No."

"Of course."

They found another inscription on the far wall. This one was almost completely destroyed. Selena carefully brushed away the dust.

"There’s writing."

Lucien stepped closer.

"Can you read it?"

"Part of it."

Rin moved closer. Selena read slowly.

"Two souls..."

She stopped.

"What?"

She looked again.

"Two souls bound by..."

The rest was missing. Rin’s chest tightened.

"Bound by what?"

Selena shook her head.

"Can’t tell."

Rin looked at the broken inscription. There were three missing words. He didn’t know what they had been but something inside him whispered:

Fate.

He immediately rejected the thought. No. He wouldn’t fill gaps with assumptions. Not anymore.

They needed facts. Not guesses. They searched the chamber for another hour.

Nothing. Eventually, Lucien found a second passage.

It led to a small room containing several old records. Most were destroyed but one survived.

Selena opened it. The pages were almost completely blank.

Then she found one line.

The chosen one will ascend after betrayal.

Rin stared. The God had said the same thing. Not the exact words but the meaning was similar.

Rin’s hands tightened. The chosen one. Betrayal. Ascension. Aelion.

But there was still no name. No identity. No explanation. Only another piece.

Rin closed the book.

"We’re taking this."

Lucien nodded.

"Agreed."

Kaelith looked at Rin.

"Are you okay?"

Rin nodded.

"Yes."

But inside, his thoughts were racing. Someone had deliberately recorded the story. Someone had known about the betrayal. Someone had known Rin would become a god and someone had created these ruins long before Rin returned to this life.

They left the ruins before sunset. The journey back was quieter. Rin walked beside Kaelith. Neither spoke for a long time.

Finally, Kaelith said:

"You’re thinking again."

Rin smiled.

"Always."

"What did the painting mean?"

Rin looked ahead.

"I don’t know."

"Do you think we knew each other before?"

Rin hesitated.

"I think..."

He stopped.

"I don’t know."

Kaelith nodded.

"That’s okay."

Rin looked at him.

"You don’t want to know?"

"I do."

"Then why aren’t you asking?"

"Because if we don’t remember, forcing it won’t help."

Rin smiled.

"You really are patient."

Kaelith laughed quietly.

"Don’t tell anyone."

Rin smiled.

"I won’t."

Their hands brushed. Neither moved away. They continued walking side by side.

Behind them, the ruins disappeared into the mountains.

But beneath the stone...the painting remained.

And for the first time in centuries, two figures in the ancient mural were no longer facing away from each other.

They were holding hands.

And beneath them, a single sentence slowly appeared.

THEY WILL FIND EACH OTHER AGAIN.

The ancient chamber went dark.

And far away, Rin’s forgotten past quietly waited.