Kael
The first thing Kael felt was pain. Not the pain of an injury. The pain of having limits again. His heart pounded too hard. His lungs felt full of embers. Every breath stabbed all the way to his ribs. He tried to open his eyes. Everything was blurry. A white ceiling. The smell of medicine. The beeping of a monitor. A hospital. Kael blinked. A woman sat beside his bed. Her hair was disheveled. Her face was pale. Her eyes were red from lack of sleep. Alya. He knew that name. Yet for several seconds, he had no idea who the woman was. Alya stared at him hopefully. “Kael?” Kael opened his mouth. No sound came out. Alya reached for his hand. “Don’t move. You’re in the hospital.” Kael looked at their clasped hands. Alya’s hand was warm. Too warm. “Who…” His voice was hoarse. “Who are you?” Alya froze. Something in her face collapsed. “You don’t remember?” Kael frowned. He remembered Menara Mahkota. He remembered Raka. He remembered the sword. He remembered blood. But when he tried to remember Alya’s face, his mind found nothing but fog. “Was I supposed to know you?” Alya let go of his hand. Kael felt the loss, but didn’t know why. The hospital-room door opened. A doctor entered with two nurses. The doctor checked Kael’s monitor, pupils, and pulse. “How are you feeling?” “Terrible.” “That’s normal. Your body experienced extreme hypothermia, but your temperature has stabilized.” Kael stared at the doctor. “How long was I unconscious?” “Almost two days.” Two days. Kael tried to remember what had happened after the contract moved. Nothing. Only a black emptiness. “What’s your name?” the doctor asked. “Kael.” “Full name?” Kael stopped. He knew his last name, but it felt like something far away. “Kael Arveth.” Alya closed her eyes. The doctor turned to her. “Are you family?” Alya opened her mouth but didn’t answer right away. “Friend,” she said at last. Kael looked at her. Friend. The word sounded strange. The doctor left them after giving a few instructions. As soon as the door closed, silence filled the room. Alya sat back down in the chair. “You don’t remember anything about me?” Kael looked at her. “I remember your name.” “How?” “I don’t know.” “My name is Alya.” “Yes.” “We met beneath the rain.” Kael tried to remember. Rain hanging in the air. A black car. A warm hand touching his. No face. No voice. “I don’t remember.” Alya nodded slowly, as if she had expected that answer. “We made a pact.” “You and me?” “Yes.” “What kind of pact?” “I asked for your help saving my little brother.” “Your brother?” “Raka.” Kael felt something stir inside his head when she said the name. Raka. A boy with golden eyes. A gateway. Towers. Seraphine. Kael clutched his head. Pain stabbed through him at once. Alya stood. “Don’t force it.” “I’ve met Raka before.” “Yes.” “Where?” “At the hospital.” “Did he survive?” “For now.” “Seraphine?” Alya looked at him. “You remember her?” “Her name just appeared.” “No one knows who Seraphine is.” “She isn’t human.” “No.” “The gateway?” Alya fell silent. “Kael, what do you still remember?” Kael stared at the ceiling. “I remember a sword.” “The sword in Menara Aster?” “Yes.” “Who used it?” “I did.” “Against whom?” Kael frowned. There was a woman’s face in his mind. Black hair. Green eyes. Blood on a white dress. But the face was incomplete. Every time he tried to see it, it blurred. “I don’t know,” he answered. Alya turned her face away. Kael watched her expression. He might not remember Alya, but he recognized grief. “Why are you crying?” “I’m not crying.” “There’s water on your face.” “My eyes are tired.” “You look like someone who just lost something.” Alya laughed without humor. “You don’t remember, but you can still guess.” “I still remember a lot.” “Just not anything about me.” “I’m sorry.” “Don’t apologize for something you didn’t choose.” Kael lowered his head and looked at his hands. They looked human. There were no black lines beneath his skin. No shadow moving on its own. No wounds that closed instantly. He touched his fingertips. He could clearly feel his pulse. He had truly become human. That should have been what he wanted. For centuries, he had imagined what it would feel like to have a body that could age, grow sick, and die. He had imagined sunlight warming his skin. He had imagined sleeping without dreams. He had imagined death as a door that would finally open. Yet now, all he felt was empty. “What happened to the contract?” he asked. “It moved to you.” “What does that mean?” “Raka is alive because the contract is now bound to your body.” “And you?” “I’m free.” Kael looked at her. “You should be happy.” Alya nodded. “Yes.” “But you’re not.” “It’s not that simple.” “Why not?” “Because you lost something.” “I’m still alive.” “That’s not what I mean.” Alya sat on the edge of the bed. “You lost your immortality.” Kael stared at her. The sentence felt like news about someone else. “Is that bad?” “I don’t know. You once said you wanted to become human.” “I said that?” “Yes.” “Then this is what I wanted.” Alya lowered her head. “No.” Kael fell silent. “You never truly wanted it,” Alya continued. “You only wanted to be free of Seraphine.” “Isn’t that the same thing?” “No.” “Why?” “Because you always talked about freedom as if it were the only thing keeping you alive. But when you finally became free, you didn’t even know what to do.” Kael looked out the window. Arcapolis appeared normal. There were no cracks in the sky. No towers from another world. No blue fog. Yet Kael knew that calm was only temporary. “Where’s Raka?” “In the room next door.” “Is he still sick?” “His body is stable. But he hasn’t woken up.” “Seraphine?” “She hasn’t been seen since the gateway closed.” “She hasn’t lost.” “I know.” “Then why are you still here?” “Because you hadn’t woken up.” “Why?” Alya looked at her hands. “I don’t know.” The words sounded honest. Kael couldn’t remember Alya’s face, but he remembered the strange feeling that surfaced whenever she touched his hand. Like finding something he had lost long ago. “Did I ever love you?” he asked. Alya froze. Kael didn’t know why he had asked. The question had come out without a plan. Alya stared at him for a long time. “I don’t know.” “You don’t?” “You never said it.” “And you?” “I never said it either.” “Then maybe not.” “It’s safer if we didn’t.” “Why?” Alya raised her wrist. The contract mark there had changed. Its black lines had faded, but still looked like cracks beneath her skin. “Because the contract sees love as ownership.” Kael touched the mark. As soon as his finger drew near, Alya’s body tensed. “Don’t.” Kael stopped his hand. “Can I activate it?” “I don’t know.” “What happens if it activates?” “We don’t know.” “There are a lot of things you don’t know.” “I know.” For the first time, Kael almost smiled. But before he could, the door opened. Darian entered without knocking. His face was far more serious than before. “The gateway isn’t fully closed,” he said. Alya stood. “Seraphine said it was closed.” “Seraphine never says anything that doesn’t benefit her.” “Where’s the crack?” “Under the city.” Kael looked at him. “What do you mean?” Darian placed an object on the table. A fragment of black stone, pulsing with golden light. “The gateway is no longer in the sky. It has moved beneath Arcapolis.” Alya stared at the stone. “How do we close it?” Darian looked at Kael. “With the contract.” Kael felt something in his chest. “The contract is still active?” “More active than ever.” “I thought the contract had moved.” “It did. But the transfer changed its nature.” “What does that mean?” Darian drew a breath. “When the contract was in Alya’s body, it bound two lives. When it moved to you, it bound two worlds.” Kael looked at Alya. “The human and immortal worlds?” “Yes.” “How do we sever it?” “There has to be a sacrifice.” Alya immediately shook her head. “No.” Darian looked at her. “You don’t know what the sacrifice is yet.” “Whatever it is, the answer is no.” “The sacrifice is one of you.” Kael looked at Darian. “One of us has to die?” “Not exactly.” “Explain.” “The contract needs a human body and immortal blood to close the gateway.” Kael looked at himself. “I’m human now.” “Not completely.” “I lost my immortality.” “But traces of immortal blood remain in your body.” “How long?” Darian didn’t answer. Kael understood. “Not long.” “A few days,” Darian said. “Maybe less.” Alya stepped forward. “And when that blood runs out?” “Kael will become fully human.” “And the contract?” “The gateway will open.” Alya took his hand. “No. We’ll find another way.” Darian looked at the two of them. “Another way always comes with a greater price.” “I don’t care.” “You will when Raka dies.” “Don’t use him to pressure me.” “I’m not using anyone. I’m explaining the situation.” Kael got out of bed. His legs wobbled. His human body wasn’t used to weakness yet. Alya immediately caught his arm. “Don’t push yourself.” “I have to see Raka.” “Kael—” “I have to know whether the contract still binds him.” Darian looked at him. “You might not recognize him.” “Why?” “The contract takes something from both parties.” Kael looked at Alya. “What did it take from her?” “Memories of you.” Kael fell silent. Alya turned her face away. “Not all of them.” “How many?” “Certain memories.” “Happy memories?” “Yes.” “Because of the contract?” “Because you moved the price from my body to yours.” Kael felt something break inside him. He didn’t remember any happy memories with Alya. But if those memories had once existed, then he had lost them without ever knowing they were there. “What memories are gone?” he asked. Alya looked at him. “Our first meeting.” Kael frowned. “I don’t remember.” “You used to.” “What else?” “The night you took me to Elyndor.” “I don’t remember that either.” “And one last memory.” “What?” Alya smiled sadly. “It’s not important.” Kael studied her. “You learned that from me.” “Learned what?” “How to answer without telling the truth.” Alya looked at him, and for a moment Kael felt as though he had seen that gaze thousands of times. There was anger. There was grief. And there was something he couldn’t name.
Alya
Raka was still asleep when they entered his room. His body was no longer frozen. There was no golden light beneath his skin. He looked like the usual Raka—pale, thin, and far too still. Alya walked toward the bed. “Raka?” There was no answer. Kael stood in the doorway, with Darian beside him. Alya looked at him. “You don’t have to stand that far away.” “I don’t know if he’ll attack me.” “He’s my brother.” “Part of him isn’t.” Alya wanted to argue, but suddenly Raka opened his eyes. His brown eyes looked normal. “Sis?” Alya clasped his hand. “Yeah. I’m here.” “Why is Kael over there?” “He’s helping us.” Raka looked at Kael. “He’s not a good person.” “I know.” Kael didn’t react. Raka looked at Alya again. “Are we home?” “Not yet.” “Why?” Alya didn’t know where to begin. Darian stepped closer. “Raka, do you remember what happened at Menara Mahkota?” Raka clutched his head. “I heard a voice.” “Whose voice?” “A woman’s.” “Seraphine?” Raka shook his head. “Mom.” Alya felt her body tense. “What did Mom say?” Raka looked at her in confusion. “She said not to trust anyone.” “Me included?” Kael asked. Raka looked at him. “Especially you.” Kael accepted the answer without protest. Darian pulled the black stone fragment from his pocket. The golden light inside it pulsed faster when it was near Raka. Raka immediately winced. “Get that away from me.” “What do you feel?” “Like there’s a doorway inside my chest.” Darian looked at Alya. “The gateway is inside his body.” Alya hugged Raka. “How do we get it out?” “We can’t.” “There has to be a way.” “The gateway can’t be removed. It can only be closed.” “With what?” Darian looked at Kael. “The remaining immortal blood.” Kael stepped closer. Raka immediately tensed. “Don’t let him come near me.” “I’m not going to hurt you,” Kael said. “No. You always say that before someone dies.” Kael stopped. Alya looked at him. “Does Raka know what happened to Mom?” “Some of it.” “What do you know?” Raka looked at Kael. “Mom didn’t die that night.” Alya held her breath. “Kael took you and me away. But Seraphine caught Mom. She erased part of her memory and kept her body in Menara Mahkota.” “Kael already told me that.” “Not all of it.” Raka reached for Alya’s hand. “Mom left something inside me before she went away.” “What?” “A memory.” “A memory?” “If the gateway opens, that memory will awaken.” Kael immediately looked at him. “What memory?” Raka gave a faint smile. “The memory of who really killed Mom.” Alya looked at Kael. “It wasn’t you?” “No,” Raka answered. “Who was it?” Raka closed his eyes. Golden light appeared beneath his skin again. “Me.” The room suddenly fell silent. Raka opened his eyes. “I killed Mom.” Alya took a step back. “No.” “I was still a baby. But my blood had already awakened. I couldn’t control it.” “No.” “Mom asked Kael to kill her before I killed everyone in the house.” “No!” Alya covered her ears. Raka began to cry. “I heard everything. I saw everything. Kael wasn’t the one who killed Mom.” Alya turned to Kael. Kael looked like someone who had just been struck. “Why didn’t you tell me?” “Because Raka didn’t remember.” “He just remembered.” “The gateway restored his memory.” Alya looked at Raka. “If you killed Mom, why does Seraphine need you?” “Because my power can open the gateway. But I can’t control it without your blood.” “And if we close the gateway?” “My body will become its seal.” Alya shook her head. “No.” Raka squeezed her hand. “Sis, listen.” “No.” “I have to do it.” “No one has to die.” “If I don’t, this city will turn into Elyndor.” “We’ll find another way.” “There isn’t one.” “There always is.” Raka looked at Kael. “Kael knows.” Kael closed his eyes. Alya turned to him. “You knew?” “Yes.” “And you didn’t tell me?” “I just remembered.” “How much more are you hiding?” “Nothing.” “You can’t lie.” “I know.” Alya felt tears fill her eyes. She was too tired to be angry. Too afraid to think. She loved her family too much to accept that one of them had to disappear. Outside the window, the sky over Arcapolis cracked again. This time, the crack didn’t open upward. A crack appeared in the street. From beneath the hospital came the sound of thousands of people whispering: *Open.* *Open.* *Open.* Raka closed his eyes. “The gateway is starting to open.” Darian raised the black stone fragment. The stone cracked in his hand. “We have three hours left.” Kael looked at Alya. “If we want to save Raka, we have to go beneath the city.” “Where?” “Where the gateway was first built.” “And where is that?” Kael looked at the hospital floor. “Beneath your house.” Alya froze. “My house?” “The house where you and Raka live was built directly over the ruins of the old gateway.” “Why didn’t Seraphine find it?” “Because your mother sealed it with your memories.” Alya remembered her childhood home. The mango tree. Raka’s small room. The wall that always felt cold, even in summer. And a door in the basement that had never been able to open. Their mother had always forbidden them from going near it. Alya looked at Kael. “That door.” Kael nodded. “That’s where it all began.” “And that’s where it will all end?” “If we’re lucky.” Raka looked at Alya. “Sis, whatever happens…” “Don’t.” “If I change—” “I won’t let you change.” “If I ask you to kill me—” “I won’t do it.” “What if I beg?” “I won’t do it.” Raka cried. Alya hugged him tightly. Kael stood silently near the door. Alya looked at him. “You’re coming with us.” “I know.” “Not because of the contract.” “I know.” “If we have to choose who will sacrifice themselves, I’ll find a way so no one dies.” Kael looked at her. “And if there is no way?” Alya gripped the silver sword wrapped in cloth. “Then I’ll make a new way.” Outside the hospital, the fourth bell rang. Beneath the city, something ancient opened its eyes. And from inside Raka’s chest came the voice of a woman who had been waiting for twenty years. “Come home, my children.”