Malrec struck Aldric across the face.
The wall erupted.
Royal soldiers turned.
Chaos.
Corvin shouted.
“Now!”
The eastern gate opened from within.
Valorian soldiers poured out—not to attack Elias, but to join him.
Malrec fled toward the palace.
Elias entered the city.
People stared.
Some bowed.
He kept running.
No time.
The Royal Square still bore scars from Aurion’s awakening.
Varkas stood there waiting.
The horned Guardian had grown darker.
Red cracks covered his entire body.
Behind him, thousands of Forgotten soldiers guarded the palace.
Aurion stopped.
The brothers faced each other.
Varkas laughed.
“Still kneeling to children?”
Aurion’s voice shook stone.
Still serving death?
Varkas looked at Elias.
“You believe he chose you?”
The boy stared.
“He was made to obey your blood.”
Aurion’s fist tightened.
Elias remembered Tal.
Freedom includes refusal.
“He doesn’t obey me.”
Varkas smiled.
“Then command him to leave.”
Elias looked at Aurion.
Everyone waited.
Serah whispered, “Don’t.”
Elias spoke.
“You can leave.”
Aurion’s golden eyes shifted toward him.
“If you don’t want this fight, go.”
Silence.
Varkas laughed.
Then Aurion stepped forward.
Not away.
Beside Elias.
His voice entered the boy’s mind.
I choose.
Varkas’s smile vanished.
The battle began.
Aurion charged his brother.
Stone giants collided.
Elias, Corvin, Serah, Mira, and the combined soldiers rushed toward the palace.
Forgotten soldiers swarmed.
Steel met shadow.
Corvin fought well.
Too well for thirteen.
Elias fought badly.
But he listened.
Serah shouted.
“Left!”
He ducked.
A black sword passed overhead.
Mira threw a knife into the skeleton’s eye socket.
It collapsed.
“You’re welcome.”
“You missed the first time.”
“There was no first time.”
They reached the palace stairs.
King Aldric stumbled from a side door.
Blood covered his face.
Corvin stopped.
“Father.”
Aldric looked at both boys.
The king seemed twenty years older.
“Malrec has Selene below.”
Corvin’s sword shook.
“You knew about Elias.”
Aldric looked toward him.
“Yes.”
Everything stopped for the two brothers.
Corvin whispered, “You tried to kill him.”
Aldric did not deny it.
Elias felt strangely empty.
He had imagined rage.
Instead he saw a frightened man.
“Why?”
Aldric answered.
“Because your mother threatened the kingdom.”
“My mother threatened you.”
“Yes.”
The honesty surprised everyone.
Aldric looked toward the throne room.
“I told myself they were the same.”
Elias swallowed.
“You killed her.”
“Yes.”
Serah raised her sword.