Chapter 50 - The Truth Buried by Time
The temple had become unnaturally still.
Molten lava froze in midair.
Falling ash hung motionless.
Even the flames surrounding Noctis stopped flickering.
Only five beings could still move.
Kai.
Selene.
The Crimson Flame Fox.
Ignis.
And the silver-haired man who called himself Caelum.
---
Kai tightened his grip on his spear.
"You were the Second Beast Sovereign."
Caelum nodded.
"I was."
"And according to history..."
"I betrayed the world."
A bitter smile crossed his face.
"History is often written by those who survive."
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts floated before Kai.
Its pages turned wildly as if searching for something.
Every page describing the Second Beast Sovereign was blank.
Only one sentence remained.
Record Removed by Supreme Authority.
Kai frowned.
"Who erased it?"
Caelum looked directly into his eyes.
"The same people who now call themselves the Divine Temple."
---
Ignis lowered his head.
"I always believed those pages were damaged."
"They weren't."
"They were stolen."
---
Kaelum slowly walked toward the sealed Noctis.
He stopped a respectful distance away.
"I made this promise ten thousand years ago."
"I would return."
"I was simply..."
"...late."
For the first time, Noctis lifted its head peacefully.
Its golden eye recognised him.
"Little Sovereign..."
"You survived."
Caelum smiled sadly.
"Barely."
---
Kai watched the exchange carefully.
This was no enemy greeting a monster.
This was an old friend greeting another.
Selene whispered,
"They know each other."
Kael nodded.
"They fought together during the Great Eclipse."
---
Suddenly, the black corruption surrounding Noctis surged violently.
Dark chains wrapped around the phoenix's wings once more.
A distorted voice echoed from deep beneath the temple.
"Enough..."
The entire mountain shook.
The frozen time around them shattered.
Lava resumed flowing.
Ash fell once more.
The mysterious force holding everyone still disappeared.
Temple stones cracked apart.
Caelum's expression became serious.
"He has noticed us."
Kai looked around.
"Who?"
Caelum didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he pointed toward the chamber beneath the altar.
"The one feeding the corruption."
"The one who wants the Seven Star Fragments."
"The one even I failed to stop."
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts flashed crimson.
Emergency Update
Primary Enemy Confirmed
Identity: Unknown
Alias:
The Archivist
Status:
Active
Threat Level:
Catastrophic
Warning:
This individual possesses the ability to alter memories, history, and ancient records.
---
Kai felt a chill run down his spine.
"The Archivist..."
"So that's who erased the Book."
Caelum nodded.
"And countless libraries."
"And kingdoms."
"And people."
Selene looked confused.
"People?"
Caelum's voice grew quiet.
"If someone remembers the truth..."
"The Archivist erases them from history."
"Eventually..."
"No one remembers they ever existed."
Silence filled the temple.
Even Ignis seemed shaken.
"I knew dragons who vanished without explanation..."
"So..."
"It was him."
---
Below them, the black crystal surrounding the hidden chamber pulsed faster.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
The corruption around Noctis climbed again.
90%... 91%... 92%...
Kai looked at Caelum.
"You know more than we do."
"Will you help us?"
Caelum was silent for several seconds.
Then he smiled.
"I will."
"But not by fighting your battles."
He reached into his cloak and removed a small silver key.
Unlike the Star Fragment, it was simple and unadorned.
He placed it in Kai's hand.
"This opens the Vault of Echoes."
"It lies beneath the World Tree."
"There..."
"You will find the memories that the Book has forgotten."
The key glowed briefly before disappearing into the pages of the Book of Infinite Beasts.
New Item Acquired
Echo Key
Description:
A relic left by the Second Beast Sovereign.
Required to enter the Vault of Echoes.
---
A thunderous roar interrupted them.
Noctis screamed as black crystal pierced one of its wings.
The hidden enemy was forcing the corruption deeper into its soul.
Kai raised his spear.
"We're done talking."
"We save Noctis first."
The Crimson Flame Fox's nine fiery tails spread behind it.
Ignis's golden scales shimmered.
Selene raised her moonlit sword.
Caelum stepped aside, watching quietly.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Show me..."
"...whether the Ninth Beast Sovereign can succeed where I failed."
Far beneath the temple, unseen by anyone, a pair of ancient crimson eyes slowly opened within the darkness.
The voice of the Archivist whispered one final sentence.
"Memories can be restored..."
"But the truth..."
"...always demands a price."