Chapter 124 - The Forgotten Promise
The Sanctuary was silent.
Kai remained beneath the small golden tree, unable to move.
The truth had overturned twelve thousand years of history.
Noctis had not become a tyrant.
The Origin King had not imprisoned himself out of pride.
The First Beast Sovereign had not abandoned either of them.
All three had sacrificed everything to save existence.
---
The Codex of the Beast Sovereign turned a page.
Historical Revision Complete
Ancient Records Restored:
✓ The First Beast Sovereign
✓ Noctis, Keeper of Seals
✓ The Origin King
Status:
The Three Founders
---
Aurelia looked toward the horizon.
"History remembers victories."
"But the world is built upon sacrifices."
Kai slowly nodded.
"So the legends were never lies..."
"They were simply incomplete."
---
A warm breeze passed through the Sanctuary.
The seven leaves of the tiny tree shimmered.
One by one, they released tiny motes of golden light that floated around the Seven Guardians.
Fenris lowered his head.
"I remember..."
Nereus closed her eyes.
"So do I."
Pyron smiled sadly.
"The feast beneath the Tree of Origin."
Skadi whispered,
"The first snowfall."
Ignis laughed quietly.
"And the race through the newborn skies."
For the first time in ages...
The Guardians were remembering their earliest days.
---
Suddenly...
The golden lights merged into a single image.
Three young men stood beneath the Tree of Origin.
The First Beast Sovereign.
Noctis.
The Origin King.
They were planting a tiny sapling.
The same sapling that would one day become the World Root.
The First Beast Sovereign grinned.
"Promise me something."
Noctis folded his arms.
"Depends."
"If one of us falls..."
"The others keep walking."
The Origin King smiled.
"And if all three of us fall?"
The First Beast Sovereign laughed.
"Then someone else will finish the journey."
The three placed their hands together.
"We promise."
The vision dissolved.
---
Kai looked down at his own hand.
"The promise..."
Aurelia nodded.
"It was never meant for them alone."
"It was meant for every Beast Sovereign."
---
Without warning—
The Sanctuary trembled.
Not violently.
Sadly.
The tiny tree shed another leaf.
This time...
It did not regrow.
---
The Codex flashed crimson.
Sanctuary Status
World Heart Energy:
28%
Cause:
The Gate of Origins is weakening.
---
Far beyond the Sanctuary...
The Origin King stood before the Gate.
His white mask had developed several fine cracks.
Golden light leaked from within.
The Nameless Horror had not attacked again.
Instead...
It remained perfectly still.
Watching.
Waiting.
---
Noctis stepped beside the Origin King.
"I remember everything now."
The Origin King smiled without looking at him.
"I know."
"I should have trusted you."
"You did."
"I was the one who stopped trusting myself."
The two old friends stood together in silence.
Just as they had twelve thousand years before.
---
Back in the Sanctuary...
Aurelia reached toward the tiny tree.
From its highest branch grew one final fruit.
Unlike the previous golden fruit...
This one was translucent, containing what looked like an entire sunrise within it.
She carefully placed it into Kai's hands.
"The World Heart has one last gift."
The Codex recognised it immediately.
Divine Relic Obtained
Heartseed of the First Dawn
Classification:
Origin Relic
Status:
Dormant
Requirement for Awakening:
A selfless choice made without expectation of reward.
---
Kai carefully stored the Heartseed within the Codex.
At that exact moment...
A deafening crack echoed across the heavens.
The Sanctuary's sky split open.
A beam of pale golden light descended.
Within it floated a single fragment of the Origin King's white mask.
It landed gently at Kai's feet.
The fragment carried only four hastily etched words:
"The Gate has broken."
Every Guardian looked toward the stars.
Without another word, Kai closed the Codex.
"It is time."
The final journey back to the Gate of Origins had begun.