THE LAST MEMORY SHARD

Chapter 42

The Last Memory Shard

The palace courtyard remained silent long after the High Chancellor vanished.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

The tiny fragments of the shattered memory crystal lay scattered across the cracked stones, their silver light fading one by one.

Queen Selene fell to her knees.

"It took me twenty-three years to protect that crystal..."

"And I failed."

Aria knelt beside her.

"You didn't fail."

"We're still alive."

"As long as we're alive, the truth can still be found."

Selene looked at her with gratitude. For the first time, she truly saw why Ethan had fallen in love with the Wolf Queen.

Aria wasn't just brave.

She gave people hope.

---

As everyone prepared to leave, Luna suddenly stopped.

The white wolf sniffed the ground before pawing at a tiny glowing splinter hidden beneath a broken stone.

She barked twice.

Ethan walked over and picked it up.

Unlike the other fragments, this one still pulsed with silver light.

"It survived..."

Queen Selene's eyes widened.

"The Heart Shard."

"The crystal always protects one memory above all others."

"Perhaps fate isn't finished with us."

As Ethan touched the shard, it melted into his palm.

The world around him disappeared.

---

He stood in the royal palace once again.

Only this wasn't a dream.

It was a memory.

A younger Queen Selene stood before two frightened boys.

The older brother—only sixteen—held a sword much too heavy for him.

The younger Ethan clung to his mother's hand.

Selene knelt before them.

"Listen carefully."

"If anything happens tonight, you must protect each other."

The older prince nodded without hesitation.

"I promise."

He placed one hand on Ethan's shoulder.

"I'll never let anyone hurt my little brother."

Ethan smiled innocently.

"I'll become strong like you."

The older prince laughed.

"You'll become stronger."

The memory shifted.

Flames erupted throughout the palace.

Masked assassins wearing the Royal Council's crest poured through the halls.

The High Chancellor walked behind them, smiling.

"Kill the king."

"Take the princes."

"Leave no heir alive."

Young Ethan gasped.

The memory showed the First Prince drawing his sword and standing between the assassins and his family.

"Run!" he shouted.

"I'll hold them back!"

Queen Selene grabbed Ethan and fled through a hidden passage.

The last thing Ethan saw before the door closed was his brother fighting alone against dozens of enemies.

Then...

The memory ended.

---

Ethan opened his eyes.

Tears streamed freely down his face.

"He never betrayed us."

"He saved us."

Queen Selene nodded.

"He gave up everything so you could live."

General Kael dropped to one knee.

"I spent twenty-three years hunting the kingdom's greatest hero."

"I don't deserve forgiveness."

Ethan placed a hand on the old general's shoulder.

"Then help me save him."

---

Far away, in the Dark Valley...

The First Prince stood alone beneath the Blood Moon.

He stared at his reflection in a pool of crimson water.

"I remember..."

The same memories had awakened within him.

He remembered shielding his brother.

He remembered waiting for his mother's return.

He remembered the loneliness.

"I hated them..."

"...for something they never did."

His crimson sword began to crack.

The dark power surrounding him weakened.

But before he could take another step—

The High Chancellor emerged from the shadows.

"So..."

"You've remembered."

The First Prince slowly turned.

"You lied to me."

The Chancellor smiled.

"I merely gave you a story that kept you useful."

"You needed someone to blame."

"You made an excellent weapon."

The prince's eyes filled with fury.

"You destroyed my family."

"No," the Chancellor replied calmly.

"I destroyed an empire."

"And tomorrow..."

"I'll destroy the world."

Behind him, the shattered Black Gate groaned open another few inches.

A wave of darkness poured into the valley.

The ground split apart.

From the abyss rose thousands of shadow creatures with glowing red eyes.

The Chancellor spread his arms.

"The age of wolves is over."

"The age of darkness begins now."

For the first time in centuries, the First Prince pointed his crimson sword...

Not at Ethan.

But at the High Chancellor.

"If you touched my family..."

"...then you're my enemy."

The Chancellor smiled as if he had expected those words all along.

"Good."

"I've always wanted to know..."

"...which prince is truly stronger."

A violent explosion of crimson and black energy shook the valley.

Miles away, Ethan looked toward the horizon.

He could feel it.

His brother...

Was fighting for the first time on the side of the light.