The Army of the Sun moved like a living tide.
From above, it was breathtaking.
Caspian clung to Verdam's blazing back as they flew low over the marching host, golden fire illuminating ranks upon ranks of warriors stretching far. Two thousand Awakened advanced in disciplined formations, their armor catching the sun's light and reflecting it in waves of bronze and gold. Between them moved the Ascended—dozens of them—each presence heavy enough to be noticed by Caspian even where he stood, their Heartbeats sounding like war drums.
Standards bearing the sigil of the Sun rippled in the wind.
This wasn't an army marching to conquer.
It was an army marching to end something.
Ahead, far in the distance, the land seems to darken unnaturally, like a prelude to what is going to come.
Verdam's wings beat steadily.
The heat was constant, comforting in a strange way.
"He's not inside the castle" Caspian said suddenly, raising his voice over the wind.
Verdam tilted his head slightly. "You're certain?"
"Yes." Caspian swallowed. "The Tyrant… he's hiding beneath the center of the citadel. In a sea of blood. A ritual cocoon, or something like that. When I last saw him, he submerged himself completely. He said he was still weak."
Verdam's wings stiffened for a fraction of a second.
"Then i hope we are still early" the Saint said.
"Are you sure you will be able to take him down by yourself?" Caspian asked, his mind wandering to the Saint of the Stars words.
"If he were fully restored" Verdam replied calmly "this army would die before ever reaching the gates, but i will make sure he pays for his sins, he is no longer my brother."
That… did not feel reassuring.
Caspian glanced down again, then finally let his gaze drift to the object resting against his chest.
The Stargaze.
The compass felt warm in his hand now, as if aware of his attention. Its metal was neither gold nor silver, but something in between, etched with constellations that subtly shifted when he wasn't looking directly at them.
Verdam had explained some of its uses during the war meeting—vaguely, carefully, as if even speaking of it too plainly carried risk.
Now that there was time… Caspian focused.
He summoned it fully.
Runes bloomed into existence before his eyes.
And then—
His heart nearly stopped.
***
Memory Rank: Divine
Memory Tier: III
Memory Type: Tool
Caspian's grip slipped.
His body lurched violently, and for a terrifying second, empty air filled his vision as he nearly slid from Verdam's back.
"—Caspian!"
Verdam twisted mid-flight with impossible control, a wing scooping him back into place.
"What happened?" Verdam demanded.
Caspian clutched the Saint's feathers, breathing hard.
"I—nothing. I'm fine." He forced a laugh that sounded wrong even to his own ears. "Just… lost my balance."
Verdam studied him for a long moment, molten eyes narrowing.
"…Very well."
They continued forward.
Caspian, meanwhile, was barely aware of the wind anymore.
Memory rank: Divine.
D–Divine rank?
His thoughts spiraled.
Divine memories weren't just something you get on your first nightmare—they were mythical. Caspian had grown up hearing stories about great and powerful memories, but most of them were supreme at most. Sacred memories alone were counted on one hand across the entire planet—if they existed at all.
And Divine?
He had never even heard of one being confirmed.
The higher the rank, the rarer the memory.
His throat went dry.
"I expected it to be high-ranked." he admitted silently. "It was a gift from a God after all..."
But Divine?
Caspian swallowed and forced himself to keep reading.
***
Memory Description:
A compass born from a divine choice, to guide a land where the sky had to shine. It does not point to places, but to outcomes, guiding those who still dare to hope.
His breath caught.
Below, three enchantments shimmered into clarity.
***
Memory Enchantments: [For those who are lost], [A warm starlight], [Is the best hope].
Enchantment: [For those who are lost].
Enchantment Description: [Guides the wielder inside the tapestry of fate, using their desire as a path, and grants them visions.]
Enchantment: [A warm starlight.]
Enchantment Description: "Protects the mind of the wielder like a mantle of starlight."
Enchantment: [Is the best hope].
Enchantment Description: "Protect the wielder's soul againts external attacks."
Caspian nearly laughed.
Or cried.
Or screamed.
Mind and soul protection, paired with prophecy?
If this memory let him fly, he wouldn't hesitate to call it the greatest memory humanity had ever seen.
His thoughts immediately—and shamefully—drifted.
"When I get back to Earth…"
Fame. Riches. Power. Researchers begging for interviews. The Goverment offering protection. Clans fighting over him.
A Divine memory holder.
The first in history.
He shook his head sharply.
"Focus."
The wind shifted.
Days passed.
The march was relentless.
When the Citadel of the Stars finally emerged fully into view, even the Army of the Sun slowed.
The ruins were vast. Broken towers leaned against one another like corpses in a mass grave. The air was thick with the everlasting smell of blood.
Verdam descended.
He set Caspian down gently at the edge of a shattered causeway.
"You stop here" the Saint said.
Caspian stiffened. "I can help."
Verdam turned to face him fully.
"If you follow me" he said calmly "you will die."
The words landed like a blade.
"You are strong" Verdam continued. "Stronger than any Creature of the Night that i know, but this is still a trascendent battle, stay away from it, please"
He placed a burning hand on Caspian's shoulder.
"Live. Witness it. And remember that even in the Darkest Night… the living chose to fight, would you do that for me, friend?."
Caspian swallowed and nodded.
The Saint of the Sun stepped forward, flames rising around him as he faced his army.
His voice rolled across the battlefield like a second sunrise.
"People of the Sun" Verdam declared, "today we do not march for conquest."
The army stilled.
"We march for the living."
Weapons were raised.
"For those who were devoured by night."
A roar answered him.
"For those who were silenced beneath false moonlight."
The ground trembled.
"This ends now."
Verdam transformed mid-stride, fire exploding outward as the phoenix-griffin took flight once more.
"The siege begins now!"
The world erupted.
The ground shook under their feet.
From beneath the Citadel, the night stirred.
Creatures of the night awakened, supernatural screams filling the air as they moved like a horde towards the thousands of warm heartbeats.
The Army of the Sun surged forward, meeting them in a clash of steel, flame, and blood.
Caspian moved.
And slaughtered.
After drinking the blood of two Saints, the creatures were little more than fodder. His claws tore through Nightmare Creatures like paper. His speed blurred. His strength shattered bone. On a completly different level than the rest of Creatures of the night.
The femenine voice of spell kept saying.
[You have slain an awakened beast, Creature of the night]
Over and over again.
Above them—
Verdam screamed.
A cry so loud it shook the Citadel itself.
The griffin folded its wings and dove straight down.
A thunderous impact followed.
Seconds later, the sky tore open with blood and flames alike.
Two figures ascended.
A blazing phoenix-griffin.
And a colossal bat wreathed in crimson shadow.
The final battle for the Triad of Citadels had begun.