Chapter 45: The Memory Gate

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: The Memory Gate The system pinged at dawn, a soft chime echoing through the shattered sanctum like a bell for the dead. [System Directive: Rewrite Chamber Located] Location: Substructure beneath Arkveil Cathedral Access Protocol: Sealed Required Offering: A Living Memory Note: "He who writes must first forget." Kai stood at the edge of the war table, eyes scanning the flickering map projection. A hidden level beneath the cathedral—a secret floor buried under centuries of prayer and betrayal. "This was under us the whole time?" he muttered. Astra nodded grimly. "It’s how the Author stayed close. The cathedral was a pen. We were just... his story." Seris leaned against a column, still recovering from the possession. Her eyes remained tired, but there was steel behind them again. "And now he wants an edit fee. Our memories." Kai frowned. "It says ’living memory.’ Not a thought. A moment." "A core one," Astra added. "If you lose it, something in you changes. Forever." Nyx sat alone on the steps, her body mostly healed, but her spirit still dimmed. The fake Nyx—the Proxy—had worn her face too well. She barely reacted when Kai approached. "You okay?" he asked. "No," she replied. Fair. "I nearly killed you," he said softly. "No, you saved me." He raised a brow. "That’s worse," she muttered. "Now I owe you." She stood, brushing imaginary dust from her thigh-high boots. "So. What do we do? Pick a memory and feed it to the monster?" Kai looked down at the flickering system window again. Submit One Core Memory Warning: Irreversible "I’ll do it," he said. Later, beneath the cathedral. A cracked obsidian staircase led them down to the Rewrite Chamber. It wasn’t made of stone or steel, but bone—fractured memories calcified into architecture. Ghostly echoes of forgotten scenes played along the walls, like haunted theater projections. Welcome, Kai. Please select the memory to forget. Options appeared before him. Like choosing save files. Each one came with an image, glowing softly: "First Kiss with Seris" "Training with Yuri Under Moonlight" "Nyx’s Betrayal-That-Wasn’t" "Astra’s First Smile" "Liora’s Lullaby Before Battle" He clenched his fists. Each one was part of him. Anchors in the storm. Removing one would make that bond... shallower. Fractured. But the gate wouldn’t open without it. "Let me do it," Seris said. Kai looked at her sharply. "No." "I’m still recovering," she said. "Half my memories are broken already. I’ve got less to lose." "No." He stepped forward. "This is my story. My memory." He stared at the options again. His eyes settled on the first: Seris. The kiss. It wasn’t just a kiss. It was the moment she stopped seeing him as a savior and started seeing him as a man. If he gave it up... Would she still love him? Would he? He reached out. Touched the light. And let go. [Memory Deleted: "First Kiss with Seris"] Status: Access Revoked Emotional Anchor: Removed Relationship Sync: Altered Warning: Emotional Recognition May Shift The Rewrite Chamber shook. A door appeared in the far wall—formed of glimmering text, bound in red thread. Kai stumbled slightly. Seris caught him. And her eyes changed. They searched his face like a stranger’s. "What is it?" he asked. "I... nothing." She pulled her hand away. "Just felt weird for a second." She didn’t remember the kiss either. Not exactly. Just a hollow warmth she couldn’t place. He had paid the price. The door opened. Inside the chamber: madness. Dozens of mirrors lined the walls, each displaying different versions of Kai and his harem. One where Seris led the team. One where Kai died in Chapter five. One where Nyx had been the hero. One where he never met any of them. Astra’s voice trembled. "These are... failed drafts." "Or future ones," Nyx whispered. In the center: a throne made of quills. Ink bled from the arms, and at its base—tied in red silk and thorns— Liora. Alive. But not herself. She opened her eyes as they approached. "Which Kai are you?" she asked, voice slurred. "Which draft?" "It’s me, Liora. The real one." She laughed. "No such thing. You’re all rewritten, over and over. Every time you die, he brings you back. But a little less real." Kai knelt beside her. "I’m getting you out." "He won’t let you." "Who?" She tilted her head toward the throne. Where a man now sat. The Author. He looked... ordinary. Plain clothes. Tired eyes. Ink-stained fingers. "You finally made it," the Author said. "Took you long enough." Kai stood slowly. "Let her go." "Why would I? She’s one of my best-written characters. You, on the other hand..." He gestured to the mirrors. "You’re a problem. You keep surviving scenes you shouldn’t. You change girls I wrote to betray you. You break the story." "I am the story." "No." The Author smiled thinly. "You were the test audience." Kai didn’t wait. He charged. But his sword passed through the Author like smoke. "Still think this is your story?" the Author asked. "Let me offer you a new draft." He snapped his fingers. Liora screamed. And her body split—a second version of her, identical but glass-eyed, stood beside the first. [System Alert – Dual Entity Detected] Both Lioras match original data Authenticity: Unverifiable Kai staggered back. "What the hell is this?" "A fork," the Author said. "Both are her. One from this draft. One from another timeline." "You expect me to pick?" "I expect you to lose." The chamber rumbled. The mirrors began cracking—one by one—until only Kai’s reflection remained. Bleeding. Burning. Alone. The Author stood and walked toward him, voice cold. "You want to keep your harem? Your heart? Your hero’s ending?" He leaned close. "Then be ready to pay for every. Single. Scene." ⚔️ Another twist. Another kiss. Another lie. ???? Add this book to your library to never miss an update! ???? 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