***author's pov***
As they approached the grand castle that once belonged to the elemental kings' parents, Valeria felt a strange tug in her chest. It was as though the very air around her was alive with memories—whispers of her past as Elanora Diyanira. The towering structure stood in the distance, its stone walls weathered with time, yet still standing strong, just like the bond that once held her and the kings together.
The castle had been abandoned for years, ever since Elanora disappeared. The kings had left it behind, unable to bear the memories it held—memories of the time when they had shared their lives with her. Now, returning to it felt like opening an old wound, and yet it was necessary.
As they reached the gates, the castle loomed above them, silent and empty. The wind howled through the cracks in the stone, and the once-vibrant gardens were now overgrown with vines and thorns. The place, which had once been filled with warmth and life, now felt like a relic of the past—a ghost of what once was.
Valeria paused, taking a deep breath as a flood of emotions washed over her. In her mind, she saw flashes of her past life—moments when she had stood at these very gates, laughing with the kings, sharing moments of joy and love. She could almost hear their voices echoing through the halls.
Kian and Alexander exchanged a glance, their expressions heavy with emotion. They had never thought they’d return to this place, not without her. Jerone, still standing a bit further behind, clenched his jaw, his eyes clouded with resentment. Even now, the memories of her betrayal in their past life lingered, making it hard for him to face this place without anger.
Asher, standing closest to Valeria, placed a hand on her shoulder. “This was your home,” he said softly, his voice filled with a mixture of nostalgia and pain. “Our home, before everything fell apart.”
Valeria looked up at the castle, her heart heavy with the weight of her lost memories. “I can feel it,” she whispered. “It feels...familiar, but also distant. Like a dream I can’t quite remember.”
“It’s all here,” Kian said, stepping forward. “Everything that happened between us, it’s still in these walls. Maybe it’s time we face it together.”
Alexander nodded, his gaze hardening with determination. “We can’t run from the past anymore. We need to confront it, just like we need to confront whatever’s happening now.”
Jerone stayed quiet, his arms crossed. He didn’t look at Valeria, but there was no denying the pain in his eyes. “You chose him,” he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. “You chose Zelerious over us. And we’re supposed to just forget that?”
Valeria turned to him, her heart sinking at his words. “Jerone, I don’t remember any of that. I don’t remember why I did what I did.”
“But I do,” Jerone snapped, his voice sharp. “I remember everything.”
Asher stepped between them, his voice calm but firm. “This isn’t the time for blame. We’re all here for a reason. Whatever happened in the past, we have to deal with the present now.”
Valeria turned back to the castle, feeling a deep sense of unease. The memories she was slowly regaining were painful, but necessary. She knew that whatever lay inside the castle would help her understand who she truly was—both in her past life as Elanora and in this life as Valeria.
With a deep breath, she stepped forward, the massive doors creaking open as they entered the castle together. Inside, the air was thick with dust, but it was as though time had stood still. The grand halls were just as they had been when she last saw them, though now empty and cold.
As they ventured deeper into the castle, Valeria couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The answers she sought were here, hidden within these walls, but so were the secrets of her betrayal, her love for Zelerious, and the bond she once shared with the elemental kings.
And as they walked through the silent halls, Valeria knew that confronting the past would be the only way to understand her future.
Kian and Asher gently held Valeria’s hands, guiding her through the winding corridors of the castle. Her chamber, once the heart of her world as Elanora, lay at the end of a grand hallway. The memories were faint but palpable, as if the air itself held the echo of her past.
As they approached the grand doors of her chamber, Alexander lingered behind them, watching her with a soft smile. His heart warmed seeing her here again, even though she wasn’t fully herself yet. He could see the familiar traces of Elanora in her eyes, the woman who had once held their hearts.
“It’s like nothing has changed,” Kian murmured as they stopped in front of the doors. “It’s still as it was.”
Asher squeezed Valeria’s hand gently, his eyes searching her face. “We knew you’d come back someday. Even if we didn’t always believe it, deep down we hoped.”
Valeria looked up at the towering doors, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn’t remember this place fully, but standing here felt overwhelming, like stepping into a dream she had long forgotten. The wood of the doors was intricately carved with symbols she didn’t recognize, but she felt them resonate deep within her.
Alexander stepped forward, his smile warm. “It’s your chamber, Valeria... or should I say, Elanora. We’ve kept it just as it was, untouched since you left.”
Valeria’s breath caught in her throat as Kian and Asher pushed open the doors, revealing the massive chamber inside. Her eyes widened at the sight—luxurious tapestries adorned the walls, soft silks draped over the grand bed, and a large balcony overlooked the lush valley below. The room was still bathed in soft light from the crystal chandeliers above.
As they entered, Valeria felt a rush of emotion, something deep and unspoken that stirred within her. “It’s... beautiful,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
“It was yours,” Asher said, his voice soft as he gazed around the room. “Everything here belongs to you.”
Kian let out a small sigh of relief as they stepped further inside. “It’s strange, isn’t it? To feel like you’re home but not remember why it feels that way.”
Valeria nodded slowly, her fingers brushing over the soft fabric of the bed. “I feel like I should remember something important... but it’s just out of reach.”
As they spoke, Alexander chuckled warmly from the doorway. “You’ll remember. In time. We’ll help you.” His smile was full of hope.
But not everyone shared that sentiment.
From the corner of her eye, Valeria saw Jerone standing at the entrance of the hallway, his arms crossed and his face hard. He scoffed as he watched the others surround her, clearly frustrated. Without a word, he turned and strode off down the corridor, disappearing into the shadows.
Kian noticed and sighed. “Jerone... he’s struggling with this.”
Valeria’s heart sank a little. “I know. I can feel his anger. But I don’t know what to do to fix it.”
Asher shook his head. “He’ll come around. He just needs time. He’s always been the most... complicated of us.”
Alexander stepped closer, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. “We’ll take care of him, don’t worry. For now, rest. You’ve been through so much, and there’s still a long way to go.”
Valeria nodded, feeling the weight of everything settle in. The castle, her chamber, the memories—everything felt overwhelming, but at least here, she wasn’t alone.

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ACROSS THE DEPTHS OF THE UNIVERSE
FantasyValeria is a normal girl , living a normal life but life is never boring or happy it will break you and mend you at the same time . she is a little different from humans , she has a dark aura which is not known by her yet . but the moment she gets t...