Beyond the Gateways

Chapter 9: Fragments of the Past

The morning sun barely peeked through the thick mist as Ariana stepped out of the training grounds, the weight of her own confusion pressing down on her chest. Her body ached from the earlier training session, but it wasn't the physical exhaustion that made her feel drained—it was the gnawing uncertainty in her mind. The power she had been struggling to control, the runes on her wrists, the mysterious words from the figure in the alley—all of it was like a puzzle missing pieces, and she was left with more questions than answers.

She had to know more. She had to understand who she really was, what had happened to her in the past, and why the Gateways—those ancient portals—seemed so attuned to her. But where could she go to find these answers? Who could she trust to help her make sense of the fragments of her memories?

Dorian, though reliable, had been a little too vague. He had given her pieces of the puzzle, but he always seemed to hold something back, as if there was more to her story than he was willing to tell.

That's when it hit her—there was someone she needed to find. Someone who could help her unlock the answers buried deep within her mind. Someone who knew the Gateways and the magic that bound them.

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The Library of Ashen Lore was as ancient as the Gateways themselves, hidden deep within the heart of a forest untouched by time. To reach it, Ariana had to cross winding paths, ancient stone bridges covered in moss, and dense thickets where the air shimmered with magic. The journey itself felt like crossing through a veil of reality, where every step took her further from the world she knew and deeper into the unknown.

It was here, in this sacred space, that she would meet the Mentor—a being who had lived for centuries, a figure who was tied to the Gateways long before Ariana's memories were lost. Dorian had warned her that the Mentor was a recluse, difficult to find and even more difficult to trust. But if anyone knew the truth about her past, it was this enigmatic figure.

Ariana approached the towering door of the library, its surface engraved with symbols of forgotten magics. The moment her fingers brushed against the cold metal, the door creaked open, as if it had been waiting for her.

Inside, the air was thick with dust and the scent of old parchment. Shelves upon shelves stretched high into the vaulted ceiling, lined with books, scrolls, and arcane artifacts that hummed with power. The dim light seemed to flicker and dance as if alive, guiding her steps deeper into the labyrinth of knowledge.

A figure appeared in the shadows, an old man with silver hair and a cloak woven from the fabric of twilight itself. His eyes, however, were the most striking feature—a vibrant shade of blue that seemed to pierce through the veil of reality.

"You've come," he said, his voice a soft rasp, but it carried a weight of authority that made Ariana's heart skip a beat. "I was expecting you."

Ariana stood still for a moment, unsure of how to respond. The words she had rehearsed in her mind suddenly felt insufficient. "I... I need your help," she began, her voice tentative but firm. "I need to understand who I am, what's happening to me. My magic, these runes, the Gateways—I can't make sense of it all. Please, tell me what I need to know."

The Mentor studied her for a long moment, his eyes narrowing as though he were reading something deep inside her. "You have questions," he said at last. "But not all of them are meant to be answered immediately. Some truths are too dangerous to know, especially for one whose mind is still in fragments."

"Fragments?" Ariana repeated, frowning. "What do you mean? What happened to me?"

The Mentor gave a single, weary nod. "You were once a gatekeeper. A protector of the Gateways. But something happened—a fall from grace, perhaps. Your memories were shattered, hidden from you, to protect you from the consequences of the choices you made."

Ariana's chest tightened at his words. "A gatekeeper?" she echoed, as if testing the weight of the term. The more she heard, the more questions she had. "But... I don't remember any of that. I don't even know what that means."

The Mentor's expression softened slightly. "The Gateways are not simply doors to other worlds, Ariana. They are conduits of immense power—power that must be guarded at all costs. And you, with your runes, were once their guardian. But there was a cost to that power. A price you were unwilling to pay."

Ariana's mind raced. "A price I was unwilling to pay? What do you mean? Why don't I remember?"

The Mentor's eyes darkened with a shadow of regret. "The Gateways have a way of hiding the truth, especially when it's too dangerous to face. But the truth, in time, will find its way to you. It's already beginning to resurface. You felt it, didn't you? The power stirring within you. That's not just magic. That's a part of you trying to remember, trying to awaken."

Ariana's hands instinctively went to her wrists, where the runes pulsed with a soft glow. The sensation had become more pronounced lately, like an echo of something familiar, something buried deep within her soul.

"Why now?" she asked. "Why am I only starting to remember now?"

The Mentor sighed. "The Gateways are opening once more. Forces are moving, forces that will stop at nothing to control the power they offer. Your memories are tied to their activation, Ariana. The more the Gateways awaken, the more your past will be revealed. But it's a dangerous path. You must be careful not to lose yourself along the way."

Ariana swallowed, trying to process it all. "So, I'm not just some random person with magic. I'm a gatekeeper—a protector of these portals. But I failed, didn't I? I lost my way, and now I have to regain everything?"

The Mentor nodded gravely. "You were betrayed. Not by enemies, but by those you trusted most. And that betrayal fractured you. Your memories were sealed away to protect you from the truth. But now, as the Gateways grow stronger, you will have to face them. You will have to face your own past."

Ariana's mind reeled with the enormity of it all. "But I don't even know what happened. How can I fight something I don't understand?"

The Mentor stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You won't have to do it alone. You have allies, though they may not be who you expect. Dorian, for instance—he knows more than he's told you. But trust is a fragile thing, and you'll have to decide if he is worthy of it."

Ariana felt a pang at the mention of Dorian. Was he hiding things from her? She had suspected as much, but hearing it from someone else made the doubt feel more real.

"Who can I trust?" she whispered, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"The Gateways will tell you," the Mentor replied softly. "But only when you're ready."

Ariana took a deep breath, gathering her courage. She didn't have all the answers, but she was closer than she had been before. And that, at least, was a start.

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As she left the Library of Ashen Lore, her heart was heavy with the weight of the revelations. She was a gatekeeper, a protector of ancient powers, but she had lost that identity—lost her memories—and now, she had to fight to reclaim it.

The road ahead was uncertain, but Ariana was no longer the frightened girl who had stumbled into this world. She was something more. And now, it was time to find out just how much more.

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