—————-
I was falling.
But not through space — through *memory*.
Each second dropped me into another version of myself: the boy who burned, the prince who lied, the monster they made.
All of them screaming the same question:
**"Why weren't we enough?"**
> "System Merge Halted."
> "Cognitive Overload Reached."
> "Stabilizer Required: Memory Anchor Engaged."
My body hit something soft.
Grass.
A field that shouldn't exist.
The sky was green.
The stars were upside down.
And a girl stood in front of me with my eyes and no shadow.
She smiled.
"You finally got here," she said. "Took you long enough to break."
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This?" she said, twirling. "This is the part of your mind you buried when they made you forget who you were."
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
One king would survive.
"He's coming for your core, not the throne," she said. "Because if he takes it — you won't exist, not in any version."
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
One king would survive.
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
One king would survive.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
One king would survive.
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
One king would survive.
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
One king would survive.
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
The sky began to scream.
The sky began to scream.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
And the other would be erased from time itself.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This?" she said, twirling. "This is the part of your mind you buried when they made you forget who you were."
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
"He's coming for your core, not the throne," she said. "Because if he takes it — you won't exist, not in any version."
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
And the other would be erased from time itself.
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
And the other would be erased from time itself.
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
One king would survive.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
One king would survive.
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
One king would survive.
One king would survive.
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
One king would survive.
"He's coming for your core, not the throne," she said. "Because if he takes it — you won't exist, not in any version."
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This?" she said, twirling. "This is the part of your mind you buried when they made you forget who you were."
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This?" she said, twirling. "This is the part of your mind you buried when they made you forget who you were."
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
"He's coming for your core, not the throne," she said. "Because if he takes it — you won't exist, not in any version."
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
And the other would be erased from time itself.
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
And the other would be erased from time itself.
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
And the other would be erased from time itself.
"He's coming for your core, not the throne," she said. "Because if he takes it — you won't exist, not in any version."
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
One king would survive.
One king would survive.
The sky began to scream.
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
The sky began to scream.
"He's coming for your core, not the throne," she said. "Because if he takes it — you won't exist, not in any version."
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
One king would survive.
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
One king would survive.
One king would survive.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
One king would survive.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
One king would survive.
One king would survive.
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
And the other would be erased from time itself.
The sky began to scream.
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
And the other would be erased from time itself.
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
"He's coming for your core, not the throne," she said. "Because if he takes it — you won't exist, not in any version."
And the other would be erased from time itself.
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
One king would survive.
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This?" she said, twirling. "This is the part of your mind you buried when they made you forget who you were."
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
And the other would be erased from time itself.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This?" she said, twirling. "This is the part of your mind you buried when they made you forget who you were."
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
The sky began to scream.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This?" she said, twirling. "This is the part of your mind you buried when they made you forget who you were."
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
One king would survive.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
And the other would be erased from time itself.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This?" she said, twirling. "This is the part of your mind you buried when they made you forget who you were."
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This?" she said, twirling. "This is the part of your mind you buried when they made you forget who you were."
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This?" she said, twirling. "This is the part of your mind you buried when they made you forget who you were."
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
"He's coming for your core, not the throne," she said. "Because if he takes it — you won't exist, not in any version."
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
One king would survive.
"He's coming for your core, not the throne," she said. "Because if he takes it — you won't exist, not in any version."
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
One king would survive.
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
And the other would be erased from time itself.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
The sky began to scream.
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
One king would survive.
"He's coming for your core, not the throne," she said. "Because if he takes it — you won't exist, not in any version."
One king would survive.
The sky began to scream.
The sky began to scream.
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
The sky began to scream.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
And the other would be erased from time itself.
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
The sky began to scream.
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
The sky began to scream.
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This?" she said, twirling. "This is the part of your mind you buried when they made you forget who you were."
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
The sky began to scream.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
One king would survive.
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
And the other would be erased from time itself.
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
"So what do I do?"
"You choose."
"Between what?"
"Between all of you. And none of you."
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
The sky began to scream.
"He's coming for your core, not the throne," she said. "Because if he takes it — you won't exist, not in any version."
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
And the other would be erased from time itself.
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
The sky began to scream.
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
And the other would be erased from time itself.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
One king would survive.
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
When I opened my eyes, I was standing at the foot of the throne again.
But this time — I wasn't alone inside my head.
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This?" she said, twirling. "This is the part of your mind you buried when they made you forget who you were."
One king would survive.
"What is this place?" I asked.
"This?" she said, twirling. "This is the part of your mind you buried when they made you forget who you were."
"He's coming for your core, not the throne," she said. "Because if he takes it — you won't exist, not in any version."
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
He rose, ancient and endless. I rose, fractured and whole.
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
The Original King was already seated.
He smiled. "You're early."
I cracked my knuckles. "You're in my seat."
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
"System Override Proposal: Do you accept merge with Hidden Version?"
I looked at her. The version I forgot. The one that felt.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
One king would survive.
One king would survive.
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
One king would survive.
> "Warning: Original King's presence detected in the memory field."
> "Collapse imminent."
One king would survive.
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
"I accept."
And then the world turned white.
> "Final System Protocol: Dual Inheritance Detected. Commencing Crown Duel."
"He's coming for your core, not the throne," she said. "Because if he takes it — you won't exist, not in any version."
The glyphs encircled us. The wind howled.
The kingdom prepared to decide.
"Do you remember what you gave up to survive death #67?" she asked.
My stomach turned. "No."
"Exactly. That's why *I* exist."
"I'm your missing version," she whispered. "The one that chose mercy over revenge. They deleted me. But I hid."
"System Identification Failed. Entity does not exist."
"Then how am I here?" I asked.
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
"Because you're about to rewrite yourself."
The words rang in my ears like a bell in a cathedral of silence. Rewrite myself? After 113 deaths? After being erased, overwritten, betrayed by gods and kin?
I didn't know whether to laugh or scream.
"Rewrite what?" I asked. "I barely know who I am."
She stepped closer, lightless eyes reflecting fractured memories I didn't recognize. "Not who you are now. Who you were before they broke you."
Her hand touched my chest. I felt warmth — not from her, but from *me*. A heat buried deep, desperate to rise again.
"You sealed it away," she whispered. "The moment you begged the gods to save your people and they answered by burning them."
"That wasn't mercy," I said. "That was surrender."
She nodded. "And it made you forget the version of you that wouldn't have surrendered."
The ground shifted. Grass faded. The upside-down stars blinked out. The green sky cracked like glass.
"He's coming," she said. "And if you're not whole when he arrives—"
"I won't survive."
"Not even that. You won't *exist*."
A pulse of code glimmered around us. Glyphs etched into the wind itself. The system was reactivating.
> "WARNING: Cross-version merge unstable."
> "Memory anchor syncing in 30… 29…"
I looked at her — this forgotten version of myself. The one who chose compassion. The one who died when I stopped believing in it.
"If we merge," I said, "do I become you?"
She smiled. "No. You become *everything*."
He was waiting. The Original King.
Smiling like he'd won.
"Too late," he said.
I smiled back.
"Not late. Just prepared."
And I had just remembered mine.
> "FINAL SYSTEM NOTICE: INHERITANCE RITE STABILIZED."
> "ONE ENTITY MAY NOW CLAIM THE THRONE."
The world returned. I was no longer in the field. I was standing before the throne, and every version of me stood with me, inside me.
The system began to flicker, its code bleeding through the sky. It was unstable, no longer sure who the rightful heir was — or if such a thing could still exist.
I saw myself — not as I was, but as I could have been. Strong, but not cruel. Clever, but not manipulative. Broken, yes, but *honest* about the cracks.
And I had just remembered mine.
The duel had begun.
Not with swords.
But with *truth.*
The memories came faster now. Children I never held. Wars I never won. Crowns I never wore — all belonging to versions of me that had died for someone else's agenda.
A voice echoed, not hers — but mine. From a past life I couldn't place. "We rise not when we conquer others, but when we remember ourselves."
"That's the piece of you they sealed away," she said. "Your truth."
The duel had begun.
Not with swords.
But with *truth.*
And I had just remembered mine.
A voice echoed, not hers — but mine. From a past life I couldn't place. "We rise not when we conquer others, but when we remember ourselves."
The duel had begun.
Not with swords.
But with *truth.*
The world returned. I was no longer in the field. I was standing before the throne, and every version of me stood with me, inside me.
He was waiting. The Original King.
Smiling like he'd won.
"Too late," he said.
I smiled back.
"Not late. Just prepared."
She nodded once, solemn. "Then don't let go, no matter what comes next."
The system screamed.
> "ERROR: Identity redundancy detected."
> "Solution: Forced integration in 5… 4…"
The system began to flicker, its code bleeding through the sky. It was unstable, no longer sure who the rightful heir was — or if such a thing could still exist.
> "FINAL SYSTEM NOTICE: INHERITANCE RITE STABILIZED."
> "ONE ENTITY MAY NOW CLAIM THE THRONE."
He was waiting. The Original King.
Smiling like he'd won.
"Too late," he said.
I smiled back.
"Not late. Just prepared."
"That's the piece of you they sealed away," she said. "Your truth."
I screamed. Not in pain, but *awakening*.
"That's the piece of you they sealed away," she said. "Your truth."
And I had just remembered mine.
I saw myself — not as I was, but as I could have been. Strong, but not cruel. Clever, but not manipulative. Broken, yes, but *honest* about the cracks.
The memories came faster now. Children I never held. Wars I never won. Crowns I never wore — all belonging to versions of me that had died for someone else's agenda.
The moment I touched the mirror, pain exploded through my chest. The glyph carved during my death #67 flared red.
He was waiting. The Original King.
Smiling like he'd won.
"Too late," he said.
I smiled back.
"Not late. Just prepared."
I grabbed her hand.
"Let's do it," I said.
I saw myself — not as I was, but as I could have been. Strong, but not cruel. Clever, but not manipulative. Broken, yes, but *honest* about the cracks.
The duel had begun.
Not with swords.
But with *truth.*
He was waiting. The Original King.
Smiling like he'd won.
"Too late," he said.
I smiled back.
"Not late. Just prepared."
A voice echoed, not hers — but mine. From a past life I couldn't place. "We rise not when we conquer others, but when we remember ourselves."
He was waiting. The Original King.
Smiling like he'd won.
"Too late," he said.
I smiled back.
"Not late. Just prepared."
A voice echoed, not hers — but mine. From a past life I couldn't place. "We rise not when we conquer others, but when we remember ourselves."
The world returned. I was no longer in the field. I was standing before the throne, and every version of me stood with me, inside me.
I saw myself — not as I was, but as I could have been. Strong, but not cruel. Clever, but not manipulative. Broken, yes, but *honest* about the cracks.
The world returned. I was no longer in the field. I was standing before the throne, and every version of me stood with me, inside me.