The scream echoed through the River.It was not a sound.It was a cry filled with defiance.Pain and determination were in it.The Keepers Staff shook violently in Aria's hands.The third empty branch, marked Courage glowed faintly before dimmingThe River whispered urgently."Hurry."The silver-bark map in the Warden's hands kept cracking across the mountains.Dark veins spread through the image like frost on glass.The woman rolled the map closed."The longer the battle continues...""...the harder it will be to save the Branch."Aria looked toward the snow-covered peaks beyond the forest."We leave now."The Wardens moved aside.One elderly man bowed deeply."May the Tree remember your steps, Keeper."Before Aria could answer, Kieran stepped forward."I want to come."Nadia looked at him."So do I."Rowan smiled a little."I thought you'd say that."Aria looked at the two children.Nadia, whose compassion had awakened the First Branch.Kieran, whose trust had restored the Second.T

The snow-covered mountains faded behind Aria, Rowan and the three awakened Children. Nadia, Kieran and Elias. As they stood before the Rivers path once more.The Keepers Staff glowed steadily with three branches shining along its length: Compassion, Trust and Courage.The fourth branch, Wisdom, pulsed urgently, its light flickering like it was struggling to stay alive.The River whispered, "Every moment matters."The lead Warden approached Aria and said, "You should not travel alone anymore."Aria frowned, thinking about the Children and the woman nodded."They have accepted their callings, " she said."They're part of this journey now."Aria looked at Nadia, who smiled and said, "I still want to help."Then Aria turned to Kieran. Asked, "What about you?"Kieran shook his head. Said, "I've spent my whole life running. I'm done."Finally Aria looked at Elias, who rested the shepherd's crook across his shoulders and said, "I protected one village now I want to protect others."Aria. Sai

Aria looked at the page in her hands.The handwriting was her fathers.Every single letter was his.Every stroke of the ink was his too.For a moment the city around her was gone.All she could see was the page.All she could hear was Elias's voice.He was saying something."Truth without compassion is another weapon."A tear fell down her cheek.She was smiling too.That sounded like her father.The Whisperer was watching her.He was very quiet."He spent the night talking to me, " he said."What about?" Aria asked."The truth, " he replied."He wanted people to know the truth...Of being protected from it."Aria folded the page carefully."Did he convince you?" she asked.The Whisperer laughed a little."No, " he said."He just made me see that he really believed it."His answer was honest.It was painfully honest.Aria realized something.The Whisperer was not lying.He really thought he was helping people.Just like Cael thought, locking up the First Prison was the answer.Like Or

The emerald crystal was floating in the air.It was giving off a light that was pulsing in time with a faint glow that was hidden beyond the wall of darkness.Aria reached out her hand.The crystal floated into her palm.It felt warm and alive like it knew her.The River said, "The path has opened."The silver road beneath their feet was going west.This path was different from the others they had been on.It was not shining brightly.It was dim and fragile. Parts of it were fading in and out of sight.Rowan did not like this.He said, "I don't like this."The lead Warden looked uneasy too.He said, "The River has never had trouble remembering a road."The Whisperer said quietly "That is because this place is being forgotten."Aria looked at the wall of darkness.If a whole kingdom could be erased from peoples memories then even the River would eventually forget the way.Aria said, "We do not have time."The Keepers Staff was pulsing in agreement.The four awakened Branches were glowi

The emerald crystal glowed again.A tiny spark.So faint that anyone else might have missed it.I felt it through the Keepers Staff.The dim outline of the Fifth Branch lit up for a second.Liora blinked.Her empty stare shook.She looked at me like she was trying to recall a face from a dream she had long forgotten."I..."She put a hand to her forehead."I know that voice."Lucien's calm smile disappeared.Only for a moment.Then it was back."A fading memory.""It won't last."He took one step forward."You've carried pain Princess.""Rest."His voice flowed through the square like water.The faceless shadows stopped moving.They all turned to Liora.Toward me.Toward the emerald crystal.I felt the temptation in his words.Not just for Liora.For everyone.How easy it would be to forget every loss.Every mistake.Every regret.No grief.No guilt.No sorrow.Only silence.The Keepers Staff suddenly got very heavy.Like it was testing my resolve.The four awakened Branches glowed to