Infernal Ascendancy
Chapter 44: Hell will Remember

Chapter 44: Hell will Remember

The air was warm, laced with the lingering scent of scorched incense. Sunlight trickled in through the lattice windows, casting golden lines across the bed.

Aria slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurred as she murmured softly, "Where... am I? Is this... Heaven’s Gate? Did I... die?"

Her voice trembled with uncertainty.

As her sight adjusted, she turned to her side—and found Nyssara seated beside her, watching over her with quiet relief.

"You’re awake," Nyssara said gently, moving to support her as Aria struggled to sit up. She placed a pillow behind her. "Easy now."

Aria winced slightly, bringing her hands to her head—but paused, eyes widening at the sight of her bandaged palms. "My hands..."

Nyssara smiled reassuringly. "Don’t worry, it’ll be alright. You’re lucky. Your resistance to flames helped more than you know—if not, your hands might have turned to ash."

Aria gave a tired smile. "Yeah... the flames were intense."

She looked around the room, eyes scanning the corners as if searching for something. "Where’s Lady Selmora?"

Nyssara looked down, her expression softening. "After the fight, I brought you here and treated your wounds. Lady Selmora stayed by your side the entire time... but she collapsed from exhaustion. I moved her to her room to rest. She’s still sleeping."

"I see," Aria whispered, leaning back. "Then I guess I’ll rest too... and wait for her to wake up."

Nyssara nodded. "I’ll go check on Lady Selmora now." She stood and quietly exited the room.

The moment the door clicked shut, Aria sighed.

Then—Arian appeared beside her in a wisp of flame and smoke, arms crossed.

"That was very stupid of you, you know," he said bluntly. "You could have died. How foolish can you be?"

Aria chuckled softly. "Sorry."

Arian huffed. "Well, your resistance saved you... so, how are you feeling?"

"I’m good," she replied.

Aruan appeared next, leaning casually against the wall. "I think you’re done with training here. That means it’s time for the Third Gate. And I don’t want to hear any bickering."

Aria nodded. "Sure. Let’s go."

Arian blinked. "You accepted that... wholeheartedly?"

Aria smiled as she gazed up at the ceiling. "Each gate has taught me something. And I’ve had fun. I found the answers to Selmora’s doubts. Faith. Devotion. Belief. Idolization. And together—worship."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered, "I’ve learned so much."

Arian watched her for a long moment before smiling. "Then get ready. The next gate might be worse."

"We’ll see when we get there," Aria said softly.

"Rest for now," Aruan said. "We’ll depart tomorrow."

Aria nodded, eyes closing. "Okay."

---

[Scene: Selmora’s Room – Later That Night]

Selmora lay motionless on her bed, her skin pale, breath slow. Nyssara gently adjusted the cloth on her forehead and brushed back her green hair.

"Lady Selmora," she whispered, smiling. "Wake up soon. Aria wants to see you again."

She stood and quietly left the room.

Selmora’s fingers twitched.

Her eyelids fluttered.

She was dreaming.

---

[The Dream — Garden of First Light]

It was spring.

Cherry blossoms drifted through the air, swirling in soft pink spirals. The wind was gentle, and the sky above stretched endlessly—pure and blue.

Selmora stood barefoot in a garden long forgotten, clad in flowing white priestess robes. Her long green hair shimmered under the light.

She didn’t move—afraid the fragile beauty around her might break.

Then—

"Selmora!"

She turned.

Under a blooming sakura tree stood a boy with silver hair, sunlight dancing in his eyes. Caelen.

The boy who once spoke with stars in his voice.

He smiled and ran to her, arms wide.

Without hesitation, Selmora ran too.

They collided in a breathless embrace, arms wrapped tightly, desperately.

"I missed you," she whispered against his chest.

"I missed you more," he said, voice trembling. "You disappeared before I could say anything. Before I understood anything."

She clung to him. "I needed you. I waited for you. I waited for you to fight for me."

"I didn’t know how," he said. "I was scared..."

"You left me in the dark," she whispered, not with anger—but sorrow. "They called me a heretic. A witch."

Tears filled his eyes. "You weren’t any of those things."

"But you let them chain me."

"I know." His voice cracked. "But I still loved you."

Selmora raised her hand, brushing his cheek. "I dreamed of you through every scream. I burned for you, Caelen."

He leaned in, resting his forehead against hers.

"I should have burned with you," he whispered.

---

[Flashback – The Ashes of Judgment]

Selmora stood tied to a wooden cross, her robes in tatters. Ash and blood clung to her skin. Around her, the crowd screamed. Holy knights prepared the pyre.

She didn’t scream. She didn’t cry.

Then—

Footsteps.

A girl emerged from the crowd—torn robes, wild hair, burned skin. Aria.

Selmora’s eyes widened.

"No... run..."

But Aria climbed the pyre.

She wrapped her arms around Selmora, holding her close.

"I freed you once," she whispered, "but the world won’t let you live. So if you’re going to burn..."

Tears streamed down her face.

"...then let me burn with you."

"No!" Selmora panicked. "You’ll die!"

"I’d rather die than let you go alone."

The fire was lit.

The flames rose.

Aria held Selmora tighter.

"This isn’t how your story ends," Selmora said, trembling.

Aria smiled. "Then let this be the beginning of yours."

The fire consumed them.

There was no scream.

Only light.

Only warmth.

Only peace.

---

[Epilogue – A Field of Stars]

Under a sky full of stars, Selmora opened her eyes.

She lay in a field of silver grass. Aria held her hand.

On the hill above, Caelen waited.

Smiling.

Selmora stood.

And she ran toward the light.

Free.

---

[ Back in the Flame Temple – Morning]

Selmora gasped awake.

Nyssara turned from the dresser, rushing to her side. "Lady Selmora!"

Selmora sat up, clutching her head. "How long was I asleep?"

"One day," Nyssara said gently.

"Is Aria awake?"

"Yes. But... she’s already at the gate. She came to see you, but you were still sleeping."

Selmora’s eyes widened. "I have something to say to her."

She rushed from the room.

---

[ At the Gate]

Arian stood beside Aria, smiling. "Your hands are healed. Now—off to the Third Gate."

Aria nodded, exhaling deeply. "Let’s go find more adventure."

But just as she turned to the gate—

"Aria!"

She turned.

Selmora was running toward her.

"Lady Selmora!" Aria cried, rushing to meet her.

They embraced tightly.

"I’m glad you’re alright," Aria whispered.

"And I, you," Selmora replied. She glanced at Aria’s hands. "Looks like your hands healed too."

Aria rolled her wrists and grinned. "Yeah."

"I have something for you," Selmora said.

She pulled out a serpent-shaped hairpin and gently placed it in Aria’s hair.

Aria looked up, surprised. "It’s pretty."

Selmora smiled. "No. You’re pretty."

Aria blushed. "Thanks."

"Not just for this," Aria added, her voice shaking. "But... for everything."

Selmora’s flames flickered with her emotions, green embers dancing around them. She took a breath and whispered:

"I was born from love... broken by betrayal... and kept alive by hatred. My flames were my vengeance. My comfort. But you—you—walked into my fire not to fight it, but to feel it. And because of that... I remember how to love again.

Not for the gods.

Not for heaven.

Not for their perfect little children.

But for us.

For the pain.

For the choice.

For the fire we share.

I still won’t kneel to them...

But for you... I would burn a thousand times over."

Tears filled Aria’s eyes. Her pink flames danced in harmony with Selmora’s green.

Together, they whispered—

"Thank you."

---

[Final Gate of Hell – Throne Room]

Azreal sat upon his obsidian throne, fingers steepled as Hulk knelt before him.

"My lord," Hulk said. "Aria just left the Fourth Gate. She’s heading to the Third."

Azreal smiled. "So... everything went well."

He rose from his seat. "I’ll summon Selmora. I want to hear the details myself."

Just then—a guard burst in.

"My lord!" he bowed. "Lord Dragos has arrived. He asks you to meet him in the Land of Ashes."

Azreal’s expression turned thoughtful. "I see."

The guard left.

Hulk frowned. "My lord... are you two still doing that ritual?"

Azreal smiled faintly, "Well, when I made him the fifth gate pillar, I did make a promise with him. And obviously, I was the one who came with the proposal."

Hulk chuckles, "Which he turned into a ritual."

Azreal rises to his feet and snaps his fingers. A swirling, deep-blue gate opens before them, its edges laced with ancient runes burning with dark flame.

As he steps toward it, Hulk asks, "May I accompany you, Lord Azreal?"

Azreal glances back. "Do what you wish."

Without hesitation, Hulk follows. Together, they step into the gate.

---

Land of Ashes

A land scorched by time and battle. Blackened skies hang heavy over crimson plains, where rivers of molten lava cut through the earth like veins. The air burns with ancient heat, and power saturates the soil.

Dragos lounges atop a slumbering dragon, one leg propped lazily over the other. His eyes are closed, but the steady twitch of his foot betrays his impatience.

A sudden gate rips open in the sky.

From it, Azreal emerges, dark and regal. Hulk follows behind him. The air quakes.

Dragos immediately stands. The dragon beneath him growls low before taking flight, disappearing into the smoke-filled horizon.

He bows slightly to Azreal.

Hulk steps aside, sensing the weight in the air thickening.

Azreal gazes at Dragos. "Who knew you still remembered?"

Dragos grins. "Why wouldn’t I? You have to keep your end of the deal. After all, I trained Aria."

Azreal exhales. "Fine. Let’s get this over with."

Dragos’ grin widens. "I’d advise you not to sit in this ritual."

Azreal’s eyes flash, glowing with immense light. "Don’t worry. I won’t."

Dragos’ eyes glow in response, ancient fire burning in them. "I might just enjoy this."

The very atmosphere shifts.

Auras flare—Azreal’s dark and divine, Dragos’ primal and draconic. The ground beneath them trembles.

Hulk, watching from the edge, takes a step back. "It’s about to start—the battle between Lord Azreal and Lord Dragos. Hell is going to remember this."