He cried for a long time. Not the quiet tears he usually hid from others and not the silent grief he carried behind forced smiles.
This time… he cried like a child who missed his mother. And inside the hidden chamber, surrounded by Celestia's memories, he finally allowed himself to break completely.
The golden lanterns dimmed softly around him as though mourning with him.
Meanwhile the recorded memory of Celestia remained standing nearby, her expression filled with endless warmth.
Patient. Waiting for him to breathe again.
Eventually, Luke wiped his face shakily with his sleeve.
The crystal recording shimmered gently.
Celestia smiled softly.
"There's my brave little star."
Luke laughed weakly through lingering tears.
"You always call me that."
The memory tilted her head slightly.
"Because you always were."
Luke stared at her silently for a moment.
Even knowing this was only a recording…
it still felt real enough to hurt.
He wanted to hug her.
Ask a thousand questions.
Tell her everything that happened after she died.
How Lucien changed,how he found the dragon,how he met the Father of All,how terrifying the void beyond creation had been,how much he missed her.But the memory could only follow what had already been left behind centuries ago.
And somehow… that made this even sadder.
Celestia slowly moved around the chamber while speaking again.
"If you found this room, then the Heart has already awakened inside you."
Luke stiffened slightly.
Her smile faded gently.
"Which means the burden became yours far earlier than I hoped."
The lanterns flickered faintly.
"I wanted you to have time."
Luke lowered his eyes quietly.
"So did I," he whispered.
The memory paused near the silver table covered in journals.
"You're probably frightened."
Luke immediately looked away.
Not because she was wrong.
But because she understood him too easily.
Celestia smiled knowingly.
"When I first awakened my own Balance gifts, I was terrified too."
Luke blinked.
"You were?"
The memory nodded lightly.
"Oh, very much."
She laughed softly to herself.
"The first time I accidentally manipulated celestial gravity, I destroyed an entire training hall."
Luke stared at her in shock.
Celestia covered her mouth slightly while laughing.
"Your grandfather was not pleased."
Despite himself, Luke smiled.
The image of graceful perfect Celestia accidentally destroying buildings somehow felt impossible.
The memory's expression softened afterward.
"My little star…"
Her voice became quieter.
"Power feels lonely at first."
Luke's smile disappeared slightly.
"Especially power that others fear."
The room became still.
Because lately… people had begun fearing him.
The Sentinels bowed too deeply.
Some servants avoided eye contact completely.
Even certain ancient guardians whispered nervously whenever his emotions affected the sanctuary unintentionally and he so much hate it.
He did not want to become something untouchable,something distant,something inhuman.
Celestia's golden eyes seemed to look directly into his soul. "Promise me something."
Luke nodded slowly.
"No matter how powerful you become…"
The room glowed warmly around her.
"…do not let anyone convince you that feeling deeply is weakness."
Luke's chest tightened.
"Balance without compassion becomes control."
The Heart's distant pulse echoed faintly through the chamber.
"And power without love eventually becomes destruction."
Luke immediately thought about the Primordials.
Then Vaelthoros.
The ancient creature had changed only after someone finally saw its pain instead of simply fearing its darkness.
Celestia smiled softly again.
"You will meet many beings who believe strength comes from domination."
Her expression turned proud now.
"But your greatest strength will always be your heart."
Luke looked down quietly.
Nobody had ever told him that before.
Most people spoke about his power.His destiny.
The Heart. The prophecy.
But Celestia spoke about him.
Not the heir,not the Balance. Just Luke.
And somehow… that mattered more than everything else.
Then the memory suddenly shifted.
Celestia looked toward something beyond the crystal recording briefly, almost distracted.
Her expression changed completely to something warmer. Luke frowned slightly then another voice echoed faintly through the recording.
Lucien's.
"You're hiding in here again."
Luke froze instantly.
The younger Lucien walked into the memory moments later wearing dark infernal armor partially loosened after battle. He looked far less hardened than the man Luke knew now.
Still dangerous,but lighter somehow.
More alive.
Celestia smiled immediately upon seeing him. "You found me."
Lucien walked toward her with a tired expression.
"You disappeared during an important council meeting."
"I was bored."
"You are impossible."
"You love me anyway."
Lucien sighed dramatically before gently kissing her forehead.
"Unfortunately."
Luke stared silently at the memory.
He had never seen his parents together before.
Not truly.
And suddenly…
he understood why Lucien broke after her death.
The way his father looked at her…
like she was the only peaceful thing in existence.
The memory continued naturally.
Lucien rested one hand carefully against Celestia's stomach.
"How is he today?"
Celestia smiled softly.
"Violent."
Lucien looked offended immediately.
"That sounds inherited from your side."
Luke laughed weakly through fresh tears.
The younger Lucien smirked faintly.
Then his expression softened unexpectedly while feeling the unborn child move beneath Celestia's hand.
And quietly…
so quietly Luke almost missed it…
Lucien whispered:
"My son."
The tenderness in his father's voice shattered something inside him.
Because Lucien never spoke softly like that anymore.
Not after grief consumed him.
The memory froze gently there.
Celestia smiling.
Lucien beside her.
A family untouched by tragedy for one fleeting moment in time.
Luke stared at them silently while tears slid down his face again.
the chamber doors opened behind him.
Lucien stood there.
And the moment his father saw the frozen memory before him…
the Prince of Hell stopped breathing.