The Forest of Forgotten Memories
The Boy Who Collected Broken Stars · July 22, 2026
The moment Aren and Liora stepped through the portal, the world changed.
The bright sky of the floating kingdom disappeared.
The sound of wind vanished.
Even the warmth of Liora’s hand suddenly felt distant.
Aren opened his eyes.
He was standing in a forest.
But this wasn’t an ordinary forest.
The trees were silver.
Their leaves were made of glass.
Every time the wind touched them, they produced a soft musical sound.
Aren looked around.
“Is this the Forest of Forgotten Memories?”
Liora nodded.
“Yes.”
Aren stared at her.
“Why does it look so beautiful?”
“Because it wants you to trust it.”
Aren frowned.
“That’s not creepy at all.”
Liora ignored him.
“Stay close to me.”
“Why?”
“Because the forest changes.”
“What does that mean?”
“One moment you can be here.”
She pointed at the ground.
“The next…”
Aren looked down.
The ground beneath his feet suddenly disappeared.
Aren screamed.
“LIORA!”
Liora grabbed his hand.
The ground returned.
Aren stared at her.
“Did you know that was going to happen?”
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t warn me?”
“I told you to stay close.”
“You said it like a normal person!”
Liora laughed.
Aren glared at her.
“This isn’t funny.”
“It is a little funny.”
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Maybe.”
Aren shook his head.
“I can’t believe I trusted you.”
Liora smiled.
“You still do.”
Aren became quiet.
She was right.
Even after everything…
He still trusted her.
And that scared him.
Because something inside him kept whispering that Liora was hiding another secret.
Aren looked at her.
“Why do you know this forest so well?”
Liora stopped walking.
“I’ve been here before.”
“When?”
“Long ago.”
“How long?”
“Seventeen years.”
Aren froze.
“Seventeen years ago?”
Liora nodded.
“Yes.”
Aren remembered Lord Vael’s words.
She is the one who destroyed your star.
He looked at Liora.
“Was I here?”
She didn’t answer.
“Liora.”
“Yes.”
Aren’s heart began beating faster.
“I was here?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Liora looked away.
“Because this is where your story began.”
Aren stared at her.
“My story?”
“Your birth.”
“Was I born here?”
“No.”
“Then what happened?”
Liora whispered:
“You were brought here.”
“By whom?”
She didn’t answer.
Aren’s patience disappeared.
“Tell me!”
Liora turned around.
“You don’t want to know.”
“That’s not your decision.”
“It is when knowing the truth could destroy you.”
“Maybe I’m tired of being protected!”
His voice echoed through the forest.
The trees began shaking.
Liora looked surprised.
Aren immediately regretted shouting.
“I’m sorry.”
She looked down.
“I understand.”
“No, you don’t.”
Aren walked away.
“I spent seventeen years being treated like a mistake.”
He looked at his hands.
“Everyone thought I was useless.”
His voice became quiet.
“Then I found out I had a star.”
He looked at Liora.
“Then I found out you destroyed it.”
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“And now you’re telling me that I was brought here?”
Liora whispered:
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother wanted to save you.”
Aren froze.
“My mother?”
Liora nodded.
“She knew your father was going to use you.”
“For what?”
“To control the Eclipse Star.”
Aren’s face became pale.
“Who was my father?”
Liora closed her eyes.
“You don’t remember him?”
“No.”
“You were very young.”
“I don’t remember anything.”
“That’s because someone erased your memories.”
Aren stepped closer.
“Who?”
Liora looked at him.
“Your father.”
Silence.
Aren’s heart felt heavy.
“My father erased my memories?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he was afraid of what you might remember.”
Aren laughed bitterly.
“Everyone is afraid of me.”
Liora stepped closer.
“I’m not.”
Aren looked at her.
“You should be.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I know who you really are.”
“Who am I?”
Liora looked into his eyes.
“You’re the person who saved me.”
Aren frowned.
“I saved you?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Before you lost your memories.”
Aren stared.
“How?”
Liora’s eyes filled with tears.
“You saved my life.”
Aren couldn’t speak.
“From whom?”
Liora whispered:
“Your father.”
Suddenly…
A loud sound came from deep inside the forest.
BOOM!
Aren turned.
“What was that?”
Liora’s expression changed.
“Something found us.”
“What?”
A shadow moved between the trees.
Then another.
Then dozens.
Aren pulled out his sword.
“Star Eaters?”
Liora shook her head.
“Worse.”
Aren swallowed.
“How much worse?”
“Much.”
A huge creature stepped into the clearing.
It had the body of a wolf.
But its head was covered in human faces.
Aren stared.
“That’s disgusting.”
Liora nodded.
“Memory Beast.”
“Why does it have faces?”
“Those are the memories it has stolen.”
Aren looked at the faces.
Some were crying.
Some were screaming.
One was laughing.
Aren felt sick.
“How do we kill it?”
“We don’t.”
Aren looked at her.
“What?”
“We can’t kill it.”
“Then why did you bring me here?”
“I didn’t.”
The beast roared.
The entire forest shook.
Aren held his sword tighter.
“Okay.”
He took a deep breath.
“New plan.”
Liora looked at him.
“What?”
“Run.”
Liora smiled.
“Now you’re learning.”
They ran.
The Memory Beast chased them.
Aren jumped over a fallen tree.
Liora created a shield.
The beast smashed through it.
Aren looked back.
“It’s getting closer!”
“I know!”
“Do something!”
“I’m trying!”
“Try harder!”
“You’re very annoying!”
“You’re the one who brought me here!”
“I didn’t bring you here!”
“Then who did?”
Liora suddenly stopped.
Aren crashed into her.
“Why did you stop?”
She pointed ahead.
Aren looked.
They were standing at the edge of a massive cliff.
Below them…
There was nothing.
Only darkness.
Behind them…
The Memory Beast was coming.
Aren looked at Liora.
“Please tell me you have another portal.”
“No.”
“Please tell me you have wings.”
“No.”
“Please tell me you can fly.”
“No.”
“Then we’re going to die.”
Liora looked at him.
“Probably.”
Aren stared.
“You’re supposed to make me feel better.”
“I’m sorry.”
The beast roared.
Aren looked at the cliff.
Then at Liora.
Then back at the beast.
“Okay.”
Liora frowned.
“What are you doing?”
Aren stepped toward the cliff.
“Aren?”
“I have an idea.”
“That’s never good.”
He jumped.
Liora screamed.
“ARENNNN!”
Aren fell.
The wind rushed past his face.
He closed his eyes.
For one terrifying moment…
He thought he was going to die.
Then he felt something.
A warm light inside his chest.
The crack on his skin began glowing.
Aren opened his eyes.
A silver star appeared beneath him.
It caught him.
Aren stared.
“Whoa.”
The star carried him downward.
Slowly.
Gently.
He landed safely.
Aren looked up.
Liora was still standing on the cliff.
“Aren!”
“I’m okay!”
“You’re insane!”
“I had a plan!”
“You jumped off a cliff!”
“It worked!”
Liora stared at him.
Then jumped.
Aren’s eyes widened.
“LIORA!”
She fell.
Aren reached out.
“Come on!”
The silver star appeared again.
It caught her.
She landed beside him.
Aren stared.
“You could fly this entire time?”
“No.”
“Then what was that?”
“I don’t know.”
The star disappeared.
Aren looked at his chest.
The glowing crack had become brighter.
Liora stepped closer.
“It’s awakening.”
“What is?”
“Your Eclipse Star.”
Aren stared at her.
“So that’s my power?”
“Part of it.”
“What’s the other part?”
“We need to find the Broken Stars.”
Aren nodded.
“Then let’s find them.”
They continued deeper into the forest.
The Memory Beast was gone.
But something felt different.
The forest was quieter.
Too quiet.
Aren suddenly stopped.
“Liora.”
“Yes?”
“Do you hear that?”
She listened.
A faint voice was calling.
“Aren…”
He turned.
The voice came again.
“Aren…”
It sounded familiar.
Aren walked toward it.
Liora grabbed his arm.
“Don’t.”
“Why?”
“That’s how the forest traps people.”
“But I know that voice.”
“No, you don’t.”
Aren pulled away.
“Let me go.”
“Aren!”
He ran.
Liora followed.
They entered a clearing.
Aren froze.
A small house stood in front of them.
His house.
The house where he had grown up.
Aren stared.
“That’s impossible.”
Liora slowly approached.
“Don’t go inside.”
Aren opened the door.
“Liora…”
Inside was a small boy.
Maybe five years old.
Aren stared at him.
The child looked exactly like him.
The little boy was sitting on the floor.
Crying.
Aren stepped forward.
“Who are you?”
The child looked up.
“You’re me.”
Aren’s heart stopped.
“What?”
The child smiled.
“You forgot.”
“Forgot what?”
The child stood.
“You promised.”
“Promised what?”
The child pointed toward the corner.
A little girl was standing there.
She had silver hair.
Aren looked at Liora.
Liora was frozen.
The little girl smiled.
“Aren.”
Liora whispered:
“No.”
Aren looked at her.
“You know her?”
Liora’s face was filled with fear.
“Yes.”
“Who is she?”
The little girl answered.
“My name is Liora.”
Aren’s eyes widened.
He turned toward the Liora standing beside him.
Then back to the little girl.
There were two Liors.
The little girl smiled.
“You’re finally back.”
Aren couldn’t speak.
The older Liora stepped backward.
“No.”
The little girl continued.
“You promised you’d come back for me.”
Aren looked at the older Liora.
“What is happening?”
She shook her head.
“Don’t listen to her.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s not real.”
The little Liora laughed.
“Of course I’m real.”
She pointed at the older Liora.
“She’s the fake one.”
Aren stared.
The older Liora looked terrified.
“She’s lying.”
“Then why do you look scared?”
Liora couldn’t answer.
The little girl walked closer.
She touched Aren’s hand.
Suddenly…
Aren saw a memory.
He was five years old.
He was standing in this exact forest.
Beside him was the little Liora.
They were holding hands.
Aren heard his younger voice.
“I promise I’ll come back.”
The memory changed.
Aren saw his father.
A dark figure stood behind him.
Then…
A bright flash.
Aren screamed.
The memory disappeared.
He fell to his knees.
Liora rushed toward him.
“Aren!”
He pushed her away.
“You knew.”
Liora froze.
“You knew about her.”
“Yes.”
“Who is she?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re lying.”
“I swear!”
The little girl laughed.
“She’s the one who destroyed your star.”
Aren looked at Liora.
His heart stopped.
The little girl continued.
“She was supposed to kill you.”
Liora shook her head.
“No.”
“But she couldn’t.”
“Stop!”
“She loved you.”
Liora screamed:
“STOP!”
The forest shook.
The little girl smiled.
Aren looked at Liora.
“What happened that day?”
Liora’s eyes filled with tears.
“You were going to die.”
“Why?”
“Because your father wanted to awaken the Eclipse Star.”
“How?”
“He needed your blood.”
Aren froze.
“He was going to sacrifice you.”
Liora continued.
“I tried to stop him.”
“What happened?”
“Your star awakened.”
Aren touched his chest.
“The Eclipse Star?”
“Yes.”
“It destroyed everything.”
“Almost.”
“What did you do?”
Liora whispered:
“I broke it.”
“Why?”
“Because if I didn’t…”
She looked at him.
“…you would have died.”
Aren was silent.
Then he asked:
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I knew you would hate me.”
Aren looked away.
“I don’t hate you.”
Liora froze.
Aren continued.
“I don’t know what I feel.”
He looked at the little girl.
“Who is she?”
The little Liora smiled.
“Ask her.”
Aren turned.
The little girl was gone.
In her place…
Was a glowing crystal.
Inside the crystal…
Was a broken star.
Aren slowly approached.
His hand touched it.
The moment he did…
Another memory appeared.
He saw himself.
Five years old.
Standing in the forest.
Liora was beside him.
And behind them…
A man.
Aren’s father.
The man was holding a black star.
He looked at Aren.
Then said:
“One day, my son, you will destroy this world.”
Aren gasped.
The memory changed.
His father turned toward Liora.
“And when he does…”
He smiled.
“…you will be the one who kills him.”
The memory disappeared.
Aren opened his eyes.
Liora was crying.
Aren looked at her.
“He planned everything.”
Liora nodded.
“He knew.”
“He knew you would break my star.”
“Yes.”
“He wanted you to do it.”
“Yes.”
Aren looked at the broken star.
Then at Liora.
“Why?”
Liora whispered:
“Because the Eclipse Star can’t be destroyed.”
Aren’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“It can only be divided.”
“Into seven pieces.”
“Yes.”
“Seven Broken Stars.”
“Yes.”
Aren finally understood.
His destiny wasn’t destroyed.
It had been divided.
And now…
He had to collect every piece.
Aren looked at Liora.
“Why did you come back?”
She wiped her tears.
“Because I wanted to finish what I started.”
“Destroy my star?”
“No.”
Liora stepped closer.
“Save you.”
Aren stared at her.
Then slowly…
He held out his hand.
Liora looked at it.
“You still trust me?”
Aren smiled sadly.
“Not completely.”
She looked hurt.
“But?”
Aren stepped closer.
“I want to.”
Liora took his hand.
Aren’s heart began beating faster.
He looked into her eyes.
“Maybe love isn’t trusting someone because they never hurt you. Maybe it’s choosing to stay after you know they can.”
Liora’s eyes filled with tears.
“I don’t deserve you.”
Aren smiled.
“Probably not.”
She laughed through her tears.
“You’re terrible.”
“I know.”
Suddenly…
The crystal behind them shattered.
A bright silver star floated into the air.
Aren reached for it.
The moment he touched it…
A powerful light exploded.
Aren screamed.
His chest began glowing.
The first Broken Star entered his body.
For one second…
Aren saw everything.
Seven stars.
Seven kingdoms.
Seven secrets.
And at the center of them all…
A black throne.
Someone was sitting on it.
Aren heard a voice.
“Collect them all, Starless Boy.”
The vision changed.
The person on the throne looked directly at him.
Aren recognized him.
His blood turned cold.
It was Lord Vael.
But there was something wrong.
Behind Lord Vael stood another figure.
A woman.
A woman with silver hair.
A woman who looked exactly like Liora.
Aren’s eyes widened.
Then the voice whispered:
“The girl beside you is not the real Liora.”
Aren suddenly opened his eyes.
The star disappeared into his chest.
He looked at the girl holding his hand.
“Liora…”
She looked at him.
“Yes?”
Aren stared into her eyes.
For a moment…
He couldn’t speak.
Then he remembered the vision.
The girl beside you is not the real Liora.
Aren’s heart began racing.
He wanted to ask her.
He wanted to know the truth.
But then…
Liora smiled.
And somehow…
He couldn’t do it.
Not yet.
Because whatever secret she was hiding…
Aren knew one thing.
He didn’t want to lose her.
Suddenly, the forest began collapsing.
Trees fell.
The sky turned red.
Liora looked around.
“We have to leave!”
“Why?”
“Because the forest knows you found the star.”
Aren grabbed her hand.
“Then let’s go!”
They ran.
Behind them…
A dark portal opened.
A voice came from inside.
“One star collected.”
Aren stopped.
Liora grabbed him.
“Don’t look back!”
But Aren did.
Inside the portal…
He saw a man.
His father.
Alive.
Aren froze.
“Dad?”
The man smiled.
Then the portal disappeared.
Aren stood in silence.
Liora slowly approached.
“Aren…”
He turned toward her.
“My father is alive.”
Liora didn’t answer.
“Isn’t he?”
She looked away.
Aren’s voice became cold.
“You knew.”
Liora whispered:
“Yes.”
Aren’s heart broke again.
“Why?”
“Because he is the one who is destroying the stars.”
Aren stared at her.
The truth was finally becoming clear.
His father wasn’t dead.
He wasn’t missing.
He was behind everything.
The broken stars.
The Star Eaters.
The prophecy.
And perhaps…
The reason Aren had never been allowed to know his true destiny.
Aren clenched his fists.
“Then I’m going to find him.”
Liora looked at him.
“And when you do?”
Aren stared toward the dark forest.
“I’ll ask him one question.”
“What?”
Aren’s eyes glowed silver.
“Why did you make the girl I love destroy my destiny?”
Liora froze.
Aren looked at her.
For a moment…
Neither spoke.
Then Liora’s face turned bright red.
“You…”
Aren blinked.
“What?”
“You said…”
“What?”
“You said…”
She pointed at him.
“Girl you love.”
Aren suddenly realized.
His face turned red too.
“I was talking about—”
“No.”
“Wait.”
“You love me?”
“Liora.”
“You said it!”
“I was emotional!”
“You love me!”
“Stop!”
She laughed.
Aren covered his face.
“Can we discuss this later?”
“No.”
“Please.”
“Absolutely not.”
Despite everything…
They both laughed.
And as they walked away from the collapsing forest…
Aren didn’t know that someone was watching them.
From the top of a distant mountain…
Lord Vael stood beside a mysterious woman.
She had silver hair.
Violet eyes.
And a broken star glowing above her head.
Lord Vael looked at her.
“He’s fallen in love with her.”
The woman smiled.
“Of course.”
“Will you stop him?”
The woman shook her head.
“No.”
“Why?”
She looked toward Aren.
“Because love is the easiest way to destroy him.”
And far away…
Aren and Liora continued their journey.
Neither of them knew that the next destination would take them above the clouds…
To a kingdom where the people had no shadows.
A kingdom ruled by a prince who had stolen an entire star.
And waiting there…
Was the Second Broken Star.