Hearing Vivianne's words, Dietrich jolted violently, breath hitching, eyes widening with a terror he had never allowed himself to acknowledge. The word cleaved through the remnants of his arrogance and the fortress of self-righteous delusion he had built around himself. He tried to speak, but only wet gurgles escaped, the forbidden magic inside him devouring what little remained of his strength.
Before he could shape a plea, a threat, or a justification, Vivianne lifted her hand and placed it before his forehead. "With the power Chronos bestowed upon me," she whispered, "I will have you remember the memories of your past life."
The world shattered around Dietrich.
His scream tore through the throne hall, scraping the walls like claws. It's not the cry of a man injured but of a soul dragged backward through every sin it ever committed. His body convulsed, contorting violently as the magic forced open doors to the memories of his past life, the one he had forgotten.
