Alarm bells echoed across the academy, drowning out every thought.
Students fled from the courtyard as monstrous shadow beasts spilled from the portals — larger and more aggressive than before.
Elara, Lucian, and Liora rushed outside together.
The sky churned with darkness, swirling like a storm of nightmares.The shadows weren't hunting the school…
They were hunting her.
A massive creature formed — towering above the buildings, eyes burning violet.
Its voice wasn't heard — it resonated inside Elara's mind:
"Elara Voss. Come to us. You belong to the shadows."
Lucian immediately summoned his sword, stepping in front of her."You're not taking her."
The monster laughed, hollow and echoing.
"You cannot protect what has already been taken once."
Elara's memory flashed — the night she died.The cold floor.Blood.Fear.A figure she couldn't fully see.
Her knees buckled, hands shaking.
Liora grabbed her shoulders. "Stay with me, Elara. Breathe."
Lucian fought the shadows alone, slicing through them — determined, desperate, bleeding — refusing to step back an inch.
Elara's heart squeezed painfully.
She could not watch him suffer because of her again.
She stepped forward — golden power beginning to ripple around her.
The shadow beast turned its gaze directly on her.
"The locket was opened. Memory will be the price."
Her eyes widened — that meant the countdown had started.Soon, someone she loved would forget her.
Lucian…?Liora…?Someone else…?
No. She refused that fate.
She summoned the Celestial Light, louder and brighter than ever — golden wings of energy flaring behind her.
"Leave this place! I will not let you take anything from me again!"
Light exploded outward — but suddenly the power twisted, becoming unstable.The golden glow bled into dangerous white heat.
Elara screamed — losing control.
Liora shouted, "Lucian! She's burning out — if she releases too much energy she'll—"
Lucian threw himself toward Elara, dropping his sword, ignoring the monsters, and wrapped his arms around her.
"Elara, look at me! Focus on my voice — I'm right here!"
Her breath shook — tears streaking down her face."I don't want to lose anyone. I don't want anyone to forget me. I don't want to be alone again…"
Lucian cupped her face, forcing her eyes to meet his.
"You won't be alone. I swear to you. I'd rather lose myself than ever forget you."
Her power calmed — slowly — until the wings faded.
The monster let out a roar of frustration before dissolving into smoke.
The attack was over — for now.
🔥 After the battle — the revelation
Students and guards rushed in to secure the area.
Elara, Lucian, and Liora slipped into an empty classroom — breathless.
Elara spoke first, voice trembling."What did you mean earlier? You said you were there when I died."
Lucian and Liora exchanged a look — both pained.
Liora nodded slowly. "You deserve the truth."
She walked to the chalkboard and drew the royal crest — the one from their first life.
Elara stared."House Voss… my family."
Lucian spoke next — voice low, guilt in every syllable.
"I wasn't just a knight in your previous life… I was the prince who was ordered to kill you."
Elara froze.
Her heart shattered.
Lucian kept going — voice raw, tortured.
"I never wanted to. I loved you. I begged them to stop. But they said you were cursed — that you would destroy the kingdom. I couldn't save you. I lost you once… and I swore if fate ever gave me another chance, I wouldn't fail you again."
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Liora wiped her eyes too. "And I was the one who tried to protect you… and died by your side."
Elara couldn't breathe.
Her best friend died for her.Her lover was ordered to kill her.Her reincarnation had a cost.
She stepped back, voice barely audible:
"You both… remembered everything… before I did."
Lucian nodded. "Yes. But the moment the locket breaks… one of us will forget you forever."
Everything inside Elara cracked — fear, love, fury, longing, heartbreak.
Her voice whisper-quiet, trembling:
"Why did fate bring us back… just to tear us apart again?"
No one had an answer.
But outside the classroom window, the violet-eyed figure watched them from the rooftop, smiling in the shadows.
"The memory game has begun."