Chapter 2: The Stranger with Silver Eyes

Kaelion stood at the edge of the forest, watching the village from the shadows. He had been wandering for centuries, but the moment he stepped into Dalesmere, he felt it—her. His Seraphina was here, reborn into a new life, just as he had always hoped. The curse that bound him to immortality had been a heavy burden, but now, after so many lifetimes, he had found her again.

He watched as she moved through the market, her golden hair glinting in the sunlight. She looked different, younger, and without the regal bearing of the warrior princess she once was. But those green eyes were unmistakable. She didn't recognize him, but she had felt something—he saw it in the way she hesitated, the way her gaze lingered.

Kael followed her at a distance, careful not to be seen. He couldn't approach her yet, not until he was sure she was ready. Memories of their last moments together flooded his mind—the betrayal, the blood, and the promise he had made as she lay dying in his arms. "I will find you, Sera. I swear it."

As night fell, Sera walked back to Maeryn's cottage, her basket of herbs in hand. She hummed softly to herself, trying to shake the unease that had settled over her. The forest path was quiet, but the snap of a branch made her freeze. She turned, her heart pounding, and saw him.

"You…" The word slipped from her lips before she could stop it. The man stepped forward, his silver eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. "Don't be afraid," he said, his voice deep and soothing. "I'm not here to hurt you."

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling. He hesitated, as if searching for the right words. "Someone who has been waiting for you for a very long time."

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To be continued...