Chapter 10: A Lifetime of Secrets

The sun had barely risen when Olivia left her chambers, her thoughts heavy with doubt and fear. The book she had found in Lila's room disturbed her mind, and her sister's strange behavior looked like a shadow over her every thought.

But it wasn't just Lila. Something about Austin had always seemed different, his protectiveness, his knowing looks, and the way he always seemed to anticipate her every move.

Olivia needed answers.

She found Austin in the castle garden, standing underneath the willow tree where they used to talk as children. He was looking out at the setting of the sun, lost in thought.

"Austin," she called softly, moving closer to him.

He turned with his expression immediately darkening when he saw the worry in her eyes. "Olivia, what's wrong?"

"I found something," she said, her voice was very low. "Something about Lila and about me."

Austin's jaw remained firm. "What did you find?"

She hesitated, watching his reaction closely. "A book in Lila's room. It had my name in it and the Weaver's mark."

Austin's breath seized in his chest. He looked around the garden to check for movement and to ensure they were alone. Then he took her hand by the arm.

"Come with me," he said urgently.

Austin took her to a hidden chamber near the library, a place Olivia had never seen before. The room was small, with the only small light coming from a single lantern, and the walls were designed with maps and strange symbols.

"What is this place?" she asked, looking around.

"A safe space," Austin replied. "Somewhere we can talk without being overheard."

He pointed for her to sit on an old leather chair while he stood by the table, his arms crossed while looking at her.

"Olivia, i have something i really need to inform you, something I have been trying to keep away from you for a long time," he said, his voice firm.

Olivia's heart kept racing as she was waiting for him to speak.

"I remember other timelines," Austin said finally. "I remember every single one."

She looked at him, her mind was busy trying to understand his words. "What do you mean? How can you remember?" she said.

He gave a soft smile and looked closely at her while using his fingers to brush his hair. "I don't know how it started, but for a long time now which i can still remember, I've existed in this cycle of experiencing different timelines. Every time you die, the timeline resets. And every time, I wasn't able to save you."

Olivia's breath seized at the words coming out of his mouth. "You've seen me die?"

Austin nodded, his expression pained. "More times than I can count. Poison, fire, betrayal, and more are all ways you have died, it's always different, but the result is the same. No matter what I do, I can't stop your death."

Her hands kept shaking as she held on to the chair beside her. "And the Weaver?"

Austin's eyes darkened. "The Weaver is the one resetting the timelines. Every time you die, she erases your memories and starts over. But for some reason, I'm left to remember everything."

Olivia's mind went blank as she tried to understand what he was saying. "Why would the Weaver do this? Why me?"

Austin hesitated, his looks dropping to the floor. "Because you're not just anyone, Olivia. You're connected to her—your soul is tied to hers. She sees you as a threat to the balance of the multiverse."

Olivia shook her head. "That doesn't make sense. I'm just me."

"You're more than that," Austin said, his voice firm. "I don't know much about all that happening, but I do know this: the Weaver is afraid of you. That's why she keeps resetting the timelines. She's trying to control you, to keep you from realizing your true power."

Olivia stood, walking around in the small room as she tried to understand everything. "So all this time you've been protecting me?"

Austin nodded. "I have tried to save you on countless times, but I have always failed in doing so. No matter how hard I try to save you, something always happen that make it impossible. Now I'm scared it's going to happen again."

She stopped and turned to him. "Not this time. We'll figure this out, Austin. Together."

For a moment, he looked at her in a way she couldn't quite understand, something between having hope for the future and disappointment in previous occurrences.

"I wish it were that simple," he said quietly.

Austin's gaze hardened as he stepped closer to her. "Olivia, you need to understand something. The fact that you're already remembering things, the fact that you're asking questions, all these are putting you in more danger than ever before."

"What do you mean?"

"The Weaver isn't just resetting the timelines anymore. She's watching you, She knows you're getting closer to the truth, and she won't let that happen. If you keep trying to find out about the truth, she'll find a way to stop you for good." He said firmly

Olivia felt a shiver all over her body. "So what do we do?"

Austin hesitated, then placed a hand on her shoulder. "We fight. But we have to be careful. One wrong move and this timeline could collapse entirely."

Before Olivia could respond, the ground underkept shaking. The walls of the chamber flashed as if caught between two worlds.

Austin's mind seized at the sight of what was happening. "She's already trying to destabilize it."

"What's happening?" Olivia asked, panic increasing in her chest.

"The timeline is fracturing," Austin said, his voice urgent. "We need to get out of here. Now."

They ran from the chamber, the flashing walls were closing in on them. As they reached the safety of the main castle, Olivia turned to Austin, her determination became stronger than ever.

"I don't care what it takes," she said with serious anger in her voice. "I'm not letting her win this time."

Austin looked straight into her eyes, his expression became a mix of admiration and fear. "Then we'll face her together. But be ready, Olivia. This is only the beginning."