The Weight of Immortality

Elias explains that he has lived for centuries, cursed to wander the earth as an immortal, seeking Liora's reincarnated soul in each lifetime. He tells her that every time she remembers, fate tears them apart. Liora refuses to accept such a cruel destiny and vows to break the cycle.

The dim candle light flickered against the damp stone walls as the gathered eight sat in a tense semicircle. Liora felt the weight of their gazes pressing into her as she struggled to process the reality unfolding before her. The letter in her hands trembled slightly, its words heavy with warning.

Elias stood at the head of the group, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "We need to move forward carefully," he said, his voice low but firm. "The Warden won't stop hunting us now."

Cassian scoffed from his seat by the fireplace. "Forward to what? We have a woman waking up in pieces, a song that rewrites history, and a shadow that won't stay dead." He gestured toward Liora. "She doesn't even remember everything yet."

"I remember enough," Liora shot back, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "And I know we're running out of time."

Dante exhaled sharply. "She's right. We need a plan. We can't keep reacting."

Selene, perched on the edge of a worn wooden chair, studied the flickering candle. "We need knowledge first. If Liora's memories are the key, then we must unlock them fully."

"That's not a safe path," Marcelline interjected, her violin case resting beside her. "Tampering with memories too quickly can fracture the mind."

At the far end of the room, Orin, the quietest among them, finally spoke. "We might not have a choice." His gaze flicked toward the shadows stretching along the walls. "They're already watching."

Liora swallowed hard. The air felt heavier, charged with an energy she couldn't quite place. She turned to Elias. "Then tell me everything. No more half-truths. No more riddles."

Elias hesitated, then nodded. "You were never supposed to wake up like this," he admitted. "But if you're ready… I'll show you what you need to see."

The tension in the room thickened, but Liora held firm. She had no other choice. The past was no longer something she could ignore; it was coming for her whether she was ready or not.