Chapter 4: The Unfinished Melody

Kai sat in his dimly lit apartment, the Celestial Echo resting on his lap. His fingers hovered over the strings, hesitant yet drawn to the instrument as if it held all the answers. The visions from earlier refused to fade the woman in silver, the stars above them, the aching sense of loss that made his chest tighten.

Who was she? And why did he feel like he had known her for lifetimes?

Taking a deep breath, he strummed a soft chord. The sound resonated in the air, carrying a strange warmth, and for a moment, he swore he wasn't alone. The flickering candle on his desk danced wildly, shadows shifting across the room.

Then another vision.

The scent of rain. The touch of cool fingers tracing his wrist. A voice, soft yet filled with sorrow.

"You promised… you wouldn't forget."

Kai's eyes snapped open, his heart pounding. The apartment was silent again, except for his ragged breathing. He rubbed his temples, frustration creeping in. He needed to know more.

Without thinking, he grabbed his phone and searched for anything about the Celestial Echo. Most results were about old folk music and forgotten legends, but one link caught his eye.

"The Celestial Echo: A Curse or a Gift?"

His fingers trembled as he clicked on it. The article spoke of the instrument's history how it was said to connect lovers who had been separated by fate, binding them across time. But there was a warning:

"Not all reunions end in joy. Some are destined to relive the same heartbreak… over and over."

Kai swallowed hard. Was that what was happening to him? Was he doomed to chase a love he couldn't reach?

His grip tightened on the instrument. No. He wasn't going to let fate control him. If there was even a chance that she was real that she was waiting he would find her.

And this time, he wouldn't lose her again.