AFTER A DAY FULL OF LAUGHTER AND SUNLIGHT AT THE PALACE GARDENS...
After a whole day of laughter and warmth at the palace garden, Louise and I decided to head home early. The afternoon was slowly turning into evening as we got on the carriage back to the bar. The sky was painted in gold and orange, and the streets were starting to glow with lantern lights.
Louise sat beside me, yawning quietly and stretching his arms.
"You tired?" I asked softly.
"A little… but not because of today," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "More like… from having to watch three other guys eye you like you're some sweet treat."
I chuckled, my cheeks flushing. "You were doing it too."
"That's 'cause I just can't help it."
Night was creeping in by the time we arrived at the bar. Louise hopped off first and opened the door for me like he always did. I looked at that door with a weird feeling... this place now felt like home.
We stepped inside. The bar was way calmer than usual tonight. Not many customers—just two old men sitting quietly in the corner, and one young guy who looked way too drunk to care about anything.
"I'm gonna go take a bath," I said, heading upstairs. Louise just nodded and started rearranging the bottles on the rack.
After a hot shower, I put on my sleepwear and came back downstairs. Louise was cleaning the tables, humming softly to himself. I smiled. But just as I was about to say something...
TINGG! The bar door swung open.
A man walked in.
His steps were calm, unhurried. He wore a long black cloak, and his black hair fell to his shoulders. His face was sharp, his eyes cold and full of secrets. The whole vibe of the bar shifted in an instant.
Louise stopped humming. I froze too.
"Good evening," the man said in a deep, steady voice. His eyes locked onto mine—like he already knew I was the one he came for.
"We're… about to close," Louise said cautiously, his voice guarded.
"I just want a quick drink," the man replied.
Louise nodded slowly and started preparing a drink. I stayed where I was, feeling something strange about this guy. He wasn't like the Duke—cold. Or Sebastian—stiff. Or Louise—teasing. This man… felt like a shadow, alive.
"Your name's Airi?" he asked suddenly.
I blinked. "Yeah… but—have we met before?"
He sat at the bar and took a slow sip. "No. But I've heard about you."
Louise moved fast, placing himself between us. "Who the hell are you?"
The man gave a small smile. "Someone who should've met Airi a long time ago."
"Don't talk like you know him—"
"Louise…" I gently touched his arm, trying to calm him down. I didn't know why, but this man didn't feel like a threat. He felt more like… a riddle.
"You… what do you want from me?" I asked.
"Not yet," he said calmly. "I just wanted to see you. To confirm that the rumors... are true."
Louise clenched his fists. "You from the palace?"
"No. But I have ties with them."
My body tensed up. Louise looked even more on edge.
The man stared at me sharply, then stood up. "Sorry for the interruption. Next time, I'll come more politely."
"Wait!" I blurted out. "At least… tell me your name."
He smiled. And in the bar's dim lighting, that smile looked mysterious… and strangely charming.
"Arven."
And just like that, he left. Leaving behind a faint scent of spice and mystery in the air.
I was still standing there, heart racing like crazy.
"Airi… I don't like him," Louise muttered under his breath.
I turned to him. "I don't really… know how I feel. But something about him… makes me want to know more."
Louise stared at me for a long time. The jealousy was obvious on his face, even if he didn't say anything.
And that night… the usually lively bar fell quiet. But my mind? Way too loud to sleep.
---
THE NEXT MORNING
I woke up earlier than usual. But not because of a nightmare. In fact… the dream was too strange to be just a dream.
In it, I saw a man in a black cloak standing in the middle of a circle of fire. In his hand was an old scroll. And around him… four glowing symbols. One of them felt… familiar. Like something buried deep inside me.
I shivered, cold sweat clinging to my temples. Not long after I came downstairs, Louise followed with his hair still messy. "You're up early."
"I… had a weird dream."
Louise frowned. "About what?"
"Symbols. And… a man in a black cloak."
Louise instantly stood straight. "Like Arven?"
I nodded slowly.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the bar door.
Not rushed, just three soft, steady knocks. Louise quickly walked to the door and opened it just a crack.
And there he was.
Arven.
"Sorry for showing up so early. But I think Airi's starting to feel something, isn't he?"
Louise tried to shut the door, but I walked over. "Wait… I want to hear him out."
The three of us sat at the bar table. Arven placed an old book on the table—the leather worn, and the smell of incense thick in the air.
"Airi… you're not from this world. That's clear enough. But your presence in this body isn't random."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
Arven opened the book, revealing the exact same symbol from my dream. "This is the reincarnation seal. It only shows up on souls that were reborn through an ancient ritual. I've been searching for it for years, and finally—I found it in you."
"You know I'm… reincarnated?"
"Not just know. I was involved in that ritual. Decades ago. Back when the world was drowning in darkness."
Louise stood up. "You played with dark magic?!"
"Not played. I tried to save someone. And if I'm right, the soul inside Airi's body… is the final key to sealing an ancient curse that's about to rise again."
I couldn't breathe. It all felt too much. Louise looked panicked, but more protective than ever.
Arven looked straight at me. "You have to start remembering. Sooner or later, the power inside you is going to awaken. And when it does… everyone you love will be in danger."
I clutched at my sleeve. "Then teach me. Teach me how to deal with this."
Louise turned quickly. "Airi, no! You don't even know who he really is!"
"But I know… I can't run from this forever."
In silence, the three of us stared at one another. And in my chest, my heartbeat grew louder—not from fear, but because… I knew, my life had just changed.
I looked at the old book in front of me, my fingers slowly tracing the symbol that felt so familiar. Warmth spread from it into my chest, and in an instant, a flash of memory hit me—a man with golden eyes calling my name, but it wasn't Airi. My name… before?
I gasped.
Louise noticed and rushed over. "Airi, what's wrong?"
I swallowed. "I… remembered something. Just a glimpse. But it wasn't from this world."
Arven gave a faint smile, like he'd expected this. "That's just the beginning. Time's running out, Airi. You have to choose. Let the past stay buried… or face it before it's too late."
And I knew… I had to be ready, because everything had just—
Begun.
And Arven?
He wasn't just some random visitor. He was the door to my forgotten past. And maybe… my dark future too