After the intense ritual with Isolde, Eveline felt different. Something inside her had changed. The vision of Suzume, her past life, had stirred her core but at the same time set her free. She wondered what else was hidden in the depths of her soul and what her current life truly meant.
The next morning, Eveline woke up early. The sun was already shining outside, and the curtains in her room fluttered gently with the breeze. She got up feeling lighter, as if an invisible weight had been lifted from her shoulders. However, her mind was restless with new thoughts and questions.
She dressed quickly and decided to walk through the estate's gardens, seeking a moment of reflection. The scent of flowers and the sound of birds were comforting, but they couldn't dispel the feeling that something more was coming. That encounter with her former self was not the end—it was the beginning.
As she walked, she saw her mother, Countess Eliza, in the center of the garden. She was standing near the fountain, gazing at the flowers with a distant expression. Eveline hesitated but knew she needed to talk to her mother, especially now that so many new things were happening in her life.
"Good morning, Mother," Eveline said, approaching slowly.
The countess turned with a gentle smile. "Good morning, my dear. It's unusual to see you up so early in the gardens."
Eveline smiled back, but soon her expression became serious again. "Mother, may I ask you something?"
Eliza noticed the tone in her daughter's voice and furrowed her brow slightly. "Of course, Eveline. What's troubling you?"
Eveline took a deep breath, hesitating for a moment. "I... I'm starting to remember certain things. Things about my life before this one. I was someone else before being born as Eveline, and there are parts of my past that I don't fully understand."
The countess looked at her daughter for a moment, her expression growing more serious. She seemed to carefully consider Eveline's words, as if she knew more than she was willing to reveal. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke in a low, controlled voice.
"Eveline... this world is not as simple as it seems. There are mysteries and forces beyond our understanding, and often, our lives are influenced by these mysteries without us having a choice."
Eveline frowned. "Did you know about my past? "
Eliza looked away, as if weighing her next words. "When you were born, there were signs that your soul was ancient, that you had lived before. I didn't fully understand what that meant, but I consulted scholars, mages, and even oracles. They told me that you had a great destiny. But until now, I didn't realize how aware you were of it. "
Eveline felt a shiver run down her spine. "A great destiny? What does that mean?"
Eliza took a step forward and took Eveline's hands in hers, holding them firmly. "I don't know all the details, dear. But they said that in your past life, you were someone important, someone whose destiny is still unfinished. The fact that you were reborn into this world means that something crucial is about to happen. And you are at the center of it. "
Her mother's words echoed in Eveline's mind. An unfinished destiny? What could that mean? She had always known there was something different about her, something that set her apart from others, but she never imagined it was something so grand.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Eveline asked, her voice filled with emotion.
The countess sighed, her gaze sad. "I wanted to protect you. I wanted you to have a chance to live a normal life, free from the weight of the past. But it seems that destiny cannot be avoided for long."
Eveline fell silent, trying to process it all. Her heart was racing, and her mind was spinning with unanswered questions. But before she could ask anything more, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching.
It was Lady Isolde, and her expression was concerned.
"Lady Eveline, Countess Eliza," she said, bowing slightly. "Forgive the interruption, but something urgent has happened. "
Eveline exchanged a glance with her mother before turning to the mage. "What happened?"
Isolde seemed hesitant, as if choosing her words carefully. "There is a strange presence in the forest near the mansion. An energy that doesn't belong here. I believe it's connected to what we discussed recently, Eveline. "
Eveline's heart skipped a beat. "The door?"
Isolde nodded. "Yes. I feel that something or someone has passed through that door, and now it's here."
Countess Eliza tightened her grip on Eveline's hands, her face pale. "You shouldn't go, Eveline. It could be dangerous."
But Eveline knew, deep down in her heart, that she couldn't ignore it. Whatever was lurking in the forest was part of her journey. Part of her destiny.
"I need to go," she said firmly. "I can't run from this. Whatever it is, it's related to my past. "
The countess tried to argue, but Eveline gently pulled away. She looked at Isolde, who awaited her with a look of silent determination. Together, the two began walking toward the forest, where the unknown awaited.
As they advanced through the dense woods, Eveline felt the energy in the air shift. The once peaceful environment now seemed uneasy, as if nature itself was holding its breath.
Finally, they reached a clearing. In the center, shrouded in mist, stood a hooded figure, its back to them. Eveline felt a shiver, recognizing the familiar yet strange aura emanating from the figure.
Isolde moved cautiously, but the figure slowly turned around, revealing a pale face and empty eyes. Eveline held her breath. There was something profoundly disturbing about this presence, something that seemed directly connected to her.
"Who are you?" Eveline asked, her voice trembling but filled with determination.
The figure smiled, a cold and lifeless smile. "You know me, Eveline. Or you should."
Eveline felt the ground shift beneath her feet. Something terrible was about to be revealed, something that could change everything.
"I am what remains of your past," the figure continued. "I am the shadow you left behind, but which was never truly forgotten."
Eveline stared at the figure, her heart racing. "What do you want from me?"
The shadow took a step forward, its presence overwhelming. "I have come to claim what is mine... And to ensure you never forget who you really are."
Eveline knew, in that instant, that the confrontation she had so feared had begun.