Kevin sat up in bed, his heart racing as the remnants of the dream slipped away like mist in the morning. He could still feel the man's presence—the dark figure with piercing eyes—and hear his ominous words.
"You cannot escape your fate, Kevin. No matter how hard you try... it will always find you."
The dream was becoming clearer each time, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. Kevin rubbed his temples, frustration building in his chest. What frustrated him more was that these weren't just dreams—they felt like warnings.
But warnings about what?
He tossed the blanket off and got dressed quickly. There was no point in lying in bed when his mind was restless. If fate was coming for him, he wasn't going to sit around and wait for it.
Later, as Kevin made his way to the clubroom, he passed by a group of students chatting near the lockers. He overheard something about strange rumors circulating—whispers of unusual magic and missing students.
Kevin slowed his steps, listening carefully. It seemed that whatever the Kiryuu Clan was planning was already in motion. He gritted his teeth.
If they think I'm going to let them have their way, they've got another thing coming.
He entered the clubroom, finding Rias and Akeno waiting for him. Rias looked up from her papers, her crimson eyes meeting his. There was an intensity in her gaze—she'd clearly heard the same rumors.
"Things are moving faster than we expected," Rias said, folding her arms. "There are reports of magical disturbances around Kuoh Academy. They're subtle, but they're growing stronger."
Akeno gave him a sly smile. "Looks like we'll have our hands full soon."
Kevin leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "Good. I was getting tired of waiting."
Rias arched an eyebrow at his confident tone. "Careful, Kevin. We still don't know who or what we're dealing with."
Kevin's Sharingan spun for a moment before calming. "We'll figure it out. But sitting around isn't going to solve anything."
The three of them spent the next hour analyzing reports, looking for patterns in the disturbances. It wasn't long before they found one—a strange concentration of energy near an old shrine on the outskirts of town.
Rias tapped the map with her finger. "This shrine hasn't been active in years. There's no reason for magic to be gathering there unless someone is manipulating it."
Kevin stared at the location, a strange sense of familiarity washing over him. Why does this feel like it's connected to me?
"We need to go there," Kevin said, already standing.
Rias nodded. "I was thinking the same thing. If the Kiryuu Clan is involved, we might find clues about their leader—or even the connection to your dreams."
Akeno stretched lazily, though there was a glint of excitement in her eyes. "A night excursion to an abandoned shrine? Sounds like fun."
As night fell, Kevin, Rias, and Akeno made their way to the shrine. The forest surrounding it was eerily silent, the only sound coming from the crunch of leaves beneath their feet. Kevin's senses were on high alert, his Sharingan active and scanning the area.
When they reached the shrine, they found it shrouded in darkness. Strange symbols were etched into the stone walls, glowing faintly with magic.
"This magic..." Rias whispered, her voice tense. "It's not from any faction I recognize."
Kevin stepped closer, his Sharingan analyzing the symbols. They seemed familiar, tugging at the edge of his memory, as if he had seen them before—in his dreams.
Without warning, the ground beneath them rumbled, and a portal opened in the center of the shrine. From the swirling darkness, the man from Kevin's dreams emerged, his cloak billowing as he stepped into the mortal world.
"You've come," the man said with a cold smile. "Just as I knew you would."
Kevin's fists clenched. "Who are you? Why are you in my dreams?"
The man's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Dreams? No, Kevin... they're not dreams. They're echoes of a life you were never supposed to remember."
Kevin's heart pounded in his chest. "What are you talking about?"
The man chuckled softly. "You think this world is your first? No, Kevin. You've lived before—many times. And every time, fate has brought you to me."
Rias stepped forward, her magical aura flaring. "Whatever game you're playing, it ends here."
The man raised a hand, and the portal behind him expanded, sending waves of dark energy toward them. Kevin reacted instinctively, moving in front of Rias and Akeno, his Sharingan glowing as he slashed through the energy with lightning speed.
The man laughed, a sound that echoed through the shrine like a haunting melody. "You haven't changed, Kevin. Always so quick to protect. But tell me... how long can you keep running from what you are?"
Kevin's blood ran cold at the implication. Before he could respond, the man vanished into the portal, his final words lingering in the air.
"Soon, you'll remember everything. And when you do... you'll have to decide whose side you're truly on."
The portal closed, leaving the shrine in eerie silence once more. Kevin stood frozen, his mind racing with questions. What did the man mean by a life he wasn't supposed to remember? Why was he being haunted by these dreams?
Rias placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch grounding him. "We'll figure this out, Kevin. Whatever this is... we'll face it together."
Akeno gave him a playful smile, though there was a hint of concern in her eyes. "And don't think we'll let you fight this battle alone."
Kevin took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Thanks."
But deep down, he knew that the answers he sought wouldn't come easily. The man's words echoed in his mind, taunting him with the truth he had yet to uncover.
"You'll have to decide whose side you're truly on."
Kevin clenched his fists. No matter what his past held, he wouldn't let it control his future. He wasn't the same person he might have been before—he was Kevin now, and he would fight to protect the people he cared about.
No matter what.