(Chapter 32: Mira's Pov)
The air felt heavier in Caelyn's house, thick with the lingering scent of the forest that surrounded it. It was a place of safety, a sanctuary away from the dangers I'd left behind. Caelyn, despite his imposing figure, had made it clear that he would protect me. But no matter how many times he reassured me, the truth remained: I was still a target.
I sat by the fire, absently tracing the intricate markings on my wrist, my thoughts wandering to the time before I found refuge here. The moment I woke up in this new body, I had no idea what to expect, but I never imagined things would turn out like this. The black mark on my wrist—the one that had appeared after my encounter with Callidus—was no mere symbol. It was a reminder of everything I'd lost and everything I had yet to face.
"Mira," Caelyn's voice broke my thoughts. He stood in the doorway, his eyes narrowing slightly as he surveyed me. "We need to talk."
I didn't respond immediately. Instead, I turned my gaze to the crackling fire, the warmth doing little to ease the chill that had settled in my bones.
He stepped closer, his presence commanding, but not without warmth. "You've been quiet lately. It's time to face what's coming."
I looked up at him, meeting his eyes. "I don't know what that is anymore. I keep feeling like I'm being pulled in different directions."
Caelyn sighed and took a seat across from me. "You've already felt the pull. You've seen the mark, haven't you?"
The mark. I glanced at my wrist again. It had darkened since that night, a symbol of something forgotten but not lost. It was tied to my past life—the one that had ended in bloodshed and betrayal.
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
Caelyn's expression hardened, his gaze lingering on the mark. "That's the mark of the forgotten, Mira. It's a curse, but also a key. A key to unlocking your past—if you're willing to face it."
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words. The past I had fled from. The life I had no memory of, yet felt connected to.
"You don't have to face it alone," he continued, his voice low. "But you do need to understand what it means. This mark is more than a reminder of your power. It's a connection to the other side. To the forces that control fate itself."
The mention of fate made my heart race. I didn't want to be tied to any force, especially not fate. Not after everything it had already taken from me.
"Lorenzo," I murmured, his name slipping from my lips before I could stop it.
Caelyn's eyes flickered with something I couldn't quite read. "Lorenzo is tied to this too, Mira. His past, your past—they're intertwined in ways neither of you fully understand yet. The mark connects you both."
I leaned forward, suddenly desperate to understand. "What does that mean? How is he tied to this?"
"The mark is a reminder of the life you shared with him—before all this." He gestured around the room, as if indicating the tangled mess of our current lives. "Before the betrayal. Before the separation."
I flinched at the word betrayal. I still didn't know the full story. Why did he leave me? Why did he let me suffer in silence, in the shadows, without guidance?
"Your bond with Lorenzo is more than just the bond of two enemies forced together by fate. It's a bond that's been forged through countless lifetimes. And with each life, the mark shifts. It becomes stronger." Caelyn's eyes locked onto mine. "You need to embrace it, Mira. Only then will you be able to control the power that's awakening inside you."
I shook my head, my mind swirling with a thousand thoughts. "I don't want this. I didn't ask for this."
Caelyn's voice softened, but it held the weight of experience. "None of us ask for the things we're burdened with, but we don't have a choice. You are part of something bigger than yourself. Something that's been unfolding long before you were born into this world. The mark is your inheritance."
I closed my eyes, letting his words sink in. A part of me had always known this would be my fate—my destiny. But the thought of being bound to it, bound to a past I didn't remember, was terrifying.
"You're stronger than you think, Mira. You've always been stronger. This mark, this power—it's not your enemy. It's your weapon. Use it."
His words echoed in my mind, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more he wasn't saying. He was holding something back.
"I'll help you," he added, breaking my thoughts. "We'll uncover the truth together. But you need to trust me."
I nodded, unsure if I trusted anyone—let alone Caelyn. But I had no other choice. I had to understand what was happening to me. I had to learn how to wield this power, whether I wanted it or not.
"Where do we start?" I asked, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
Caelyn stood up, his large frame casting a shadow over me. "We start with the mark. I'll teach you how to control it. How to tap into the power that lies dormant within."
And with that, the weight of the forgotten past settled on my shoulders once more.