Elias Carter walked through the glass doors of the firm, shoulders hunched as if bracing for impact. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting an artificial glow over the open-concept office. It was supposed to be a place of innovation—a hub of creativity where architects shaped the skyline of tomorrow.
Instead, for Elias, it was a battlefield.
Whispers spread the moment he stepped inside.
"He finally decided to show up."
"Must be nice taking days off while we do all the work."
"What a joke—watch him screw up again."
He ignored them, but the weight of their stares pressed down on him. He'd been absent for days, pulled into a world of reincarnated legends, hidden societies, and a destiny he never asked for. But here, none of that mattered. Here, he was still the weak, invisible man who barely registered in anyone's mind—except when they needed someone to blame.
As he reached his desk, he found a mountain of files stacked on it.
Elias's stomach sank. This wasn't his workload.
Jacob Pierce—the firm's golden boy, all charisma and manipulation—approached with a smug grin, slapping a hand on Elias's shoulder.
Jacob: (mocking, condescending) "Welcome back, Carter. While you were off… doing whatever, we had a little crisis. The client's been breathing down our necks, so we had to make a few adjustments. No worries, though—since you're back, you can take over."
Elias glanced at the files, flipping through pages of revisions—revisions he hadn't approved, designs he hadn't worked on.
Elias: (slow, controlled) "This isn't my work."
Jacob: (grinning, feigning sympathy) "No, but you were the original lead on this project. And since you were gone, we had to step in. Don't worry, though—we made sure everything looked good."
His stomach twisted. This was his project, but others had taken over. Now, they were pushing the mess onto him while they took the credit.
Elias: (low voice, struggling to keep calm) "You changed the foundation structure. The load distribution won't hold if—"
Jacob raised a hand.
Jacob: (interrupting, dismissive) "Look, Carter, if you have an issue, take it up with management. But I don't think they'll be happy hearing complaints from someone who just disappeared for days."
Elias clenched his fists. The old him—the weak Elias—would have swallowed his frustration and taken the abuse.
But something had changed. Something inside him refused to be small anymore.
Before he could respond, the elevator chimed.
And then—she walked in.
Lillian Karras.
She was everything Elias's coworkers weren't expecting.
She wore a simple white blouse tucked into a high-waisted skirt, her chestnut hair pulled into a loose bun, with glasses perched on the bridge of her nose. At first glance, she looked like any other scholarly woman—nerdy, unassuming. But the moment she stepped forward, her quiet confidence turned heads.
There was something effortless about her beauty—the way her intelligent hazel eyes scanned the room, how she carried herself with an air of poise. She wasn't trying to be noticed, yet everyone noticed.
Jacob's demeanor shifted instantly.
The smugness disappeared, replaced by sudden interest.
Jacob: (adjusting his tie, turning on the charm) "Well, hello there. I don't believe we've met. I'm Jacob—"
Lillian barely spared him a glance.
Lillian: (calm, unreadable) "I'm not here for you."
Jacob blinked, momentarily thrown off.
She turned to Elias, offering a small smile.
Lillian: (gently teasing) "I see you're back in your natural habitat."
Elias exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly at her presence.
Elias: (dryly) "Yeah. Not exactly a grand palace, but it's home."
She smirked.
Lillian: (playful, but with meaning) "Even kings had to deal with insufferable courtiers."
Jacob frowned, clearly feeling ignored, but before he could reinsert himself into the conversation, Lillian placed a thick leather-bound book on Elias's desk.
The others in the office—who had suddenly found reasons to loiter nearby—stared.
Jacob: (curious, skeptical) "What's that? Some kind of history textbook?"
Lillian finally looked at him, offering a polite but cold smile.
Lillian: (sweet, dismissive) "Oh, it's far too complicated for you."
The jab went over his head, but Elias caught it.
Lillian turned back to Elias, lowering her voice slightly.
Lillian: (serious, focused) "We need to discuss the Crucible. I've narrowed down five possible artifacts from your past life."
Elias tensed.
Elias: (uncertain, wary) "You found them?"
She nodded, flipping open the book to handwritten notes and ancient sketches.
Lillian: (thoughtful, methodical) "There were many possibilities, but I focused on items that would have been deeply personal to Gilgamesh—objects that might trigger recollection."
She pointed to the first sketch:
1. The Amulet of Uruk – A golden pendant supposedly worn by Gilgamesh, inscribed with symbols of divine protection.
2. The Scribe's Tablet – A clay tablet said to contain writings from Gilgamesh himself, potentially detailing events lost to time.
3. The Crown of the First King – A ceremonial crown, rumored to have been buried with him.
4. Enkidu's Bracelet – A relic tied to Gilgamesh's closest companion, the one who shaped him the most.
5. The Dagger of Lugalbanda – A weapon passed down from Gilgamesh's father, carrying the weight of his lineage.
Elias swallowed hard, staring at the pages.
Elias: (hesitant, unsure) "And you think… one of these will bring back my memories?"
Lillian nodded.
Lillian: (serious, yet gentle) "One of them, or all of them. But you'll have to decide which ones to pursue."
Elias leaned back in his chair, his mind spinning. How the hell was he supposed to choose?
Before he could respond, Jacob cleared his throat.
Jacob: (grinning, trying to regain control of the moment) "Hey, Carter, aren't you going to introduce us to your… lovely friend?"
The others murmured in agreement, some of them straightening their ties or casually leaning closer, suddenly eager to join the conversation.
Elias looked at them—these same people who mocked him minutes ago—now vying for Lillian's attention.
Something inside him almost laughed.
But instead, he simply said:
Elias: (deadpan) "No."
Lillian smirked.
And for the first time in a long time, Elias felt like he had the upper hand.