The blue path ended at a cliff below it, carved into the stone, was a circular doorway — old, sealed with rune locks and vines that had turned to bone. Magic shimmered across it like thin ice.
Aria approached slowly the pendant tugged forward, its glow steady and deep not silver not blue but now… gold.
---
She placed her palm on the stone door.
The rune on her hand matched one carved in its center — older than language.
And then, the door breathed not opened.
Breathed.
Like something inside it had been asleep for a very long time.
A whisper rose from within the walls.
You have returned, Vessel.
Aria stepped back.What?
The door cracked. Light poured from the seams.
And the shrine awakened.
---
Inside was darkness.
And silence but it wasn't empty.
The walls were carved with stories — not words, but images.
Aria stood before them, tracing them with her fingers.
A warrior woman with a moonstone pendant.
A battle beneath twin moons.
A kiss in the rain.
A sacrifice beneath falling stars.
And then
A figure falling into darkness.
And the warrior left behind.
---
At the center of the shrine stood a stone pedestal.
Upon it, a shard of memory — glowing, sharp like glass, humming softly.
She reached for it.
The moment her fingers touched it, the world split open.
---
💤 Memory Vision 💤
Rain poured.
She stood soaked and bleeding, holding someone in her arms.
A man strong and gentle.
His body broken his breath shallow.
Don't forget me,he whispered even if they take it all from you.
She sobbed.
The pendant lay between them, covered in blood.
He smiled weakly let it guide you back… to me.
I'll find you again, she swore.
He nodded.
Even if I'm reborn…
I'll love you again.
And then
His eyes closed.
And the world went dark.
---
🌙 Back to the present
Aria collapsed to the shrine floor, breathless.
Tears burned in her eyes that man that face hiss eye his voice looked exactly like Lysander but it wasn't him.
---
Lysander entered the shrine moments later, sword lowered he saw her on the floor, trembling.
He ran to her Aria, what happened?
She looked up, eyes wide you were there,she whispered his brows furrowedbWhat?In the vision you were dying and I was holding you her voice cracked but it wasn't you he then stiffened.
I don't understand,she whisper why did you have his face?Lysander said nothing.
Then, quietly because I'm not the first.
---
Silence dropped like stone her hat do you mean?
He looked away i've had dreams since I was a boy. Memories that didn't belong to me. Fears I couldn't explain. I thought I was broken helooked back at her.
But I think… I was someone else before this life.
I think I loved you once.
---
Aria stood the shrine glowed around her.
I don't know who I was,she said but I know this pendant wasn't mine. I wasn't the one who made the sacrifice.
He nodded you were the one left behind."
---
And now, for the first time…
Aria didn't just feel strong.
She felt dangerous.
Because memory was no longer her weakness It was her weapon.
---
💫 Author's Note:
> Chapter 23 goes deep and hits hard 😵💫
Aria finds the truth — the pendant wasn't a gift. It was a promise.
💬 Question for you:
What would you do if the person you loved most came back… as someone else?