The temple was a forgotten monument carved into the mountainside, lost to the creeping vines and mist of time. Its worn statues stood like mournful sentinels, watching as Elira and Kael crossed the threshold. The moment they entered, the door groaned and slammed shut behind them with a resonating boom.
"It shut on its own," Elira whispered, her voice barely echoing over the ancient stones.
Kael drew his sword instinctively, placing himself slightly ahead of her. The interior was vast, the shadows dense. Flickering torches lit themselves one by one along the walls, revealing faded murals of celestial beasts and battle-hardened heroes.
"It seems the temple welcomes us," Kael muttered.
Elira stepped beside him, her eyes fixed on the central mural a depiction of a woman wielding fire, a silver crown on her head, standing at the center of five figures. Her heart skipped.
"That looks like me," she said.
Kael glanced at her, then back at the painting. "You're not wrong. The resemblance is... uncanny."
"It must be a coincidence," she added, though doubt laced her tone.
They proceeded further into the temple, footsteps echoing with uneasy rhythm. The deeper they walked, the stronger the pressure in the air grew. It was as if the temple were alive, watching them.
Suddenly, a chilling hiss slithered through the corridor. Kael stopped, arm outstretched to block her. "Something's here."
From the shadows emerged a shape—amorphous, dark, its edges rippling like mist. Two glowing red eyes pierced the darkness. The thing whispered Elira's name in a thousand voices at once.
"Elira..."
She flinched. Her knees wobbled under the weight of its gaze. Her power stirred instinctively, the mark on her back burning like a flame pressed to skin.
Kael advanced, blade drawn. "Step back. I'll—"
"No," Elira said. Her voice trembled but held steady. "It's after me. Let me try."
She took a deep breath and extended her palm. The moment she did, the creature shuddered and paused. A light burst from her skin a searing gold that pushed the shadow back like a receding tide. The mark on her back flared through her dress.
Kael stared in stunned silence as Elira stepped forward, her power blazing. The creature hissed, retreated, and vanished into the stone.
Elira collapsed to her knees, gasping.
Kael knelt beside her, gripping her shoulders. "What was that? Are you alright?"
"I don't know," she said. "But it knew me."
From behind them, a secret chamber opened with a rumble. Golden light spilled out. They exchanged a look and entered.
Inside was a circular room, its ceiling domed and painted with constellations that shimmered faintly. At the center stood an altar, and hovering above it, a crystal orb thrummed with radiant energy.
"This place..." Elira whispered, drawn forward. "It feels familiar."
The orb pulsed. When she touched it, a wave of memories not her own crashed through her mind. Fire. Battle. A kingdom torn asunder. A queen her past self—binding a seal with blood.
Kael caught her as she staggered.
"This was mine," she gasped. "This temple was built by the first Flame Queen... my past life."
Kael's jaw clenched. "And that creature?"
"A fragment of the curse she sealed away. Something is weakening the seal."
The orb dimmed, and the murals around them shimmered. One showed the cursed empress, her hand raised against the heavens. Another depicted five warriors each bearing a resemblance to the men now drawn to Elira: Kael, Thane, Lucien, and even the aloof High Mage.
"They were my protectors... in my last life," Elira murmured. "We fought together. Died together."
Kael's hand tightened around his sword hilt. "Then this isn't coincidence. We were all meant to find you again."
Suddenly, the temple quaked. Stones cracked. Dust rained down.
"Time to go," Kael growled, pulling her toward the exit.
They sprinted through the corridors, chased by crumbling stone and the echoes of the creature's return. As they reached the temple entrance, the door opened on its own and sunlight poured in. They burst out, gasping.
The moment they stepped outside, the temple behind them crumbled completely into dust.
Elira stared at the ruins. "It destroyed itself. It wanted to show me something then disappear."
Kael looked down at her. "You remember who you are now."
She nodded slowly. "And I know this curse won't stop until it's broken again."
---
At the palace, Prince Thane stormed into the Queen Dowager's court.
"She's missing?" he growled.
The Queen Dowager raised a brow. "She left of her own will. The General is with her."
"That makes it worse," Thane snapped. "You let her wander into cursed ruins with only one guard?"
The Dowager set her teacup down with a sharp click. "Do not raise your voice to me, Thane. You care for her, yes, but remember your place."
"My place is beside her," he said. "And if you won't help her, I will."
Without another word, he turned and stormed out. Outside the chamber, Lucien was waiting.
"I take it that didn't go well," the mage said dryly.
Thane's eyes burned. "No. We're going after her. Tonight."
Lucien tilted his head. "And if we find more than ruins? More than just Kael?"
"Then we fight," Thane replied. "And we bring her back."
---
Back at the inn in the nearest village, Elira sat on the balcony, watching the stars. Kael brought her a warm drink and sat beside her.
"You're quiet," he said.
"Just thinking," she murmured. "It's hard to feel like this life is mine. I remember another life, another love, another death. And now I'm here again, with pieces of that past chasing me."
Kael looked at her gently. "Then take it one step at a time. You don't have to remember everything tonight. You have us now. Me."
She looked at him. The moonlight cast silver shadows across his face.
"Kael... in my past life, were we...?"
He smiled faintly. "You always asked the hard questions."
She blushed. "Sorry."
"Don't be." He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You were everything to us. To me. And no matter how many lives pass, I'll protect you again. Even if you never remember how you once looked at me."
Elira's breath caught. Something warm stirred in her chest. Something dangerous.
But before she could speak, a messenger arrived at the inn, breathless and pale.
"My Lady! Prince Thane is on his way. He knows where you are."
Kael's jaw clenched.
Elira's heart pounded. "He's coming here?"
"And not alone," the messenger added. "Lucien is with him."
Kael rose. "Of course he is."
Elira stood slowly. The past had found her. But so had the future.
And neither would be easy to face.
---