The One Who Watched in Silence,the shrine couldn't hold her anymore.
Chains shattered the coffin split open and Eryss rose — barefoot, cloaked in tattered energy, her eyes burning silver-blue.
The cursed markings on her arms writhed like living snakes, magic dripping off her body like venom.
She looked at Aria you left me to rot in the dark and now you want to decide who I am again?
---
Aria stood frozen the pendant was gone her mark blazed violently and inside her, the two versions of herself — the gentle soul and the warrior — fought for dominance.
One screamed save her.
The other whispered kill her I don't want to be either of you,Aria whispered i want to be me.
Eryss stepped forward, magic lashing out — but Caelen blocked it with a glowing shield.
Lysander pulled Aria back we can't let her awaken fully you'll lose yourself if she draws from your bond.
Aria shook her head no… we're already linked.
---
And then, the shrine snapped again a black rift tore open in the wall — not from Eryss.
But from memory itself.
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💤 Final Hidden Memory 💤
A battlefield under a red eclipse the warrior Aria — barely standing — holding the pendant as it cracked a man with silver hair, cloak torn, stepped in front of her give me the burden.
No—I'd rather you hate me than die she screamed his name—but it was muffled.
His face blurred only his rune glowed clearly — a mark shaped like a crescent flame.
He pressed it to her chest—and vanished.
---
🌙 Back to Present
Aria gasped the mark — his mark — was under her pendant all along covered. Hidden she looked up.
And at the edge of the clearing… in the trees… a figure watched.
Cloaked,still alive the man from her past life… wasn't Caelen,wasn't Lysander he was someone else entirely.
---
Eryss turned her head slowly. She sensed him too.
…You,she whispered the man stepped out of the shadows his presence silenced the wind I didn't save her to become this.
Aria stared at him you were real,she breathed he nodded and I watched through every life,every seal,every time they rewrote your memories.
Caelen's expression darkened impossible Lsander stepped forward who the hell are you?
The man looked straight at Aria my name is Soren.
I gave up my soul so hers could live.
And now she's waking up…too fast.
---
The ground shook the magic in Aria's veins became unbearable, two souls inside her began to tear apart.
Eryss's power pulled at her,so did the pendant's broken magic.
Aria fell to her knees, eyes flickering between blue, silver, and now — flame-red.
---
If she doesn't choose a self,Soren said softly,the world will choose for her.
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💫 Author's Note:
> Chapter 28 breaks the final veil 😮💨
Eryss is free. Aria is breaking. And the man who saved her from death — Soren — has returned from the shadows.
Now three souls, three paths, and one fragile girl caught between all of them.
💬 Question for you:
If your past selves demanded control… would you let them take over, or fight to be someone new?
📚 Add to your collection if your brain just imploded from all these layers 😩🔥
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Next up: Chapter 29 😈
We can:
1. Let Aria collapse into a Soul Trial, where the three versions of her must fight for dominance
2. Let Eryss tempt Aria to merge with her and become something unholy but whole
3. Or have Soren reveal what the final cost of saving Aria really was — and why the world wants her dead
Wanna blend all three again and go full final arc energy? 😏