The sole reason Liam Calderon gained admission to the prestigious Eldoria Academy?
He's special. Not in the present moment, but in a distant past from millennia ago.
Not on Earth, but in a mana-rich galaxy hundreds of millions of light-years away, where he lived as a hero in constant battle. He's a Reincarnate a Cycle Bound. Someone who had a former life of that caliber.
Through dreams, he glimpses that old life their triumphs, trials, and thoughts. Individuals like Liam possess souls so stubborn, so resilient, they resist the erosion of time itself. Eventually, they are reborn.
These rare individuals are called Cycle Bound.
Eldoria Academy only accepts students who qualify as Cycle Bound. And Liam made the cut.
His aptitude was discovered during his third year of middle school. After a rigorous battery of tests confirming he was the real deal, he received his acceptance letter right after graduation.
Now, just days into his new life at Eldoria, he was already reeling from a major shock.
"Welcome to Eldoria Academy. This isn't your typical university. You won't follow the standard curriculum like normal students. No majors, no minors."
Liam paused, glancing around the room with practiced indifference.
"My name is Thomas Gray. Let's try to get through this year together and preferably in one piece."
Crap. I really shouldn't have slept through Orientation, Liam thought, grimacing. Oh well. Better pay attention to this Thomas Gray guy. Hah figures his name would be that boring.
"Now, I know some of this is a refresher," Thomas continued, adjusting his glasses, "but I want you to pay attention. In the words of the Chancellor, you're all 'destined for greatness.' So, have the self-awareness to put in the effort. Study hard, train harder. You've got four years here make them count. Become the outstanding Cycle Bound you were meant to be."
Without wasting more time, Thomas dove right into a heavy topic. Most students straightened in their seats, suddenly alert. Their eyes were locked on the front of the room, with some scribbling in notebooks and others watching intently. The whole vibe felt serious, intense.
Liam, meanwhile, was trying to adjust. He'd never been to a high-end private university before. Up until last year, his classes had been a joke lecturers mumbling into the board and leaving students to 'self-study.' But this? This was... different. The way Thomas stood there and actually taught like he cared was new to him.
The atmosphere in this classroom felt nothing like what he was used to. It wasn't casual or half-asleep. It was focused. Professional.
So this is what a real classroom feels like? One with an actual, competent teacher? Liam bit his lip. Maybe I should've taken Sabrina's warning more seriously. Falling asleep now would be idiotic. Maybe I've been goofing off too much. Time to get it together.
Thomas's voice cut through his thoughts.
"What you used in your previous life what made you powerful those abilities are known as the Soulchain Arts. Everyone had them. And in this life, you should be able to wield them again, eventually with ease."
"Excuse me, sir?" a male student spoke up, raising his hand.
Thomas glanced at the roster and called his name. The student stood with a respectful nod. Liam leaned forward slightly, curious. The guy seemed energetic sharp.
"About that... the Shroudkin. Do they actually exist?" the student asked. "Before we got in, all the explanations were kind of vague. They said we'd get more details after joining Eldoria, but... yeah."
"I'd like to know more too," another voice chimed in.
"Are they really giant monsters?" a girl in the back row asked, sounding both intrigued and skeptical.
"Yeah! Online lately, there's been stuff like 'I got attacked by monsters, AMA' or 'My house burned down thanks, monsters. My life's over.' Are you talking about those kinds of things?" another student added.
Thomas chuckled. Once one person spoke up, the rest piled in. Though the first few questions had been respectful, the class quickly turned lively but not unruly. There was a spark of genuine curiosity in the air.
Thomas nodded, then began answering.
"Yes, about that. The truth is, the existence of the Shroudkin is considered classified information—sealed under UN agreements made in closed-door meetings. It's the same reason the general public doesn't know much, if anything, about the existence of Cycle Bound individuals like yourselves."
He looked around the class, tone calm but firm.
"That kind of information isn't released to the mass media. And as students of Eldoria Academy, you are likewise forbidden from sharing any related details with outsiders."
A male student raised his hand. "So, wait does that mean you have the real info?"
Thomas gave a small smile and nodded. "Of course."
Then he pulled a remote control from his pocket and pressed a few buttons. The classroom fell quiet as everyone watched.
With a soft mechanical hum, the blackboard at the front of the room split clean down the middle. Each half slid smoothly to the sides along hidden rails, revealing a massive LCD screen built right into the wall.
What the hell.
Liam blinked, impressed.
Okay, that's actually cool.
His old high school still used some ancient, rattling projector with a burned-out bulb. This? This was next level.
"So then, although it's just a short video, let's all have a look," Thomas said, starting the display.
Liam rested his face in his hands, eyes fixed on the screen, trying to focus.
The screen lit up with a sweeping view of the ocean. There was a loud whirring probably the rotors of a helicopter. The footage seemed to be shot from high above. At first, the image was blurry and shaky, then suddenly snapped into focus. It looked like the camera was zoomed to its maximum range.
Liam frowned. Why even bother filming from this far out?
But then the scene sharpened fully and he got it.
Oh.
One look was enough to understand. That distance wasn't for safety it was for survival.
On the screen, a massive cargo ship easily megaton-scale was capsized, lying on its side. Wrapped tightly around its hull was a monstrosity straight out of a nightmare.
Tentacles. Dozens of them.
It dwarfed the ship.
Whatever it was, it wasn't just strong enough to entangle the vessel it had flipped it. Like it was nothing.
The creature was hard to describe. Something like a headless squid or octopus. Or maybe a starfish with far too many limbs. Right in the center of its body was a gaping maw lined with layers of jagged, saw-like teeth grinding together, almost like a lamprey's.
Wrapped in blazing auras, the Cycle Bound ran effortlessly across the surface of the water, wielding a dazzling array of weapons with practiced ease. Above them, military helicopters hovered in tight formation, deploying even more Cycle Bound warriors who unleashed lightning from the skies Noctis Arts raining down like a summer storm.
Is this the true power of the Cycle Bound?
The video playing before them left the room breathless.
And yet, despite their overwhelming strength and coordination, the warriors looked like ants charging a lion.
The Tyranny-Class Shroudkin towered above them alien, monstrous, and unshaken.
Liam glanced at the frozen faces around him.
Maybe they're all imagining themselves as one of those ants, he thought.
The video continued, now showing clips of other Shroudkin in action. A massive draconic serpent its body as thick and long as an old steam train slithered through a jungle, breathing clouds of corrosive gas.
A grotesque hybrid of ape and spider roughly the size of a house swung through a city skyline, smashing buildings with its massive limbs.
And a feline-lizard hybrid, cloaked in shimmering camouflage, stalked a quiet suburban neighborhood like a ghost.
None of them were as massive as the sea monster, but each one was deadly in its own right more than enough to level entire towns.
Then the footage shifted again.
The screen now showed a group of ash-skinned humanoids tall, regal, and unnervingly graceful.
They looked like something out of old-world fairy tales, yet far too real to dismiss as fantasy.
The entire class held their breath.
It was one thing to see monsters. It was another to see something so close to human so close it made your skin crawl.
Shroudkin began appearing ten years ago fifty years after the first Cycle Bound were discovered.
The tentacles writhed constantly, wrapping around the cargo ship like steel cables. The ship's massive steel framework designed to withstand brutal ocean storms groaned under the pressure, ready to snap at any moment.
It was nauseating to look at. Absolutely repulsive.
And yet... no one could look away.
The entire class was locked in place, eyes wide. A few students clutched their notebooks or backpacks, holding them tight against their chests like a shield that might protect them from what was on the screen.
It felt like watching a horror movie except it was real.
So that's a Shroudkin, Liam thought, a chill crawling down his spine. A monster that doesn't belong on this world. Or on Earth. Or anywhere, really. Just... wrong.
Thomas's voice cut through the stunned silence.
"Out of all the Shroudkin ever recorded, that sea monster was the largest. It appeared five years ago."
He paused briefly, letting the weight of the image settle in.
"During that battle, over a hundred Cycle Bound were deployed. They were led by one of the Sage Six—Alexander Stroud, head of the Cycleguard Order's America Branch. Even with all that power, it was a life-or-death fight. It took more than four hours to bring the creature down."
Thomas looked over the class, voice steady but heavy.
"Shroudkin don't appear often. But when they do... only Cycle Bound can fight them. Keep that in mind. Engrave it into your hearts."
Liam glanced around.
How many people actually heard that? he wondered.
Most of the students were still glued to the screen, mouths slightly open.
The video continued, now showing dozens of Cycle Bound warriors charging into battle faces hard with determinationbas they rushed the Tyranny-Class Shroudkin.
They were all superhuman.
Where did they come from? What's their life cycle? Even now, no one knows.
Did they come because of the Cycle Bound? Or were the Cycle Bound sent to Earth to protect us from them?
We have no answers.
What we do know is this: they're drawn to densely populated areas... and only the Cycle Bound can stand against them.
The entire video presentation lasted around ten minutes.
But in that time, the classroom fell utterly silent.
Not a whisper. Not a breath out of place.
Liam looked around and felt a heaviness settle in his chest.
It wasn't just awe. It was dread.
The video had been horrifying.
And sobering.
Is this what we're training for? Is that really what our lives are meant to be now?
Fighting those things. Day after day.
The same classroom that had been buzzing with energy and confidence just minutes ago now felt like a funeral.
The cheerful, first-day-of-university atmosphere had vanished without a trace.
Liam sighed softly.
Fighting strange, alien monsters... he'd seen it plenty of times in his dreams.
He thought everyone else had too after all, they'd all seemed so confident earlier. So proud.
He even half-expected someone to jump up and shout they were itching to fight.
But now?
No one was saying anything.
"I'm going to work my butt off to become the second most powerful Cycle Bound in the university," a girl declared proudly, striking a pose as she twirled her ponytail. "So let's do our best, alright? Follow my lead!"
Liam blinked.
Wait. Second?
Looking around, he saw the class snapping out of their funk, eyes widening in surprise, a few students even chuckling. Sabrina's dramatic declaration had somehow cut through the heavy atmosphere like a knife.
He had to admit it he was impressed.
She had completely flipped the mood.
That kind of presence... that's real leadership, he thought, watching her with a grudging sense of admiration. She'd gotten everyone's attention and redirected the energy of the room, all with a single outburst.
Then Sabrina looked sideways at Liam with a smirk one of those "Well? You gonna try and top that and make a fool of yourself too?" kind of looks.
Nope.
Liam sank further into his chair, deadpan.
I am not here to embarrass myself like you just did.
And also... who the hell's supposed to be the number one if you're aiming for second?
It was honestly kind of hilarious if you thought about it.
Still...
From the way she'd scolded him earlier for falling asleep, it was clear Sabrina had a strong sense of duty and maybe a natural tendency to meddle. With that blunt tone and overly aggressive approach, she came off like she was picking a fight half the time.
What a waste of a kind heart, Liam mused.
The other students were quick to respond to Sabrina's bold declaration.
"Why the hell should we follow someone we've never even heard of?!"
"Ah my bad," Thomas said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Looks like I might've scared you all a little."
He gave a sheepish smile and tried to press on.
"Yes, Shroudkin are strong and terrifying, but we have the advantage in numbers. We've developed tactics strategies involving group coordination, support formations, and gradual takedowns. It might take time, but we whittle them down. And because of that, it's actually rare for anyone to die in battle these days."
He paused, glancing around at the still-stiffened faces.
"This university exists to train you properly in those tactics. You're special valuable assets to the country. We don't abandon our own. So please, don't worry"
Thomas clearly noticed the mood tanking, but pretended not to. He tried to brute-force his way through the lesson like everything was fine.
It wasn't.
A guy seated in the far right row had completely slumped over, looking like his soul had left his body.
What is going on with everyone? Liam wondered, watching as Thomas started to fumble, his tone growing more flustered with each passing second.
The tension in the room was reaching its breaking point.
Students were squirming in their seats, eyes haunted by the horrific images from the video. Minds replaying those scenes over and over.
If the whole class breaks down on day one... we're screwed.
BAAAMMMMM!
A loud slap of palms on a desk shattered the silence.
Liam snapped his head around.
Sabrina was on her feet, both hands planted firmly on her desk.
"Good day, everyone!" she said, her voice loud and clear. "My name is Sabrina Raine. Student number thirty."
There was a pause stunned silence.
"Yeah! You're way too full of yourself!"
"She's cocky, but at least she knows her place second to me. I'm gonna be the most powerful!"
Sabrina clearly hadn't expected the backlash. She flinched, then lashed out.
"What the hell?! That's because you were all acting pathetic just now! So obviously, the great me had to step in and take you under my wing teach you how to be superb Cycle Bound!"
It might've been better if she'd just stayed quiet. But instead, she poured gasoline on the fire.
"Teach us? Who asked you to do that?!"
"You think you're better than us, Spawnhag?!"
"Teach me to be a superb Cycle Bound? Go rot in the Wane! I'll get there myself just fine!"
"Don't be so arrogant, you Echohole!"
The insults flew fast, weird slang and all.
Sabrina, now overwhelmed by the full-blown backlash, completely lost her cool and snapped.
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UUUUUP!! I'll show you how great I am! And when I do, don't come crawling to me for forgiveness or help you pack of wraith-cursed, mire-lipped spawn-humpers!"
Liam groaned and covered his face with his hand.
He really couldn't watch this anymore.
This wasn't a prestigious private university anymore it was a damn sitcom. A very loud, very embarrassing sitcom.
"Ahem, Sir?" Liam called out, trying to salvage what was left of the situation. "Time's ticking. Maybe we could move on to the self-introductions? Or the lecture?"
From his public school experience, he knew where this kind of chaos led. And fast.
If they didn't redirect attention soon, it was only a matter of time before words turned into fists.
What is this? Liam blinked.
Everyone suddenly seemed so confident so ambitious. Spurred on by Sabrina's boldness, it looked like the whole class had found their voice. Lofty goals were being tossed around like confetti.
"In my past life, I fought things way worse than that tentacle freak. Shroudkin? Please. I'll wipe the floor with them," someone boasted.
"Ohhh, look who's soooo proud of their past life," another student mocked, grinning.
"Shut it! We're Cycle Bound! Isn't that what this place is for? I'll protect the country with my own hands!"
"Not a bad slogan. Allies of Justice got a nice ring to it," someone else chimed in.
And just like that, the self-introductions began spiraling into boast-offs and backhanded compliments.
The class energy had turned festive rowdy, even but the structure of the intros was completely gone.
Liam sat back, watching the chaos unfold with a blank expression.
It wasn't that he disliked the energy, or that he looked down on his classmates' dreams.
He didn't.
But after hearing "justice" and "Cycle Bound" for the tenth time, he already felt nauseous. His mood tanked, and all he wanted was to get out of the room and breathe.
Still, if that were the only reason for his foul mood, it wouldn't matter much.
The real reason...
Liam's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden shift.
Silence.
Dead silence.
He blinked, snapped back to reality.
What the?
"Hm? Ah, yes!" Thomas perked up, catching the hint. "Right. Everyone, let's treasure each other as precious classmates."
He clapped his hands together. "We'll begin with student number one. Please introduce yourself."
Thomas had wisely chosen introductions over lessons. Liam could tell he'd picked up on the shift in energy.
For all his unremarkable appearance, Thomas was acting like a real lecturer at that moment and Liam couldn't help but respect that.
"Yes! I'm student number one!" came a loud voice.
It was the energetic guy from before the one who had looked so demoralized during the video. Now, he stood tall, ready to introduce himself.
Despite the lingering tension, the mood began to shift. Some students were still grumbling at Sabrina, but the worst had passed.
Meanwhile, Sabrina's expression brightened instantly. Her face lit up like someone who'd just been rescued from drowning. She turned to Liam, her eyes sparkling with over-the-top gratitude.
The look clearly said: "Alaric, I knew you'd come to my rescue, my gallant knight!"
Liam let out a slow breath.
It's not like I wanted to play the role of your loyal sidekick...
But with a complicated mix of resignation and amusement, he met her gaze with a subtle nod.
Don't worry about it.
The self-introductions continued, each student sharing their goals and reasons for attending the university.
"I also came here with the goal of becoming the strongest Cycle Bound," one student declared.
"It's my divine mission to fight for justice and peace," said another, nodding solemnly. "I'll work hard to learn everything I can."
"My top priority is to get promoted to Rank C as soon as possible," another said confidently.
Everyone's gaze had fixed on a single person.
A girl sitting just in front and to the left of Liam.
Lilith?
From Liam's angle, all he could see was her long, sleek black hair. He couldn't see her face but he could guess.
Still got that frozen "don't talk to me" mask on, huh?
Thomas peered at the class register. "Let's see… Lilith, right? Is something the matter?"
He leaned slightly forward, voice gentle but unsure.
"Is your stomach upset? Still shaken by the Shroudkin video? Or maybe... just a bit too shy to introduce yourself?"
A few nervous chuckles rippled through the room.
"Or maybe," Thomas added awkwardly, "you've got a joke to share with the class?"
And then—
"ZZZZZZzzzzzz…"
Everyone froze.
A soft, unmistakable snore filled the classroom.
Sabrina rocketed out of her seat, her voice shrill with disbelief.
"YOU'RE SLEEPING AGAIN?!"
Exactly what everyone else was thinking but no one had the guts to say out loud.
Liam sighed, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over him.
At the same time, though, he couldn't help but be a little impressed.
Seriously... how does someone fall asleep at a time like this?
After the Shroudkin video, Sabrina's dramatic outburst, and all the over-the-top self-introductions, Lilith had somehow managed to just... drift off.
Whether it was a natural talent or sheer indifference, Liam didn't know.
But being able to conk out in the middle of all that chaos?
That takes guts.
In that other life, he had been Emery the Noctis Mage, feared and hated across nations.
"I don't remember much from Emery's life," Liam admitted. "Mostly just fragments of him fighting alone. But..."
He hesitated, trying to put the feeling into words.
"There was one person. Someone always beside him. His most trusted companion. Right hand. Lover, maybe. She was known as the Tenebris Maiden, or sometimes Belladonna. I remember the titles but not her name, or her face."
If Lilith truly was the reincarnation of that powerful dark mage, then Liam owed her an apology. The same way he'd apologized to Sabrina for not recognizing her sooner.
After speaking his piece, he went quiet.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Lilith didn't flinch. Her voice came soft and serene.
"My apologies... but I haven't been following a word of what you're saying."
Liam exhaled slowly. "I see. All right then."
If he'd been wrong, then he was wrong. Maybe he just wanted it to be true.
An apology would be more for his own comfort than hers.
I'm sorry. Please forget I said anything, he was about to say
"I've heard this before," Lilith suddenly said, her voice calm as ever. "If someone asks, 'Have we met before?' you're probably about to get hit on."
"Wait hold on. That's not what this is!" Liam stammered. "It's not a pickup line!"
Then he caught it.
The slight upturn of her lips.
A smile.
She was joking.
Didn't she say something earlier about wanting to take university at her own pace?
Yeah... she definitely wasn't kidding.
She clearly had no ambition none of the drive that everyone else in the class had just been flaunting. While the rest of them were hyping up their past lives and throwing around declarations of justice and power, Lilith was over there napping like it was just another lazy afternoon.
Why someone like her would even bother coming to Eldoria Academy the number one training facility for Cycle Bound was a complete mystery.
She's really something else...
Liam thought back to their earlier conversation, still trying to figure her out.
Strange girl. No other way to put it.
"Are you the Tenebris Maiden?" Liam asked.
Lilith blinked. "Excuse me?"
No matter how intently he watched her, her expression remained that same frozen, unreadable mask.
"Still pretending not to know?" Liam pressed. "I'm pretty sure we were together in a past life too."
He wasn't just guessing.
Lilith had called him Emery. And then Flameheart. Names no one else should know.
Liam had memories of two past lives.
One was Alaric subordinate and sworn protector of Princess Isabel. The other...
He wasn't sure which came first, which came second. But what he was sure of was that the current Liam Calderon had been reincarnated after both of those lives.
You've got a weird sense of humor," he muttered.
"You're a strange guy."
"No way. It's the other way around you're the weird one here."
"That's so rude. I'm a perfectly normal woman."
Liam gave her a flat look. "I've never met a woman like you in my life."
"Well, strange people tend to attract each other," she said with a shrug.
"All right, all right. Let's end this endless loop of nonsense."
With a sigh, Liam turned away and headed off to find his classroom.
But to his surprise, Lilith who'd originally planned to be late on purpose got up and followed.
She didn't say anything.
Liam didn't either.
For some reason, the two of them simply walked side by side in silence toward their classroom.
That was everything that had happened just recently.
And now, the self-introductions finally came to an end.
The newly-awake Lilith and the low-energy Liam managed to get through their turns with short, minimal statements. As for the final number Sabrina she seemed more than ready to take a second turn, but quickly backed down with teary eyes when the class responded with a collective glare of pure rage.
Afterward, Thomas shared a few more class details, and with that, the meeting was officially adjourned.
The first day of university had ended.
Barely past noon.
Since Eldoria Academy was a boarding school, most students headed straight to the dorms for lunch.
He remembered being mildly annoyed when he first got it.
Now, the feeling came back twice as strong.
Great. I've got no money, no job prospects, and a dog tag instead of a student card.
"It seems," Lilith said, "some free time just opened up."
Liam quietly slipped the ID tag back into his pocket.
And then
"So please, go on a date with me," Lilith said flatly.
The classroom exploded in whispers.
Every lingering classmate suddenly turned into an audience, watching the drama unfold like a midday soap opera.
In the corner, Sabrina visibly started tugging at her own hair.
But Liam, entirely ignoring the chaos around him, just shrugged and said:
"Sorry. I'm broke."
A cold silence swept through the room like a winter wind.
Every eavesdropper froze in place.
Even so, Liam wasn't joking. He really was broke. One of the more practical reasons he'd wanted a job was because he was, very simply, poor.
"My treat."
"No. I can't let you do that."
"It's common courtesy for the host to pay when they extend an invitation."
"Isn't it also common courtesy for the guy to cover the bill?" Liam replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you trying to tactfully reject my invite?"
"No. Actually, if possible, I'd really like to go."
Being asked out by a beauty what kind of man wouldn't be moved?
"Then let's go," Lilith said simply. "I'm interested in you. Don't be fooled by appearances I have more money than I know what to do with. I could literally throw it down the drain. Just keep me company."
Liam packed up, shoving the stack of lecture materials into his bag, already thinking about food when
"A moment of your time?"
He looked up to see Lilith standing beside him.
From the subtle shift in the room, it was clear that others had noticed too. Something was definitely up.
More than a few curious glances shot in their direction.
Unnoticed by Liam, Sabrina was also subtly perking up, ears trained on their conversation.
He blinked and waited for Lilith to continue.
"Do you have time after this?" she asked.
Liam scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry. Since I'm in university now, I was planning to look for a part-time job."
He hated to turn her down, but... that was reality.
You're a man now. You need to earn your own money.
His father's voice echoed in his head No more allowance. Be responsible.
Lilith's reply was cool and matter-of-fact.
"It's against university rules to have a part-time job."
Liam froze. "What?"
Did she just say...
His pride as a man crumbled in an instant.
"Damn it," he muttered, quickly fishing through his uniform pocket for the student handbook to check the rules himself.
Instead, his fingers touched something cold and metallic.
"Oh. Right."
He pulled out the object.
It was his student ID tag solid metal, engraved with the university's name, his own name, gender, and student number.
Eldoria didn't bother with a typical handbook-and-card system. Instead, they issued these tags militarized, standardized, and impossible to ignore.
Even one penny's still money," Liam muttered, frowning a little. Her casual attitude toward wealth rubbed him the wrong way. He came from a hardworking middle-class family. Money meant something.
Lilith blinked at his tone, expression softening. For once, she wasn't wearing her usual icy mask.
After a brief pause, she nodded. "You're right. I phrased that poorly. I'm sorry."
Liam tilted his head slightly. Do you really get it?
Still, he smiled faintly and said, "A date with you should be worth a lot."
"Don't cheapen the moment," she shot back with a smirk.
Those dimples again. Seriously was it that fun to mess with him?
"The money spent during good conversation and an enjoyable time isn't a waste, right?" she added.
"Even so... I still don't love the idea of being treated without contributing."
"You're exhausting," Lilith sighed, glancing up at the ceiling like she was pleading with the sky for patience.
Meanwhile, the other guys nearby had devolved into frenzied whispers.
"Is that guy an idiot?"
"Why's he hesitating over a girl like that?!"
"What's there to complain about?! Switch places with me, bro!"
And of course, half of them couldn't stop ogling Lilith's curves mentally swapping themselves into Liam's shoes, probably imagining a dozen different outcomes.
Everyone around them seemed to assume the situation between Liam and Lilith would continue peacefully for a while.
But then
"Isn't it obvious he doesn't like you? A clingy woman's just annoying!"
A third party suddenly jumped in.
It was Sabrina her eyes bloodshot from watching the whole exchange like a hawk.
Yes... even if she didn't look or act like the regal princess from his dreams, Sabrina no longer felt like a stranger to Liam.
He nodded slightly, then replied: "Sorry. I already have a date."
And with a calm motion, he reached out and gently took Lilith's arm.
"Alaric, you traitorrrrrr!"
Liam let out a strangled sound as Sabrina grabbed him by the collar, her expression absolutely terrifying.
"You turned her down a second ago! Doesn't that mean you're free now? Come out with me!"
"That wasn't a rejection. That was a failed negotiation due to lack of funds," Liam said matter-of-factly. "And for the same reason, I can't go out with you either."
If I did, I'd really be a lying, two-faced traitor, Liam thought grimly.
"Grrrrrr…" Sabrina let out a low growl but reluctantly released her grip on his collar, her teeth grinding audibly.
"Don't just stand there with that smug blank face!"
She spun back toward Lilith, now talking down to her with a sharp tone.
"So you're Lilith, right? You've got guts, ignoring me like that."
Lilith responded with a tilt of her head.
"By the way, what's your relationship with Liam?"
"Ha-ha-ha!" Sabrina declared proudly. "Liam and I were together in our past lives. Not only was he my loyal knight and I his Princess we were secret lovers too."
She placed a hand over her heart, dramatically milking the moment.
"Do you know how impossible it is for two people to reunite like this after reincarnation? The odds are so astronomically low, they don't even exist in this dimension! Thus the red threads of fate have bound us tighter than you could ever comprehend. Ha-ha-ha!"
Sabrina laughed haughtily, clearly enjoying rubbing her "destined" relationship with Liam in Lilith's face.
Without a shred of hesitation, she marched over and positioned herself directly across from Lilith, on the other side of Liam's desk.
Her expression was anything but calm.
Oh no. She's going to blow up again, isn't she...?
Liam sat frozen between them, glancing from one girl to the other, cold sweat trickling down his temple.
Sabrina was softly laughing but it was the cold, mocking kind and her gaze was locked on Lilith like a challenge had been issued.
Lilith, on the other hand
"Liam, about that date…"
"Why are you ignoring meeeeee?!" Sabrina wailed.
Lilith turned to her with the mild confusion of someone seeing a stranger.
"And you are?"
"Sabrina Raine! We literally had class introductions just now!"
"I fell asleep, so I didn't hear."
"You could've at least listened! I paid attention to your intro!"
"It's fine not to pay attention to mine."
"Try to build social connections like a normal person!"
"I was born anti-social."
Compared to Sabrina, who was yapping like an offended puppy, Lilith was calmly batting her words aside like a cat toying with string.
"Enough!" Sabrina hissed through clenched teeth, then rounded on Liam with fire in her eyes.
"Come out with me today!"
It wasn't a polite request it was a royal command. The kind of spoiled demand only a princess could make.
Yet, despite the tone and sharp edge to her voice, there was a strange familiarity in it. A casual boldness that only existed between people who were comfortable with each other.
What?! No way?!
"Amazing...!"
The surrounding classmates gasped in unison, looking on with wide eyes.
"That seriously shocked me."
"It's like something out of a fantasy drama!"
"That's so romantic ugh, I'm jealous."
A wave of whispering broke out across the room. Everyone had the same glazed-over, lovestruck expression the classic "aww, true love" face.
Lilith, ever calm, turned to Liam and asked quietly, "Is that true?"
Liam nodded... but inside, he was sweating bullets.
Lilith's eyes met his clear, beautiful, and pointed.
What exactly is going on? she seemed to ask without saying a word.
"Umm..." Liam faltered.
Sabrina had just declared their legendary, cosmic love story in front of everyone and he'd confirmed it with a nod. If that were truly the end of it, then case closed.
BUT
If Lilith was also from one of his past lives, then she was his companion too. And since she didn't know Liam had memories of two past lives, of course she'd be suspicious of Sabrina's bold claim.