The carriage pull up to the base of a sandstone structure carved with flowing lines that almost looked lime ripples in water.
A priests in white and gold robes bowed as we approached.
Inside, the air was cool but heavy with incense and something else...almost like a faint hum in the walls.
> Weird.i could swear the walls are vibrating.
The High Priest stepped forward, staff in hand.
"Prince leon," He said, his voice echoing in the halls, "today you were awaken the gift the god have granted you."
He lead us to center chamber. The dome above was open to the sky, letting sunlight spill directly onto a stone circle etched with runes.
I stepped into the circle.
The hum grew louder.
"Close your eyes" the priest instructed. "Now focus, feel the thread of magic in your blood. Pull it into yourself, then let it speak."
I did as told. At first, nothing happened—then, like someone yanked a cork out of my bloodly ears, the world roared in.
Every shuffle of feet.every creak of the temple walls. Every heartbeat in the room— i heard them all.
I gasp as I cover my ears.
The runes flared beneath me. A ring of gold light spun outward, and the hum became a perfect, clear tone that sank into my chest.
>...sound? My big reincarnation power....is freakin sound?!
The priest's voice broke through my disbelief. "Unique. A power of vibration and frequency....rare, yet dangerous in the right hands."
"Dangerous?, yeah sure. Maybe if I scream at people really loud.
I was still processing when it happened.
A single, off heartbeat cut through the noise. Slow. Deliberate.
I turned my head toward the far shadows near the temple side door — but everyone else was staring at me in awe and if they hadn't noticed.
And there he was.
Leaning casually against a pillar, dressed in plain traveler's clothes. Sharp eyes glinting with amusement. A smirk that said he knew something I didn't.
When our eyes met, he mouthed something without sound.
But my new power caught it anyway.
> "Found you."
A shiver ran down my spine before I could stop it.
Then the boy winked — and vanished into the shadows as if he'd never been there.
---
"Prince Leon?" the High Priest's voice pulled me back.
"Your awakening is complete. The gods favor you."
I forced a smile.
"Yeah… lucky me."
>lucky my ass.
But my mind wasn't on the ceremony anymore.
It was on that heartbeat.
That smirk.
And the sinking feeling that whoever he was… he'd be back.