Students still stared at Elena as if she wasn't a person — but a prophecy wearing skin. Her knees trembled, and she forced herself to stand even though every bone felt too heavy.
"I'm not a Soulbearer," she whispered.She wanted to believe it — that the magic wasn't real, that the prophecy wasn't about her.
But Kael answered the words she didn't want to hear.
"You are. The mark appeared."
Elena blinked. "What mark?"
Kael hesitated, then lifted her wrist gently. A glowing white sigil shaped like wings and a circle was burned into her skin — soft and beautiful, yet terrifying.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"That brand only appears once every thousand years…"
"She's the chosen one."
"She's dangerous!"
Lucian stepped forward and blocked their stares with his body. "Anyone who sees her as a threat will answer to me."
Students immediately backed away — Lucian's presence alone felt like a warning from another world.
Kael scowled. "You can't protect her if she can't control her magic."
"And you can?" Lucian shot back.
The argument was seconds from exploding again — so Elena snapped.
"STOP!"
To her shock, the air obeyed. A wave of invisible force pushed both men away — not violently, but like the world itself listened to her voice.
Everyone froze.
Even Elena.
"What… was that?" she whispered, panic rising.
No one answered.
A teacher rushed over, voice trembling with authority."Elena Voss, you are ordered to report to the High Council of Magic immediately."
Liora stepped forward protectively. "She just returned from the dead — can't you see she's exhausted?"
"It's not negotiable," the teacher insisted.
Kael's jaw tightened. "I'll accompany her."
"So will I," Lucian countered.
"No," Elena said firmly. "I'm going alone."
The teacher shook his head. "Everyone with a Soulbearer mark must be escorted by a Guardian. It's tradition. And law."
Elena looked between Kael and Lucian.
Both men waited — silently, tensely.
The whole arena held its breath.
Finally, she chose.
"…Liora."
All three men froze.
Elena lifted her chin. "My guardian is my best friend. Not someone obsessed with control or fate. Liora."
Kael looked betrayed. Lucian looked shocked. And Liora? She looked like she might cry.
"M-me? Are you sure? I'm not strong like them."
Elena held her hand out. "I don't need strength. I need someone who sees me as a person — not a weapon."
Liora took her hand.
Students around them whispered again — but this time differently.
"She chose friendship over power…"
"That's insane… or heroic."
Kael turned away sharply, hiding his expression — but his voice cracked:
"You'll need me. You may not want to, but you will."
Lucian didn't move, but his eyes softened — painful, regretful.
"Elena… if anything happens to you, I'll tear the world apart."
She didn't reply.
🏛️ Hall of the High Council
Two hours later, Elena and Liora stood before massive golden doors engraved with ancient symbols. Magic pulsed from them like heartbeats.
Liora squeezed her hand. "No matter what they say, you're still… you."
Elena nodded — but her stomach twisted.
The doors opened. Twelve robed Council members stared down from thrones of stone and light.
The central figure stood.Her voice was ancient, echoing:
"Elena Voss… Soulbearer reborn. Return what was stolen from death."
Elena's eyes widened. "I didn't steal anything."
The council leader raised her staff — and a mirror-like portal appeared, showing Elena's death from her previous life.
Fire, betrayal, blood…Someone murdering her.But the face was blurred — hidden.
Liora gasped, covering her mouth. "Elena… you were killed."
Elena trembled. She didn't want to relive it.
The council leader's voice darkened:
"To stop the catastrophe of fate, you must remember who killed you and why you were reborn."
Elena felt the sigil on her wrist burn like fire — memories clawing at her mind.
Pain tore through her head — screams, fear, flames —
And then she saw it.
Not clearly — but enough:
A man holding her dying body whispering:
"If this world can't have you… then neither can anyone else."
Elena gasped and collapsed to the floor — breathing hard, tears streaming. Liora held her tight.
"Elena! Talk to me — what did you see?!"
Elena whispered, voice shaking violently:
"I think… the person who killed me…
…is someone who still loves me."