*Chapter 14: Shadows of the Past*
The memory orb pulsed softly, bathing the cavern in a ghostly blue light. Kaito stared, heart hammering, as the younger versions of himself and Alexander moved in perfect sync—laughing, sharing secrets, hand in hand like they were inseparable.
"Is that… us?" Kaito breathed.
Alexander's usual cold facade cracked slightly. "Apparently, we've been through this before."
David leaned closer, squinting. "Different uniforms… Maybe from some old academy? This place keeps getting weirder."
Jin rubbed his neck nervously. "So, if that's us, what happened between then and now? Why can't we remember?"
White Louise's voice echoed softly from the shadows. "Because some memories aren't meant to be remembered."
From the cavern's entrance, Clare and Mara stepped forward, their expressions unreadable.
"The seal weakening isn't just some random glitch," Clare said sharply. "It's tied to those past lives—and the promises we broke."
Mara's eyes flickered. "And *him*," she said, glancing pointedly at Kaito.
Kaito's face flushed. "Me? What did I do?"
"You were the key," White Louise answered, stepping into the blue light, the cursed symbol glowing on her palm. "You were the one who caused the fracture."
The group exchanged uneasy glances.
Alexander crossed his arms, voice low and dangerous. "We're not just fighting spirits or curses anymore. We're fighting *ourselves*."
Before Kaito could reply, the orb flickered violently, showing another scene—a heated argument between their past selves, harsh words, and finally, a betrayal.
Jin gasped, clutching David's arm. "That explains why my past self looks so heartbroken!"
David smirked, but even he looked unsettled.
Suddenly, the orb shattered with a loud *crack*, sending shards of light cascading over them.
Kaito stumbled, catching himself on the wall. "Well… that was dramatic."
Alexander raised an eyebrow. "You okay, or should I fetch a healer?"
"Ha ha," Kaito muttered, rubbing his head. "Guess my past self really knew how to make a mess."
White Louise sighed. "The past is coming back, whether you like it or not."
Clare grinned wickedly. "And it's going to get messy."
Jin whispered, eyes wide. "Just like us."
The group braced themselves, knowing that whatever shadows lingered from their past lives would shake Aether High—and their hearts—to the core.
The cavern grew colder as the shattered orb's light dimmed. A heavy silence fell over the group, each lost in their own thoughts.
Kaito broke the quiet. "So… if we're connected to all this, does that mean everything we're feeling—the tension, the fights, the weird attraction stuff—it's all from before?"
Alexander glanced at him, a rare softness in his eyes. "Maybe. Or maybe we just haven't grown up enough yet."
David snorted. "Speak for yourself. I'm perfect."
Jin rolled his eyes but smiled. "Yeah, 'perfect' with a talent for causing chaos."
White Louise folded her arms, looking serious again. "Your past selves made mistakes. Big ones. But it's your choices now that will decide if history repeats—or if you break the cycle."
Clare and Mara exchanged glances, their usual playful expressions gone.
"We're going to need all the help we can get," Clare said. "Because the forces trying to break the seal aren't playing fair."
Mara nodded. "And trust me, they'll use every secret, every weakness against you."
Kaito swallowed hard. "Great. Just when I was starting to get used to this afterlife mess."
Alexander smirked. "Welcome to Aether High. Where the drama never ends."
Jin sighed dramatically. "And apparently, neither does our tragic history."
David grinned, nudging Kaito. "Hey, at least you're not the only one who's messed up. We all have skeletons in our closets—sometimes literally."
Kaito groaned. "Can we just survive this semester first?"
White Louise smiled slyly. "Oh, you won't just survive. You'll be legends."
As they made their way out of the tunnels, the weight of their past lives hung over them like a storm cloud.
But beneath it all, a flicker of hope.
Maybe this time, they could rewrite their fate.
---
As they climbed the winding stairs back to the surface, Kaito stumbled, nearly face-planting again. "I swear, if I embarrass myself one more time today, I'm going to disappear."
Alexander rolled his eyes but reached out to steady him. "Try not to die before the big showdown."
Jin chuckled. "He's already the school's most spectacular disaster. I vote we make a statue."
David laughed. "And put it right next to the one of me—King of Aether High."
White Louise caught up to them, her usual icy demeanor slightly softened. "Enough jokes. We need a plan. The seal isn't just weakening by chance. Someone's behind it—and they want to wake what's been sleeping."
Clare and Mara exchanged glances again. "You'll know soon enough," Clare said cryptically.
As they emerged from the underground chamber, the moonlight bathed Aether High in an eerie glow.
Kaito took a deep breath. "So, what now? We're stuck with this past-life drama and future apocalypse vibes?"
Alexander smirked. "We survive. We fight. And hopefully, we don't kill each other before then."
Jin grinned. "And if all else fails, we blame Kaito."
Kaito groaned. "Thanks, guys. Real helpful."
They all laughed—if only to forget, for a moment, the heavy destiny waiting for them.
But one thing was clear: nothing would ever be the same at Aether High.
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