The chambers remained silent, as if the Council feared what Elena might say next.
Liora held her trembling hands. "Elena… the one who killed you — someone who loved you? Are you sure?"
Elena nodded weakly, wiping her tears. "I didn't see his face. But I heard his voice… and he was crying. He kept saying he couldn't let anyone else have me."
The Council members began whispering among themselves.
One of them, a sharp-eyed woman with silver braids, spoke coldly:
"A love powerful enough to kill. Obsession. Possession. Soulbond crime."
Another added:
"If he discovers she has returned, he will try again."
Liora's hand tightened protectively around Elena's.
The council leader struck her staff against the floor — the sound boomed like thunder.
"From this day forward, Elena Voss is under magical protection. She must never be left unguarded."
Liora protested instantly. "She's not a prisoner!"
"She is a prophecy," the leader corrected. "If she dies again, the world will break."
Elena stood up. Her voice wasn't loud, but firm.
"I won't live in fear. I refuse to hide."
The leader's ancient eyes softened for the first time.
"Courage is not ignorance, child. Great destinies are born from great storms."
With a gesture of her staff, a floating crystal descended — glowing with pale gold.
"This relic will react to the presence of whoever killed you. If he approaches, it will turn crimson."
The crystal hovered to Elena like a floating teardrop and settled around her neck, forming a necklace.
It felt warm — almost alive.
"Elena Voss," the leader said solemnly, "your reincarnation is not accidental. Someone rewrote fate itself to bring you back… but for what purpose, we do not yet know."
A cold shiver ran down Elena's spine.
The council dismissed them, and Liora guided Elena out of the hall — her arm wrapped around her shoulder.
💗 Outside the Council Hall
Kael and Lucian were already waiting — though neither expected the other to be there.
Lucian took one look at Elena's pale face and stepped forward, voice low and careful."Elena… what did they do to you?"
Kael's eyes flashed with a different emotion — fear disguised as anger."What did they show you?"
Both wanted answers, but Elena couldn't speak. She shook her head — not ready.
Kael clenched his jaw. "At least let me—"
He reached to touch her shoulder — and the necklace glowed red for a split second.
Everyone froze.
Elena stepped back instinctively.
Liora gasped. "Elena, the necklace turned red — that means—"
"NO," Elena interrupted, heart pounding. "Kael would never— it must have reacted to something else!"
Kael looked like someone stabbed him.
"You think I killed you?"
Lucian moved toward Kael, eyes full of fury. "If you hurt her—"
Kael snapped. "I WOULD DIE FOR HER!"
His voice echoed so loud it silenced the entire courtyard. For a moment, the mask of his coldness vanished. Raw emotion showed underneath.
Students and teachers stared.
Kael realized what he revealed — and shut down instantly, stepping away with blank eyes.
"You want distance? Fine. I won't touch you until you ask."
He walked off without another word.
Lucian stared after him, conflicted, but didn't follow. Instead he knelt slightly to look Elena directly in the eyes.
"Elena… whoever killed you — it doesn't have to be someone you still know. It could be a past-life soulbound."
He brushed a strand of hair from her face gently — but didn't touch her skin, respecting her space.
"If your heart remembers him, the necklace will react. Not your mind."
Elena swallowed hard. "So he could be anywhere."
Lucian nodded. "Anywhere… and already searching for you."
🌙 Night — Dormitory
That night, Elena couldn't sleep. Liora curled beside her, already dozing, but Elena's eyes stayed open.
The necklace glowed softly — warm but unsettling.
Her mind kept repeating that memory:
"If this world can't have you… then neither can anyone else."
Whoever he was…He loved her enough to kill.And enough to return her.
But why?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft tapping on the window.
Her blood turned cold.
Slowly, she stood… and pulled the curtain aside.
Outside on the balcony, standing in the moonlight, was a young man in black — hood pulled low, silver hair glinting.
She didn't recognize him.
But her heart reacted.
It skipped — not with fear… but with familiarity.
The necklace around her neck began to glow crimson.
Her breath hitched.
The stranger lifted his head, revealing a pair of beautiful yet haunting eyes — full of longing and madness.
He whispered through the glass, voice aching with devotion:
"Elena… I finally found you."