The moonlit garden felt like a battlefield.
Lucian, trembling with rage.Damien, smirking with confidence.Liora, frozen in fear.And Elara — caught at the center of a storm she never asked for.
"No," Elara said finally, taking a step back from both princes. "I'm not an object for fate to toss between you."
Damien chuckled darkly. "Fate does not ask for permission."
Lucian pointed his sword at Damien. "Touch her, and you'll lose more than memory."
Damien leaned forward, eyes glinting.
"And if you love her as much as you claim… shouldn't you be terrified?"
Lucian flinched. Damien pressed harder.
"Because the curse doesn't care about your sword or your promises. The moment your love peaks—" he snapped his fingers, "your memories of her vanish."
Elara's heart cracked.She looked at Lucian — ready to beg him to protect himself — but he stepped toward her first.
"Elara, listen to me," he said, voice shaking. "Even if I forget you — I need you safe."
Damien scoffed. "How noble. How foolish."
Liora suddenly stepped in front of Elara, blocking both of them.
"Enough! None of you get to decide her fate for her."
Silence.
Liora turned to Elara — her eyes worried but full of loyalty.
"If the locket's curse wipes out the person who loves you most… then you need to learn to control the power before that happens."
Elara wiped her eyes and nodded.She would not watch another life collapse. Not again.
"Then train me," she whispered. "Teach me everything. Not tomorrow. Not later. Now."
Damien smiled approvingly. "At last the Princess remembers what power feels like."
Lucian clenched his fists. "If she trains with you, I'm coming too. I'm not leaving her alone with you."
Damien sneered. "Afraid I might make her fall for me again?"
Lucian looked at him — and didn't blink.
"I'd rather bleed a thousand times than lose her again."
The words hit Elara hard — too hard.
Her magic reacted to her emotions — the ground trembled, petals rose into the air, light circling around her.
She grabbed her chest, struggling to breathe.
"No — no, not now—"The curse activated when emotions peaked.
Lucian rushed to her.
"Elara — slow your breath. Look at me."
She focused on his eyes — and the light faded back into her body.
Lucian held her softly, forehead against hers."I'm not afraid of forgetting," he whispered. "I'm only afraid of you being alone."
That broke her.
She hugged him tightly — shaking.
Damien's expression cracked for the first time — jealousy and pain flickering in his eyes.
"This world was so cruel to you," Elara whispered into Lucian's shoulder. "Why do you still choose to love me?"
Lucian answered without hesitation:
"Because every version of me — in every timeline — will always find you."
Her heart flooded with warmth… and fear.
Damien turned away, trying to mask his expression. "Touching. But if you two keep feeding the curse, you'll destroy each other."
Liora nodded reluctantly. "We need discipline. Training. Answers."
Elara wiped her tears and stood tall.
"Then let's begin."
🔥 Last Scene — A new mission
The four of them stood around the fountain — the same stone circle where the academy held binding spells.
Liora placed her hand on the glowing water.
"We form a pact," she said. "Not as rivals. Not as enemies. But as the only ones who understand this curse."
Lucian placed his hand next.
Damien hesitated… then followed.
Finally, Elara placed hers — golden light rising from the water.
"We fight fate together."
But behind the vow… each person's thoughts were different.
Lucian: I will protect her, even if I lose myself.Damien: I will claim her, even if it destroys worlds.Liora: I will save her, even if she never chooses me.Elara: I will not let destiny steal anyone I love.
The pact seals with a pulse of light — binding them tightly.
And somewhere far away, an ancient power awakens…