Bound by Fate

Chapter 5: Centuries of Waiting

Lily stared into the flickering flames of the fireplace, her thoughts tangled in confusion and disbelief. The revelations of the past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions, each discovery pulling her further away from the life she thought she knew. She had come to this secluded manor expecting nothing more than a retreat from her mundane existence. Instead, she found herself at the center of an ancient and powerful tale of magic, reincarnation, and two immortal warriors who had been waiting for her return.

Aric and Kael sat across from her in the dimly lit room, their faces etched with the weight of the centuries they had endured. Their eyes held the burden of endless waiting, of hope clung to and lost, and now found once again. The connection she felt with both men was undeniable, their presence a constant tug on her soul. Yet, with that connection came confusion and fear.

“You said you’ve been searching for me,” Lily said, her voice quiet but steady. “For centuries?”

Aric nodded, his sapphire eyes glowing softly in the firelight. “Yes, for centuries. Since the day you—Elara—died, we have been bound by a promise, a destiny that spans lifetimes. You are her reincarnation, the sorceress we swore to protect, and the woman we loved.”

Kael’s gaze never left hers, his expression severe but tender. “We’ve waited for you, Lily. We knew you would return, and now that you have, everything will change again.”

Lily shuddered at the weight of their words. She had felt a connection to them from the moment they met, an inexplicable pull that defied logic. But learning she was the reincarnation of a powerful sorceress and that her past life had been filled with magic, love, and betrayal—this was almost too much to bear.

“I don’t remember any of it,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know how I can be this person you’re talking about.”

Aric’s gaze softened as he leaned forward, his presence comforting. “You don’t need to remember everything yet. Your soul has been reborn many times, but the essence of who you are—the power within you—remains unchanged. It’s still there, waiting to be awakened.”

Kael nodded, his deep voice adding to Aric’s reassurance. “You’ve always been strong, Lily. Even now, without your full memories, your power is already stirring. We felt it the moment we saw you.”

Lily glanced between them, her heart pounding. “But why now? Why did it take so long for me to return?”

Aric’s expression darkened slightly. “The cycles of reincarnation are unpredictable. We don’t fully understand them ourselves. Each time you were reborn, we tried to find you. But it wasn’t always easy. Sometimes, we were close; other times, we were too late.”

Kael sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. “There were times when we found you only after you had already passed again. Other times, we couldn’t find you at all. It was maddening, knowing you were out somewhere but unable to reach you.”

The anguish in his voice tugged at Lily’s heart. She couldn’t imagine the pain of waiting for someone across centuries, searching for her through lifetimes, only to lose her again and again. And yet, here they were, still hopeful, still waiting before her.

“What about now?” she asked softly. “Why is this life different?”

“Because this time, we’ve found you before it’s too late,” Aric answered, his tone resolute. “This time, we can protect you. And this time, you will remember. We will help you.”

Lily’s eyes flicked between the two men. Their sheer devotion to her—or rather, for Elara—was overwhelming. She had no memories of being this powerful sorceress they spoke of, no memories of a love that had spanned centuries. But the emotions she felt now—her magnetic pull toward both of them—were undeniable. She was caught in the web of a fate she didn’t fully understand, which terrified her.

“How long have you two known each other?” she asked, her curiosity about their bond rising to the surface.

Aric and Kael exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them before Kael spoke.

“Since the beginning,” he said. “We were warriors bound by an oath to serve and protect Elara. We fought in the wars against the Shadowborn, the dark forces that sought to consume the realms. Aric and I were brothers in arms, and Elara was our heart.”

Lily’s brow furrowed. “You fought in wars?”

Aric nodded. “Yes. Elara was more than just a sorceress. She was the key to maintaining the balance between light and darkness. The Shadowborn knew that if they could destroy her, they could tip the scales in their favor. That’s why they targeted her. And that’s why we fought so hard to protect her.”

Kael’s eyes darkened with a memory of long ago. “But in the end, we couldn’t save her. She was betrayed.”

Lily’s heart skipped a beat at the word. “Betrayed? By who?”

Neither man spoke immediately. The silence that followed was thick with tension, and Lily could feel the weight of an unspoken truth hanging between them.

Finally, Aric sighed, his voice barely a whisper. “It was one of us.”

Lily’s breath caught in her throat. “What?”

Kael’s jaw clenched, his hands tightening into fists. “There was a moment… a critical moment in the final battle. And one of us made a choice. A choice that led to Elara’s death.”

Lily’s mind raced, her pulse quickening. “But… why? Why would one of you betray her?”

“It wasn’t intentional,” Aric said quickly, his eyes pleading with her to understand. “It was a moment of weakness, a mistake that had devastating consequences.”

Kael’s voice was tight with barely suppressed emotion. “We both carry the weight of that mistake. It’s haunted us for centuries. But now, with you here, we can make things right.”

Lily shook her head, her mind struggling to process the information. One of them had betrayed her—betrayed Elara. The woman she had once been. And now they were here, in this lifetime, asking for her trust. How could she trust them, knowing what had happened in the past?

“Which of you was it?” she asked, her voice trembling with fear and anger. “Who betrayed her?”

Neither man answered immediately. The silence stretched on, thick and suffocating. Lily’s heart pounded in her chest, the uncertainty gnawing at her.

Aric and Kael exchanged another glance, their expressions filled with pain. Finally, Kael spoke, his voice low and broken. “It was me.”

Lily’s world tilted. The air seemed to leave the room as she stared at him, her mind reeling. “You… you betrayed her?”

Kael’s gaze didn’t waver, though his expression was regretful. “I didn’t mean to. It was a mistake. But yes, it was me.”

Lily felt a wave of nausea wash over her. The man who had been so gentle, so kind, had been the one responsible for her death in a past life. How could she trust him now? How could she be vulnerable to him when he had betrayed her once before?

“I don’t know if I can do this,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “How can I trust you?”

Kael’s expression crumbled, his eyes filled with anguish. “Lily, please. I’ve spent centuries trying to make up for that mistake. I would never hurt you again.”

Aric placed a hand on Kael’s shoulder, his expression solemn. “We both carry the weight of that betrayal, Lily. It’s haunted us for so long. But we’ve been given another chance. Another chance to protect you, to keep you safe.”

Lily stood, the room spinning around her. “I need time. I can’t… I can’t just forgive this.”

She turned and fled the room, her heart pounding in her chest. The air outside was cool and crisp, contrasting the suffocating atmosphere. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the emotions swirling inside her.

How could she trust them? How could she move forward, knowing the truth of what had happened in the past?

As the moonlight bathed her in its glow, Lily realized that her journey was far from over. She had a choice to make—a choice that would not only determine her fate but the fate of the two men who had been waiting for her for centuries.

And as much as she wanted to run, she knew she couldn’t avoid her destiny forever.