She took a step back. Then another.

“You’re joking, right?” Her voice was uneven, on the verge of laughter — but not the good kind. “This is a prank or something. You expect me to believe that you’ve lived seventeen lives? That you knew that man because of some… past-life revenge story?”

His jaw tightened. “It’s the truth.”

“Right.” She crossed her arms. “And what next? You’re secretly a 300-year-old warrior prince? Maybe a cursed immortal? Should I expect a vampire reveal, too?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he muttered.

“Oh, I’m the ridiculous one?” She let out a sharp breath, shaking her head. “This isn’t funny. If this is some elaborate excuse for whatever just happened back there, then just say it. But don’t — don’t feed me fairy tales.”

Her disbelief cut deeper than it should have.

But of course.

Why would she believe him?

How could anyone?

He had been here before. A past life, a different face, but the same confrontation. The same moment where he tried to explain the impossible — and failed.

Because to them, he was either insane or a liar.

And he had never cared about proving himself before.

But this time… it was her.

So, he clenched his fists, grounding himself. “You don’t have to believe me. But at least listen.”

She hesitated, arms still crossed, body still tense. But she didn’t leave.

That was enough.

For now.

Memories & Truths

“You want proof?” His voice was low. “Fine.”

A pause. Then, he started.

“In a past life, you were a warrior. A leader.” His eyes darkened, memories surfacing. “Your people were fighting a losing war, and I was on the other side.”

She scoffed. “And let me guess — you killed me?”

His silence was her answer.

Something flickered in her expression. Something she didn’t want to acknowledge.

But he wasn’t done.

“In another life, you were a healer. I was a dying soldier. You saved me, even though you knew I was the enemy.” His throat tightened. “And when your village found out, they burned you alive for it.”

She flinched.

A part of her wanted to keep scoffing. To call it a story, a lie.

But the way he spoke —

It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t exaggerated.

It was too real.

Still, she shook her head. “You could be making all of this up.”

His gaze sharpened.

“Your left shoulder,” he said.

She froze.

“You have a scar there. A small one, like a dagger wound.” He stepped closer. “You don’t remember how you got it, do you?”

Her breath hitched.

That was impossible.

She had never told anyone about that.

Her fingers brushed her shoulder instinctively, over the old scar hidden beneath layers of fabric.

He took another step forward, voice quieter now. “I gave it to you.”

The air between them shifted.

Her heart pounded. “How — how do you know that?”

“Because in a past life, you tried to kill me first.”

The world felt like it was tilting.

She couldn’t breathe.

“Stop,” she whispered. “Just stop.”

“Say you don’t believe me all you want,” he said, softer now. “But deep down, you know I’m not lying.”

And that terrified her more than anything.

She stumbled back, mind racing. “This is insane. I — “

CLANG!

The sound of metal striking metal.

A second blade.

The fight wasn’t over.

A Second Assassin

Before she could process what was happening —

A shadow moved.

Another figure — a second attacker.

His eyes flashed, instincts kicking in. Too fast. Too close.

He grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her behind him, just as a dagger came slicing toward her neck.

CLASH!

He blocked it at the last second.

A new enemy stood before them — silent, masked, deadly.

She barely had time to react before the assassin lunged again.

“Run!” he barked at her, but she was frozen.

This wasn’t a story anymore.

This was real. And she was right in the middle of it.

The assassin didn’t hesitate. Another slash — faster, sharper — aimed for her heart.

She didn’t move in time.

But he did. And this time — He didn’t dodge.