Have you ever wondered if every life is just a story, crafted for the amusement of unseen watchers? A tale played out across endless timelines, where each existence is a new role in an ever-changing universe… a loop that never seems to cease?

No? Well, that’s been my reality—again and again.

This is my seventh life.

In each of my past lives, I was far from ordinary. Much like the characters in the fantasy novels you might read, I lived extraordinary stories...but always with unfortunate endings.

In my first life, I was a vampire. In the second, a skilled thief who rose to royalty.

The third life saw me as a disregarded servant who inherited a thriving business. In the fourth, I was sold into slavery, only to be rescued by an assassin—the crown prince of a vast empire.

In the fifth, I was an unfortunate mistress who remarried and exacted vengeance on those who wronged me. The sixth life gifted me with the power to create illusions of myself. I fell in love with a boy who could morph his appearance, and together we destroyed each other’s lives.

Each life was different, chaotic, and unforgettable. Yet through all the twists and turns, one figure remained constant.

This man.

At first glance, he seemed unremarkable, but beneath that facade lay an unfathomable enigma—a secret whispered across lifetimes.

His brown eyes held secrets, framed by wavy hair that brushed his ears, his cloak stirring in the wind as if charged with purpose. His expression was always unreadable. His eyes would tinge in blue every time he morphed, but would return back to his gentle expression when his brown eyes met mine.

He appeared and disappeared in every universe, an inescapable constant. Somehow, he’s tied to my misfortunes, to each unfortunate end. Yet, in every story, my soul remained bound to his. He was nothing special, or so I make him seem. But I can't seem to untie his soul out of mine.

Now, I stand on the precipice of my seventh life. The cycle continues, but this time, I’m determined to live this story with him out of my sight. Deep inside, part of me longs for him beside me. Yet another part recoils at the thought. Why would I ever side with someone who seeks to unravel my fate?

My eyes remain shut as tears trace the echoes of my past lives. With each drop, fragments of those stories shimmer and fade, guiding my soul to this new beginning—perhaps my last.

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A breath of air filled my new lungs, awakening the connection of every nerve in this unfamiliar body. I wasn’t reborn as a baby. I never was. Each time, I arrived in the middle of a pre-made story.

My eyes opened. I stood in the middle of a vast school hallway filled with students in identical uniforms, weaving through the corridor on their way to class. Books pressed tightly to my chest, the faint smell of paper grounding me for a moment. I glanced down at my reflection in a nearby window: long, raven-black hair falling to my waist. My expression was lost in thought. This wasn’t my first life—and I doubted it would be my last.

The muffled noise around me sharpened into clarity just as someone collided with my shoulder. The impact nearly knocked me off balance, but I steadied myself, regaining control of this new body. I turned to see him.

Those eyes—I’d recognize them in any lifetime.

“…Watch where you’re going,” he muttered, his voice deep and achingly familiar.

I blinked, slowly lowering my gaze without flinching or questioning his presence. Fate always had a cruel sense of humor, weaving his presence into every life I lived, yet I hadn’t expected to face him so soon this time.

His gaze lingered for a moment, deep and searching, as if trying to place a memory he couldn't quite grasp. Then, without a word, he moved on, leaving me to grapple with the familiarity that clung to the air between us. I let him go without a word. It was a simple accident—not worth dwelling on. I shifted my weight and walked in the opposite direction, keeping my thoughts to myself. I’d learned long ago that crossing paths with him could only lead to trouble.

I slipped quietly into the nearest washroom, the air cold and sterile. My footsteps echoed softly as I approached the mirror, apprehension tightening my chest. The face staring back at me hadn’t changed. It was the same body, the same features: high cheekbones, sharp jawline, deep brown eyes that nearly glimmered like onyx. My full lips curved into a small grin. A unique look. No matter how many lives I lived, my appearance remained consistently intriguing.

I took a deep breath, rummaging through my folders until I found my class schedule. First period: chemistry. Of course, my least favourite subject.

Navigating the sprawling school sent a shiver of déjà vu through me. Snippets of whispered conversations, fleeting images of forgotten faces, and echoes of footsteps from past lives flickered in the edges of my awareness, as if the walls themselves remembered my story. Memories resurfaced as I asked passing students for directions. This was the same school from my sixth life—the one marked by tragedy. I shook off the thought. I didn’t want to dwell on it *again*.

During lunch, I wandered into the bustling cafeteria. The noise was overwhelming, a cacophony of voices and laughter. I scanned the room instinctively, but he wasn’t there. *Good.*

I found a quiet corner to eat, savouring the brief peace. This life wouldn’t stay calm for long; it never did. The unseen forces that shaped my story were always at work, guiding me with an internal compass I couldn’t ignore. Every choice, every turn seemed to lead me back to him.

What if I resisted this time? What if I kept my distance?

I’d tried that once before, in my first life as a vampire. It hadn’t ended well. I should learn from that, though the attempt to resist was tempting.

A group of girls approached me, their faces vaguely familiar. Memories clicked into place: they were part of a project group I’d been assigned to.

“Aria J, right?” one of them asked brightly.

I nodded as the name echoed in my mind. That was me in this life: Aria J. We exchanged small talk about the project—nothing worth remembering. I dismissed myself as soon as I could, my thoughts returning to the bigger mystery of this world.

Where was I living? What role was I supposed to play? I knew the memories would surface in time. Muscle memory guided each life, drawing me toward my destiny for this story.

My heart suddenly raced, a familiar presence flooding my senses. He was here.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

I didn’t need to look. I knew exactly where he was. Still, my eyes betrayed me, darting to where he stood. Those endless brown eyes scanned the room with casual indifference. I snapped my gaze back to my food, hoping he wouldn’t notice me.

He didn’t mean any harm. I knew that. But he always found a way to shatter my timeline—innocently, unknowingly.

I focused on eating, pretending nothing had changed. But fate had other plans.

“…Hey.”

My stomach dropped, but not entirely in dread. I looked up to see him standing before me, a lopsided grin pulling at his lips as he held out a pencil.

“You dropped this earlier,” he said, his voice softer now. His dark eyes never left mine.

I hesitated before taking the pencil, placing it aside without a word. How had he found me so quickly?

“May I sit here?” he asked.

He sat down across from me without waiting for an answer. "So, Aria J," he said lightly, leaning forward. "Still picking the same corner spot after all these lives? You really like to stay predictable, huh?" His grin widened, his perfect teeth flashing as though we had known each other forever.

I blinked, startled by his familiarity. "Excuse me?" I finally managed.

"What? Seems like you could use some company as usual," he said, resting his chin on his hand. His gaze held a playful warmth, the kind that could put anyone off guard—except me. His presence unsettled me in ways I couldn’t shake, but I forced myself to remain composed.

I stared at him in silence, His wide-set almond eyes held an unreadable depth, reflecting stories untold. The soft lighting caught the refined lines of his face—a Greek-structured profile with an aristocratic nose—while his curly brown locks brushed lightly against his ear, giving him a disarming appeal that was impossible to ignore.

Much like me, there was an enigmatic air about him that drew attention wherever he went. I could feel the stares intensify around me, whispers rising like a wave. I caught fragments of murmured words—curiosity, admiration, and perhaps even envy. Our combined presence seemed to command attention effortlessly, a gravity that neither of us could fully escape. It was no different in the past lives.

We were always in the centre of attention, like in my second life when I stood before the royal court, every gaze sharp with expectation. Back then, the weight of their eyes felt suffocating, and now it was no different here. always in the centre of attention.

Not knowing if this was my last with him, it wouldn't hurt to tease him a little. But what was his name?

Ari

"So...Ari," I ventured, capturing his attention.

His raised a teasing brow, full of intrigue.

"...Ever thought that maybe...just maybe, this could perhaps be my second life, no maybe the third...forth...or perhaps seventh?"

"What are you on about?" He laughed.

"Oh, I don't know, what kind of creature would you be reborn as if you had a pick? A vampire perhaps? A pirate? A prince?"

"...Eh, I just wanna sleep."

"Hah?" My expression shifted, tempted to laugh. I leaned closer, "No, seriously, think about it."

"Ah, well...I don't know, all those roles seem like a lot of work, it's hard enough to get out of bed this morning, y'know?"

I pressed my lips together, looking adorable in his eyes. "Just try...?"

He blinked, thought about it for a while, placing a finger on his chin. "...Alright...honestly, I think I might settle with a normal life, perhaps be with a pretty lady and have adventures saving people behind the scenes for the rest of our lives...without ever losing her sight...always right by her side. I think I'd be satisfied with that."

"..."

I stared in silence, unsure of how to respond as memories surged like a tidal wave. I saw fleeting images of another life—a quiet night beneath a blood-red moon, his hand briefly touching mine before fate tore us apart. His words carried a weight that echoed those moments, stirring a familiar ache deep in my chest. He spoke as if he meant it, his smile softening just enough to unsettle me. I noticed the way his gaze lingered, almost wistful, as though he were searching for something familiar in me. My chest tightened under the weight of unspoken memories, and for a fleeting moment, I wasn’t sure if I was the one being pulled toward the past—or if he was. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the normalcy of our exchange, though a quiet tension simmered beneath the surface. I tried to avoid him somewhat—knowing too well that every time I let my guard down in past lives, 'trouble' had a habit of snowballing into catastrophe.

Day after day, he found me again, always with the same easy grin and casual charm. "Here we are again. Fate sure has a sense of humor, doesn’t it?" he'd say, as if we were sharing some private joke. He kept talking like we had known each other for years, teasing me about the smallest things—how I held my chopsticks or the way I always scanned the room as if expecting trouble. I tried changing spots, but it didn’t matter. He found me every time, smiling like he knew a secret. "You know, for someone who tries to avoid people, you’re surprisingly easy to find," he teased one day, his eyes gleaming with mischief. It wasn’t just small talk anymore; he seemed to savor each conversation like he’d been waiting a long time for this.

One day, I stayed home. I lived alone in this life, free from the burdens of family ties. It was a relief, but the peace felt unnatural. The only anomaly in this world was him.

Then it happened—a sudden shift, a trigger that shattered the fragile peace I had clung to. The stillness in the room evaporated as a sound pierced the air, unfamiliar and urgent. Tension coiled in my chest as if the world had been waiting for this exact moment.

A watch I didn’t recognize beeped from inside my bedside drawer. Its metallic surface glowed red with urgency. I grabbed it instinctively. The device hovered, snapping onto my wrist with a burst of searing blue light. Reality fractured around me, shimmering like liquid glass. A low hum filled the air as winds spiraled, carrying echoes of choices I had made—and failed to make—in lifetimes past.

In seconds, my body transformed. A skintight, jet-black suit materialized, impenetrable and sleek. My dark hair shimmered with an ombre of grayish-purple and streaks of ivory white. A katana hung at my side, and a mask framed my eyes, which flashed deep blue before fading back to brown.

I stared at my reflection, torn between fascination and unease. The transformation was stunning, but I couldn't shake the question: What role was I meant to play this time—protector, destroyer, or something in between? Perhaps both.

A faint, almost imperceptible shift on the balcony caught my ear—the quiet scrape of boots on metal, blending with the rustling wind. The cool night air prickled my skin as I turned, moonlight spilling across the figure standing there, his silver-white hair glinting as if woven from starlight. his silver-white hair catching the moonlight in a way that sent a wave of nostalgia crashing over me. Our eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to still.

My chest tightened as fragments of past lives resurfaced—memories of countless encounters like this one, each charged with unspoken history. I swallowed hard, hesitating before stepping toward him.

Was it a new character?

His hair was silver-white hair glinting under the moonlight. His eyes glowing brown. His cloak billowed as he stepped closer, his eyes meeting mine through his mask. A pang of disappointment tightened in my chest, an ache I hadn’t anticipated. Part of me had hoped—against reason—that it was him, as much as I wanted to deny it. But it wasn’t. The familiar longing faded, replaced by a tentative spark of curiosity. Perhaps this time, it was someone new, someone who wouldn’t bring ruin.

“Ready?” he asked, a smirk tugging at his lips.

‘*Whenever you are,*’ a thought surfaced.

I smiled, the line slipping out effortlessly. “Whenever you are.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I told you to call me by my name too, didn’t I?”

I froze. His name… what was it?

*Sira.*

“Sira?” I ventured cautiously.

He chuckled, his voice deepening, almost as if he carried the weight of untold stories in his tone. "It's strange how you always forget," he said softly. "But you’ll remember soon enough. Better get used to it, AJ."

With that, he leapt from the balcony in a single, fluid motion, his cloak billowing like a shadow against the moonlit sky. A shimmering portal of light swallowed him whole, leaving me to stare at the empty space where he had stood. I froze, the scene stirring something deep within me—a mix of nostalgia and apprehension. Memories flickered at the edges of my mind, moments of past leaps into the unknown with him by my side. But this time, my life didn’t feel condemned to destruction under his shadow. Perhaps this was the start of something different—a new beginning, with someone whose presence might finally offer a way out of the endless cycle.

My feet hesitated at the balcony's edge, my pulse quickening. Could I break free of this cycle, or was I doomed to follow him yet again? Closing my eyes, I steadied my breath. There was no turning back now. With a final surge of resolve, I jumped. But before that, My breath caught as I lingered at the balcony's edge, memories flooding back in jagged, disjointed pieces. Each leap in my past had led to ruin—and yet, an inexplicable pull urged me forward. I could almost see flashes of past lives where this same leap had led me into danger, but also into purpose.

My body tensed, caught between fear and resolve. Slowly, I inhaled deeply, steadying myself. There was no turning back now. I jumped. The wind rushed past me as I plunged into the unknown, the portal pulling me into a new world.

I landed gracefully in a vast, futuristic facility. Monitors lined the walls, displaying streams of data. People moved around us with purpose, their eyes focused on tracking something unseen.

Sira stood beside me, his gaze steady and unreadable. "Zon’s coming for us," he murmured, the name resonating in my mind like a ghostly echo from my first rebirth—the one who turned me into a vampire.

The name hit me like a wave. Memories surged forward. Zon… the one who turned me into a vampire in my first life.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the distance, growing louder until a figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, commanding man dressed in a dark, futuristic uniform. His presence exuded authority. He approached with deliberate steps and handed a photograph to Sira, his gaze sharp and unwavering.

"This is your target," the man said, his voice low and resolute. The photograph depicted a man with a cold, calculating expression. My eyes narrowed as a chill crept down my spine.

"You two are my most prized assassins," the general continued. "You’re to eliminate him without fail."

My breath hitched. *Assassins?* The word reverberated in my mind, and for the first time since I arrived in this life, true realization dawned. My eyes widened as I processed the role I’d been cast in.

The general’s words lingered ominously in the air, a final, unspoken command settling over us like a shadow.

This story was far from over. The weight of his words pressed down on me like a storm brewing on the horizon. My heart pounded as the realization took hold—I wasn’t just a player in this life. I was its executioner.