His plea carried such raw sincerity that the King paused, studying him with a newfound curiosity. For a moment, there was
silence, before the King shook his head again, though this time, there was less mockery in his tone.
“Even if you offered everything, all it would accomplish is giving her another life. But your bond with her? I can make no
guarantees. Whether she knows you, loves you or even crosses paths with you in that life is not something I can control.”
The weight of those words settled on Lucas, silencing him. The futility of his efforts bore down on him like a crushing weight. Even if he gave up everything, even if she could live again, they might never find each other.
He let out a bitter laugh, hollow and pained. The King, clearly losing patience with his despair, interrupted him sharply.
“Well? Do you want to make the deal or not?”
Seeing Lucas fall silent, the King of the Underworld assumed he would back down. He raised a hand, ready to summon his
attendants to escort Lucas away. But before he could act, Lucas lifted his head and looked directly at him, his gaze unwavering.
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Chapter 15
“I’ll do it.”
+15 Bonus
Lucas knew he owed Celia everything. This was his chance to repay her, even if it meant they would never cross paths again. It didn’t matter. As long as she could live, as long as she could be happy, it was enough for him.
The King’s voice, icy and detached, cut through the silence.
“Are you certain?”
Without hesitation, Lucas nodded, his expression resolute. “I’m certain.”
“So be it. Once reborn, you will lose all memories of this life. Whatever you hope for or desire, you must be prepared to let it go.”
As his words fell, a chilling gust of wind swept through the chamber. The cold seeped deep into Lucas‘ bones, and he shuddered
as the icy sensation crawled up his spine. Before he could process the finality of what was happening, the darkness consumed
him, and his consciousness slipped away.
When he awoke, the world around him had completely changed.
He lay on a thin, tattered blanket, the faint glow of light filtering through the cracks in the attic’s wooden slats. The brightness
stung his eyes, and he instinctively squinted, raising a hand to block the glare.
Dust fell in soft clouds as he pushed the blanket aside and sat up. The air was thick with it, making him sneeze uncontrollably.
Standing upright, Lucas Smith immediately hit his head on the low ceiling with a dull thud.
“Damn it,” he muttered, rubbing the sore spot as he took in his surroundings. The cramped attic barely allowed him to stand
straight, the roof slanting awkwardly over his head.
Descending a rickety wooden ladder, he found himself in what could only be described as a rundown home. The walls were
chipped, the furniture sparse and worn, and the air carried the faint smell of mildew.
He frowned, unease creeping into his chest. Something about this place felt wrong.
This couldn’t be his home–he was sure of it.
And yet, when he tried to recall what his home should look like, his thoughts dissolved into a haze.
If not this, then what?
He stood in the center of the room, grappling with the strange disconnect between his current reality and the faint, lingering
sense of something missing.
“It must be nothing,” he finally concluded after a long pause.
Perhaps he had slept too long and dreamed too deeply. That was the only explanation for this inexplicable feeling.
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Chapter 16
Chapter 16
