Ji-hwan didn't sleep that night.
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The instant the sun came up, he slipped out of his quarters on the pretext of a visit to the royal library.
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In reality, he proceeded to the secret archives—an ancient hall locked away beneath the palace, protected by a forgotten name and a whispered vow.
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Only those bearing the royal seal—or a very old key—could get through.
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Ji-hwan possessed both.
He knelt at the altar concealed behind the shelves, pushing dust and age-dried scrolls aside.
There, seared onto parchment with heavenly ink, was the opening sentence of the Divine Prophecy:
"When blood returns to fire, and fire to memory, the stars shall burn anew."
Ji-hwan followed the words with shaking fingers.
He'd seen them before. Many years ago. In his previous life.
But then, he had not comprehended.
Then, he had fought alongside the enemy.
A door creaked behind him. Ji-hwan's hand went to the dagger hidden up his sleeve.
But it wasn't a guard.
It was one of the queen's former lady-in-waiting—an elderly woman with piercing eyes and a silent step.
"You shouldn't be here," she said.
"I could say the same to you," Ji-hwan shot back.
She looked at him hard for a moment, then breathed:
"The king dreams in pieces."
Ji-hwan's eyes widened.
"He's recalling," she went on. "And if the prophecy is stirring within him… then your time runs out."
Ji-hwan gulped.
"How much does he know?"
The woman looked at him sadly.
"Enough to incinerate you. Not enough to redeem you."