That night, Eunha Lin couldn't sleep. The wind outside whispered softly against her dorm window, and the faint moonlight spilled across her desk, illuminating her open notebook. She stared blankly at the pages, her mind far from the world of medical notes and lectures.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him — Lian Wu. His eyes, deep and unreadable, glimmering like a reflection on still water. His voice, calm yet haunting, echoing in her mind: "You're mine, Eunha. In every life, in every world."
Finally, exhaustion pulled her under, and she drifted into sleep.
But it wasn't an ordinary dream.
She stood on a mountain covered in mist, the air thick with the scent of rain and earth. In the distance, a lake shimmered under the moonlight. She took a step forward and gasped — there, beside the lake, was a small snake with silver scales, wounded and trembling.
Her heart ached as she knelt down, her hands trembling as she reached for it. "You poor thing," she whispered. "Don't be scared… I'll take care of you."
The snake lifted its head, its eyes glowing with a strange intelligence. And then… she heard it — a voice that wasn't her own, soft and hesitant.
"Why… do you help me?"
Eunha's lips parted. "Because… you're hurt. You deserve kindness."
The snake's body coiled slightly, as if shy, and then rested its head against her palm. "If I were human," the voice whispered again, "would you still care for me?"
Eunha smiled through her tears. "If you were human, I'd never leave your side."
The words echoed — never leave your side — until the vision dissolved into light.
Eunha shot awake, gasping for air. Her room was quiet again, but her heart was racing. It wasn't just a dream — it felt too real, too warm, too close to her soul.
She pressed her hand against her chest. "That… snake," she whispered. "It was him… Lian Wu."
The next morning, she tried to shake it off. Her friends chatted about the upcoming college festival, teasing her about her pale face and distracted look. But as Eunha walked through the courtyard, she saw him again. Lian Wu stood by the cherry blossom tree, sunlight playing over his features.
Their eyes met — and for a split second, she saw the same silver shimmer she'd seen in the dream.
He smiled faintly, as if he already knew. "Did you sleep well?" he asked casually, but there was something in his tone — a hint of knowing, of memory.
Eunha's breath caught. "Did you… dream too?" she asked before she could stop herself.
Lian's lips curved slightly. "Maybe," he said softly. "Or maybe I just remembered something you forgot."
Her heart pounded so loudly she could barely hear her own voice. "What are you?" she whispered.
He stepped closer, the world falling silent around them. "The one you once promised to never leave," he said, his eyes glowing faintly in the sunlight.
For a moment, Eunha forgot how to breathe. Every cell in her body screamed that he was telling the truth — even though logic said otherwise.
Before she could reply, a gust of wind rustled the blossoms, scattering pink petals around them. When she blinked, he was gone, as if he'd vanished with the breeze.
But in her palm, where he had brushed her fingers before disappearing, there was a faint, glowing silver scale.
And Eunha knew then — the past was no longer buried.