The sun had already begun to lower when Arlen finally reached the healer's village.
The journey through the forest had been long, but he hadn't complained once. The wounded deer they carried had grown weaker with every passing step, and the man walking beside him had become more serious.
"We're close," the man said.
Arlen nodded, though his focus was no longer on the deer.
It was on something else.
Something he couldn't explain.
From the moment he heard the name "Mira," his heart had not been calm.
It was a strange feeling.
Not fear.
Not excitement.
But something deeper.
Something familiar.
As if that name belonged to a memory he had lost.
They stepped out of the forest, and the village came into view.
Small wooden houses stood neatly along narrow paths, surrounded by flowers and medicinal plants. The air smelled fresh, filled with the scent of herbs and clean water from a nearby stream.
It felt peaceful.
Different from Arlen's village.
Calmer.
Softer.
People noticed them as they entered, especially the wounded deer.
A few villagers immediately came forward.
"What happened?"
"It was injured in the forest," the man explained. "We need help quickly."
One of the villagers nodded.
"I'll call Mira."
That name again.
Arlen felt it clearly this time.
His heartbeat quickened.
His fingers tightened slightly around the cloth holding the deer.
He didn't understand why.
But he couldn't ignore it.
Moments passed.
Then soft footsteps approached.
Arlen didn't look immediately.
But he felt it.
That same strange pull he had been feeling for days.
Stronger than ever.
Slowly, he lifted his head.
And then—
He saw her.
A girl walked toward them, her steps calm and steady.
Her eyes were gentle.
Her expression soft.
Her presence… warm.
For a moment, the world around Arlen became silent.
The voices of the villagers faded.
The sound of the wind disappeared.
There was only her.
Mira.
She knelt beside the deer without hesitation, her hands moving carefully as she examined the wound.
But then, as if sensing something, she paused.
Her hand stopped.
And slowly…
She looked up.
Their eyes met.
Time stopped.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither of them moved.
But something passed between them.
Something invisible.
Something powerful.
A feeling neither of them could explain.
Mira's breath caught slightly.
Her heart began beating faster.
She didn't understand why this stranger felt so… familiar.
As if she had been waiting for him.
As if she already knew him.
Arlen felt the same.
His chest tightened.
His thoughts disappeared.
There was only one question echoing in his mind.
Why does it feel like I've seen her before?
Mira quickly looked away, her fingers trembling slightly as she returned her focus to the deer.
"We need to stop the bleeding first," she said softly.
Her voice was calm.
But inside, her heart was not.
Arlen watched her silently.
Every movement she made felt natural.
Gentle.
Kind.
Without realizing it, he took a small step closer.
"Can I help?" he asked.
Mira hesitated for a brief moment before nodding.
"Hold this," she said, handing him a cloth.
Their fingers touched for a second.
Just a second.
But it was enough.
Both of them felt it.
A sudden warmth.
A quiet shock.
Like a memory trying to surface.
Mira pulled her hand back quickly, her eyes lowering.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Arlen didn't respond immediately.
He was still trying to understand what he had just felt.
They worked together in silence.
Mira carefully treated the wound while Arlen followed her instructions without question.
The villagers slowly stepped back, leaving them space.
After some time, the bleeding stopped.
The deer's breathing became steadier.
Mira exhaled softly.
"It should survive now."
Relief appeared on the man's face.
"Thank you, Mira."
She nodded gently.
"It's my duty."
But her eyes shifted again.
Back to Arlen.
He was already looking at her.
That strange silence returned.
Then, without thinking, Mira spoke.
"Have we… met before?"
The question surprised even her.
She didn't know why she asked it.
But it felt important.
Arlen's expression softened slightly.
"I was about to ask you the same thing."
Neither of them smiled.
But something inside them felt lighter.
As if a missing piece had moved slightly closer to its place.
The wind moved softly through the village.
The sun dipped lower in the sky.
And for the first time since their rebirth…
Two souls who had once died together stood face to face again.
Without memories.
Without understanding.
But with a connection that refused to disappear.
Fate had finally brought them together.
And this time…
Their story would begin again.