Lisa couldn't sleep.
Kol's presence in her life had shattered everything she thought she knew. It wasn't just that he looked like the boy from her visions—it was that he felt like him. The same aura. The same pull. The same unshakable sense that he was someone she had known before.
But how?
How could she recognize someone she had never met?
Frustrated, she flipped through her journal again. The pages were filled with sketches of battles, old symbols she didn't understand, and cryptic words she had written down in the middle of the night, desperate to remember her dreams.
Then her eyes landed on something.
A single phrase, written in shaky handwriting:
"The true king will rise again… and the world will either kneel or burn."
Her fingers trembled as she traced over the words.
Why did this feel connected to Kol?
A knock at her door startled her.
"Lisa?"
It was her roommate, Claire.
Lisa shoved the journal under her pillow. "Yeah?"
"You okay? You've been acting weird all day."
Lisa forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just… tired."
Claire raised an eyebrow but didn't press. "Alright. Well, if you need to talk, I'm here."
"Thanks."
As soon as the door closed, Lisa exhaled.
She needed to find out more about Kol.
---
The Next Day…
Lisa made her way through the campus courtyard, trying to act normal. She knew exactly where Kol would be—he had been skipping most of his classes, but she had noticed he always lingered around the old library.
She found him sitting on a bench, staring at nothing.
For a moment, she hesitated. Then, before she could second-guess herself, she walked up to him.
"You don't belong here, do you?"
Kol turned his head slightly, his golden eyes flicking up to her.
"What?"
Lisa crossed her arms. "You're different. And you know it."
Kol's expression didn't change. "And if I am?"
Lisa hesitated.
She had expected him to deny it. To deflect. But instead, he was looking at her like he was waiting for something.
Like he wanted her to figure it out.
"You know me, don't you?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Kol didn't answer immediately. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"I know of you," he admitted. "But I don't know why."
Lisa's heart pounded. "Then we need to find out."
Kol tilted his head slightly, studying her. Then, after a long pause, he smirked.
"You're not afraid of me, are you?"
Lisa swallowed. "Should I be?"
Kol didn't answer.
But the look in his eyes said yes.