Chapter Text
—Who could have wondered that he would witness the constant death and rebirth of that young man.
The constant anguish of the twisted eternal fate.
He has walked on earth for thousands of years or even decades, a life filled with sorrow, there was no such thing as death to him in a life of immortality, a curse.
He has seen everything, people being born and people dying, buildings getting constructed then decades later being destroyed.
every century was the same endless cycle that seemed to become shorter and more dull and sorrowful, he had seen everything that the world had to show him.
But who would expect that such a pure light that entered his world would warm his heart.
A young man, dressed in a plain simple white cloak, tall, bright eyed and breathtaking but yet calm even as a rope was forcefully placed around his neck and his arms were tied, caught his sight.
The first time Eliot saw this man, curiosity clouds his mind as he watches the townspeople shout and throw insults, their faces red with jealousy and anger, as if shouting could get rid of their anger.
He couldn't help but watch from afar, a dark smirk crossing his face as he watched with curiosity “ Tsk, such insecure creatures” he chuckled
“They fear beauty as if it were to be a deadly weapon, how pathetic. “He sighed
He had seen these types of things happen before this wasn't special but something about that young man stayed with him.
But that same day he watched the death of the young man as he was hanged and left to die.
He thought that he would have forgotten about that sight but something felt off.
But as decades passed and generations came he saw him again that same exact face that he had seen decades back,
But the man was running away from something, for his life,blood blooming on his coat as a musket was fired from behind him.
He was in disbelief as he watched the man fall onto the ground in a crowd of people, blood covering the ground deep crimson red.
And a crowd of people shouting and screaming at the sight of the dead man on the ground.
“Mhm, again, and in public.." he chuckled as he watched “He sure does have flair for dramatics anywhere." he couldn't help but sigh.
But deep down he knew that the man would return.
“He always does." he quietly whispered as he left that science.
And so he did, the same man was reborn once again, into a new life now as a traveler, how sad an endless cycle of death and rebirth.
“ Excuse me sir." the young man before him, dressed in a cloak, his hair messy, asked
“Could you tell me where I am… I think I'm lost." He said.
“We’re in the quinling mountains, if you go past that sight you'll be led to a village, but be safe it gets dark..” he muttered amused to see this man once again.
Once down guiding the man, the man thanked him and then left off disappearing into the foggy dark road that followed the distance ahead,but he couldn't help but tell himself this was a coincidence, that he merely wanted to see how long he lived.
But, sadly life wasn't fair. The journey of the young man ended abruptly, the traveler lost his footing falling off the cliffside path into the crashing waves of the sea.
He walked closer to the cliffside and couldn't help but look down at the dead body on top of the rock getting engulfed by the waves. How sorrowful.
“At least not in public this time." Eliot muttered as he walked away, though his amusement had already faded.
No matter how many times he dies, he always comes back, a cursed cycle.
But somewhat he knew both of them weren't different, both of them cursed in a cycle that never seems to stop.
But strangely he found himself waiting for the man, for him to return again with a new life that would later die, every death seemed to draw him closer, every life made him want to learn more, as if there were a red string pulling him closer and closer.
But he waited for the man, he watched as years turned into decades, but he had found the man again, he was born into nobility no less, a prince this lifetime.
“A prince now, Royal blood." Eliot couldn't help but murmur as he watched the man from afar behind trees in the palace gardens.
“You have done well for yourself this time, Kipuka. “ he whispered as he watched the man unseen.
He watched as the prince bent down to fetch his scroll, but as he tried to fetch it dropped, and the man stumbled right into the green murky water, he immediately moved forward and ran to the man without walking.
“Your highness," he said as he helped the man up.
“Thank you!” the prince replied, face flushed pink from embarrassment,” How embarrassing, to be seen like this pathetic." the prince murmured as he tried to pat himself dry.
“No, not at all your highness. “ he answered with a faint smile," You fell with quite the beauty into the lake.” he murmured.
The prince chuckled lightly, unaware of the centuries that would separate them and leave. A deep wounded gap between them, as if life wouldn't end.
“I’m sorry I don't have anything to give you to thank you, but take this as a thank you gift so you remember me. “ the prince murmured as he removed his hair pin and gifted it to him.
“No your highness it's alright I don't…” he interrupted,” No it's okay just take it I’ve got to go. “ the prince muttered as he put the pin and his hand and ran off.
“Stubborn man” he sighed as he couldn't help but look at the pin in his hand, the pin was designed with orange blossoms. At the moment he felt something deep, he swore he would protect this ornament with his heart.
But that same exact night the prince was poisoned.
He watched as a ceremony was held for the prince's death, but he didn't laugh, he didn't feel amused, the silence felt heavier around him, lonely and empty like a trap.
He watched the prince's body get carried into a coffin, his face peaceful yet empty of life.
He couldn't help but crutch the ornament close to him like if he was making sure it would run away.
He waited years after years, decade after decade trying to find that familiar face that he can’t escape or let go off.
He couldn't help but worry as centuries passed, worried that he’ll never find that man again, but he couldn't help but wonder if this was the end, if the man's soul had reached its peak, that his cycle of nonstop birth was over.
But he knew deep down that this wasn't the end, not yet, that there was one more life that would come.
But as centuries passed and generations passed he couldn't help but get an obsession of drawing that man again and again as if his mind didn't want to forget him.
But every single drawing he made was different. The way the man looked was fading. He couldn't remember whether his hair was black or brown.
Yet he continued with his paintings until his home was filled with that image of the man that he longed to find again.
He took out the ornament and couldn't help but stare at it. This was the only thing that made him feel closer to the man.
He had put his paintings into a museum to be viewed to be safe, everyday we would go to the museum as if it were his home, he stood and stared at every painting of the man as if to bring him back.
Then one evening, as he sat lost in his thoughts staring at his paintings,he couldn't help but get snapped out of his thoughts by a voice behind him.
“woah, this looks exactly like me. “ a young man remarked, he couldn't help but turn around slowly at the source, there he was again, alive and standing before.
He stared at the man, his chest pounding painfully, the young man seemed to notice him staring “Sorry, do we know each other?” the young man asked, confused and unsure.
After waiting so long he had finally found him again.
Eliot's chest righted with glee yet grief, because he knew that this wouldn't last, because this would be the final life of the soul that has been stuck in an endless cycle of the soul he had followed for centuries.
And when this man died again he would die with him.
But all he knew was that even if he couldn't save him he could enjoy his moments with the man he's waited for.
“No I'm sorry I didn't mean to stare.” he murmured as he stared at the same tall pale man with bright eyes.