The Genius Mage Was Reincarnated Into A Swordsman Family

Chapter 162 The Weight of a Choice

The Coliseum was still roaring with excitement, disbelief, and laughter. Klaus Lionhart had chosen the White Lion. Of all the prestigious armed groups vying for him, he had picked the one where Alexandra Lionhart served. And, thanks to Captain Kalix Williams's bold offer, Klaus wouldn't just be another recruit—he would lead Alexandra's squad.

Yenova Lionhart's composed demeanor shattered like fragile glass. She shot to her feet, glaring daggers at Alexandra, who sat frozen, wide-eyed and pale. The laughter in the coliseum only grew louder as realization dawned on everyone.

"YOU LITTLE BRAT!" Yenova shouted, pointing a shaking finger at Alexandra. "This is YOUR fault! I lost my future star recruit because of YOU!"

Alexandra, normally sharp-tongued and quick-witted, looked utterly betrayed by fate itself. Tears welled up in her eyes, but not from joy or sadness—from sheer horror. She clenched her fists, shaking her head. "No... no, no, no, NO! This wasn't supposed to happen!" she sobbed, her voice cracking. "I wanted to boss him around! Not the other way around!" She pictured Klaus's smug face, giving her orders, smirking every time she made a mistake. The image alone made her stomach twist. She had dreamed of teasing Klaus relentlessly, making him run errands, and now, she would be the one following his orders. The thought of Klaus smirking after every command, every little mistake she made, made her want to dig a hole in the ground and vanish.

Kurt doubled over with laughter, barely managing to stand. "This... this is priceless!" he wheezed. "She was so excited to torment him, and now he's her leader! I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life."

Sarah, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, leaned over to Kurt. "You think Klaus is going to let her live this down? She's doomed."

"I can already imagine him saying, 'Alexandra, did you forget your sword again?' or 'Alexandra, were you even trying during training?'" Kurt added with a grin.

Yenova, still seething, paced back and forth. "Kalix, you sly bastard! You did this on purpose!" she accused.

In every life Nicholas had relived, Alexandra Lionhart died exactly a little over two years after joining the White Lion. Her entire squad was wiped out during a mission that became infamous across the continent. He could still remember the headlines, the conversations whispered in every corner of Runiya.

"Raphael Lionhart's only daughter, Alexandra the Lioness, has fallen." The weight of that news had shaken the continent. Raphael Lionhart—Saint Raphael, the healer unmatched in all of Runiya—had retreated from the public eye for years after her death. Nicholas remembered the sorrow in Raphael's eyes, the grief that even time couldn't heal.

It wasn't just another death to Nicholas. It was a fixed point. No matter how many times he relived his life, no matter what choices he made, Alexandra always died a little over two years after joining the White Lion. The thought haunted him. Each memory of her death resurfaced vividly. He recalled standing in the rain during one life, holding the newspaper that declared her death. Another life, he sat in a dimly lit tavern, hearing the news from a drunk soldier who sobbed into his mug. In every iteration, the pain felt fresh.

I can still see the news articles, the portraits draped in black... Nicholas thought, his chest tightening. I can still hear the murmurs of soldiers in taverns, speaking about how tragic it was. Every single time. He remembered the cold chill that ran down his spine each time he learned of her death, the sorrow in Raphael's tired eyes as he withdrew from the world, and the hollow emptiness that settled over the continent for weeks.

He felt a pang of guilt, watching Klaus stand there, oblivious to the fate awaiting his cousin. The thought gnawed at him, an itch he couldn't scratch. He thought of every moment he had tried to alter fate in previous lives, but each time, something always went wrong. Alexandra's death seemed inevitable, no matter what he did.

Does it always have to happen? Nicholas wondered. Is there truly no way to save her? He wanted to believe there was, but deep down, he feared that no matter how many times he tried, her fate was immovable. The thought of Klaus witnessing Alexandra's death made Nicholas's chest ache. I don't want him to go through that.

Klaus had chosen the White Lion.

And Alexandra Lionhart's clock had already started ticking.