The Seer's Parasitic Curse

After I decided to drive away from Port Blossom Town, the home I’d known for over twenty years, the townspeople erupted in celebration across social media.

Only Preston, the mayor's son, clung desperately to my leg.

"Jasper, if you leave, we'll be destroyed by the werewolves! You can't just abandon us!"

I pried his hands off and turned to get in my car.

In my last life, as the town's only Seer, I risked my life for visions that he would always announce before I ever had the chance.

Unwilling to accept it, I forced another vision, braving the dangers of the Blood Moon night.

That night, a volunteer protecting me was killed by a werewolf.

Preston stepped forward and, once again, pinpointed the werewolf.

From then on, not only did the townspeople hail him as their new hero, but they also began to suspect me of being an accomplice to the werewolves.

They claimed Preston only needed to dream to get his prophecies, while my visions required guards—giving werewolves the perfect opportunity to attack.

In the end, my girlfriend, Sheriff Quinn, leveled her cold pistol at me.

"You've been conspiring with the werewolves, obstructing my investigation the whole time."

"You must be so proud of yourself for fooling us for so long!"

I died in an 'accident' after my arrest, and when I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of Preston's first "prophecy."

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1

"Jasper, did you have a new vision last night?"

I sat in the family archives, staring blankly at a stack of ancient parchment scrolls.

Seeing I was still in a daze, my friend Milo, the local barista, yanked me out of the chair.

"The townspeople have been waiting in the square for ages. It's the Founder's Day rally, and you're the only one missing. Let's go!"

As soon as we stepped outside, three patrolling police officers nodded at me in greeting.

"Seer!"

Ice shot through my veins. I stared, stunned, at the three uniformed officers, then at Milo’s confused face. Was it possible? Had I been reborn?

With no time to think, I broke into a frantic run toward the town square.

By the time I arrived, panting, the area below the open-air stage was already packed with people.

Preston, the mayor's youngest son, was on stage, announcing loudly, "I already know who killed Old John!"

"That old lumberjack—you're the werewolf!"

Before the lumberjack could answer, a murmur went through the crowd.

"Alright, golden boy, playtime's over. Get down from there before the Seer arrives. If you hold up the rally, the mayor will have your hide!"

"That old man was drinking whiskey with me all night last night, Preston. You can't just throw accusations around like that!"

Preston shrugged nonchalantly. "If you don't believe me, you can ask Jasper! He just got here!"

Instantly, every eye in the square was on me.

Staring at the scene before me, identical to my past life, I felt the air leave my lungs.

On this day in my past life, Preston had beaten me to the punch, identifying the town's werewolf just moments before I could.

He claimed he was blessed by the spirit of the town's founder and could receive prophecies in his sleep.

As the town's only Seer, the townspeople had long resented the burden of my protection.

"If you're not up to the task, you should have stepped down sooner. You've held the Seer's position for so long, wasting so many resources!"

"Preston gets his visions in his sleep—he's the true Chosen One! Not like you, hiding in the archives for half a day, needing a whole police detail. You're just a hassle!"

I knew that after being chosen by my family's bloodline to become a Seer, I would never have a peaceful day again.

But even so, I never shirked my duty.

Now, the townspeople's complaints dug into my heart like sharp knives.

When another murder occurred in town, I ignored the dangers of the Blood Moon night and performed the ritual again.

Sure enough, a werewolf struck that night, killing one of the volunteer guards.

Preston stepped forward once more and pinpointed the werewolf.

From that day on, Preston became the new hero, while I was suspected of being the werewolf's accomplice.

My girlfriend, Sheriff Quinn, pointed the cold muzzle of her gun at me.

"Seducing me, pretending to be a Seer... Jasper, the lengths you've gone to for your pack are incredible!"

"You must be so proud of yourself, getting so many innocent townspeople killed. Today, I'll let your werewolf companions see what it means to pay a debt in blood!"

They killed me and disposed of my body in secret, erasing me as if I'd never existed.

Even as I died, I couldn't understand it. I was the only Seer in town. How could Preston always expose the werewolf just moments before I did?

Fortunately, I was reborn.

This time, I would find the answer that haunted me to my grave.