Chapter 26: The Bond Written in Blood

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: The Bond Written in Blood Yulia didn’t wake with a gasp. She woke quietly. Eyes fluttering open like she’d merely napped, not died. Breathing soft. No panic. No screaming. But something was... off. Her eyes glowed faintly at the edges — silver and violet, shimmering like broken starlight. Kai sat beside her, exhausted but alert. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. She stared at him for a long time. Then whispered, "You gave it up." He nodded. "Twelve years." She exhaled. "Idiot." And took his hand. [System Alert: Soul Bond Initiated – Kai Veyron & Yulia Astrem] Type: Rebirth Chain Trigger: Voluntary Sacrifice Effects: – Permanent +15 affinity boost – Emotions linked during life-threatening events – Pain resonance (reduced 30%) – Protective instincts enhanced Warning: Breaking this bond forcibly will result in permanent emotional damage to both parties. Elira walked into the tent and froze at the sight of Yulia sitting up, hand in Kai’s. Something flickered in her expression — not jealousy. But fear. Because now she understood: they were no longer just allies. They were tethered. By death. By choice. And by something she hadn’t been willing to risk. Yulia turned to Kai. "How do you feel?" "Tired." "You don’t look it. You look like someone peeled off a decade with a rusted knife." Kai laughed once. "That accurate?" She nodded. And for a moment, the camp felt... safe. But only for a moment. Two Hours Later – Near the Waterfall Kai sat on a smooth boulder, staring into the cascade below, the spray dampening his boots. Virela joined him, uninvited, sipping from a flask filled with something that glowed faintly blue. "You want to know what it’s like to die?" she asked suddenly. Kai didn’t flinch. "No." "Good. You don’t get to ask." She took another sip, then handed him the flask. He shook his head. "Still not sure if your alcohol is real or metaphysical poison." "It’s both," she said with a grin. "Dual-classed like me." He chuckled despite himself. Then went quiet. So did she. Until— "You know this ends badly, right?" Kai’s smile faded. "Yeah." "You’re not meant to survive this. The story they wrote for you ends in fire. Maybe on a throne. Maybe in a pit. But it ends alone." Kai didn’t respond. So she kept going. "You think saving them will save you. It won’t. They’ll outlive you. Or turn. Or be turned." She glanced at him. "And still you die for them." Kai finally looked at her. "Why are you really here, Virela?" She took a long drink. Then said softly— "Because I’ve read this story before." "And the last time I didn’t save the Hero... the world ended." Kai blinked. "What?" She didn’t answer. Just stood, dusted off her robe, and walked away — humming a tune that sounded like mourning. [System Update: Virela’s Alignment Revealed] Class: Keeper of Echoes Past Lives: 3 Role: Witness / Wild Card Relationship Status: Watching the fuse burn Warning: Virela knows more than she says — and may be waiting for your failure. That night, Kai dreamed. Of thrones. Of fire. Of Elira, Yulia, Lira, Virela... even Hana— All turning their backs. And one voice whispering in the dark: "You were always the villain in disguise." He woke in a cold sweat. Yulia was still asleep beside him. But her hand had found his again. Even unconscious. Even now. And he held on. Because he didn’t know how many more nights he’d have left. Far from camp, in the ruins of a city swallowed by sand, Hana stood before a mirror of obsidian. It flickered with an image: Kai holding Yulia’s body. Then the moment he gave up twelve years to bring her back. Her hands clenched at her sides. "He’s getting stronger," one of her advisors said. "No," Hana whispered. "He’s getting harder to kill."