The first light of dawn had barely brushed the academy's spires when Kaison stepped into the training yard. The air was crisp, carrying the faint hum of mechanical caretakers tending the grounds, their gears clicking in quiet harmony. He felt exhausted before the day even began—muscles sore, mind heavy with the memory of yesterday's fleeting success.
Alice was already there, standing in her usual poised stance. The morning sun caught the edges of her practice sword, sending glimmers across the stone floor. Kaison's gaze lingered; even now, her control over her movements was unnerving. She seemed untouchable, perfectly balanced, yet there was a tension in her shoulders—a quiet urgency that betrayed her inner pressure.
"You're late again," she said, though her voice lacked the usual sting. It was more an observation than a rebuke.
"I'm right on time," Kaison muttered, his own voice rough with fatigue. "Maybe you just like watching me struggle."
Alice's lips twitched in what could have been a smile—or a scowl. "Perhaps. But it helps you learn."
Benson appeared from the side of the yard, coat flaring behind him as he strode into the space. His eyes, sharp and calculating, flicked between the two students. "Today, the focus will be rhythm. Fusion is not only mental, nor purely physical. It is the coordination of intention, perception, and timing. Without rhythm, your constructs will fracture."
Kaison nodded, trying to ignore the pulse in his seal. A faint hum vibrated through his veins, almost as though the chains themselves were aware that today would push him harder. Even after all this time, he couldn't shake the feeling that something more powerful lingered at the edges of his awareness—Gachigakade's shadow, distant yet alive, whispering faintly in the recesses of his mind.
Alice raised her sword, her stance fluid and precise. "Ready?"
Kaison flexed his fingers, chains spiraling around his arms. "Always."
---
The duel began quietly, the sound of metal on stone almost musical. Kaison's chains danced around him, looping, spiraling, reacting to his instincts as he moved. Alice's blade sang through the air, every strike measured, every parry precise. The constructs of their seals flared faintly as they practiced, but this time, there were no explosions of light—only the careful weaving of energy and motion.
Minutes passed, then an hour. Sweat streaked down their faces, muscles burned, but neither faltered. Kaison felt the faintest spark of confidence. For a heartbeat, the chains and blade moved in harmony—his protective coils curling along her strikes, absorbing their energy, responding almost like an extension of her sword.
"Good," Benson said quietly from the sidelines. "Your minds are beginning to sense each other. But focus… do not let fear control you."
Fear. That was the key. Kaison knew it well. Fear of failure, fear of letting Alice down, fear of the weapon he barely understood that lingered in the back of his thoughts. Gachigakade's name drifted faintly in his mind, like a shadowed echo. He shivered but forced himself to breathe, to center his focus on Alice's movements rather than the weapon's pull.
Alice's eyes met his across the yard. "Don't let it control you," she whispered, almost as if she could read the thoughts he was fighting to suppress.
"I won't," he muttered, tightening his grip on the chains.
---
By mid-morning, the first true breakthrough occurred.
The constructs between them no longer shivered violently. The chains wrapped around the sword seamlessly, spiraling like living veins along its hilt. The blade gleamed, sharp and precise, while the protective coils of the chains curved elegantly, forming a flexible barrier that moved in harmony with the sword.
For a brief, shining moment, it was perfect—a unified construct reflecting both their intentions. Kaison could feel the flow of Alice's focus merging with his own. The hum of their seals rose, resonating in harmony.
"It held," Alice breathed, stepping back with wide eyes. "It… it actually held."
Kaison felt a rush of adrenaline, but his chains flickered nervously, almost as if the weapon he knew existed was reacting to the success. *It knows.* The thought crossed his mind, unbidden and chilling.
Benson stepped forward, arms crossed. "Yes. This is the first time your wills have truly moved together. But perfection is not a destination—it is a journey. Understand this construct's strengths. Understand its flaws. And above all, continue to refine the rhythm."
---
Hours melted away in repetition. Strike, parry, weave, hold. Each time, the construct lasted longer, moved more fluidly, until exhaustion became a constant companion. Kaison felt the chains press against his arms with a life of their own, responding to his intent, to Alice's movements, to something deeper beneath the surface. A whisper, faint and distorted, brushed the edge of his mind.
*One day… you will awaken me.*
He shook his head, forcing the thought away. Gachigakade. He knew its name, he knew its destructive potential, but that was all. He would not let fear twist his mind. Not today.
Alice's voice brought him back. "Focus, Kaison! Your chains are tightening too early!"
He corrected his movements, forcing the construct to breathe, to move naturally rather than forcibly. The construct shimmered, stretched, and flowed across the yard. Sparks of energy traced along the chains and blade, creating fleeting patterns in the air—fragments of beauty born from struggle.
Benson observed in silence. "Better. Much better. Soon, you will reach the threshold where one thought no longer dominates. Both minds will flow as one. That is the path to higher phase fusion."
---
Evening came.
The yard was empty save for the two of them, drenched in sweat, breath ragged, muscles trembling. The sun dipped behind the spires, casting long shadows across the stone tiles. Kaison collapsed onto his knees, chains slack, glowing faintly with residual energy.
Alice sat beside him, sword resting across her lap. For once, neither spoke. Silence was enough.
Kaison's thoughts drifted to the moon—Gachigakade's prison. The whispers were faint now, almost contemplative, like a shadowed presence observing rather than demanding. He closed his eyes, trying to remember Benson's words: *Do not let fear control you.*
He imagined the chains flowing freely, wrapping around the sword, protecting and empowering it. The construct shimmered in his mind, lasting longer, more stable than ever before.
Alice glanced at him, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "You're learning to let go."
"And you're learning to bend," Kaison replied, almost incredulous.
The moment passed. Darkness fell over the academy grounds, lanterns casting pale light over empty pathways. Kaison and Alice rose, each leaning slightly on the other for support, and walked back toward their dorms.
Somewhere in the far reaches of his mind, the name whispered again. *Gachigakade.*
He ignored it. For now.