Andy shut his eyes, and the sea's whisper faded into memory. A cavern of shadows returned to him—the stench of damp stone, the roar of a beast warped by cursed mana, the ground trembling under its claws. Forgotten Cave. The first trial.
He remembered how close he had come to breaking. Wounds tore through his body, breath ragged, his arms numb from the weight of his blades. He had thought it would end there, buried beneath stone and shadow.
Until a hand seized his. Nia's hand—warm, trembling, but unyielding. Her sapphire eyes had locked on his, voice steady despite the fear lacing it. "Andy… don't give up. Not while I'm here."
In that moment, he had felt something ignite. Their mana had intertwined, flame meeting light, water meeting calm. The cavern lit with radiance as their powers surged as one. For a heartbeat, they had been whole. For a heartbeat, the system had responded.
[Bond Progression: 70%]
[Skill Enhancement Activated – Dual Synchronization: Mana Resonance]
Andy's breath caught as the memory replayed. It hadn't been perfection, not yet. The bond bar still hovered short of the peak. But in that instant, he had felt it—what true unity could be. What it would mean when they finally reached the top together.
He opened his eyes to the night sky, stars shimmering faintly like threads of light across a dark canvas. Back then, it was just us. Just her. That bond carried me through.
But now…
The thread inside his chest flickered again, restless. Not because Nia's bond was weaker—no, she was still there, still burning steady. But because Aurelia's presence rippled across it, a stone cast into calm waters, shaking the system itself.
[System Notice]
Bond Stability Warning.
Dual synchronization affected by external influence.
Stabilization recommended.
Andy's jaw tightened. I've felt what unity means… and I won't let it fracture now. Not when Mountain Scar awaits. Not when the weight of three swords already pulls me apart.
The sea rose and fell beneath him, wind tugging at his cloak, the stars above glowing like silent witnesses. He gripped the railing, heart burning. No storm—no sea, no clash of hearts—will decide my fate. I will carve it myself.
And still, he could feel them watching—one gaze sapphire, the other amber—waiting, silently, to claim his heart.
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