Chapter 10: Dawn of New Bonds
The first rays of sunlight painted the forest in shades of gold. The river sparkled under the morning light, and mist curled over its surface like drifting spirits. Birds sang in the distance, their songs sharp and lively, a strange contrast to the silence of the night before.
Arjun stirred awake, his back aching from sleeping on the hard ground. His hand was still clutching the sword hilt, as if his body refused to let go even in sleep. When he opened his eyes, the memories of the Shadowfang rushed back.
The beast's glowing red eyes. Its claws tearing the earth. The sound of its last howl.
Arjun sat up quickly, breathing hard.
"Relax, kid," Lira's voice drawled.
She was sitting on a rock near the river, casually polishing her bow. Her auburn hair glimmered in the light, and her amber eyes glanced at him with mild amusement. "You looked like you were fighting nightmares in your sleep."
Arjun rubbed his face. "I think I was."
Seris was already awake too. She stood at the edge of the river, the wind tugging at her long hair. She looked serene, almost like she belonged to another world. Yet Arjun noticed the faint glow of her chains flickering and fading again, as if her strength had not fully returned after last night's fight.
He pushed himself to his feet, joints stiff. "How long was I out?"
"Not long," Lira said. "A few hours. You were dead tired. Could've snored loud enough to bring the wolves back."
Arjun groaned. "Great. Thanks for keeping watch, I guess."
She smirked. "Of course. Someone has to."
Seris turned from the river, her voice calm as always. "We should move soon. This place is no longer safe. Other predators may be drawn to the scent of blood."
Arjun looked at the beast's corpse lying nearby, flies already buzzing around it. The Shadowfang's dark fur was soaked with dried blood, and the sight made his stomach twist.
"Yeah," he muttered. "Let's get moving."
Before they could pack up, the system chimed.
[Notification: Survived the Shadowfang Predator.]
[Hidden Bonus Unlocked: System Upgrade.]
[Basic Bond Features Activated.]
Arjun blinked. "Upgrade?"
New glowing panels appeared in front of him.
[Companion Bond Functions:]
Bond Level: Measures trust and closeness.
Bond Skills: Unlocks unique abilities when bond deepens.
Bond Quests: Special tasks that strengthen bonds.
Arjun's eyes widened. "Wait… now it's giving me relationship mechanics like in games? Seriously?"
Lira raised an eyebrow. "You talking to yourself again, kid?"
Arjun quickly dismissed the screen with a wave. "Nothing. Just… thinking out loud."
But inside, his thoughts spun. Bond functions? Bond skills? That meant Seris and Lira weren't just allies they were tied to him through the system. The idea made him uneasy, like invisible strings pulling on all of them.
As they packed their things, Arjun tried to act normal. But the tension was already creeping in.
Seris walked silently, her movements graceful but distant. Lira, on the other hand, hummed a tune as she adjusted her bow, clearly too relaxed for the danger of the forest.
Arjun felt stuck between them, literally and figuratively.
Finally, Lira broke the silence. "So, kid, you going to tell me what your deal is?"
Arjun stiffened. "My… deal?"
"Yeah," she said, smirking. "You don't look like someone who belongs here. Your sword grip is awkward, your clothes are strange, and you panic too easily. You're not from around here, are you?"
Seris's gaze flicked toward him briefly, but she said nothing.
Arjun's heart raced. He couldn't exactly tell her about the system binding to his soul and dragging him into this world. He needed an excuse.
"I… come from far away," he said finally. "Let's just leave it at that."
Lira narrowed her eyes. "Mysterious, huh? Fine. Keep your secrets. But secrets don't keep you alive out here. Strength does."
Seris spoke suddenly, her voice cool. "Not all strength comes from the blade."
Lira smirked. "And not all battles can be won with pretty words and glowing chains."
The air between them grew sharp, like a blade about to cut.
Arjun quickly raised his hands. "Okay, okay, enough. We're all on the same side, remember?"
Both women turned their gazes away, but the tension lingered.
They walked for hours, the forest path twisting between towering trees. The sunlight grew harsher, and Arjun's stomach growled loudly.
"We need food," he muttered. "Again."
Lira pointed to the trees. "There's fruit around here. Safe to eat."
Seris glanced at the branches, then shook her head. "Not safe. The fruit glows faintly. It is likely poisonous."
Lira rolled her eyes. "Not everything that glows is poison."
Seris's voice was steady. "I have seen what happens when travelers eat it. Their skin burns, and their bodies rot."
Arjun paled. "Okay, yeah, no glowing fruit for me. Let's… stick to hunting."
Lira sighed but nodded. "Fine. I'll catch something again."
She moved ahead, vanishing into the trees with her bow.
That left Arjun and Seris walking together in silence. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
"You don't trust her, do you?"
Seris's gaze stayed forward. "Trust is earned. She values survival, not loyalty. Such people can be dangerous."
Arjun rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah… but she did fight with us. Without her, I might not be standing here right now."
Seris looked at him, her expression unreadable. "Perhaps. But do not mistake usefulness for trust."
Her words echoed in his head long after she looked away.
By the time Lira returned with two birds hanging from her belt, the sun was already sinking again.
"Dinner's on me," she said cheerfully.
They made camp near a cliffside overlooking the endless forest. The fire warmed them as the smell of roasting meat filled the air.
Arjun chewed slowly, savoring every bite. "I'll never take food for granted again," he muttered.
Lira smirked. "You're welcome."
Seris ate quietly, her eyes fixed on the fire.
When the meal was finished, Arjun leaned back against a rock, exhaustion pulling at him again. But before he could drift off, the system's voice chimed once more.
[Main Quest Update: Survive 24 Hours.]
[Time Remaining: 7 hours, 55 minutes.]
[New Sub-Quest Unlocked: Prove Leadership.]
[Objective: Manage conflict between companions. Ensure group unity until sunrise.]
[Reward: Bond Growth + System Function Upgrade.]
[Failure: Bond Decrease. Higher chance of betrayal.]
Arjun almost choked. "B-betrayal?!"
Both Seris and Lira looked at him curiously. "What?" they asked at the same time.
"Nothing!" Arjun said quickly, forcing a smile. But his mind was screaming.
He wasn't just fighting monsters anymore. He had to fight the cracks forming between his companions.
The night deepened. The fire crackled. And Arjun realized that surviving until morning wasn't just about keeping the beasts away.
It was about keeping the fragile bond between them from shattering before it even began.