The forest had fallen silent.
Not the peaceful silence of nature—but the tense, suffocating quiet that followed destruction.
Half the trees surrounding the cottage had been ripped from the ground.
Cracks ran across the earth like spiderwebs.
And at the center of it all stood Liora.
Her breathing was uneven.
Her hands glowed with faint silver light.
Magic still poured from her body in unstable waves.
"…I didn't…" she whispered.
She hadn't meant to do this.
Across the battlefield, the remaining knights stared at her in horror.
Even the Grand Inquisitor looked… impressed.
"…Remarkable," he said quietly.
His sword lifted slowly.
"The last witch truly has awakened."
Liora stumbled back.
Her power wasn't calming.
It was growing.
She could feel it spreading through her veins like fire.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
"…Make it stop," she whispered.
But the magic didn't listen.
It surged again.
The ground trembled violently.
A wave of silver energy shot through the forest, knocking several knights off their feet.
The soldiers began retreating instinctively.
Even the Inquisitor stepped back slightly.
"Interesting," he murmured.
Then—
A hand grabbed Liora's wrist.
Her magic instantly faltered.
Like a storm suddenly hitting calm water.
She looked up.
Cairis stood beside her.
His black coat was torn.
Blood stained his sleeve.
But his crimson eyes were focused only on her.
"…Look at me," he said quietly.
Liora's breathing trembled.
"I can't control it."
"You can."
"No, I can't!"
Her magic surged again.
The ground cracked beneath their feet.
But Cairis didn't let go.
Instead—
He pulled her closer.
Her back hit his chest.
And his arm wrapped firmly around her waist.
Liora froze.
"…W-what are you doing?"
"Stabilizing you."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
His hand tightened slightly around her wrist.
And something strange happened.
Her magic… slowed.
Like it was recognizing him.
Responding to him.
Liora blinked.
"…What?"
Cairis looked down at their joined hands.
His expression darkened slightly.
"…That shouldn't be possible."
Behind them, Rhael approached slowly.
Golden eyes watching the scene carefully.
"…Actually," he said thoughtfully.
"It makes perfect sense."
Cairis glanced back.
"Explain."
Rhael stopped a few steps away.
Then he smiled faintly.
"…You two are bound."
Silence.
Liora blinked.
"…Bound?"
Cairis's eyes narrowed.
"…Impossible."
Rhael shrugged.
"Look at her magic."
They both did.
The silver energy that had been violently exploding moments ago now curled around Cairis like mist.
Not attacking him.
Not resisting him.
Following him.
Liora felt it too.
Her magic felt… calmer.
Safer.
With him touching her.
"…What is happening?" she whispered.
Rhael answered casually.
"An ancient witch bond."
Cairis stiffened slightly.
"…Those only exist in legends."
"Yes."
Rhael smiled slightly wider.
"And yet here we are."
Liora's stomach twisted.
"…Explain. Slowly."
Rhael folded his arms.
"Thousands of years ago, the first witches formed magical bonds with powerful beings."
"Why?" she asked.
"To stabilize their magic."
Liora looked down at her glowing hands.
"…Like what just happened?"
"Exactly."
Cairis's voice became colder.
"…And the cost?"
Rhael's expression turned serious.
"…Their lives became connected."
Liora frowned.
"…Connected how?"
Rhael looked between them.
Then answered calmly.
"If one of you dies…"
He paused.
"…The other dies too."
Silence fell like a blade.
Liora blinked.
"…That's not funny."
"No."
Rhael's voice remained calm.
"It's not."
Her gaze slowly turned toward Cairis.
"…Tell him he's lying."
Cairis didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he stared down at their joined hands.
His expression unreadable.
Then finally—
"…He's not lying."
Her heart stopped.
"…WHAT?!"
Cairis exhaled slowly.
"The witch bond is ancient magic."
His eyes lifted to meet hers.
"And your power reacted to me the moment I woke up."
Memories flashed through Liora's mind.
Her magic stirring whenever he was near.
The barrier reacting to him.
Her power calming when he touched her.
"…No," she whispered.
"This is ridiculous."
Rhael shrugged again.
"Magic rarely asks permission."
Liora pulled her hand away quickly.
But the moment she did—
Her magic surged violently again.
The ground trembled.
Cairis immediately grabbed her wrist again.
The magic calmed.
Both of them froze.
"…You see?" Rhael said lightly.
"You're already dependent on each other."
Liora stared at Cairis.
"…This is your fault."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You dragged me into your house."
"You collapsed in my garden!"
"Still your decision."
She groaned loudly.
"This is insane!"
Cairis leaned slightly closer.
His voice dropped to a soft whisper.
"Perhaps."
His crimson eyes gleamed.
"But I find it convenient."
Her jaw dropped.
"…Convenient?!"
He nodded calmly.
"Now you can't run away."
Her cheeks flushed with anger.
"I was never running!"
"You were planning to."
"…Maybe."
Cairis smiled faintly.
Then he said something that made her heart skip.
"Now you're stuck with me."
Before she could argue—
The Grand Inquisitor's voice rang across the battlefield again.
"How touching."
Everyone turned.
The Inquisitor stood at the edge of the destroyed forest.
Holy magic glowing around his sword.
His gaze fixed on Liora.
"…A witch and a demon prince."
His smile was cold.
"Even better."
He lifted his blade.
"Kill them both."
The remaining knights began advancing again.
But this time—
Cairis didn't move.
Instead he looked down at Liora.
His expression suddenly serious.
"…Stay close to me."
Her heart pounded.
"…Why?"
His answer was quiet.
"Because if we're bound…"
His crimson eyes glowed dangerously.
"…then I have no intention of dying."
The knights charged again.
Holy magic blazing.
And Liora realized something terrifying.
Her magic wasn't just reacting to Cairis anymore.
It was growing stronger because of him.
And if that continued…
She might become the most powerful witch in history.
Or the most dangerous.