Full Chapter – The Body, the Bond, the Breaking
Location: Emberborn Temple – Under the everburning sun of Thalum, the siblings return to the ancient forge where Sparks' body will finally be crafted. But obsession has followed them here… and it refuses to be silent.
The Binding Begins
Inside the temple, the heartstone pulsed, waiting.
Grim placed the three relics they'd gathered — Elven Bloodwood, Starlight Ore, and Soulglass — on the forge pedestal. Ancient runes flared awake, casting warm light across the stone chamber.
"Is this gonna hurt?" Sparks asked, hovering near the heart.
"You're flame," Grim replied. "You're already in pain. This... will make it mean something."
Max set the protective seals in place, while Ayesha and Hadi adjusted the harmonic flow of the runes. Tristan watched the perimeter, ice mist curling beneath his boots.
Sparks floated into the center as Grim held out his marked palm.
"Do you trust me?"
"Always," she said. "Even when you're being dramatic."
"That's daily."
"Exactly."
He smiled.
Then he spoke the rite.
The moment the words left his lips, flame erupted. A spinning torrent of red, violet, and gold engulfed Sparks — her core drawn into the pieces.
The Bloodwood formed her bones.
The Soulglass shaped her heart.
The Starlight Ore sang into her veins.
And slowly…
A figure began to form.
Not just energy. Not just echo.
A body.
Tall. Elegant. Red hair like living flame cascading down her back. Elven eyes that shimmered with heat and wit. She hovered midair, curled like a sleeping goddess in the forge's center.
Still unconscious.
Still forming.
"It's working," Ayesha whispered.
"Of course it is," Hadi said. "We're kind of amazing."
Beast at the Door
Then came the sound.
Thud.
Thud.
CRACK.
The main gate exploded inward.
Standing in the ash — panting, eyes glowing, aura boiling — was Lys.
But not the one they knew.
Her beast form had partially taken over. Ears sharp, claws out, golden eyes slitted. And she was wild with emotion.
"You were going to make her real," she snarled, stepping in. "You were going to let her touch you."
Grim moved in front of the forge. "Lys, don't—"
"Don't what?" she hissed. "Don't protect you? Don't kill her before she replaces me? Before she takes what was mine?!"
Tristan stepped forward, ice forming in his palm. "Back down, Lys. You're not thinking."
"I am. And I choose him."
Her voice cracked. Her claws twitched.
"I know what I want. My bloodline tells me. My soul screams it. And it screams you, Grim."
The temple trembled.
Inside the forge, Sparks' body twitched — still asleep — but her flame flared hard.
"Get her out of here," Max said lowly, stepping up beside his brother. "Now."
Grim exhaled slowly.
"Lys. I care about you. But this — this isn't the way. You're letting instinct override us."
"There is no us if she becomes real."
"Then watch me prove you wrong."
He stepped forward — hand open, not for battle, but for choice.
Lys stared at him… then at Sparks… then at herself.
And fled.
Not in weakness.
In pain.
Her footsteps echoed into the desert.
She Wakes
The forge dimmed.
And then—
Sparks gasped.
Her new body lifted from the pedestal. Hair glowing. Eyes opening slowly — like embers catching air.
She looked down at her hands… her arms… then up at Grim.
A long silence.
Then—
"Wow."
"I'm hot."
The siblings exhaled at once.
Tristan collapsed into a sit. "She's back."
"She never left," Grim said softly.
Sparks stepped down.
And hugged him.
Real.
Warm.
Whole.