Kael held Lira's hand tightly as the room around them slowly changed.
The bright and dark spaces faded, and a new space appeared—an open circle of stone with a dim silver light above it.
Lira leaned against Kael.
"I… I feel tired."
Kael guided her gently. "Stay with me. Don't let go."
The floor shook slightly. A soft voice echoed around them:
"The first trial tested your hearts."
"The second trial tests your bond."
Lira swallowed nervously.
"What does that mean?"
Kael pulled her closer.
"We face it together. That's all."
A small stone altar rose in the center of the circle. Two faint glowing marks appeared on top—one black, one silver.
Lira blinked. "What are those?"
Kael stared at the marks.
"Shadow and light. Like us."
The voice spoke again:
"Both of you must place a hand on your mark."
Lira hesitated. "Kael… will this hurt?"
"I don't know," he said honestly. "But I'm here."
She nodded slowly and walked with him toward the altar.
Kael placed his hand on the black mark.
Lira placed hers on the silver one.
Nothing happened for a moment.
Then—
A sudden pull dragged them forward—not physically, but inside their minds.
Kael's eyes widened.
"Lira!"
"I'm here!" she shouted back.
But the bond changed—growing stronger, pulling deeper.
Kael felt Lira's heartbeat inside his chest.
Lira felt Kael's pain inside her head.
Their breaths matched.
Their emotions mixed.
Silver and black light rose around them in a soft spiral.
Lira gasped. "Kael… I can feel everything you feel…"
Kael clenched his teeth. "Don't panic."
The voice spoke again:
"To pass this trial, your souls must stay connected. If one of you pulls away… the bond will break."
Lira's eyes filled with fear. "Kael… what if I lose control again?"
"You won't," he said firmly.
The lights around them spun faster.
Kael felt fear that wasn't his—Lira's.
Lira felt anger that wasn't hers—Kael's.
Their emotions crossed like rivers mixing.
It was overwhelming.
Lira stumbled. "I—I can't hold it—"
Kael grabbed her hand with both of his.
"Look at me."
She forced herself to look up.
Kael's voice softened. "Stay with me. Don't fight the bond. Just trust it."
Lira took a shaky breath. "I trust you…"
The light grew brighter.
The pressure increased.
Then—
Something new happened.
Kael suddenly saw a memory.
Not his.
Lira, as a child, crying beside a dying candle in a small house…
calling her mother's name.
Kael's chest tightened painfully.
"Lira… I saw you…"
Lira's eyes widened. "I saw you too… in the Forge… when you were a boy…"
The bond pushed deeper, forcing them to share more.
Kael felt her sadness.
Lira felt his loneliness.
Tears fell from Lira's eyes.
"Kael… you suffered so much…"
Kael's hand shook as he held her.
"And you were always alone…"
The stone circle glowed brighter.
Their shared pain didn't weaken them.
It pulled them closer.
The voice spoke once more:
"The trial has one final step."
The light tightened around them like a ring.
Kael whispered, "Stay with me."
Lira nodded, gripping his hand tightly.
They were ready for whatever came next.
Together.