The silence that followed Seraphine's declaration stretched across the ruins like a veil. Dust shifted across the stone floor. Wind whistled through broken archways. And Aeryn found himself staring between the three women who, apparently, were all potential "resonance partners."
He blinked once.
Twice.
"…Explain," Aeryn finally said.
Seraphine folded her arms, slipping effortlessly into her composed, Guardian mode. "A resonance partner isn't merely someone compatible. It is someone whose mana wavelength can stabilize your core. Someone your soul does not reject."
Aeryn frowned. "That doesn't sound like something that should involve… choices."
"It doesn't," Seraphine replied sharply. "The fragment chooses. Not you, not me, not anyone else."
Elowen tensed, hands folded tightly over her staff. "But the fragment only chooses those it senses a… connection with."
Lyria leaned casually against a pillar. "And for some reason, it senses all three of us."
Aeryn pinched the bridge of his nose. "Great. Wonderful. Perfectly normal situation.
Nothing weird at all."
Seraphine cleared her throat. "Aeryn. This isn't romantic, nor is it sentimental. This is survival. You are carrying the most dangerous artifact in the world inside your body."
Elowen stepped closer, voice soft. "And we're trying to keep it from tearing you apart."
Lyria smirked. "Though… let's not pretend it's only about survival. Bonding isn't exactly a dull process."
Aeryn shot her an exhausted look. "Not helping."
Lyria winked. "I wasn't trying to."
Seraphine rubbed her temples. "Focus. Before anything else, we need to determine whose mana wavelength responds most smoothly to Aeryn's core. That will be the person who anchors him."
Aeryn crossed his arms. "And how do we 'determine' that?"
Seraphine gestured toward the broken central dais of the ruins—a circular platform of stone covered in ancient glyphs.
"This place was once a Resonance Chamber. Ruins aside, much of its function remains intact. Step into the center, and each of us will attempt minor synchronizations. The fragment will respond to one of us."
Aeryn exhaled slowly. "Alright. Let's get this over with."
---
Inside the Resonance Chamber
Aeryn stepped onto the circular platform.
It responded immediately—glyphs flickered with pale-white luminescence, forming faint rings around his feet. A gentle pressure pressed inward, like the air itself was watching him.
Seraphine stood at the edge of the platform.
"When I say 'begin,' you will close your eyes, breathe steadily, and let the fragment respond naturally. Do not force anything."
Aeryn nodded.
"Elowen, you first."
The elf blinked, startled. "M-Me?"
"You have the gentlest wavelength," Seraphine explained. "If anyone can attempt a soft synchronization without overwhelming him, it's you."
Elowen inhaled deeply, then approached.
Aeryn watched her place a trembling hand over his chest.
"S-Sorry," she whispered. "I'll be as gentle as possible."
He nodded, forcing himself to relax. "I trust you."
Her cheeks flushed faintly, but she didn't pull back. Instead, she closed her eyes, and a warm green glow pulsed from her palm.
The air softened.
Grass sprouted between cracks in the stone.
Aeryn's chest warmed—not painfully, not sharply, just a quiet, soothing warmth that spread like sunlight at dawn.
The fragment pulsed once.
Twice.
Elowen gasped as a soft green aura wrapped around both of them.
Aeryn swallowed. "This feels… calm."
Elowen smiled shyly. "That's good. That means—"
A sharp crack interrupted her.
Elowen jolted as a surge of scarlet pushed her back a step.
Not violently.
Not like rejection.
More like…
Uncertainty.
Seraphine stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "It accepted your wavelength, but did not match it. That means you are compatible—but not the primary."
Elowen lowered her hands, disappointment flickering in her eyes. "I… see."
Aeryn stopped her with a gentle squeeze of her wrist.
"Elowen. It doesn't mean you're not important."
Her eyes widened—softening at his sincerity.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Lyria clapped her hands once. "Alright, my turn."
Elowen stepped back as Lyria sauntered forward with all the confidence of someone walking into a pub rather than a magical ritual.
She planted two fingers lightly against Aeryn's chest.
"No need to be nervous," she said, smirking. "I'm surprisingly gentle when I want to be."
Aeryn's expression remained stone-faced. "I'm terrified."
She snorted. "Good."
Her mana flared—sharp, crystalline violet. It wasn't gentle. It wasn't calm. It surged like a blade flashing in the sun.
Aeryn felt the fragment inside him jolt.
Not in pain—but in recognition.
Lyria's eyebrows shot up. "Oh? Looks like the little thing likes me."
The resonance intensified.
Violet tendrils wrapped around Aeryn's torso, spiraling with controlled precision. Unlike Elowen's soft warmth, Lyria's synchronization struck like lightning—clean, decisive, and dangerously close to perfect.
For a moment, Aeryn felt his heartbeat sync with hers.
His breath caught.
But then—
CRACK!
The chamber's glyphs flickered violently.
A surge of scarlet burst outward, pushing Lyria three steps back.
"What the—?!"
Seraphine's eyes widened. "It rejected the synchronization at the final layer."
Lyria gritted her teeth. "Rejected? I was right there!"
Seraphine nodded. "Because your wavelength surged too aggressively. It created instability."
Lyria groaned dramatically. "Unbelievable."
Aeryn steadied himself, pulse still racing. "It almost matched you."
Lyria flicked her fingers in annoyance. "Almost doesn't count."
Elowen hid a giggle behind her hand.
Seraphine stepped forward.
"Then it appears it's my turn."
---
Seraphine's Attempt
Aeryn took a slow breath.
Seraphine approached with solemn steps—not hesitant, not overconfident. Balanced. Controlled. Exactly the way she always was.
She lifted her hand, resting it over his sternum. Unlike the others, she didn't glow immediately. Her power was quieter, deeper, like a well beneath the ground.
"Aeryn," she said softly. "You do not need to brace yourself."
He swallowed. "Right."
"Close your eyes."
He did.
Seraphine inhaled slowly.
Then—
Her mana unfolded like the opening of wings.
Golden light radiated from her palm, gentle but powerful, wrapping around them both in spirals. It wasn't warm like Elowen's, nor sharp like Lyria's. It was steady. Balanced. Calm yet strong.
Aeryn felt himself sinking into it unconsciously.
As if his body naturally aligned with the rhythm.
The fragment pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
BOOM.
A golden shockwave erupted across the chamber, raising dust and rattling broken pillars.
Aeryn gasped, doubling over.
Seraphine snapped forward, catching him before he fell.
"Aeryn!"
But then—
Scarlet lines spiraled around Seraphine's arms.
Not rejecting her.
Not resisting.
Not hesitating.
Responding.
Matching.
Accepting.
Elowen gasped. "Th-The fragment is… merging?"
Lyria's eyes widened. "You've gotta be kidding me."
Aeryn's heart pounded as warmth spread across his chest.
The fragment was resonating with Seraphine—
Strongly.
Fully.
Perfectly.
Aeryn forced his eyes open.
Their auras intertwined—gold and scarlet spiraling together like two threads becoming a single braid.
Seraphine's breath trembled. "Aeryn… It's choosing—"
The fragment pulsed in confirmation.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
Seraphine swallowed. Her voice nearly cracked.
"It's me."
Aeryn stared at her—shocked, breathless, unsure how to even react.
"I…" he tried to speak, but the words tangled.
Elowen looked stunned—but relieved.
Lyria ran a hand through her hair, groaning. "Of course it's Miss Perfect Mana Control."
Seraphine flinched slightly. "Lyria—"
"No," Lyria interrupted. "It makes sense. Annoying, but logical."
Aeryn forced himself to stand straight even though Seraphine's hand remained against his chest.
"So… what does this mean?" he asked quietly.
Seraphine's gold eyes lifted to meet his.
"This means," she said slowly, "that to stabilize your core—and to awaken the fragment properly—you and I must complete the Resonance Bond."
Aeryn blinked. "Which entails… what, exactly?"
Elowen opened her mouth—then closed it, blushing furiously.
Lyria snorted. "Oh, you're gonna love this."
Seraphine hesitated.
"For a Resonance Bond to form," she said carefully, "the two participants must harmonize on a physical, emotional, and mana level. It is… intimate."
Aeryn froze.
"So intimate as in—"
"Not that," Seraphine snapped, cheeks faintly pink. "Not necessarily."
Lyria muttered, "Not yet."
Aeryn shot her a look. "You're not helping."
She winked. "Wasn't trying to."
Elowen fidgeted anxiously. "The ritual is intense but not inappropriate. It requires shared breathing, direct contact, and emotional openness. It's… sacred."
Aeryn rubbed his face. "So I have to emotionally synchronize with Seraphine."
"Yes," Seraphine said softly. "Whether you are ready or not."
The ruins suddenly felt very small.
Very quiet.
And very warm.
Aeryn exhaled sharply.
"Alright," he said. "Let's do it."
Seraphine's eyes widened. "Are you certain? You should think it through—"
"I don't need to think." Aeryn stepped closer, voice steady. "If this is what keeps the world alive—and keeps me alive—then I'm ready."
Seraphine stared at him for a long moment.
Gold met crimson.
And something shifted—gentle, subtle, but unmistakable.
She lowered her eyes, voice barely above a whisper.
"…Understood."
---
Preparing for the Bond
They took shelter inside the central chamber of the ruins. Sunlight streamed through broken stone, illuminating dust particles that drifted like tiny stars.
Lyria sat against a pillar, twirling a dagger. "Try not to explode."
Elowen shot her a glare. "Lyria, please."
Seraphine stood with Aeryn in the center of the room, breathing steadily.
"Aeryn," she said quietly. "This will not hurt. But it will feel… vulnerable."
Aeryn swallowed. "I'll manage."
"I know you will."
She extended her hand.
He took it.
Their palms pressed together, fingers interlocking.
A wave of warmth surged through him.
Seraphine inhaled slowly. "Begin syncing your breaths with mine."
Aeryn matched her rhythm.
Inhale.
Exhale.
The golden glow surrounded them.
Elowen watched silently, hugging her staff to her chest.
Lyria's eyes softened—just slightly.
Seraphine placed her other hand on Aeryn's shoulder.
Aeryn placed his on hers.
Their auras fused.
Gold and scarlet twisted like a spiral galaxy around them.
Aeryn's heartbeat synced with Seraphine's.
The fragment pulsed—
THRUM.
THRUM.
THRUM.
Seraphine whispered, "Aeryn… I'm with you."
Aeryn closed his eyes.
"I know."
Their foreheads touched.
The world vanished into light—
And the Resonance Bond began.