The dawn was still pale when Germaine and Elric returned to the training grounds. The estate was quiet, the morning mist curling around the stone pillars like fingers brushing against the air.
Yet, for all the silence, Germaine's chest throbbed with anticipation — and the hum of Solaryn resonated deep inside her core. The soulbound pulsed with energy, aware, focused, coiled like a spring ready to extend.
"You must understand," Elric said as they entered the circular training arena, "what we do today will test more than your strength. It will test your harmony with Solaryn."
She nodded, heart skipping. She could feel the Shard stirring faintly inside her chest, a low, insistent whisper brushing against her awareness. The resonance was subtle but unmistakable. It was watching. Learning. Judging.
At the center of the arena, a massive ring was inscribed into the stone floor. Symbols of protection, amplification, and core stabilization radiated outward in a carefully measured lattice. This was the Awakening Circle — a structure designed to measure the synchronization between a practitioner and their soulbound, and to stimulate cultivation breakthroughs when mastery was sufficient.
Elric gestured for her to step inside.
"Stay centered," he instructed. "Your core's stability is strong enough now, but any misalignment between you and Solaryn could shatter the circle's equilibrium."
Germaine inhaled. Solaryn pulsed eagerly in her mind. The golden threads of light traced faint patterns along her mana pathways, brushing against her heart, shoulders, and spine. It wasn't a pet anymore. It was a presence — a partner, a shield, a mirror of her soul.
She exhaled slowly and lifted her hand, placing it over her chest. "Ready," she whispered.
Elric's staff tapped the outer edge of the Awakening Circle. A thin ring of white-gold mana lifted from the stone, spinning, then settling into a floating lattice that hummed with latent power.
"Project Solaryn," Elric commanded. "Do not summon its form — project only the essence."
Germaine concentrated. Her hand on her chest felt like an anchor, and Solaryn stirred immediately, brushing the edges of her awareness like a whispering wind.
A halo of gold began to form above her sternum, small at first, then expanding, filling her vision with a soft, pulsing light. The lattice responded instantly, spinning faster, amplifying, reflecting the strength of the bond.
She felt the pull. The subtle tug that came with any projection. Solaryn was aware of the outer world — the fissured southern barrier, the remnants of the Rift Echo — and it recoiled instinctively at distant disturbances, curling tighter into her core.
"Elric," Germaine said, voice shaking slightly, "it… it can sense them."
He observed closely, eyes narrowing. "Yes. Your bond has already heightened the attunement beyond what is typical for your rank. That is why we need to push the Awakening Circle. You are ready for your first breakthrough."
Elric stepped back and raised his staff. A surge of white mana rolled through the lattice, weaving through Germaine and brushing against Solaryn's projection.
"Let your bond flow freely. Follow Solaryn — do not lead it."
Her core shivered. The Shard stirred faintly. Solaryn pulsed hard, its light expanding, warm, alive, brushing against every mana pathway.
The golden aura around her chest shifted — brighter, wider, almost tangible. Threads of light extended outward, curling around the lattice and sparking along the ground. Her body hummed with pure energy, heart racing, pulse echoing the rhythm of Solaryn's presence.
Elric's voice guided her. "Focus on harmony. Balance your breathing with your core, and with Solaryn. Let the bond dictate the flow. Not you. Not the circle."
Germaine exhaled, letting instinct take over. Slowly at first, then with increasing confidence, her core and Solaryn moved as one. A wave of golden energy pulsed outward — not violent, not explosive — but irresistible, like dawn spilling over a mountain ridge.
Her senses expanded. She felt the stones beneath her feet, the lattice's pulse, the soft tug of mana from the morning air, and the faint echo of the southern barrier's instability. Solaryn brushed against each sensation, amplifying her perception, reinforcing her control.
And then… it happened.
A bright pulse shot from her core, filling the Awakening Circle. The lattice shimmered, then flared with a blinding white-gold light. The pulse reached out beyond the estate, brushing against the lingering traces of the Rift Echo.
The effect was instantaneous: her cultivation rank increased.
Her mind felt lighter, sharper. Energy flowed more freely through every pathway, every fiber of her being. She could feel it immediately — a new slot opened within her mana structure.
Solaryn pulsed strongly in her core, a deep, satisfied vibration brushing against her mind. It had recognized the growth. The bond had expanded.
"Elric," she gasped, staggering slightly, "I… I feel… more."
He stepped forward, his eyes glowing faintly with approval. "Yes. You have entered the Adept rank, and your mana pathways have expanded. A new soul slot has opened. You can now host a second SoulPet when the time is right."
Germaine's heart thudded painfully. The implications were immediate. Not only did she have Solaryn, but soon… she could bond with another creature. Another guardian. Another presence attuned to her Shard and her essence.
Elric gestured toward the lattice. "Your synchronization with Solaryn was nearly perfect. But the second slot is dormant — it will remain so until your first SoulPet is fully integrated with your core. Do not rush it."
She nodded, pressing a hand to her chest. Solaryn responded, light flickering like a heartbeat. Its presence was warm, almost like a silent nod of approval.
"Solaryn," she murmured softly, "we did it. You're stronger now… so am I."
The soulbound pulsed again, but not in the faint rhythm of last night. Now, its aura radiated outward, gentle yet firm, brushing against her chest, her arms, her spine. It was a living signature, a part of her core, no longer merely an attachment.
Elric stepped closer. "Do you feel the difference?"
"Yes," she whispered. "Everywhere. It's… deeper. Connected."
He nodded once. "That is what a true soulbond does. Not just protection, not just power. Integration. Every growth you experience, Solaryn grows with you. Every stabilization you achieve, it stabilizes too. That bond is your greatest advantage — and your responsibility."
The air trembled faintly. Germaine froze. Solaryn stiffened inside her core, pulsing in alert.
"Elric," she said softly, "the southern barrier… it's…"
He followed her gaze. There, beyond the northern edge of the training grounds, faint shimmer-lines rippled like invisible threads. Tiny. Subtle. Almost gone.
"Still reacting," he murmured. "Not fully, but enough."
Solaryn pressed closer. It was listening — detecting subtle mana shifts, faint distortions, the ghost-touch of a being that should not exist in this realm.
"The Watcher," Germaine breathed.
Elric's jaw tightened. "Yes. And it knows you have strengthened."
She swallowed. Her core throbbed. Solaryn curled, protective yet ready.
"I can feel it," she said softly. "It's… waiting. Watching. Testing."
Elric nodded. "Good. That means your breakthrough mattered. You are now more than just a novice with potential. You are a target. But also a threat. They are drawn to strength, not weakness."
Germaine exhaled slowly. She could feel Solaryn's warmth spread through her chest, steadying her, comforting her.
Her core had grown. Her awareness had expanded. The second soul slot waited silently inside her mana structure, ready for the next SoulPet — but she couldn't rush it. Patience was crucial.
"Elric," she asked quietly, "what do we do next?"
"We wait," he said firmly. "And train. Harder. Faster. Your core must adapt to these changes before the Watcher tries again. Your bond with Solaryn will be your anchor — your shield, your power, your eyes in the dark. But it is not enough. You must master yourself first."
Germaine nodded. The words rang in her chest like a bell. She touched her sternum, feeling Solaryn pulse softly in response.
"I understand," she said. "We train. Together."
Elric gave a small nod. "Tomorrow, we begin full manifestation exercises. You will extend Solaryn outside your body — not just as a projection, but as a guardian capable of independent action. This is dangerous, but necessary. If the Watcher tests the barrier again, you must be ready."
Her pulse quickened. Fear? Perhaps. But more than fear, she felt excitement. Determination. The taste of power stretching its fingers into her veins.
Solaryn stirred in her core, almost impatiently.
'Not alone anymore.'
Her chest swelled slightly with pride.
"We are ready."
And somewhere, in the far reaches of the forest, the southern barrier shimmered faintly once more, as though acknowledging the challenge, and as though waiting for the next move.