The morning sun barely broke through the dense canopy of trees beyond the southern barrier, casting long, fragmented shadows across the estate's courtyard. Solaryn perched on Germaine's shoulder, wings flickering with the familiar golden pulse of their bond. Lumira, the newly awakened silver-gold wisp, hovered just above her second slot, casting a faint light over her collarbone. The two SoulPets acted like extensions of her heartbeat, guiding, guarding, and observing.
Her core throbbed with quiet, steady warmth. Two active SoulPets. Expanded slots. Physique enhanced. Mana purity heightened. Each pulse of energy confirmed that her core's lattice was stabilizing after the dual-bond awakening. Yet despite the calm, a subtle tremor ran through the estate — almost imperceptible, but Germaine felt it as a gentle tug against the edge of her awareness.
The Watcher is near.
Elric appeared at her side silently, as if emerging from the shadows themselves. White mana traced along the contours of his staff, faintly humming as he scanned the surrounding grounds.
"Good," he said softly, "you've stabilized your dual bonds. That gives us an advantage. But don't get comfortable. The Watcher is patient. It won't strike directly yet — not until it tests your limits."
Germaine's gaze flicked to the trees. Something stirred. A distortion in the air, like heat rising over stone, appeared briefly between the trunks. Not fully formed — not yet.
Solaryn chirped softly, wings flicking outward defensively. Lumira responded instantly, pulses radiating from her second slot, synchronizing with Solaryn's protective rhythm.
Two SoulPets, one core… this is new territory.
A ripple of cold swept across the courtyard, subtle but invasive. Germaine felt it like a brush against her mana, probing the edges of her awareness.
"Elric," she whispered, "it's testing me."
He nodded without lowering his gaze. "Not you, not yet. Your network. The bonds. The lattice. It wants to see if they can handle strain simultaneously. A Rift Echo will follow shortly — minor, but calibrated to measure your reflexes, response coordination, and core control."
Her chest tightened at the word minor. She knew better than to underestimate anything associated with the Watcher.
Without warning, a shiver passed through the air. The southern barrier vibrated lightly, not from force but from mana resonance. Then, a ripple erupted like a stone dropped into water, distorting the forest edge.
A small Rift Echo materialized. It wasn't fully coherent — a shadowy, shifting form with jagged edges that seemed to phase in and out of reality. Its shape was humanoid, but wrong, like a reflection seen in shattered glass.
The Watcher's design was clear. Test, observe, adapt.
Germaine's heart hammered in her chest. She felt Solaryn react instantly, wings flaring and pulsing golden light along her shoulder. Lumira hovered above her second slot, a silver-gold pulse cutting through the distortion.
Her lattice of core energy responded automatically. Two SoulPets, two slots, one integrated Shard — it was the first real stress test.
"Elric… it's… reacting," she said, voice tight.
"Yes," he said, hand tracing lightly over his staff, mana flaring subtly. "Keep your focus. Your SoulPets are extensions of your core. Command them, don't fight them. Let them interact with the Echo."
Germaine closed her eyes for a fraction of a second, syncing her breathing to both SoulPets.
"Solaryn, shield me. Lumira, monitor and analyze. I will guide, but you act as extensions of me."
The lattice pulsed, and energy radiated outward. Solaryn's wings created a protective barrier around her torso, radiant golden energy enveloping her. Lumira's pulses expanded, interacting with the Echo, probing its structure and weaknesses, detecting instability in its core pattern.
The Rift Echo wavered, sensing the dual-bond network. It lunged forward, phasing through the barrier, trying to probe Germaine directly. But Solaryn's shield absorbed the initial impact. A pulse of golden light exploded outward, forcing the Echo back a step.
Lumira's analytical pulses then struck, testing the Echo's cohesion, revealing weak points in its form. Each pulse traveled through the lattice into Germaine's core, and she instinctively adjusted her mana flow to reinforce both slots simultaneously.
Her heartbeat synchronized with theirs. Each SoulPet's pulse, her Shard's subtle hum, and her own mana stream became a single rhythm. Beginner-Advanced had never felt this alive.
The Rift Echo flickered, phasing in and out of reality faster now. Its attacks became erratic, probing from multiple angles.
"Maintain your lattice!" Elric barked. His staff traced a glowing white sigil on the courtyard floor, pulsing with stabilizing mana. "Do not let it overwhelm you. Two SoulPets mean two connections — manage both, or you lose control!"
Germaine's eyes snapped open. The second slot shimmered faintly as Lumira pulsed with recognition of threat patterns. Solaryn responded immediately, adjusting the angle of her wing-shield to counter a diagonal attack from the Echo.
Physique enhancement active.
She felt her reflexes sharpen, muscles moving in sync with Solaryn's shield, Lumira's analytical pulses guiding her positioning. Every movement was instinctive, powered by the dual bonds.
A sudden surge of mana shot through her core. The Shard pulsed faintly, amplifying her lattice, reinforcing both SoulPets simultaneously. She staggered slightly, but control held. The strength of an Adept rank, even if just a novice could not be ignored. And Solaryn's defensive patterns kept her grounded. Lumira's reactive energy provided precise feedback.
"Elric… I can feel it… I can control both!" she shouted. "They're responding perfectly!"
"Yes," he replied, eyes narrowing as he observed the Echo. "The lattice is holding. Now — counterattack."
Germaine exhaled slowly. Golden and silver-gold pulses intertwined, forming a radiant lattice around her. She extended her arms.
"Solaryn, Lumira — together. Merge pulses, focus on the Echo's instability."
A wave of golden and silver-gold light erupted from her core. Solaryn's shield flared outward, colliding with the Rift Echo. Lumira's pulses struck the Shadow form simultaneously. The Echo staggered, its phasing faltering, and for a heartbeat, it was visible in full.
Jagged, blackish shadows trembling against the light, the Rift Echo appeared almost fragile when confronted by the synchronized force of her dual SoulPets and Shard amplification.
A surge of power shot through Germaine's body, her lattice glowing brighter than ever. Reflexes, endurance, mana purity — all pushed to their limits. But control remained perfect.
Her core pulsed with satisfaction. Her Adept rank strength and multiple SoulPets allowed a control and feedback loop the Watcher had not anticipated.
The Rift Echo shivered, then recoiled, phasing back toward the forest edge.
The Echo did not disappear. It lingered in the shadows, retreating but still observing.
Elric stepped forward, hand on her shoulder. "Well done," he said quietly, voice low. "But don't mistake retreat for defeat. It is learning from you. From your lattice. From the bonds. The Watcher will adapt. And it will strike again."
Germaine exhaled, sweat dampening her robes. She looked down at Solaryn and Lumira. Both SoulPets chirped softly, wings and pulses flickering in relief and recognition.
"Two slots… two bonds," she whispered. "And I can manage them. I can actually control them in real combat."
Elric nodded. "Exactly. This was not just a test of power. It was a test of coordination, awareness, and core management. You passed because you understand your SoulPets — because you respect them as partners, not tools. That's rare for someone who just broke through a barely two days ago"
Her chest swelled with pride, tempered with the awareness of the Watcher's ever-present gaze.
Later, back in the estate's inner courtyard, Germaine knelt quietly, Solaryn resting on her shoulder, Lumira floating above her second slot. She traced subtle patterns with her fingers through the air, feeling the residual lattice energy.
Her Shard pulsed faintly, a reminder that its hidden influence was still guiding her evolution.
Two SoulPets. Two slots. One lattice. Adept - novice rank fully realized.
Her core had grown, her physique sharpened, her reflexes heightened, her mana purity stabilized — all while managing external threats. She felt… ready.
Elric approached quietly. "This was only a minor Rift Echo. Tomorrow we will expand to mana tempering exercises with both SoulPets simultaneously. That is where real advancement will occur."
Germaine looked at Solaryn and Lumira. Both pulsed faintly, alert and aware. She exhaled.
"We're ready," she said softly. "Whatever comes next, we're ready."
Elric's expression softened — a fleeting moment of approval. Then his gaze hardened once more. "The Watcher will be patient. But so must you. Dual bonds are a rare feat. But mastery comes from patience, discipline, and understanding. One misstep… and the consequences could cascade."
Germaine nodded. She could feel the lattice humming beneath her skin, each slot pulsing with life, each SoulPet waiting, watching, ready.
For the first time, she realized the truth: the Watcher's tests would never end.
But neither would her strength.
And with Solaryn and Lumira by her side, she would never face them alone.