Selene didn't wait.
The moment Cas opened his mouth to ask what kind of trial, her hand snapped forward—and the world ignited.
A wall of golden flame surged between the trees, carving a ring around the clearing. The flames didn't burn the forest. They shimmered with magic, dancing in place like they were alive. Watching.
Cas stepped back instinctively, grabbing for his dagger.
Evren was already moving, sword drawn, the bond thread glowing like a live wire between them.
Across the circle, Selene smiled.
"This is a safe-zone duel," she said. "You won't die in here."
Kael, the silent one, cracked his knuckles. "Unless you break."
Cas blinked. "What kind of bond class are you people?"
Selene's eyes flicked gold. "Mercy-Wrath. Two souls. One will."
Evren's voice was low, calm, deadly. "You're forcing this."
Selene raised a brow. "No, prince. We're testing you."
And then they attacked.
⚔️ The Duel Begins
Selene was fire and speed—twin blades glowing with healing light that burned like holy venom. Every slash could cure or kill.
Kael was her anchor. Massive, slow, deliberate—but each blow from his hammer shattered earth, sent shockwaves through the ground, and pulsed with rage magic.
Cas threw up a shield—Guarding Pulse—just in time to block Selene's blades. Evren countered with a strike toward Kael's flank, but it bounced harmlessly off the man's shimmering aura.
"They're at seventy-two percent sync!" Cas shouted. "They're fighting like they're one person!"
Evren grit his teeth. "Then we need to be more than two."
🔔 Emotional Sync Attempt: Surge
➤ Prompting Shared Focus…➤ Activating New Skill: Tether Step – Dash toward bonded partner, share vision and reflex for 4 seconds
⚠️ Sync unstable. Emotional dissonance detected.
Cas felt it.
Evren's fear.
Not fear of battle—but of hurting him.
Cas shouted across the bond: "Stop holding back!"
Evren's voice came like a growl: "You don't know what happens when I don't."
Selene's blade nearly pierced Cas's side.
It didn't, only because Evren tackled him to the ground, the firelight searing above them.
Cas landed hard on his back, Evren half on top of him, hand pressed to Cas's chest.
They locked eyes.
Cas whispered, "Then trust me to hold you back."
Evren stared at him.
And let go.
🔔 SYNC INCREASED: 58%
➤ Skill Fusion Activated: Twin Strike: Warden's Vow– Cas empowers Evren's next attack with energy from the bond. Damage scales with emotion.
Evren rose like a storm.
Cas reached out—his hand glowing—and touched Evren's blade.
The sword ignited, not with fire, but with intention.
Evren charged.
Kael raised his hammer—too slow.
Evren moved like lightning, blade sweeping through Kael's aura and striking his chestplate with a thunderous crack.
Kael staggered—actually staggered.
Selene's eyes widened. "Impossible—"
Cas stepped forward, deflecting her incoming strike with his magic-laced shield.
"You're not the only ones who believe in each other."
⚖️ The Result
The fire-ring fizzled out slowly, responding to their energy drop. Selene and Kael stood back, both winded. Cas and Evren stood together, side by side, glowing faintly in the aftermath.
Selene wiped blood from her lip, smiling in that way Cas didn't like.
"Better than expected," she said. "But you're still unstable. That much power, unbalanced, will destroy one of you."
Kael finally spoke, voice like gravel. "You've got heart. But heart breaks easy."
Then they turned and walked into the trees, leaving the bond thread between Cas and Evren humming hard.
Cas turned to him.
Evren was breathing heavy, jaw clenched, staring at the spot where they vanished.
"You alright?" Cas asked.
Evren didn't answer.
Instead, he said, "I saw your thoughts in the bond. Just for a second."
Cas blinked. "Yeah?"
Evren looked at him—eyes darker than usual.
"You think about kissing me again."
Cas flushed.
"I—well, I—"
Evren stepped closer.
And for just a moment, it looked like he might do it again.
Then he turned and walked away.
"Get some rest," he said over his shoulder. "We train tomorrow."
Cas stared after him.
And whispered, "Asshole."
But he didn't stop smiling.