The first sign that something was wrong was the heat.
It crawled up Aarav's spine like slow fire, coiling in his chest, tightening his breath. The air in the Moon Garden thickened, heavy with mana that pressed against his skin.
"…Do you feel that?" Aarav asked quietly.
Kaelith's posture shifted instantly. "Yes."
The silver-leafed trees rustled though there was no wind. The glowing flowers dimmed, then flared brighter in response to the sudden surge of energy radiating from Aarav's body.
Liora appeared at the edge of the garden, eyes wide. "Your synchronization is destabilizing. The Alpha nature is awakening."
Aarav clenched his fists. His heart pounded harder than it ever had during surgery, as if something vast and unfamiliar had woken inside his chest.
"This feels medically irresponsible," he muttered through his teeth.
Kaelith stepped closer. "Can you stand?"
"I'm standing," Aarav said. "I'm just… standing on fire."
The heat intensified. His senses sharpened violently—he could hear the flutter of wings far above the garden, smell the metal in the water flowing through the nearby fountain, feel the presence of every living thing around him.
It was overwhelming.
His knees buckled.
Kaelith caught him.
The moment their bodies made contact, the world seemed to stutter.
Aarav gasped as the heat inside him surged, then—unexpectedly—settled into something steadier, contained by the presence pressed against him.
Kaelith froze.
His breath hitched, eyes flashing gold.
"Kael?" Aarav whispered, gripping the front of Kaelith's tunic to keep himself upright. "Your heartbeat just spiked. Are you okay?"
Kaelith's voice was strained. "Your aura… it's resonating with mine."
Liora approached cautiously. "Enigma and Alpha synchronization. This is rare. Usually violent."
"Violent is bad," Aarav said weakly.
Kaelith huffed a breath that might have been a laugh. "That is an accurate assessment."
The heat pulsed again, then slowly began to recede.
Aarav's breathing steadied.
He realized he was still gripping Kaelith's clothes. Their faces were far too close.
He stepped back, clearing his throat. "Sorry. Reflex."
Kaelith straightened, regaining his composure. "You did not hurt me."
"But I could have," Aarav said. "Your system reacted to mine. That's… dangerous."
"Yes," Kaelith said quietly. "Which is why Enigmas avoid close contact with newly awakened Alphas."
"…Good to know after the fact," Aarav muttered.
Liora let out a slow breath. "Your Alpha nature is exceptionally strong. Summoned Alphas often destabilize when they awaken. You stabilized because of the Enigma presence."
Kaelith's gaze flicked to Aarav.
Aarav processed that. "So you're my… magical anchor?"
Kaelith hesitated. "In a manner of speaking."
"That's inconvenient."
"Agreed."
The garden began to return to normal. The flowers dimmed back to a gentle glow. The oppressive pressure in the air faded.
Aarav rubbed his temples. "I don't like that I'm changing without consent."
"You are not losing yourself," Kaelith said firmly. "Your mind remains yours. This change only affects how your body interacts with our world."
"That's still a big deal," Aarav replied. "Bodies matter."
Kaelith studied him. "On Elyndor, Alphas are taught to embrace their instincts."
"On Earth," Aarav said, "we're taught to question them."
The prince's eyes softened slightly. "Then perhaps you will teach our world restraint."
Aarav looked at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice.
Liora cleared her throat. "You will need training. Your senses are now heightened. Your strength will increase. Without discipline, you could hurt someone by accident."
"I box," Aarav said. "And I have a black belt. Discipline isn't new to me."
Kaelith's brow rose. "You fight?"
"I don't enjoy it," Aarav replied. "But I know how to stop without destroying."
Kaelith's lips curved faintly. "That is rare among Alphas here."
They began walking back through the garden.
Aarav slowed, then spoke quietly. "When you touched me, the pain stopped."
Kaelith paused. "Yes."
"That's not coincidence, is it?"
"No."
Aarav met his gaze. "So what does that make us?"
Kaelith was silent for a long moment. The garden lights reflected in his eyes like distant stars.
"It means," he said finally, "that our auras recognize each other."
"That sounds dangerously close to fate," Aarav said.
Kaelith's voice was low. "In Aethoria, we do not take such recognition lightly."
Aarav looked away, unsettled.
He didn't believe in destiny.
But his body, traitorous and unfamiliar, had leaned toward Kaelith as if it did.
And that frightened him more than the magic ever could.