The first sign was subtle.
Almost easy to ignore.
Lyra paused mid-step, her fingers tightening slightly around her wrist. The mark burned again-but not like before.
This wasn't just heat.
It was sharp.
Sudden.
Like something pulling at her from the inside.
She inhaled slowly, steadying herself.
"...Annoying," she muttered.
She refused to react.
Refused to give it importance.
But as she continued walking through the palace corridor, the pain didn't fade.
It spread.
Up her arm.
Slow.
Unrelenting.
Her steps slowed.
Then stopped.
A quiet breath left her lips.
"Not now..."
At the same time-
Kael stood in the training grounds again.
Sword in hand.
Focused.
Controlled.
Untouchable.
Or at least-
That's how it should have been.
He swung-
Then froze.
A sudden pain shot through his wrist.
Sharp.
Unexpected.
His grip faltered.
The sword slipped from his hand, hitting the ground with a loud clang.
The entire training ground went silent.
Kael stared at his hand.
At the mark.
Glowing.
Burning.
"...What is this?" he muttered.
It wasn't the same as before.
This wasn't just the curse.
This was-
Connected.
His jaw tightened.
Lyra.
Back in the corridor-
Lyra leaned slightly against the wall, her breathing uneven now.
The pain intensified.
It wasn't unbearable.
But it was persistent.
Demanding attention.
Demanding-
Acknowledgment.
Her fingers pressed against the mark.
"Whatever this is..." she whispered under her breath, "it needs to stop."
But it didn't.
Kael moved.
Fast.
Without thinking.
Without questioning.
His steps echoed sharply through the palace as he made his way inside, his expression darker than usual.
Servants stepped aside instantly.
No one dared stop him.
Because something was wrong.
Lyra barely had time to react.
The moment she pushed herself away from the
wall-
He was there.
Standing in front of her.
Breathing steady.
Eyes sharp.
Dangerous.
"What did you do?" Kael demanded.
Lyra blinked once.
Annoyed.
Confused.
"What are you talking about?"
His gaze dropped to her wrist.
The mark
Glowing.
Her eyes followed his.
And for a second-
Something clicked.
"...You feel it too," she said quietly.
It wasn't a question.
Kael's silence confirmed it.
Lyra straightened slightly despite the pain.
"Then don't ask me like I caused it," she added. "I'm dealing with the same thing."
Kael stepped closer.
His presence overwhelming.
"You expect me to believe this is just a coincidence?"
Lyra let out a sharp breath.
"You think I'd willingly connect myself to you like this?" she snapped.
The words came out harsher than intended.
But neither of them cared.
Kael's eyes darkened.
Then-
Another pulse of pain hit.
Stronger.
Both of them flinched this time.
Lyra's hand shot out instinctively-
Grabbing onto his arm.
Kael stiffened.
The contact-
Unexpected.
Unwanted.
And yet-
The moment their skin touched-
The pain eased.
Not completely.
But enough to notice.
Both of them froze.
Lyra's grip loosened slightly.
Kael didn't move.
Didn't pull away.
For a second-
Too long of a second-
They just stood there.
Close.
Connected.
Aware.
Then Lyra quickly let go.
Stepping back.
As if the contact burned worse than the mark itself.
"...That was accidental," she said quickly.
Kael's expression hardened instantly.
"Obviously."
But neither of them ignored what just happened.
The silence stretched.
Heavy.
Uncertain.
Then-
Kael spoke
"This bond," he said coldly, "is not natural."
Lyra crossed her arms slightly, as if putting distance between them again.
"No," she agreed. "It isn't."
Their eyes met.
And for the first time-
There was something new.
Not hate.
Not exactly.
Awareness.
"This is her doing," Kael continued. "The witch."
Lyra nodded slightly.
"That means it's not just for show," she said. "It
has a purpose
A pause.
Then-
Kael's gaze darkened.
"I'll break it."
The words were immediate.
Absolute.
Lyra's lips pressed into a thin line.
"Do that," she said. "And break the rest of this
while you're at it."
Kael didn't respond.
Because for once-
Later that evening-
Lyra sat in her room again.
This time on the bed.
Not because she wanted to.
But because the pain had forced her to stop
pretending it didn't exist.
Her fingers traced lightly over the mark.
It had dimmed again.
But she could still feel it.
Like something waiting.
Watching.
Her gaze lowered.
"...I don't need this," she whispered.
Not the bond.
Not him.
Not any of it.
Across the room-
Kael stood by the window.
Silent.
Still.
His eyes distant.
His mind-
Anything but.
He could still feel it.
The moment.
The contact.
The way the pain had eased-
When she touched him.
His jaw tightened.
"...This is a problem."
Not because it hurt.
But because it didn't.
Because for a brief second-
It felt....
Stable.
Controlled.
And that-
Was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Without warning-
The mark flickered again.
Softer this time.
But enough.
Lyra tensed slightly.
Kael noticed.
↓
Of course he did.
A pause.
Then-
Reluctantly-
He spoke.
"Stay where you are."
Lyra frowned.
"...What?"
Kael didn't look at her.
"Don't move," he said. "It reacts when we distance too much."
Lyra stared at him.
Suspicious.
Annoyed.
"...You're telling me I have to stay near you now?"
Kael's expression hardened.
"I'm telling you to stop making this worse."
Silence.
Heavy.
Frustrating.
Then-
Lyra exhaled sharply.
"Fine."
Not agreement.
Not acceptance.
Just-
Temporary tolerance.
She didn't move.
Neither did he.
And for the first time-
They stayed in the same room.
Not because they wanted to.
But because something else demanded it.