The champion moved first.
Not fast
decisive.
His blade came down with full intent.
Kael met it head-on.
Steel crashed against steel.
The shock ran through Kael's arms, into his shoulders, into his bones.
Lira felt it instantly.
Pain.
Pressure.
She pushed calm through the bond.
Hold.
Kael held.
The champion twisted his wrist and tried to break Kael's guard.
"Yield," he said.
"This ends cleaner if you do."
Kael didn't answer.
He stepped in closer instead.
Shadow wrapped tighter around his blade.
The champion's eyes narrowed.
"You don't fear me," he said.
Kael pushed forward.
Mud sprayed as the champion slid back half a step.
Lira's light surged—not wild, not bright
focused.
The bond aligned perfectly.
The champion struck again, faster this time.
Kael blocked once.
Twice.
The third strike slipped past
Lira shouted, "Kael—!"
Too late.
The blade cut across Kael's side.
Blood mixed with rain.
Lira felt it like it happened to her.
She cried out and stumbled.
Kael felt her pain and almost lost balance
Almost.
He forced himself upright.
I'm still standing, his intent flowed.
The champion stepped back, surprised.
"You should be down."
Kael stepped forward instead.
Lira steadied her breathing.
She placed both hands forward.
Light didn't explode.
It wrapped.
Around Kael.
Around the wound.
The pain dulled.
The bleeding slowed.
The champion stared.
"You heal him… while fighting?"
The Seer shouted through the storm:
"This is the Heartbind!
You can't break it by force!"
The champion's expression hardened.
"Then I'll break the girl."
He shifted his stance
toward Lira.
Kael reacted instantly.
Shadow surged.
He moved faster than before.
Faster than the champion expected.
Kael slammed into him, shoulder-first.
They crashed into the mud together.
The champion rolled and came up swinging.
Kael blocked, twisted, and struck
Not to kill.
To disarm.
Steel flew from the champion's hand and landed in the mud.
Thunder cracked overhead.
They froze.
The champion looked down at his empty hand.
Then up at Kael.
Rain poured between them.
Slowly, the champion straightened.
"So this is what he fears."
Lira stood behind Kael, light still flowing.
The bond burned steady and strong.
The champion took a step back.
Then another.
"I will report this," he said.
"Exactly as it happened."
The Seer stiffened.
"You're letting them go?"
The champion nodded once.
"Yes."
He looked directly at Kael.
"You didn't break command," he said.
"You replaced it."
He turned away.
"Next time… he won't send me."
The storm began to ease.
Rain softened.
The champion walked down the road and disappeared into the gray.
Silence followed.
Lira rushed to Kael and grabbed him.
"You're bleeding"
He shook his head slightly.
It's shallow.
She pressed her forehead to his chest, shaking.
"I felt it… everything…"
He held her gently.
And you held me.
The Seer approached, eyes serious.
"This changes things," he said.
"The heir now knows one truth."
Lira looked up.
"What truth?"
The Seer answered:
"That separating you by force…
will only make you stronger."
The road ahead was quiet again.
But the war
had truly begun.