Arcane Bonds

The water shimmered under the soft glow of the sun as a young girl knelt by the river's edge. Her delicate hands scooped the cool liquid into a flask. The surrounding trees, with their towering trunks and emerald leaves, swayed gently in the magic-laden wind, their ancient roots intertwining in a web of life that had existed for centuries. Every rustle of leaves, every ripple in the water, was alive with arcane energy.

Joy, her short hair glinting in the sunlight, hurried back from the riverbank, her flask filled. Her small feet darted across the uneven terrain, past fallen trees and moss-covered rocks, until she reached the ancient ruins. The once-grand structure, now reduced to rubble, was overgrown with vines and debris, a testament to its long-forgotten past. But nestled within the ruins was a small, makeshift house—a fragile refuge amidst the chaos.

Inside the dilapidated structure, Eden knelt beside her sister, Eve. Sweat beaded on Eden’s forehead, her hands trembling from exhaustion as she applied the last of her healing magic to Eve's back. A deep wound, still glowing faintly with sinister red energy, marred Eve’s flesh—a reminder of the attack from Seraphina Ravencroft.

Eden had tried everything, but the foreign energy had resisted her efforts, blocking the treatment that Eden was applying, leaving her sister in agony. Hours of struggle and mana expenditure had left Eden drained. Yet, finally, she had managed to close the wound, though the strange energy still lingered. Eve lay unconscious, her body feverish and her breathing labored.

Joy pushed open the creaking wooden door, stepping inside quietly. Eden, her face pale and eyes heavy with fatigue, glanced at her younger sister and gave a weak smile.

Eden wipes her brow, her face pale and strained weary eyes and says, "I’m sorry... I tried everything. That cursed red energy—it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. But at least the bleeding has stopped."

Joy’s heart clenched, but she forced herself to stay calm. “Is it better now? Is she going to be okay?”

Eden nodded, though her weariness was evident. "She’s stable for now, but that energy… it’s not normal, not even in the oldest healing tomes."

Joy stepped forward, placing the flask of water beside Eden. “What about outside?” Eden asked, leaning against the crumbling wall. "Any signs of danger?"

Joy shook her head. “Everything is quiet. No beasts, no creatures. I made it to the river and back without any problems.”

Eden nodded, though the lines of worry didn’t leave her face. “Good. Now, I need to rest,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ve spent almost all my mana.”

Joy knelt beside her elder sister and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of Eve,” she promised.

As Eden drifted into a much-needed slumber, Joy sat beside her two sisters, her mind racing. She gazed at Eve, whose face was twisted in a mix of pain and feverish dreams. The strange red energy still clung to her back, a reminder of the darkness they had faced.

Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Drakhelm, the grand hall of the royal palace was cold, the atmosphere tense as Lord Thorne Emberheart and Lady Mira stood before the throne. King Aldric of Drakhelm, his imposing figure draped in royal robes, sat with a stern expression, his advisors flanking him. Among them was Seraphina Ravencroft, her composed demeanor betraying none of the chaos she had wrought.

“Seraphina Ravencroft invaded our home, endangered my daughters, and I will not let this go unpunished. As marshal of the kingdom, I demand that she be brought to justice!” Thorne’s voice echoes with authority, but there is a tension in the air, a rising storm in his heart.

But the king, flanked by advisors and nobles who have aligned themselves with Seraphina, remains unmoved. “Lord Emberheart, this is a serious accusation, but I have yet to see evidence proving Lady Ravencroft’s guilt. She is a noble of this court, and there are many who vouch for her innocence.”

Mira clenches her fists at the king’s dismissal, her eyes flashing with anger. “We saw her, Your Majesty! My daughters are missing, we don’t even know where they are, is that not enough?

The king remains firm, his gaze cold. “It is not a question of belief, Lady Mira. This court will not act on mere allegations.

”Mira’s eyes flashed with fury. “How can you—”

Thorne’s voice cut through the hall, his anger palpable. “You’re a fool, Aldric. You let a viper coil around your throne, and you don’t even see it. She’s more powerful than any of you realize, and if you continue to protect her, you’ll live to regret it.”

King Aldric’s eyes narrowed. “Watch your tone, Lord Emberheart.”

Thorne turns to leave, but the king's voice rises, laced with anger. “You dare insult me in my own court?”

Thorne stepped forward, his towering figure casting a long shadow across the hall. “I will not stand by while you let this kingdom rot from within.” He turned to leave, but the king’s voice rang out once more, filled with anger.

“If you walk out of this hall, Thorne Emberheart, you do so without your title and without your command in the army.”

Thorne turned back, his eyes burning with defiance. “I don’t need your army,” he said, his voice steady and cold. “And as for titles… I have no use for them either, my daughters are the most important thing in my life. But know this, Aldric—Seraphina is not what she seems. You are a fool if you cannot see the danger she poses.”

With a final look of contempt, Thorne and Mira turned and strode from the hall. As they reached the massive doors, the king, in a fit of rage, unleashed a powerful spell aimed directly at Thorne. But with a mere flick of his wand, Thorne deflected the blast—sending it hurtling toward Seraphina.

The entire hall gasped as Seraphina raised a wand, effortlessly blocking the king’s powerful attack. The moment hung heavy with shock. Thorne's voice echoed as he spoke one final time before leaving.

“Look at how strong she is, Aldric. Stronger than you can imagine. She’s old, crafty, and dangerous. The Ravencrofts and the dark sects of Noctara are no doubt working together, and you’re too blind to see it. Don’t be surprised when your kingdom falls because of your own ignorance.”

And with that, Thorne and Mira disappeared, leaving the royal court in stunned silence.

Back in the Forest Ruins...

Eve groaned in pain, her eyes fluttering open as Eden inspected her wounds, especially the one on her back. When Eden’s mana brushed the wound, Eve let out a sharp cry, her body convulsing in agony.

“Hold on, Eve,” Eden whispered, her voice strained as she tried to control her mana. “I need to make sure it’s not getting worse.”

Joy, standing by Eve’s side, gripped her sister’s hand tightly, her small face filled with worry. When Eden finished her examination, Joy took a deep breath, gathering her courage. She clapped her hands softly, drawing the attention of both sisters.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” Joy began, her voice steady but serious. “I’ve kept a huge secret from everyone. It’s time to tell you the truth.”

Eden and Eve exchanged glances, their brows furrowed in confusion, but they nodded, giving Joy their full attention.

The tension in the room is palpable as she prepares to share a secret she had kept hidden for so long. Her voice trembles for a moment before she steadies herself and begins.

"I'm not who you think I am," she says, locking eyes with her sisters, who are caught off guard but say nothing. "I'm a reincarnation—from another world."

Eve and Eden stare at her in disbelief, their mouths slightly parted. The silence stretches before Eden finds her voice. "What… are you talking about?"

Joy takes a deep breath, looking down at her hands as she speaks. "I come from a world called Earth. It’s a place where there’s no magic—at least, not like what we know here. But we still had traces of ancient mystic techniques and secrets. We used technology instead of mana, and we had machines, weapons that could harness the laws of physics to unleash incredible destructive power. But all of those things, they’re useless here."

The sisters are silent, trying to absorb the weight of Joy's confession. "In my world," Joy continues, "there were a few people who knew techniques far more dangerous than anything most could imagine. Cultivation methods that allowed them to ascend beyond normal humanity, and ways to train the body, the soul, and energy itself. One of them… was a close friend of mine."

Eve's eyes narrow, her analytical mind already spinning as she processes this. "And this friend…?"

"We both reincarnated here," Joy says, her voice lower now. "I don't know where he is, but I know he made sure that I would keep my memories intact. And that’s the problem. His methods, the knowledge he possessed—they’re dangerous, Eve. More dangerous than anything we’ve encountered so far. His family had symbols, codes, and techniques hidden from ordinary people. And when I saw Seraphina's token... I recognized it. It belongs to his family."

Eden, who had been quiet, finally speaks up. "Wait, you’re saying Seraphina is connected to your friend’s family?"

"Yes, also no," Joy says gravely. "Hear my thoughts for a second and why she’s connected and why she’s not connected with him. The way she blocked my lightning spell without a mana shield, the way she moves, and even her clothing—it’s not from Astraxion. It’s from him. That’s the way of his teachings but she doesn't know the manners or the way of his family customs. She also uses the wand to attack, which is something he won’t allow to someone from his family."

Eve asks, "So why are you telling us this now?"

Joy looks at her sisters, her face deadly serious. "Because Seraphina might be after you, Eve. And if she has learned even a fraction of what my friend knew, you’re in danger. Actually all of us."

As if to emphasize her point, Joy raises her hand and points at a nearby rock. With two fingers, she sends a thin beam of electricity that carves a strange symbol.

"This symbol," Joy says, pointing at her handiwork, "represents blood. It's the mark of his family. His techniques don’t rely on wands or external catalysts like we use here." She gestures at Eden’s wand. "They use their bodies as the foundation for magic. It’s why Seraphina could take my spell without flinching. She’s using these techniques."

Eve and Eden stare at the symbol, their minds reeling as they begin to realize the full weight of Joy's revelations. "So… she’s stronger than we thought," Eden mutters, her voice laced with concern.

"And if she’s targeting Eve," Joy adds, "we don’t have time to waste. My friend’s methods, if mastered, can make someone nearly unstoppable. Seraphina has them. She’s a threat not just to us, but to everyone in Drakhelm."

Eve, her body still weak but her mind sharp, nodded in agreement. “Then we need to stop her,” she said, her voice filled with resolve despite the pain. “We can’t let her continue unchecked.”

Eden’s face hardened with determination. “We will. But first, we need to find out exactly what she’s planning.”

A cold chill swept through the room as Joy finished telling her secret and what she knows. The weight of her revelation hung in the air like an invisible storm.