The world shifted around me like a held breath.
I stood still, eyes closed under the dark fabric of my mana blindfold, listening carefully. The ambient sounds of the party filled the air: voices mixing in low hums, the soft tap of shoes on marble, the sharp clink of glasses. I could feel the gentle breeze from the open windows — cool air that mingled with the warmth of the people inside. The soft rustle of fabric brushed against my senses as guests moved about, shifting in waves of mana.
The faint brush of Mother's hand on my arm guided me forward. I breathed in the air around me, sharpening my hearing. There.
A familiar warmth.
Marcus. The low hum of his mana flowed toward me like a steady river, filled with the reassuring weight of his presence. His footsteps were always deliberate, a quiet strength that mirrored the person he was.
"Happy birthday, Lady Annabel," he said, his voice rich with affection.
I smiled, reaching out to him with both hands. His laughter filled the air as he took my hands, gently placing something cool in my palm.
A gift, I realized.
I didn't need to see it to know — it was a chain bracelet, its fine links brushed with warmth from his fingers. "Thank you," I murmured, slipping it into the hidden pocket in my dress.
Beside him, I felt Maria's presence next, soft but radiant. I knew her perfume well — the floral notes of gardenia, delicate but strong. She stepped closer, her gown shifting in the air like a whisper. Maria's voice was kind, as always, as she wished me a happy birthday.
And then there was Evelyn, her tiny presence barely noticeable in the space. I smiled in her direction, letting my mana sense the faint glow of her energy as she stood quietly by her mother's side. The warmth of her little smile brushed against my awareness.
The room hummed with conversation, the air filled with the quiet rustling of clothes and the rise of laughter. But then, the atmosphere shifted. I felt it before I heard it.
A sudden weight in the air, thick and powerful, pressing against the edges of my senses.
His presence was unmistakable.
King Hadrian.
The deep rumble of his mana brushed against the skin of my arms, heavy, almost like heat, but not unpleasant. It spread out in waves, warm and oppressive like the heat from a fire.
Beside him, a massive presence moved. The air vibrated against my skin with the pulse of raw power — a creature that thrummed with ancient, untamed energy.
A beast-bond.
I turned my head slightly, sensing the direction of the king's voice as it boomed across the room, rich and commanding.
"Tonight, we celebrate not only a young woman's birth, but her spirit, her courage, and her future," King Hadrian said. The weight of his words settled like a stone into the ground.
"Annabel valor, may you walk the paths no one else dares tread.
May the flames of your spirit light the way for those who will follow. And may you find that strength and kindness are not opposite forces, but the same power, worn two ways."
His presence swirled around the room, not just a voice but an atmosphere, weaving through the laughter and joy of the crowd.
He raised his glass. "To Lady Annabel."
"To Lady Annabel!" came the echoing chorus, voices lifting together, harmonizing in the warm embrace of the celebration.
As the moment passed, the conversation around me blurred once more. Music lifted from the strings of a distant harp, the soft tones of a flute weaving in and out. Guests moved about the space, the rustle of gowns and the clicking of heels on marble filling the air.
I needed a moment of space, away from the waves of energy and chatter. I slipped quietly to the edge of the hall, following the coolness of the air near the balcony.
For a moment, I let the soft wind caress my face, the faint scent of night blooming jasmine drifting in.
I stood there, breathing in the quiet peace, feeling the world hum around me.
⸻
I hadn't noticed Marcus stepping up beside me until his voice cut through the quiet hum of the night.
"Annabel, I meant to explain something to you about King Hadrian's mana lion," he said, his voice low and warm, like a deep rumble of thunder on the horizon. "The lion he's bonded with is no ordinary creature. It's a rare beast bond — one tied to a magical scroll, a powerful one."
I shifted slightly toward him, my ears straining to catch every word. I could feel the energy of his words, like the gentle pull of a tide.
"The scroll was said to have been lost for centuries," Marcus continued. "It holds the magic of fire — not just a mundane flame, but an ancient, raw magic. That scroll found its way into the hands of King Hadrian's ancestor. It's why the lion bears that fire in its blood. Most beast bonds are natural, tamed in the wild but this one is forged through arcane means."
I nodded, intrigued, absorbing the weight of his words. A beast bond forged through magic, bound by an ancient power. I could feel the strength of it, the raw potential that lay dormant within the lion.
But compared to Lincoln—It all felt so light
⸻
I stood there, lost in the crowd's hum, when suddenly a soft pressure brushed against my shoulder. My heart skipped.
I knew that presence all too well. The familiar pulse of his mana wrapped itself around me, comforting and warm.
"Happy birthday, Annabel," the voice said, his voice sending a rush of emotion through me. The sound of his voice was like a thread, pulling me back to a time I thought I'd never revisit.
Before I could react, I felt his hand on my arm, gentle but sure. I turned toward him, my breath catching in my chest as I took in the familiar feel of his presence.
I couldn't help it. I laughed, a sound that felt foreign yet so comforting. "Julius!" My voice cracked, overwhelmed with happiness. "You came?!"
"I couldn't miss it," he said, his voice teasing, the old familiar warmth wrapping around me like a blanket. "You didn't think I'd let you celebrate without me, did you?"
I reached out, my hands trembling as I found his arm, wrapping myself around him in a tight hug. The rough fabric of his coat brushed against my cheek, and I could feel the remnants of travel in his scent — the earthy dust of a long journey. But underneath it all, there was Julius. The same Julius who had been by my side every day.
His arms wrapped around me in return, his touch solid and comforting. "I've missed you more than you know," he whispered.
"I've missed you too," I replied, my voice soft and unsteady. "I thought I'd never see you again."
"Don't be ridiculous," he laughed, the sound rich and genuine. "I'm here now."
For a moment, the noise of the party, the magic in the air, everything else fell away. It was just Julius and me, standing in the quiet of the world we once shared.
And for a moment, that was enough.
The swell of voices and the oppressive warmth of the crowd became too much.
The mana around me buzzed — a shifting, unpredictable sea. I could hardly breathe through it. I turned, feeling the way the mana in the air slid across my skin, and moved toward where the space thinned, the cooler air near the open balcony. I knew it was rude to leave during the King's toast, but if I stayed surrounded like that much longer, I might've drowned in the noise.
The cool breeze brushed against my face as I stepped into the quieter edge of the hall, near the heavy balcony doors.
I exhaled slowly, letting the textures of the room fall away until I was left with only the vast, open night beyond.
A set of slow, deliberate footsteps approached — armored boots on stone, heavy, but controlled. I stiffened slightly. Even without seeing, I could feel the authority wrapping around him like a cloak.
King Hadrian.
His presence burned steadily like a bonfire, even without the lion beside him.
"Lady Annabel," he said, voice dipping in a way that told me he was amused, not angry. "You slipped away from your own party."
I turned toward the sound of his voice, offering a small bow — I lifted my head toward him respectfully.
"My apologies, Your Majesty," I said, my voice steady. "The crowd was… overwhelming. And I don't really know anyone there besides my family, the nobels really are here to get on Marcus his good side."
He chuckled, the sound like low thunder rolling across a plain. "Understandable. Even the strongest need space to breathe. Especially when they carry a burden meant for kings."
There was a pause, filled only by the faint crackle of the mana in the air between us.
"I look forward to seeing what you will become, Annabel Valor. You are not meant for small places. Remember that."
I felt the weight of his words settle on my shoulders, not heavy, but grounding — like armor being carefully placed piece by piece.
The King chuckles softly. "No need to look so nervous. You've drawn many eyes tonight — some friendly, some… curious." He pauses, then says, "Allow me to introduce my companion."
There's a faint shuffle, the brush of a paw against the marble. I catch the subtle burn of fire magic curling from the great beast at the King's side, the mana clinging to the air around him like mist.
"This is Kaelen," the King says proudly, "my bonded lion. A creature born not of the wild, but of ancient magic — called forth with a scroll older than most nations. A relic, much like the ones you're beginning to discover yourself, I hear."
The warmth in his voice is unmistakable — a ruler proud of his bond, but not boastful. I bow slightly, even if I cannot see the lion. I can feel him: steady, powerful, coiled like a flame waiting for command.
"Thank you for honoring me by bringing him," I say sincerely
"I know we only just met this evening but your presence is powerful Annabel , more powerful than most high rank mages. I guess the story Marcus told weren't lies."
With a slight dip of his head that I only sensed through the shift of air and mana around him, he turned and strode back into the crowd, his presence receding like the tide.
I stood there for a while longer, feeling the cool breath of the night sweep in through the open balcony doors, calming the buzzing in my skin. The King's words lingered, a quiet pressure at the back of my mind, but I let them settle for now. I just needed… a moment to be myself again.
The faint brush of quick, light steps caught my attention — someone weaving carefully through the edge of the hall, trying not to draw notice. But I recognized the rhythm of those steps even before the familiar mana signature reached me, steady and bright like a newly-forged blade.
A hand tapped my shoulder — careful, almost hesitant.
I turned with a smile already tugging at my lips. "Julius."
He let out a breathless laugh, half relief, half disbelief. "You knew it was me?"
"Of course I did," I said, grinning. "You fire practically heats up my skin."
I could feel him shift awkwardly, his presence crackling with a nervous excitement that warmed the air around him. Before he could pull away, I reached out and slipped my arm around his waist in a swift, casual motion, pulling him into a quick side-hug.
Across the hall, a few voices hissed into sudden, scandalized silence. The weight of dozens of stares fell on us like sleet.
Julius froze so hard he might as well have turned to stone. "A-Annabel!" he whispered urgently, trying to squirm free. "Y-you can't just — you're too young for that!"
I laughed under my breath, tilting my head innocently. "What? You're my friend. It's allowed."
He groaned low in his throat. "Not when half the noble houses are staring like you just proposed marriage!"
I tightened my arm just a little, feeling wickedly satisfied at the shifting, uncomfortable mana currents rippling from the nobles nearby. "Good. Let them stare."
Julius muttered something very un-prince-like in Elvish under his breath, but didn't pull away. I could feel the tips of his ears burning, even through the thick air.
"You're terrible," he grumbled.
"And you're still standing here," I teased.
He snorted quietly. "Only because if I run, they'll think you rejected me and I'll have to fight half the room to defend my honor."
"Then stay," I said, feeling my smile stretch wide and genuine. "You're where you belong."
For a few long moments, we simply stood there, two outsiders holding a space no one else could touch.
Eventually, though, Julius straightened. "Alright, alright," he said with mock sternness. "I'll go find somewhere less deadly to lurk."
He hesitated — then, very carefully, pressed his forehead lightly against mine, a brief and wordless blessing, before slipping away into the crowd once more.
I lingered by the balcony, the cool night wind threading through my hair, when another set of footsteps approached — heavier than Julius's, more familiar in their confident, easy rhythm.
"Escaping your own party again, little storm?" Ramon's voice rumbled, full of teasing warmth.
I turned toward him instinctively, sensing his steady presence leaning against the balcony railing. His mana felt like old oak roots — grounded, strong, impossible to shake.
"I needed some air," I said lightly.
"I figured." I could hear the smirk in his voice. "You looked like you were about to start throwing people."
I snorted. "Tempting."
He bumped his shoulder against mine gently. "You scared all the nobles half to death, you know. Hugging an elf like that."
"Good," I said without hesitation. "They needed it."
Ramon barked a short laugh. "Fair enough."
We stood together in comfortable silence for a moment, letting the tension of the party drift away.
Then he said, "So. Training grounds."
A flutter of excitement stirred in my chest. "Finally," I breathed.
"You ready?" he asked, a little more serious now.
I tilted my head at him. "You mean, am I ready to beat you?"
He scoffed. "Dream on, shrimp. Eight years of experience says otherwise."
"Eight years of experience and still no style," I teased. "I'll look cooler doing it."
"You'll look cooler getting your butt kicked, maybe."
I laughed, feeling the easy rhythm between us — the give and take, the teasing that meant more than any heavy promise.
"You seen the new gear yet?" I asked, leaning on the railing beside him.
He hummed thoughtfully. "I picked up a new set of plate armor. Heavy, mean, and basically indestructible. You?"
I smiled. "You'll see. I got something… special."
He whistled low. "That sounds ominous."
"You should be scared," I said sweetly.
He ruffled my hair with a rough hand. "You're still my little sister. Gear or no gear, I'll always kick your—"
I ducked away laughing before he could finish.
The night stretched wide around us, full of promise.
Tomorrow, everything would change.
But for now, for this moment, I was home
The hall had emptied almost completely by the time I wandered back inside.
The air was lighter now, the leftover mana little more than a whisper. Somewhere, a servant cleared away empty glasses, the faint clink of crystal against silver breaking the hush.
I found Julius again — near one of the side doors, half-hidden in the shadow of a column.
He straightened when he heard me approach.
"You leaving?" I asked softly.
He nodded. "Soon. The elf kingdom's getting antsy without me."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "You came anyway."
"Of course I did," he said, his voice warm. "Like I'd miss your birthday."
I hesitated, then reached out — finding his hand, threading my fingers through his for a heartbeat.
"Thank you," I said.
He squeezed once, warm and steady. "Always, tiny terror."
The old nickname wrapped tight around my ribs, soft and aching.
There was a slight shift in the air as Julius took a small step back, his posture stiffening for a moment.
"Dr. Lorre and Kate wanted to be here," he said quietly, his voice softer now. "But they couldn't make it. Dr. Lorre's been caught up in more research than she's willing to admit. Kate… Well, she's still trying to figure out how to stop a particular pot of trouble from boiling over back home."
I felt my fingers tighten around his hand, an instinctual ache at hearing their names, at the unspoken sadness in his voice.
"I'm sorry," I murmured, my voice small. "I wish they could've been here…"
"Me too," Julius said. "They would've loved this.
I nodded, trying to push away the soft wave of longing that swept over me. The three of us had been inseparable for so long. It felt strange, in a way, to not have them nearby, even if they were here in spirit.
He let go of my hand first, pulling his hood up, the familiar rustle of his cloak brushing softly against the stone floor. There was a finality in the motion, a sense of the journey ahead.
"Don't get soft while I'm gone," he teased lightly, his smile still in his voice. "Next time I see you, I expect a real fight."
"You'll regret saying that," I said, grinning despite myself.
"I'm counting on it," he said, laughing under his breath.
Then, just like that, he was gone — vanishing into the night. A flicker of mana, a promise not yet broken.
And I stood there for a moment longer, feeling the future rushing toward me.