Elara's hands still trembled as she stared at the fading glow of the rift node. The moss beneath her was soft, almost comforting, but the adrenaline crash left her knees weak and her mind spinning. Level 5 already? Bondforge Initiate? It sounded like a video game perk, but the ache in her shoulder from the near-miss with the voidling's claws felt all too real. She flexed her fingers, feeling a strange hum in her veins—like the world was alive and whispering back.
The pool's surface had calmed, its fractured reflection now just a memory. Or a hallucination. She wasn't sure which was worse.
A rustle in the underbrush snapped her out of it. Elara whirled, heart leaping back into overdrive. [Veil Whisper] kicked in unbidden, sharpening her senses. Threads of energy wove through the glade, and one stood out: a strong, steady pulse approaching from the east, laced with something metallic, like the tang of blood.
Humanoid. Armed.
She crouched behind the boulder, scanning for a weapon. A jagged rock would have to do. As she gripped it, the system pinged softly.
Stat Allocation Available: +15 Points.
Recommended:Balance for survival. (Strength +3, Agility +5, Vitality +3, Intelligence +2, Perception +1, Will +1)
Accept? Y/N
She mentally jabbed "Y." A warm rush flooded her body—muscles tightening, senses heightening. Strength surged to 7, Agility to 11. Not superhuman, but enough to make her feel less like prey.
The figure emerged from the trees.
Tall, over six feet, with skin the color of polished oak and hair like moonlight on steel—long, braided on one side, falling loose on the other. Pointed ears pierced through the strands, confirming what her Earth-brain screamed: elf. He wore leather armor etched with glowing runes, a curved sword slung at his hip, and a cloak that blended seamlessly with the shadows. But it was his eyes that pinned her in place: storm-gray, sharp as daggers, scanning the glade with predatory focus.
A scar ran from his left temple down to his jaw, old and puckered, glowing faintly with an inner blue light that matched the auroras above.
He spotted the sealed rift first, then her footprints, then her.
"Intruder," he growled, voice low and resonant, like wind through ancient branches. His hand went to his sword hilt. "This glade is forbidden to outsiders. State your purpose or face judgment."
Elara's mouth went dry. [Veil Whisper] fed her fragments: Guardian affinity. Bond potential—high. Threat level: moderate, if provoked.
She slowly stood, hands raised, the rock hidden behind her back. "Wait! I'm not here to cause trouble. I... I just woke up here. Reincarnated, I think? There were these shadow things—voidlings, and I sealed that crack. I'm Elara. Or Elyra now, apparently."
His eyes narrowed, flicking to the faded rift scar on the ground. The glow in his own scar pulsed once, subtly, like a heartbeat. "Reincarnated? A Veilbound? Unlikely. The last one appeared centuries ago." He stepped closer, sword half-drawn. "Prove it."
Before she could respond, the ground trembled. A low hum built in the air, and another rift tore open—not a small node, but a jagged tear five feet wide, spewing mist and darkness. From it slithered a larger beast: a rift spawn, serpentine, with scales of obsidian and eyes like burning coals. It coiled, hissing, its tail lashing out to uproot a sapling.
The elf—Thorne, the name came to her via [Veil Whisper]—cursed in a language that sounded like rustling leaves. "Another breach. The veils weaken daily." He drew his sword entirely, the blade igniting with silver flame.
Elara's system flared.
New Quest: Ally or Perish– Form a temporary alliance to seal the rift. (0/1)
Reward:+2 Levels, Bond Slot Activation.
The spawn struck first, lunging at Thorne with fangs dripping void-ichor. He dodged with elven grace, slashing a gash along its side. Black blood sprayed, sizzling on the moss.
Elara didn't think. She hurled her rock—empowered by her new Strength—at the creature's eye. It connected with a wet crunch, drawing a screech. The spawn whirled on her, tail whipping like a scythe.
"Move!" Thorne shouted, leaping between them. His sword parried the tail, sparks flying as rune met scale.
Elara rolled aside, [Veil Whisper] highlighting weak points: a pulsing core at the base of its neck. "The throat! Aim for the glowing spot!"
Thorne glanced at her, surprise flickering in his eyes, but he nodded. Together, they circled the beast. It struck at him; she flanked, grabbing a fallen branch and jabbing at its flanks to distract. The hum in her veins grew—[Bondforge] stirring.
As Thorne drove his sword toward the core, the spawn coiled around him, squeezing. He grunted, scar glowing brighter, veins bulging.
Elara felt it then: a thread, invisible but tangible, reaching from her chest to his. Instinct took over. She focused, pushing energy along it.
[Bondforge Initiate] Activated.
Temporary Bond Forming: Thorne Silverleaf (Warrior Affinity).
Shared Buff: +2 Strength (Mutual).
Power surged. Thorne's muscles swelled slightly; he roared and shattered the coil with a burst of force. Elara felt the echo—her own Agility spiking as she dashed in, grabbing his discarded cloak and whipping it over the spawn's eyes.
Blinded, it thrashed. Thorne struck true, blade piercing the core. The rift spawn exploded into wisps of shadow, sucked back into the tear.
The rift wavered. Elara, guided by the system, slammed her palm against its edge. "Seal!"
Energy poured from her, amplified by the bond. The tear knit shut with a thunderclap.
Panting, they stood in the aftermath. Thorne sheathed his sword, eyeing her warily. "That was no novice's work. You channeled through me."
Elara nodded, the temporary bond fading but leaving a warmth. "The system—[Bondforge]. It let me link us. Temporarily."
He touched his scar, the glow dimming. "I've heard legends of Veilbound. Souls from other worlds, tethered to mend the veils. But bonds... they come with costs." His voice carried a weight, like old wounds reopening.
Quest Complete: Ally or Perish.
Rewards Applied. Level 7 Achieved!
+10 Stat Points(Auto-allocated: Strength +2, Agility +3, Vitality +2, Will +3).
Bond Slot Unlocked: 1/∞. Offer Permanent Bond? Y/N
She hesitated, then mentally selected "Y." The thread solidified, a gentle tug in her soul.
Permanent Bond Formed: Thorne Silverleaf – Warrior Affinity.
Buff: +3 Strength (Permanent). [Shared Resolve] Unlocked (Lv.1)– Boost ally stats in crisis.
Thorne stiffened, eyes widening. "What have you done?"
"It's a bond," Elara explained quickly. "We share strength. I didn't mean to force it—"
He held up a hand, expression unreadable. "It is done. The veils do not jest." He glanced at the sealed rift. "Eldoria is fracturing. These rifts are portals between realms, but they are unstable. They spawn horrors if left open. As a guardian of this glade, I cannot ignore a Veilbound's arrival."
Elara rubbed her arms as the night's chill set in. "So... you're not going to kill me?"
A ghost of a smile. "Not yet. Come. The Sacred Spring lies ahead. It will confirm your claim."
As they walked, the glade's beauty unfolded: glowing fungi lighting paths, flowers that sang soft melodies. Thorne explained basics—Eldoria as a nexus realm, veils as ancient barriers erected after the Great Unbinding, a war that shattered worlds. "Bonds were weapons then," he said quietly. "And curses."
Elara felt the echo in his words, [Veil Whisper] hinting at hidden pain. His scar pulsed again, faintly.
In the distance, a whisper carried on the wind: "You will fracture us."
She shivered, glancing at Thorne. Did he hear it? His face remained stoic.
They reached a clearing dominated by a crystal spring, waters shimmering with inner light. As Elara approached, the surface rippled unnaturally.
Then the ground shook. Traps—ancient wards—activated, vines bursting from the earth like living chains, coiling toward them.
Thorne drew his sword again. "The glade tests us!"
Elara's system pinged:
New Quest – Endure the Binding Vines.
The vines lashed out, and the real trial began.
[To be continued]