The tavern was louder than Kael expected.
Not rowdy, not exactly—but alive. Conversations overlapped, mugs clinked together, and somewhere near the fireplace a group of adventurers argued loudly about dungeon loot.
It was the kind of place where nobody paid attention unless someone started a fight.
Which, Kael thought, was exactly what they needed right now.
He pushed open the door and stepped inside first, glancing around quickly.
The room smelled like roasted meat, spilled ale, and smoke from the hearth.
Normal.
After the insanity of the alley fight, the normalcy felt strange.
"Over there," Lyra said quietly behind him.
She nodded toward a table in the back corner.
Kael didn't argue. The three of them crossed the room and sat down quickly.
For a moment none of them spoke.
Kael leaned back in the wooden chair and exhaled slowly.
"I need a drink."
Lyria laughed immediately.
"You nearly died and that's your first thought?"
"My second thought is that I'm still confused about everything that just happened."
Lyra raised a hand as a waitress passed by.
"Three ales, please."
The waitress nodded and disappeared.
Lyria rested her elbows on the table, studying Kael with obvious curiosity.
"You're handling this surprisingly well."
"I'm not handling it well," Kael said. "I'm just too confused to panic yet."
She grinned.
"That's fair."
The drinks arrived quickly.
Kael grabbed his mug and took a long drink before speaking again.
Cold ale washed away some of the tension sitting in his chest.
"Alright," he said, setting the mug down.
"Let's start with the obvious question."
Lyria tilted her head.
"Which obvious question?"
"Why were three bounty hunters trying to capture you in the middle of the city?"
The twins exchanged a glance.
Lyra answered first.
"Our family."
Kael blinked.
"…Your family hired bounty hunters?"
"Several," Lyria added casually.
Kael leaned back slowly.
"That seems… extreme."
"They're nobles," she said.
That explained a lot.
Kael rubbed his forehead.
"Okay. New rule. If nobles are involved, I want a warning before I accidentally become their enemy."
Lyria laughed.
"Too late for that."
Lyra folded her hands calmly on the table.
"The situation is complicated."
"Of course it is."
"Our father controls House Valen," she continued. "A powerful noble family."
Kael pointed toward the alley outside.
"And they sent bounty hunters after their own daughters?"
Lyria shrugged.
"Technically they want us brought home."
"Alive?" Kael asked carefully.
She hesitated.
"…Preferably."
"That's not reassuring."
Lyra continued before Lyria could say anything else.
"Our father believes our magic should serve the family's political ambitions."
Kael frowned.
"And you disagree."
"Yes."
Lyria leaned back in her chair.
"We prefer not being used as bargaining pieces in noble marriage contracts."
Kael grimaced.
"Yeah, that would do it."
The conversation paused while a group of adventurers nearby burst into laughter over something.
Kael stared at the twins for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"So let me get this straight."
He counted on his fingers.
"You're twin elemental mages."
They nodded.
"You ran away from your noble family."
Another nod.
"And now they're sending bounty hunters to drag you back."
Lyria lifted her mug.
"That's the short version."
Kael took another drink.
"Great."
Lyra studied him quietly.
"You regret helping us."
It wasn't a question.
Kael thought about it.
Then he shook his head.
"No."
Lyria raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Really."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Those hunters weren't exactly polite about it. Even if I didn't know your situation, jumping in felt like the right move."
Lyria watched him for a moment longer.
Then she smiled.
"Good answer."
Lyra's gaze softened slightly as well.
"You're surprisingly calm for someone who just formed a magical contract with two strangers."
Kael sighed.
"I'm still trying to process that part."
Lyria perked up immediately.
"Oh right! The bond."
She leaned forward excitedly.
"Let's talk about that."
Kael groaned.
"I knew that was coming."
Lyra rested her chin lightly on one hand.
"Your class is extremely rare."
"So I've heard."
"Bond Lords were known for forming powerful adventuring parties."
Lyria snapped her fingers.
"Legendary ones."
Kael blinked.
"…You're kidding."
Lyra shook her head.
"The bond allows shared mana flow between partners."
Lyria pointed at him.
"Which explains what happened in the alley."
Kael leaned forward again.
"You mean the frozen lightning storm that knocked out three hunters?"
"Yes."
"That was your magic."
Lyria laughed.
"Not exactly."
Lyra nodded thoughtfully.
"Our spells normally interfere with each other."
Kael frowned.
"Elemental conflict?"
"Yes."
"But when you bonded with us," Lyria said, "something stabilized the mana patterns."
Kael slowly began to understand.
"You're saying the bond let your magic combine."
"Exactly."
Lyria grinned widely.
"You're basically a magic amplifier."
Kael rubbed his temples.
"Battery, amplifier… I'm starting to feel like a tool."
She pointed a finger at him.
"You're a very useful tool."
Lyra cleared her throat gently.
Lyria shrugged.
"Hey, I'm complimenting him."
Kael sighed again.
"Alright. Let's assume that's all true."
He leaned forward, lowering his voice.
"What happens now?"
Lyra answered immediately.
"Now we grow stronger."
Kael blinked.
"That sounds ominous."
"The bounty hunters will not stop."
Lyria nodded.
"And if the reward increases, stronger ones will come."
Kael leaned back again.
"Fantastic."
"Which means," Lyra continued calmly, "we need to test the limits of the bond."
Lyria's grin returned instantly.
"Oh I like where this is going."
Kael eyed her suspiciously.
"I don't."
She pointed toward the tavern door.
"Dungeon."
Kael froze.
"You want to go into a dungeon."
"Yes."
"Tonight."
"Maybe tomorrow morning," Lyra said.
Kael looked between them.
"You're serious."
Lyria stretched her arms lazily.
"Dungeons are the fastest way to level up."
Lyra nodded.
"And to learn how our magic interacts."
Kael stared at his drink.
The glowing system messages from earlier flickered faintly in his memory.
Bond.
Shared mana.
Fusion magic.
Part of him was still convinced this was all some elaborate hallucination.
But another part—the strange new instinct growing inside his chest—knew it was real.
He could still feel the twins' presence through the bond.
Their mana.
Their emotions.
Even now the connection pulsed faintly, like a quiet heartbeat.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"You know what?"
Lyria leaned forward eagerly.
"What?"
"Sure."
Lyra blinked.
"You agree?"
Kael nodded.
"If I'm going to be hunted by noble bounty hunters, I might as well learn how this bond thing works first."
Lyria laughed loudly enough that a few nearby patrons glanced over.
"That's the spirit!"
Lyra allowed herself a small smile.
"Then it's settled."
Kael finished his drink.
"When do we start?"
Lyria's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Morning."
Kael stood up and stretched.
"Good."
He paused.
Then looked at both of them carefully.
"You two realize this is probably the start of something ridiculous, right?"
Lyria tilted her head.
"Ridiculous how?"
Kael gestured vaguely between them.
"Runaway twin mages. Rare bond class. Noble family bounty hunters."
He shook his head.
"That sounds like the beginning of a very bad adventure."
Lyria grinned.
"No."
Lightning flickered softly around her fingers.
"That sounds like the beginning of a great one."
Lyra stood beside her sister, calm as ever.
But even she couldn't completely hide the small spark of excitement in her eyes.
Outside the tavern, the night wind stirred quietly through the streets of the city.
Somewhere far beyond the walls, dungeon gates waited in the darkness.
And tomorrow, the three of them would step through one together.