The morning mist clung to the forest, wrapping the trees in a pale veil. Birds chirped above, breaking the silence with their carefree melodies. Andy stirred awake first, stretching his sore muscles from a night on the cold ground.
He glanced at Nia, still sleeping under her cloak, her long hair spilling over the pillow of bundled cloth. For a moment, the sight disarmed him—peaceful, almost fragile. But he shook his head quickly. Focus. We're partners because of this System. Nothing else.
Needing to refresh himself, Andy took his sword and wandered toward the nearby river. The sound of rushing water was a relief after days of travel. He stripped off his tunic, then his trousers, and stepped into the cool stream. The chill made him gasp, but soon it felt invigorating.
Unbeknownst to him, Nia had woken moments later. Finding his cloak on the ground and hearing splashing nearby, she followed the sound.
"Andy? Are you—" she stopped mid-sentence.
Her eyes widened. Andy was standing in the water, bare to the waist, droplets running down his toned body. The early sunlight danced across his skin. When he turned slightly, she realized—he wasn't wearing anything.
Her face flushed crimson. "Kyaaah!"
Andy jerked around. "Nia?! W-Wait—!"
She spun on her heel, covering her face. "Idiot! Who takes a bath in the open without warning?!"
The System's metallic chime interrupted them both.
[Bond increased: 7% → 15%]
[Explanation: Embarrassing or intimate interactions accelerate bond growth.]
[Reward Condition: Andy gains a random enhancement every +5%. Nia gains one every +10%.]
Andy froze, still standing waist-deep in the stream. "You've got to be kidding me..."
"Don't say a word!" Nia snapped, her ears still red as she hurried back to camp.
Later that day, they pushed deeper into the forest. The bond notification still lingered awkwardly between them, neither daring to mention it.
Suddenly, the undergrowth rustled. A pack of Wild Fang Wolves emerged, growling, their eyes glinting with hunger.
Andy drew his swords—the new pair the System had granted him earlier: one blazing with fire, the other shimmering with water. The contrast was striking, two opposing elements balanced in his grip.
Nia raised her staff, her voice steady despite the tension. "I'll cover your blind spots. Don't let them surround us!"
The wolves lunged. Andy slashed one with the fire blade, flames erupting on impact. Another darted in, only to be frozen mid-leap as his water blade released a chilling wave. Sparks and steam mingled around him as he fought, every strike flowing smoother than the last.
Nia's magic bolts pierced through the wolves that tried to flank, her aim sharp and unyielding. For the first time, they fought as if they truly shared one rhythm.
When the last wolf fell, silence returned. Both were panting, sweat dripping down their brows.
Then the System chimed again.
[Bond increased: 15% → 20%]
[Reward unlocked: Andy – "Elemental Flow" passive. Weapon attributes can now harmonize for combined attacks.]
Andy blinked at the notification, then grinned faintly. "Looks like our teamwork wasn't half bad."
Nia looked away, hiding the faint smile tugging at her lips. "Don't get used to it."
Yet, in her heart, she felt it too—the invisible thread between them growing stronger, whether she liked it or not.
Ending bond level: 20%