The bells of Everhart rang at dawn, their peals echoing across the valley. From the villages and townships surrounding the great estate, people poured into the streets. Merchants wheeled carts of fruit, spiced meats, and fresh bread. Banners snapped in the wind, indigo and silver rippling under the sun. Children carried wooden swords painted with Everhart's crescent-and-blade sigil, running and laughing between the legs of armored guards.
It was the day of the Festival—Everhart's pride, when both commoner and noble gathered to celebrate legacy, honor, and the bond that tied future leaders to their people.
But to Andy, it felt like a trial.
He walked beside Nia through the marble corridors of the estate, every step echoing too loud. His black doublet fit too tightly, embroidered with crimson thread that glimmered like veins of fire. The Dual Dragonblades hung heavy at his waist, though he prayed he wouldn't need them.
Beside him, Nia was resplendent. Her lavender and silver gown caught the light as if woven from moonbeams, her staff gleaming with a jewel that pulsed faintly in rhythm with her own calm aura. Yet even her beauty couldn't drown the whispers.
"An outsider, walking as if he belongs."
"A peasant consort with dragon's blood? Unstable."
"And yet the Circle chose them…"
Andy's jaw tightened, nails digging into his palm. But then—softly, discreetly—Nia's hand brushed his. He glanced at her, and she gave the faintest nod. A reminder: You're not alone.
The corridor opened, and the plaza came into view.
It was vast, carved from pale stone and surrounded by tiered balconies draped in silk. Thousands filled the seats. Nobles sat in finery, jewels glittering on collars and crowns, while commoners clustered at the outer edges, pressing forward eagerly. Food stalls lined the streets beyond, the air thick with the scent of roasted lamb, honeyed bread, and spiced wine. Musicians played on platforms, their lutes and horns weaving a lively melody that only half-masked the tension.
At the center of it all stood Lord Everhart. Cloaked in silver, his presence was a storm contained in human form. His voice carried, deep and commanding.
"Today, Everhart does not look to the past alone. We look to the future. And the future must be proven—not behind closed doors, but before the eyes of Everhart itself. Let all here witness the bond of my daughter Nia, and the man she has chosen."
The crowd erupted, cheers and jeers mingling. Andy's chest tightened, but Nia stepped forward with poise.
She lifted her staff high. Silver light poured forth, cascading across the plaza like a second sunrise. Gasps rose as nobles shielded their eyes and children clapped with delight. Her aura washed over the crowd, steady and pure.
Then Andy stepped into the circle. Slowly, deliberately, he drew his blades. One flared with fire, the other shimmered with water. He crossed them, and steam spiraled upward, curling into the sky like a banner. Awe rippled across the commoners—but the nobles stiffened, murmurs turning sharp.
Nia extended her hand. Andy took it. Their fingers locked tight.
The System stirred.
System Event: Public Synchronization detected.
Condition: Audience emotional resonance engaged.
New Feature Unlocked – Public Resonance.
Effect: Bond aura can influence morale, trust, and perception among witnesses.
The bond flared. Silver light and crimson fire intertwined, rising above them in a great helix. The warmth spread outward, rolling across the crowd like a tide.
And the people felt it.
A weary farmer blinked as his chest eased, warmth filling him like the glow of hearthfire. A young boy clasped his mother's hand tighter, smiling as if he'd glimpsed a story come to life. Even some nobles leaned forward despite themselves, breath caught in their throats.
For a heartbeat, doubt faltered.
But then gold cut through the silver-crimson glow.
Kayla stepped from the noble stands, descending the steps as if she floated. Her gown was woven with threads of gold that caught the sun until she seemed to glow herself. Her smile was gentle, her voice melodic, carrying across the plaza without strain.
"Marvelous, isn't it?" she said sweetly. "So dazzling. So powerful. And yet… do you not feel it? That fire burns too hot. That bond cuts too deep. Can Everhart survive such recklessness? Such danger disguised as love?"
The nobles stirred instantly, murmurs spreading like wildfire.
"She's right—too much power in one bond is unstable."
"A dragonblooded peasant? He'll destroy us all."
"And what happens when that fire turns on her?"
Andy's chest clenched. His fists tightened at his sides. Kayla's golden eyes found his, her smile soft—almost sympathetic—but her gaze sharp as a dagger.
But then Nia's voice rose, clear as a bell, cutting through the whispers.
"This bond is not reckless," she declared, her staff blazing. Silver arcs burst outward, brighter, stronger, reaching even the farthest corners of the plaza. Her voice rang with both authority and warmth. "This bond is trust. It is fire tempered by light, and light strengthened by fire. Together, we are not Everhart's danger—we are Everhart's future!"
The crowd froze. Her words struck deeper than Kayla's honeyed venom. Commoners cheered, voices rising. Even some nobles hesitated, torn between fear and awe.
The System chimed.
System Update: Public Resonance stabilized.
Bond Progression: 167% → 170%.
The aura surged brighter, enveloping the plaza in warmth. For a moment, it was as if dawn itself had descended.
Lord Everhart's eyes narrowed slightly. His expression remained cold, unreadable—but deep in his gaze flickered something sharp. Not approval, not disapproval—something closer to calculation.
Kayla's smile never wavered. But her golden eyes glimmered with restrained fury.
The festival had only just begun. And already, the battlefield had shifted.
The distant murmur of the festival faded into little more than a whisper. Lanterns swayed overhead, their golden glow painting soft halos across the marble garden. A breeze stirred the jasmine vines clinging to the archway, their fragrance wrapping the air in delicate sweetness.
Andy leaned back against the stone bench, his arm still around Nia. She rested her head on his shoulder, her hair spilling like silver silk across his chest. For a while, neither spoke. The quiet wasn't awkward—it was the kind of silence that felt whole, as though words were unnecessary.
At last, Andy broke it, his voice low, almost hesitant. "Nia… after everything—the fighting, the trials, the whispers—what do you see for us? I mean, when all this is done. If it ever ends."
She shifted slightly, turning her face so her cheek pressed against his collarbone. Her eyes half-closed, her voice soft. "Peace," she said simply. "I see you and me… somewhere far from politics, far from battles. A little home. Maybe by the sea, or near the mountains."
Andy blinked, caught off guard. "You've thought about this?"
She chuckled faintly, her fingers tracing idle patterns on the back of his hand. "Of course I have. I don't fight just to survive, Andy. I fight because I want something worth surviving for." She tilted her head up, silver eyes catching his. "With you."
His throat tightened, words catching. He let out a shaky laugh. "Gods… I don't deserve you."
Her lips curved in a small, knowing smile. "Then work to deserve me. That's all I ask."
He swallowed, his heart pounding too hard. The thought came unbidden, the words slipping out before he could stop them. "And if someday… I gave you more than words? A vow. A promise. A ring."
Nia's breath hitched. Her cheeks warmed, though her eyes softened. "Then I would say yes before you finished asking."
Andy stared at her, stunned into silence. His chest felt too tight, too full, as though fire itself was surging not to burn, but to live. He leaned down, unable to hold back, and kissed her.
This time it wasn't tentative. It was steady, lingering, carrying all the words he couldn't say. She returned it without hesitation, her hand rising to cup his jaw, her thumb brushing across his skin. The kiss deepened, unhurried yet unbreakable, until finally they parted, breathless and close.
Nia rested her forehead against his, her voice a whisper. "We're not there yet, Andy. But we're on the path. One step, one bond, one promise at a time."
He closed his eyes, smiling faintly. "Then I'll walk it with you, wherever it leads."
The System's voice hummed softly in their minds.
System Reminder: Emotional stability increased. Bond Progression stable at 170%.
Andy laughed quietly, forehead still touching hers. "Even the System's keeping count."
Nia giggled, the sound bright against the hush of the garden. "Let it. When the day comes, it will have to recognize us too."
They stayed like that under the swaying lanterns, the festival nothing more than a distant echo. For once, there was no fire, no illusions, no shadows. Just a warrior and the noblewoman who had chosen him, holding each other close, dreaming of the future.
And in that moment, both believed it was possible.
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