The air thickened.
It wasn't spiritual.
It wasn't magical.
It was heavy.
Like the moment before a heart breaks.
Or the moment before it remembers why it mattered.
Owain's hand hovered over Kanah's cheek, trembling hard enough she felt the vibration against her skin.
His pupils thinned.
His breath shortened.
His shoulders tensed as if bracing for a blow only he could feel.
"Owain," Kanah whispered, hands gently gripping his forearms, "breathe. Stay with me."
His voice came out strained.
"I—can't—"
Then his body jerked.
Kanah gasped.
Gerrin cursed.
Yllas lunged forward.
Helion swore loudly.
A beam of amber light shot from Owain's chest, spiraling upward like a flame pulled toward the sky.
Kanah stumbled backward as the force pushed her, but Owain's hands shot out and grabbed her waist—instinct overriding everything, even agony.
He pulled her into him, panting against her ear.
His voice was torn.
"Don't—leave—me—"
Kanah's throat tightened.
"I won't. I'm right here."
The light intensified, pulsing like a second heartbeat.
Owain's.
The Heart Trial had begun.
Memory Strikes Like Lightning
Owain released a choked sound—
not a growl
not a scream
something between a sob and a gasp.
His knees buckled.
Kanah held him with everything she had — even as her spine strained under his weight.
"Owain—what do you see—?"
"I—I—"
He clutched her arms as if she were the only solid thing in a world dissolving around him.
And then—
The first memory hit.
Owain gasped.
His body convulsed once.
His grip tightened.
Kanah's breath froze.
"What is it—what do you remember—?"
Owain shuddered.
"A cliff.
A frozen lake.
You fell—
I—jumped—after you—"
Kanah's heart slammed painfully.
That memory.
The ice fissure.
The cold water.
Owain hauling her into his arms, shaking violently, whispering:
"Don't you ever scare me like that again."
Kanah's lips parted.
"Yes… Owain, yes—keep going—"
Another surge hit him.
Owain roared in pain, dropping to one knee and dragging Kanah down with him because he refused to let go.
Gerrin stepped forward.
"This is the Heart Trial," he whispered urgently.
"Each memory strikes like a physical blow. The more he loved her, the harder it hits."
Helion grimaced.
"He loved her that much?"
Yllas shot him a sharp look.
"Of course he did."
The Second Memory Breaks Him
Owain's chest heaved.
Amber light flashed again—
brighter
wilder
sharper.
Kanah gripped his face, forcing him to look at her.
"Owain—look at me—look at me—"
He did.
And then—
"Owain," Kanah breathed,
"what is it this time?"
His voice cracked open.
"The night you told me…
you didn't want to die again."
Kanah froze.
Her hands trembled.
Owain's memories continued tumbling out of him:
"You were shaking.
You couldn't stop crying.
I held you—"
His breath broke.
"—I wrapped around you until you slept."
Kanah covered her mouth, tears spilling.
He remembered.
He remembered her fear.
Her shaking.
Her voice asking:
"Why did I survive if I don't know how to keep living?"
Owain rasped:
"I told you—
I'd keep you alive.
As long as I was breathing."
Kanah sobbed.
"That was real too," she whispered.
"It really happened."
Owain's fingers slid up her arms.
Unconsciously.
Instinctively.
"I remember…" he whispered.
"I remember your heartbeat against mine."
Another blow hit him—
Owain's entire body spasmed.
Kanah screamed, "OWAIN—!!"
He fell forward.
She caught his face between her hands.
"Owain—look at me—stay here—stay with me—"
His breath shook violently.
"I—don't—want—
to forget—
any of it—
any of you—"
The amber light surged again.
Pain tore across his expression.
Gerrin shouted, "He's nearing the threshold—!!"
Kanah panicked.
"Owain, stop—stop—your body can't handle more—"
Owain met her gaze.
And whispered:
"I won't stop until I get you back."
Kanah's heart shattered open.
"Owain—please—!!"
But it was too late.
The Most Important Memory Returns
The third surge hit him.
Hard.
Owain convulsed violently.
Kanah screamed his name until her throat burned.
Yllas ran forward.
Helion gritted his teeth.
Gerrin pressed his palm to the ground, channeling stabilizing runes to keep Owain's heart from stopping.
The light swallowed him.
And then—
Owain inhaled sharply.
His eyes widened.
Amber washed over his irises, bright and wild.
Kanah froze.
"Owain…?"
His voice came out broken.
Barely audible.
"…I remember our first kiss."
Kanah's hands shook so badly she almost dropped him.
Owain lowered his head, breath trembling.
"You were scared.
You told me you didn't know how.
I told you—
you didn't have to."
Kanah's lip trembled violently.
Owain continued, voice softening:
"We talked for hours.
You told me about your world.
About the fire in your apartment.
About how loneliness hurts worse than dying."
Kanah sobbed.
Owain reached up with trembling fingers.
"And I kissed you.
Slow."
He swallowed.
"You were shaking the whole time."
Kanah pressed her forehead to his.
"I was terrified," she whispered, "you'd pull away."
Owain's hand gripped the back of her neck.
"I told you I'd never pull away."
Kanah cried harder.
Owain closed his eyes, breath breaking.
"And then you whispered that no one had ever held you like that."
She choked.
"Owain—"
"I said I wanted to hold you again."
Kanah cupped his jaw, sobbing uncontrollably.
"You did—You said that—You really did—"
Owain breathed in through his teeth.
"And I meant it."
Kanah's heart nearly collapsed.
"Owain—"
He opened his eyes.
They were soft.
Intense.
Full of memory and instinct intertwined.
Amber, glowing.
"Kanah," he whispered,
"I'm getting you back."
Kanah cried into his chest.
"Then take me back," she whispered brokenly.
"Please… take me back."
Owain exhaled sharply.
"I will."
But the Heart Trial Isn't Done
Suddenly—
Owain coughed blood.
Kanah froze.
"OWAIN—!!"
He collapsed forward.
Kanah barely caught him, her knees hitting the snow hard.
"Owain!! OWAIN—stay awake—look at me—please—!!"
Helion ran over.
Gerrin dropped beside them, chanting rapidly.
Yllas steadied the magic around them.
Owain groaned.
"What—what's happening—?"
Gerrin gritted his teeth.
"The Heart Trial pulled too many memories too fast. If he takes one more—his heart might stop."
Kanah screamed,
"Then STOP THE TRIAL—!! STOP IT—!!"
The First King ignored her.
His voice boomed:
"One memory remains."
Kanah's entire body shook.
"No—NO—he can't—his heart can't—STOP—STOP IT—!!"
Owain coughed again, blood dripping down his chin.
He reached for Kanah blindly.
His fingers wrapped around her wrist.
Kanah sobbed harder.
"Owain—please—don't—don't push—don't take another—"
Owain lifted his head.
His eyes locked onto hers.
Soft.
Determined.
In love.
"I have to."
Kanah shook violently.
"Why!?"
Owain brushed her cheek with trembling fingers.
"Because the last memory is the one that matters the most."
Kanah shook her head desperately.
"No—NO—Owain—you already have enough—please—please don't—"
He leaned close.
His forehead pressed to hers.
Warm.
Shaking.
Real.
"Kanah," he whispered,
"I think the last memory…
is when I told you I loved you."
Kanah gasped as if stabbed.
Her heart thrashed inside her chest.
"Owain—please—DON'T—your heart—"
Owain smiled weakly.
"Told you… I'd keep you alive… even if it kills me."
Kanah sobbed:
"I can't lose you—
not again—
NOT AGAIN—"
Owain whispered:
"You won't."
And then—
The final memory hit.
Owain screamed.
His body arched violently.
The sigil flared.
The ground cracked.
And Kanah felt the bond—
slam back into place—
half-complete—
burning through both of them.
Owain collapsed forward.
Kanah caught him.
His breath was faint.
But he whispered:
"Kanah…"
She held him tighter.
"Yes—Owain—I'm here—I'm here—!!"
His voice was barely audible.
"I remember."
Kanah froze.
Tears spilled onto his face.
"You… do…?"
He nodded weakly.
"I remember everything."
Kanah sobbed against him.
Owain whispered into her neck:
"I love you."
Kanah shattered in his arms.
But the First King wasn't done.
His voice sliced through the moment:
"The Heart Trial is complete.
Prepare for the final trial —
The Promise."