Morning Tension — The Spark Misfires
Morning unfolded slowly over Lumina City, the sky painted in soft gold and pale rose. Lyria arrived early to the training deck, hoping the quiet would steady her spark. But the moment she closed her eyes and centered her breathing…
The Link Spark twitched.
A sharp, hot pulse shot through her chest, forcing her to gasp. She stumbled, gripping the railing, breath shaking. The spark wasn't listening. It was pushing — like a heartbeat out of rhythm.
Not now… please… not now...
She pressed her palm over her heart. The spark flickered again, almost irritated.
Then—
"Lyria?"
She turned sharply. Kairo stood behind her, concern flickering across his controlled expression.
"You're breathing too fast," he said. "Is it your spark?"
She hesitated, then nodded once.
"It's been acting strange since dawn," she whispered. "Like it's hearing something I can't."
Kairo stepped closer, tone softening. "Link Sparks react to disturbances before others do. But you're not losing control — you're just overwhelmed."
"I'm trying," she said quietly. "But it doesn't feel like mine right now."
His voice gentled even more. "Then we'll get it back under control. Together."
Her spark pulsed — softer this time.
---
Training Intensifies — And Lyria Breaks
The drones today were larger, faster, unpredictable — but Lyria tried to steady herself. She raised her hands, golden threads weaving outward.
But halfway through the drill…
Her spark surged.
Too big. Too fast. Too hot.
"Lyria—" Kairo warned.
"I've got it—!"
She didn't.
The threads snapped violently, golden light cracking across the air like lightning. A shockwave rippled outward, throwing three drones off-course and slamming Lyria backward.
Kairo caught her arm before she hit the ground.
"Lyria, stop. You're forcing it."
"I'm not— it —it just— it won't listen!"
Her spark pulsed hard again, like a warning and a cry at the same time. Lyria's breath came sharp and uneven at the same time.
Kairo took a slow breath. "Look at me,lyria."
She met his eyes — steady, calm, grounding.
"Your spark responds to connection," he said. "Not pressure. Let it feel you. Not your fear."
She swallowed, nodding shakily. "Okay… I'll try."
They reset the formation.
But the spark kept trembling. And deep down, she knew something was wrong — something more than fear.
---
After the Drone Explosion — Her Spark Panics
When the unstable drone exploded and Kairo shielded her, the spark reacted violently.
Not in attack.
Not in fear.
In instinct.
It flared bright gold — too bright — spiraling outward like it wanted to protect him, not her.
Like it sensed danger he hadn't noticed.
It nearly lashed out.
"Lyria— pull it back!" Kairo said sharply.
"I'm trying—!"
But the spark wasn't listening.
Her hands shook as light crawled across her skin, unpredictable, wild. Kairo gripped her shoulders firmly — not harsh, but grounding.
"Lyria. Breathe. Look at me."
His voice cut through the chaos like a thread of clarity.
Slowly, painfully, the spark dimmed.
For a moment Lyria felt small, fragile, ashamed. "Why can't I control it?"
Kairo's voice gentled. "Because it's reacting to something very deep."
"What?"
"The Pulse."
Her breath caught.
And everything changed.
---
The Rift Wraith Fight — Her Spark Reacts Wrong
During the battle with the Rift Wraith, her spark should have helped stabilize the field.
But it didn't.
At first, it flickered wildly, overwhelmed by the wraith's fractured energy. Threads snapped. Her hands shook. Her breath faltered.
"Kairo, I can't— I can't hold it!"
"Yes, you can," he said, voice firm. "You don't need to control the spark. You need to reach it."
"I'm trying— but—"
"Lyria. Listen. It reacts to emotions. Start with what's real."
Fear was real.
Confusion was real.
But so was the faint warmth she felt every time Kairo stood beside her.
She steadied her breath, reached inward — not to force the spark, but to touch it.
Please… I need you.
And the spark finally responded.
Her threads stabilized, anchoring the wraith long enough for Kairo to disperse it.
The moment it vanished, Lyria collapsed to her knees, breath shaking. Sweat clung to her skin. Her spark dimmed weakly, exhausted from the fight.
Kairo knelt beside her instantly.
"You did it," he said softly.
She shook her head. "No… I barely held on."
"Barely holding on still counts."
Her throat tightened unexpectedly. She didn't want to break down. Not here. Not now.
But his steady presence made it hard not to.
---
The Instructors' Reaction — Pressure Intensifies
The instructors whispered as they examined the aftermath.
"Unstable spark resonance…"
"Link Sparks were banned for a reason…"
"She nearly lost control…"
"She could be dangerous if the Pulse reaches her again…"
Lyria felt each word like a stone.
Kairo stepped slightly in front of her — barely noticeable, but protective.
"She handled herself," he said coldly. "Don't talk about her like she isn't here."
But the looks didn't fade.
And Lyria's spark dimmed even further.
---
Evening Breakdown — And Kairo Helps Her Regain Control
Later, when Lyria sat on the rooftop alone, the spark trembled again — weaker now, but still unstable. She pressed a hand to her chest, fighting tears.
"Why don't you listen to me?" she whispered. "Why do you feel like you're slipping away?"
A soft breeze shifted.
Kairo was there.
"You're not slipping," he said quietly. "You're overwhelmed."
"I almost hurt someone today," she whispered.
"You also saved the city from a Rift Wraith."
She blinked hard. "Kairo… what if I can't control this spark? What if it turns me into something I don't want to be?"
He sat beside her and didn't look away.
"Then we'll learn to control it together," he said simply. "You're not alone. Not in any of this."
Her spark pulsed gently—like a small, fragile breath.
For the first time all day, it didn't feel wild.
Or scared.
Or distant.
It felt… connected.
---
The Final Warning — Her Spark Overreacts Again
But just when peace settled in—
Her spark flared.
Violent. Sharp. Frightened.
Lyria gasped and grabbed Kairo's arm. "Kairo— something's— something's wrong—"
He felt the shift instantly. "Your spark— it's reacting again?"
"No… it's warning me."
A cold presence moved in the shadows.
Her spark thrashed wildly, screaming danger through her chest.
Kairo shifted into a defensive stance, Sky Blade energy forming at his fingertips.
"Where?" he whispered.
Lyria's spark pulsed once, like a heartbeat pointing the way.
Her voice trembled.
"There. Something's watching us."
Not human.
Not friendly.
Not done.
The struggle was only beginning.