It was a sterile, vibrating silence. I stood in the corner, my fingers white-knuckled around the strap of my bag. Every time the floor indicator beeped, my heart did a little jolt against my ribs. I could still taste the salt on my tongue. I could still feel the phantom weight of Seraphina’s hair between my fingers. I was terrified that Hana could smell her on me—that the scent of crushed peppermint and spent mana was radiating off my skin like a neon sign.
Hana didn't say a word. She just leaned against the mirrored wall, her eyes fixed on the sliding doors. She looked calm. Sleepy, even.
The doors slid open with a soft chime. Hana stepped out first, catching the heavy glass door of the lobby and holding it open for me. We stepped out into the night air, the sudden chill of the city hitting me like a splash of cold water. The street was mostly empty, the towering skyscrapers of the guild district casting long, jagged shadows across the asphalt.
We started walking away from the Ashen Tower, our footsteps echoing in a messy, uneven rhythm.
"Elara," Hana said, her voice cutting through the quiet.
I nearly jumped out of my skin. "Yeah?"
"I’m a little hungry," she said, looking over at me with a tilt of her head. "Wanna grab a bite? I feel like I haven't eaten in three years. Which, I guess, is technically true for real food."
I exhaled, the tension in my shoulders dropping an inch. "Yeah. Okay. I could eat."
We found a 24/7 convenience store two blocks away. It was a bright, fluorescent island in the middle of the dark street. The air inside smelled like plastic, cleaning supplies, and MSG. We grabbed two bowls of instant spicy noodles and a couple of cold Cokes.
We took our food to the plastic tables outside. The night was quiet, the only sound the distant hum of a passing hover-taxi and the rhythmic clicking of a faulty streetlamp nearby.
I pulled the plastic tab off my noodles, the steam rising in a spicy, humid cloud. I focused on the food, watching the red broth swirl around the yellow curls of the noodles. I didn't want to look up. I didn't want to see if there was a question in Hana’s eyes.
"So..." Hana started.
I straightened up instantly. My heart did a frantic lap. Was she awake? Did she hear the moans? The wet sounds of the chair? I gripped my plastic fork like it was a weapon.
"That kiss," she said.
I looked away immediately, my face heating up so fast it felt like a physical burn. I took a deep breath, trying to force the air into my lungs. The guilt was a thick, heavy sludge in my throat.
Hana let out a soft chuckle. "Don't worry about it too much, Elara. I’m just curious. It was... intense."
"It's just... my skill," I said, the lie coming out smoother than I expected. I kept my eyes on my soda can, tracing the condensation with my thumb. "It's called Symbiotic Bond. It's an F-Rank—well, I guess it’s higher now—support skill. It lets me take some things and give some things. In the basement, I gave you some of my life force in return for your mana. It’s a survival mechanism. That’s just how it is."
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Hana nodded, slurping her noodles with a quiet efficiency. "I figured it was something like that. I’ve been feeling a lot stronger since then. My mana circuits feel like they’ve been cleaned out with a wire brush. But isn't that risky for you? Giving away life force?"
"It was an emergency," I said, finally taking a bite of my food. The spice hit the back of my throat, a welcome distraction. "The shadow would have killed us both if I didn't boost the spell. I didn't have a choice."
We continued eating in silence. The Coke was cold and sharp against the heat of the broth. Hana finished her bowl first, then went back inside to buy a pack of dried squid and some more water. When she came back out, she handed me a small chocolate bar.
"For the energy," she said.
We left the convenience store and started the walk toward my neighborhood. The city was settling into that deep, midnight hush. The stars were invisible behind the orange glow of the city lights, but the air felt vast and empty.
Hana walked beside me, her hands shoved deep into her trench coat pockets. She didn't look like an A-Rank monster. She just looked like a girl walking home after a long shift. We didn't talk. We just existed in the same space, our shadows stretching and shrinking under the yellow glow of the streetlamps.
We reached the entrance to my neighborhood, the steep, winding hill leading up toward my apartment.
"I can go alone from here," I said, stopping at the base of the incline. "The hotel is in the other direction. You should get some sleep."
I turned to leave, but her voice stopped me.
"Elara."
I turned back. Hana was standing under a flickering streetlamp, her dark hair shadowed against the brick wall behind her. She was smiling. Not the smirk she had during a fight, but something softer. Something real.
"I like girls, you see," she said.
I froze. My brain stalled, the gears grinding to a halt.
"I think women are very beautiful," she continued, her voice firm and steady. "I like them. Always have."
I was unable to respond. My mouth felt dry, my heart hammering a new, confused rhythm. Hana stepped closer, her boots clicking on the pavement. She leaned in, her gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that made the air feel thin.
"Sexually," she added, her voice a low, direct vibration. "Girls like you, Elara."
"W-w-what does that mean?" I stammered, my face turning a fresh shade of red.
"Nothing," Hana said, pulling back with a shrug. "I was just saying. I don't like keeping things a secret. It’s bad for the soul."
She gave me a casual wave and started walking away, her shadow lengthening as she moved toward the main road. "See you tomorrow, Vice-Leader. Try not to overthink it."
I stood there for a long time, watching her disappear into the dark.
I eventually made it back to my room. The apartment felt too quiet, the air still holding the faint scent of the lavender soap Seraphina had used in the bath. I didn't turn on the lights. I just dropped onto my bed, face-first, and grabbed Mr. Cuddles. I hugged the plushie tight, burying my face in the soft wool.
My head was a mess of ice and fire. Seraphina’s lips. Hana’s confession. The blue fractures on the corrupted hunter’s skin.
"Status," I whispered.
A translucent blue window flickered into existence, illuminating the dark room.
[STATUS: ELARA]
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Rank: D
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Level: 18
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Title: [Double-Bonded] [The Architect]
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Status: Mana Frostbite [Shared/Stabilized]
[CORE STATS]
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Strength: 13 -> 15
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Agility: 14 -> 18
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Stamina: 23 -> 28
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Constitution: 15 -> 17
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Mana: 73 -> 105
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Willpower: 23 -> 25
[CORE SKILLS]
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Symbiotic Bond (LV 2)
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Current Bonds:
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Seraphina Vahn (Resonance 100% - EVOLUTION PENDING)
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Hana Ryu (Resonance 25%)
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Active Effects: [Mana Share (Rank E)], [Pain Sharing (Rank E)], [Weaponize (Rank E - SHARED)]
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[NEW] Weaponize (Rank E)
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Description: Shared from Hana Ryu. Allows for the temporary enhancement of objects with mana. Currently limited by Bond Level.
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Ice Magic (Rank E)
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Description: Shared from Seraphina Vahn. Manipulate ice and cold with mana. Efficacy increased by Bond Resonance.
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My eyes focused on the Bond section.
Seraphina Vahn.
Hana Ryu.
Two names. Two lives tied to mine. One was a pending evolution that required... bodily fluids. The other was a girl who had just told me she wanted me while eating convenience store noodles.
I hugged the plushie tighter and let the exhaustion finally pull me under.