Combat Training – One Flame, Two Wills
Seina stood before them on the cliffside ring of scorched stone. The sky shimmered with spirit heat.
> "You've touched each other's minds. Now, learn to fight as one."
Kien conjured spears of ice from the ground—Christian responded with flame, forming blades from vapor and steam.
But they clashed instead of flowing. Mismatched timing. Missed instincts.
> "No!" Seina's voice cracked like thunder. "You're still fighting alone."
So she threw them into a simulated war field—echoes of the Flameborn past. Burning cities. Howling spirits.
There, together, they learned.
Christian burned high to draw attacks—Kien cooled the space around him, freezing enemies mid-motion.
Kien blinked through enemy lines—Christian appeared behind her, flame-walking on reflex.
Each move became instinct. They were still two bodies.
But their spirits danced like one.
---
The Broken Echo – Scorch-Eater's Proxy
That night, as they sat exhausted by the cliff, something tore through the temple wards.
Not a beast.
Not a spirit.
But a hollow, twisted bonded pair—two once-lovers melded into one burning husk.
It screamed with many voices. It bled flame and sorrow.
> "We… failed…"
> "You… will too…"
Christian leapt to defend Kien—Kien pushed their bond wide open.
Together, they unleashed a synchronized strike:
"Frostbrand Spiral."
"Ashfire Lance."
Two opposing forces twisted into one overwhelming pulse of spirit energy.
The creature shattered.
But before it vanished, it smiled with charred lips.
> "He's coming…"
> "He's almost… here…"
---
Closing – Seina's Warning
Seina stepped from the shadows, her face grave.
> "That… was one of the first pairs I ever trained."
> "The Scorch-Eater doesn't just kill the bonded. It feeds on them. Remakes them."
She looked to the horizon.
> "You have one chance left."
> "Master this bond… or be devoured by it."
---
To Be Continued…