A blur of motion whooshed across the lavish suite, and before either Adora or I could react, we found ourselves in the midst of an aerial tackle that sent all three of us sprawling in a heap on the floor. The newcomer, the striking figure with bright, fiery hair and a luminous aura, cried out in glee as she wrapped us both in a crushing embrace. The force of her enthusiasm all but knocked the breath from my lungs, and Adora, caught by surprise, let out a muffled yelp as we tumbled over.

I managed to free myself just enough to prop an elbow on the floor, but the aspected woman continued to cling to Adora as though they were long-lost sisters reunited after years apart. She cradled Adora against her chest, the latter's cheeks flushing in a mix of embarrassment and sheer lack of oxygen.

"Adora, I'm so proud of you!" the aspected girl babbled, her voice dancing with excitement. "Why didn't you tell me you'd found us a man?" She squeezed tighter, sending a fresh wave of color across Adora's face. "We could've arranged something so much sooner!"

Adora's attempt at a retort, "Let go of me, you !" vanished into the confines of the woman's arms, which nearly smothered her. The newcomer then twisted her head to look at me, her bright eyes brimming with curiosity and delight.

"Oh, not just any man," she went on, her gaze skimming over my flamboyant "tavern dandy" attire. "That cute boy from the bar. And already in costume, so you're into a little roleplay, hmm?" She gave a knowing laugh, but something else snagged her attention before she could tease me further.

Her eyes widened, the pulse of mana in the air shifting as realization dawned on her. She abruptly released Adora, who gasped in relief, catching precious lungfuls of air. "You two—" the aspected woman's voice hit a higher pitch, quivering with excitement. "You're resonating, aren't you? Adora, you've found true love all on your own!" Joy lit her features, making her almost glow. "I was starting to worry about you, the way you never wanted to join us for worship. Oh, if only you'd told me sooner you'd found your true love, we could have made room for him in all our plans!"

Adora's face had turned redder than I'd ever seen, a mix of mortification and sheer bewilderment. "Stop—he's not my—" she began, but the aspected girl cut her off with an airy wave, floating toward me like a leaf caught on a breeze.

She halted inches from my face, bright eyes gleaming with unabashed wonder. "I'm Koria'li'na'calmi'nor," she announced, enunciating each syllable as though it were a prized title. "Adora's First Companion. I'm thrilled to meet my Lady's fated soulmate!" A broad grin lit her face. "Truly, this must be a Yuletide miracle, blessed by the All-Mother herself."

"Kori, wait—" Adora tried to intervene, her voice cracking with urgency.

Before she could elaborate, someone shouted from the other side of the door, her voice echoing over the moans that had once filled the space. "What the fuck is going on in there?"

Kori spun midair, cupping her hands around her mouth. "Rheala, you have to come meet our husband-to-be! Adora's found her soulmate, and he's perfect!"

That declaration seemed to strike Adora like a lightning bolt. She stood there, eyes darting between Kori and me, her expression an entire spectrum of disbelief. "Kori, what are you—" she started, then clamped her mouth shut, uncertain how to proceed.

A second aspected woman entered or, rather, stumbled into the room her legs wobbling. She had skin the color of pale purple, giving her an almost ethereal glow, a toned figure that might have made any sculpture envious. Her lean muscles stood out against her smooth complexion, and her legs alone could have made a wolf pack howl. She rubbed her eyes and, as though still emerging from the haze of her earlier exertions, and surveyed the scene with sharp, calculating suspicion.

Kori wasted no time, zipping over to the newcomer in that same floaty, near-weightless manner. She looped her arms around the second woman's waist, eliciting a startled grunt. "Rheala, look!" Kori exclaimed, speaking at a pace that threatened to blur her words together. "Adora did it. She found the love of her life, her chosen partner! She's resonating with him, and it's glorious. A blessing from the All-Mother!"

The lavender-skinned woman Rheala appeared torn between exasperation and outright confusion. "Would someone please fill me in?" she demanded, brushing aside a wisp of pale violet hair that had fallen into her eyes. "First, I feel a power pulse strong enough to distract us from our fun. Then Kori goes flying out the door, and now I see you two—" she gestured at Adora and me "—playing dress up in the middle of our bathroom? What in all the cursed names of Death and Taxes is happening?"

Kori pranced in place, hovering more than stepping, her expression dancing with uncontained excitement. "Rheala, meet our new fiancé!" she exclaimed. "Isn't he handsome? Adora found him all by herself and—"

"Stop, please," Adora cut in, her voice laced with both desperation and mortification. She looked like she might faint at any second. "It's not what you think! We—we're not engaged. This is all a huge misunderstanding."

But Kori wasn't listening. She had leaped back into the air, swirling around Adora and me as though we were the center of a grand festival. It was then that I took the time to really look at them both Kori with her radiant orange aura, Rheala with her near-purple complexion. Together, they were strikingly familiar. Pieces fell into place as I recalled whispered tales of two legendary aspected Champions: the Twins Stars of Life and Death, the Blessed of Heaven and the Cursed of Hell, Guardians and Companions to a very specific royal princess.

Adora tried to reclaim some semblance of authority, clearing her throat and pulling her shoulders back. "Kori, Rheala," she said, "please just calm down for a second. This is all moving way too fast."

Rheala crossed her arms, fixing Adora with a level stare. "You know I don't like repeating myself," she warned, though there was a flicker of concern beneath her bristling demeanor.

Kori, meanwhile, clapped her hands as if she couldn't contain her glee. "Don't you see, Rheala? Adora's found the man who resonates with her soul. The man, Rheala. Isn't that what we'd all hoped for?" She spun in midair, shooting me a winsome smile. "You must be delighted, too."

I swallowed, painfully aware of my outlandish costume and the chaotic swirl of events. "I, um, well," I began, uncertain how to phrase my confusion without insulting Adora or her companions. Everything felt like a stage production that had leaped off the script. Why had I even allowed myself to be in this situation? I avoided getting tangled up in any relationship for this very reason. What was wrong with me?

Adora raked a hand through her hair, clearly at a loss. "Kori, Rheala, both of you just slowed down. This is John, and yes, we shared mana, but that doesn't mean—"

In the high ceiling above us, the mana lamps flickered, casting rippling shadows across the ornate columns. I had the distinct sense that the entire suite was leaning in, as though the very walls wanted to witness whatever revelation was about to unfold. Rheala arched an eyebrow, stepping forward in a graceful, confident stride. She placed a hand on Adora's shoulder, a mixture of concern and curiosity shining in her gaze.

"Is he really your soulmate?" she asked softly, her voice holding a trace of reluctance, as though admitting defeat in an argument she and Adora might have had many times before.

Adora opened her mouth, then closed it, eyes darting to me for support. When words finally came, they were laden with exasperation and truth. "I don't know what he is," she confessed, "but he's… kind. And we resonated, yes, but it doesn't necessarily mean—"

Kori's beaming grin faltered for a fraction of a second, but she quickly forced it back into place. "Come on, Adora. This is amazing news! You shouldn't hide it from us."

Rheala's sharp gaze traveled between me and Adora, measuring the tension in the air. Then her demeanor softened, if only a little. "We'll figure this out," she said at length, turning toward Kori. "But first, let's not overwhelm him. Can't you see they're both about to implode from embarrassment?"

Kori paused, hugging her own arms as if to contain her overflowing excitement. "Okay," she whispered, floating down until her feet touched the floor with a soft tap. "Sorry. I might've gotten a little carried away. It's just… I've waited so long for Adora to find her love."

The hush that fell among us was almost jarring. The lingering afterglow of mana from Adora's earlier resonance still shimmered in the air, a faint aura weaving around the four of us. I found myself catching Adora's eye, offering a small, uncertain smile. She looked relieved that, at least for the moment, the chaos had diminished, if only to a more manageable level.

"All right," Adora said, taking a deeper breath and straightening her posture. "One step at a time. Kori, Rheala this is… John." She gestured at me, her voice gentler now. "We barely know each other, but he got transported here by accident. We were both stuck in here while you two were going at it, and one thing led to another. That's it. So please, calm down."

Kori nodded, though she continued to bounce on her toes, brimming with leftover energy. Rheala merely offered a measured nod, as though inwardly vowing to unravel the mysteries surrounding me later.

Adora glanced at me again, and I sensed her silent apology for the madness her companions had just unleashed. Despite the confusion, I could still feel the echoes of our shared mana humming along my skin, reminding me that even in the middle of this uproar, there was something very real and undeniably rare between us.

A sudden notion seemed to flash in Adora's mind. Her eyes widened, and she swung her gaze toward Kori with a new intensity. "Kori...are you telling me that all those times you begged me to come and 'worship' with you, you were actually doing...that?" She motioned toward the bedroom door, her tone brimming with accusation and astonishment.

Kori blinked, her fiery hair swaying around her cheeks as she tilted her head in genuine confusion. "Yes, obviously. How else was I supposed to honor the All-Mother?" She threw her arms out in an exuberant shrug. "All acts of love and pleasure fall within Her divine domain. I'm her avatar on Erda. I'm unsure what else you might have thought I was doing."

"I assumed you were praying at an altar or maybe meditating quietly like a normal person!" Adora retorted, a hint of exasperation creeping into her voice. "You never said anything specific, just, 'Come worship with me, Adora! It'll be fun!' and I was too busy or too tired, so I kept putting it off." Her face crumpled in realization, and she pressed a hand to her forehead. "I'm starting to think I should have asked a few more questions."

Kori's brow furrowed, glancing between Adora and Rheala, then back at me, as if seeking support in her befuddlement. "But why would I hide it? The All-Mother blesses any bond that fosters love, joy, and growth. She is the Aspect of Life. You know that's the core of Her teachings. Why else would I ask you to 'worship' with us if not to share that type of intimacy? It isn't exactly a secret, Adora."

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Adora shook her head in a frustrated sigh. "Fine. I guess I can't completely blame you for...being you," she conceded, though an undercurrent of annoyance lingered in her tone. She shot Kori a half-hearted scowl before turning her attention to Rheala. "But you," she continued, pointing an accusatory finger, "I expected better from you. How long have you been part of this...arrangement? And why didn't you tell me?"

Rheala's posture tensed, but her expression remained guardedly calm. Her near-purple complexion caught the lamplight, highlighting the toned definition of her arms as she folded them across her chest. "I honestly assumed you already knew," she said at length, shrugging with a touch of irony. "It's not like we were being sneaky. Besides, we're Companions, remember? People in our position are traditionally supposed to...share each other's company. Did you think we all slept in the same chamber and bed purely to save money on living quarters?"

Adora's cheeks flushed with a mixture of incredulity and embarrassment. She pivoted toward me, her eyes pleading for some kind of solidarity or reassurance. Perhaps she hoped I'd intervene and declare my own confusion. Instead, I offered a slight, sympathetic shrug, letting her know she wasn't alone in her bafflement.

Rheala continued, her gaze straying to me, then flicking back to Adora. "Look, it's not like we throw a festival every night," she remarked dryly, "but it's not uncommon for us to...enjoy one another's company when the mood strikes. I'm Deathborn I can't be with any besides you two or sisters in the order. And to be honest, Adora, you've often been so busy or so distracted that we assumed you were simply uninterested." A faint tinge of regret colored her eyes. "We never wanted to push."

Hugging her own arms, Adora pressed her lips together in an effort to keep her composure. "Well, it's not that I'm opposed to the idea of worship in general," she said, "I just didn't realize you were actually, you know—" She gestured vaguely toward the bedroom, her voice trailing off. "And that's all I'll say on the matter."

Kori, whose effervescent mood had dimmed to a gentle simmer, managed a small grin. "Oh, Adora. I didn't mean to upset you. You know how important the All-Mother's rites are to me. I wouldn't have hidden it if I'd known you were this clueless." Her eyes darted to me, then back to Adora. "I mean, you've found yourself a wonderful man. Isn't this proof enough that you, too, believe in the joys of the flesh and the blessings of divine pleasure?"

Flustered, Adora shot her a glare. "That's not the point, Kori! This entire conversation is becoming far more public than I'd like." She sighed, raking her hand through her hair. "Anyway, maybe it's better we just acknowledge it and move on."

Rheala shifted her weight, glancing to me with a thoughtful expression. "Look, Adora's always been...private. It's part of why she never joined us. But we truly thought you were aware on some level." She paused, lips curving into a wry smile. "We sure weren't subtle about all the 'worship' going on at night. You had to have heard us eventually...right?"

Adora blushed furiously, shooting a mortified glance my way as if to say: Help me out here. I understood her discomfort; the whole situation felt uncomfortably intimate, especially with me standing in the middle of it in my outlandish costume. Yet, somehow, I found a small corner of empathy for Kori and Rheala, too. They weren't trying to mock Adora they just lived in a world where open physical expression was the norm and mistakenly believed Adora was on board.

Kori piped up, her tone gentler now. "I'm sorry, Adora. I can be a bit...enthusiastic, and maybe I didn't think about how you'd feel being out of the loop." Her gaze flicked to me, measuring my reaction. "And, well, we didn't expect you to suddenly bring home a sexy man you resonant with. That's a huge deal."

Rheala allowed a slight chuckle. "I can't deny I'm a bit curious," she admitted, glancing at me. "Our little Adora, all grown up, forging a resonance bond. Who'd have guessed it?" She smirked faintly, then let out a resigned sigh. "But if this is what it looks like, then I guess congratulations are in order. Even if it did catch us off guard."

Adora bristled at that, her eyes narrowing. "I never said I was forging any kind of permanent bond," she muttered, crossing her arms. "We're still figuring out what exactly this is." A fleeting look of uncertainty flickered across her face.

Kori nodded, floating closer again, though her earlier exuberance had softened to a subdued warmth. "Okay, I promise not to shout it from the rooftops, at least until you both decide what you want." She gave Adora a quick, impulsive hug, carefully avoiding the near-stranglehold she had delivered earlier. "I'm really happy for you, though. Whatever happens, it's clear you found love tonight."

In the midst of this exchange, I stood quietly, doing my best not to draw unnecessary attention to myself inching towards the teleportation handle. The gentle flicker of mana lamps overhead cast dancing shadows on the gilded walls. The entire scenario felt simultaneously chaotic and oddly intimate, like stepping into a family reunion halfway through the main course, unsure of the unspoken tensions and deep-rooted dynamics at play. One that I had no intention to stick around and see the ending. Why had I taken her hand? I knew better than not to get involved, this was a disature of epic proportions.

Finally, Rheala let out a long, steadying breath and turned her gaze toward me. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry if we came on strong. We didn't mean to hijack your evening," she said in a tone that danced between apology and playful sarcasm. "But if our dear Adora has stumbled upon something or someone that resonates with her, then I'll support her." Her grin contained a mix of amusement and warning. "Just know that we'll be watching."

I froze, mid-step, as the Aspected of Death and Taxes fixed me with a knowing stare, no doubt aware of exactly what I had been planning.

"And don't worry," Kori chimed in, nodding emphatically. "We can keep secrets if needed, take care of any pesky sisters or mother, bury any exes." She paused, drifting a few inches off the ground, looking me directly into my eyes. "But I'll be honest: I don't know what I would do if someone went and broke your heart, Adora. It's not every day you find true love, the one who can make your soul sing."

Adora placed a hand over her eyes, exasperated but still smiling. "Let's table that death threats, please. I think we've reached our quota for the night." She sidled up to me, offering a small, apologetic smile that I met with one of my own.

With the tension easing, at least marginally, Kori and Rheala exchanged looks, then gave Adora a nod of affirmation, an unspoken promise to respect her wishes.

I, meanwhile, inwardly wondered if I'd ever see a more unpredictable or overwhelming confluence of events. Just a short while ago, I'd been in a ridiculous costume, planning to serve drinks and maybe earn a bit of extra coin after being assaulted and meeting a friend who was obsessed with me. And now, I was standing in the palace's most opulent bathroom, entangled with Princess Adora and her two Aspected Companions, after just reaching the third stage and resonating with her.

A sudden, hollow ache settled in my chest as the realization struck. This was all her fault, wasn't it? She was the Chosen of Fate, after all. She had said something about Fate handpicking me from her dreams? My thoughts spiraled, and I couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that every moment of my life every tragedy, every indignity might have been orchestrated by some cosmic puppeteer to land me in this very position. A part of me wanted to scream that this was nothing but a cruel joke: all that pain, my improbable reincarnation just so I could end up as someone's "fated lover"?

And then there was Maeriel.

A chill slithered through my gut, and my heart pounded in my ears at the thought of my self-proclaimed mother. What in the would she do once the news reached her ears? You don't earn the moniker "the Bloodsoaked" by being patient and measured. If she discovered that I'd gotten tangled up with the Chosen of Fate, if she so much as suspected I was stumbling toward a destiny crafted by the very hand of cosmic forces she despised, her reaction could be disastrous.

And that was without even factoring in the trio now standing before me. Adora and her two fiercely loyal Companions, all dedicated to wiping out the last vestiges of High Elven influence. What would they do if they learned I was connected to Maeriel one of the most infamous High Elves the world had ever known?

My breath hitched as the flicker of lamps cast shadows dancing on the gilded walls. What will become of me, I wondered, if they discover the truth about my adoptive mother? Adora's bright gaze, Kori's buoyant aura, Rheala's calculating intensity none of them had any idea who Maeriel was, or what she was capable of. But they would find out, inevitably. And when they do…

I was totally and utterly fucked.

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Codex

Companions Report Returned Marked Redo by Smeele Maisnuff Stephanie Madox

So, once upon a time, Alexandria the Great, basically the baddest bitch to ever live, decided to stomp across half the planet just to rescue her main squeeze from the evil clutches of the Dragon Empress, from the Zodiacs or whatever. After her globe-trotting asskicking trip, Alexandria was like, 'Gotta keep my boo safe,' so she started a girl gang called the Companions. This squad was all about being fierce fighters, nerd supreme, genius planners, and dusty old book hoarders. Their job? Keep the kingdom chill and the royal couple safe from drama.

As time zipped by, this whole 'have a posse' thing became the hottest trend. Nobles were fed up with fighting over who gets the crown and who has to share a hubby with their blood sisters yeah, that was a thing. So, they decided to get their heirs their own crews of VIP daughters from other bigwig families. It was like, 'You scratch my back with your daughter, and I'll scratch yours with mine.' They shared everything: power, fortunes, each other and yes, husbands (lucky girls!). This whole buddy system spiraled into a fancy network called the Circles of Companionships, where everyone was linked up like a medieval social network.

This system evolved into what's now known as the sisterhoods of choice. What the Aspects intended for gals you know. Groups of women teaming up to marry a dude like an adventuring party going permanent. Unlike those Eastern Erda folks with their family clan, incest loving weirdos. Western Erda knows the buzz is all about sisterhoods made up of your crew. Thanks to Alexandria's big brain move, political alliances were a breeze, and everyone mostly got along in their Companionships setups. Pretty slick, right?