I existed in a place of endless light and shadows, trapped in a blade that held me for what felt like an eternity. Time didn’t matter here. Minutes, days, years—they all blurred together in a still, silent void. Yet even in this state of sleep, I was aware of the world outside. I could sense the hum of energy and the faint sound of voices, muffled but persistent. Something was changing, and deep inside, I felt it stir me, pulling me closer to the surface.
In my dreams, I wandered the halls of Nexus Academy. It wasn’t a memory, not exactly. It was more like my mind had created a version of the academy where I could roam while I slept. I saw the massive towers, the glowing streams of mana that coursed through its halls, and the students who brought it all to life. Some were as young as six, their laughter echoing in the courtyards, while others were older, reaching twenty or more, their focus sharpened by years of study and training. But none of them could see me—at least, not completely.
The younger students often paused mid-play, shivering or glancing over their shoulders, as if they could feel me watching. A few even ran, startled by the faint glow of my form or the whispers that trailed me like an echo. I didn’t mean to scare them, but I couldn’t help it. I was caught between existing and not existing, a dream trying to touch reality.
The older students reacted differently. They brushed off my presence, calling it imagination or the tricks of an exhausted mind. Yet, every so often, one would linger, their eyes narrowing as if they sensed more. Those moments filled me with a fleeting hope—hope that someone might understand what I was. Who I was.
Then came the night I sensed them. Two figures stood near the blade, their voices distinct and clear even through the haze of my slumber. One was calm and curious, the other sharp and commanding. They spoke about the blade—about me. They called it a relic, an artifact, and mentioned the Great Expansion and the disturbances the blade had caused. I wanted to reach out, to tell them I wasn’t just an object, but my voice remained trapped in the void.
The whispers around me grew louder, swirling like a storm. They weren’t part of my dreams anymore; they were real, resonating in the space around the blade. The energy pulsed stronger, pulling at the edges of my awareness. And then, for the first time, I sensed her.
Her presence was unlike anything else—radiant and curious. She leaned closer to the blade, her silver hair catching the light, her piercing gaze filled with something that felt… familiar. She didn’t just study the blade. She felt me. I could sense it.
“Sister Aya,” I thought, though I didn’t know how I knew her name. Her silver hair and sharp eyes mirrored someone from my fractured memories. Aya’s image flickered in my mind, blurring with a figure I thought I’d known—a guide, a protector. Was it truly her? No, it couldn’t be. But in my half-conscious state, I couldn’t tell the difference. The resemblance sparked something deep inside me, a longing for the comfort and guidance Sister Aya had once provided. Whatever this connection was, it felt like the first step toward freedom.
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The whispers reached their peak, a sharp hum that vibrated through the air and tore apart the stillness around me. Light erupted, blinding and all-consuming, shattering the dreams that had held me captive for so long. For the first time in ages, I became aware of my body—or at least, a new version of it.
The blade that had encased me was gone, replaced by something softer, warmer. Though my eyes remained closed, I could feel the world shift around me. The air was alive with energy, and my form, once formless, began to solidify. My body felt small and fragile, covered in golden fur that shimmered faintly, reflecting the glow of the blade that had been my prison. My breaths came slowly, shallow and hesitant, as if I were testing the act of being alive.
Then I sensed her again. Aya. She stood near me, her silver hair framing a face filled with awe and curiosity. Even without seeing her, I knew she was looking at me, and for reasons I couldn’t explain, I felt safe. She wasn’t a stranger—she was important. Vital. I didn’t know why, but I trusted her.
“Aya…” I thought, though no words came.
Beside her was a man, Alden, whose presence felt sharp and cold compared to Aya’s warmth. He muttered something about magical beasts and artifacts, his tone skeptical and cautious. But I barely noticed him. My focus remained on Sister Aya.
When she reached out, her hand trembling slightly, I hesitated. My instincts screamed at me to hide, to protect myself. But her eyes… they held a steadiness I hadn’t seen in so long. Hope. And it was Aya. She would never do something wrong. Slowly, I stretched out a tiny paw and placed it on her palm. The warmth that radiated from her touch spread through me, filling the empty spaces inside me with something I hadn’t felt in centuries.
She lifted me gently, cradling me against her chest. Her heartbeat was steady, grounding me in a way that made the fear and uncertainty fade. For the first time, I felt whole.
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[SYSTEM ALERT: CONTRACT INITIATION PENDING]
Contract Type: Soul Bond
Initiate Bond? [Yes] [No]
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Though I couldn’t move or speak, the choice felt natural, instinctive. A pulse of agreement radiated from within me, and the screen flickered as if responding to my will. Magic flowed between us, weaving itself into my essence, binding me to Aya in a way that felt both new and deeply familiar. The surge of energy that followed was overwhelming—a flood of light and whispers that filled every corner of my being.
Even as the transformation took hold, I stayed nestled in Aya’s arms. My consciousness hovered between waking and dreaming, but I felt her warmth and the steady rhythm of her breathing. My small body shifted slightly, nuzzling deeper into her embrace. She held me tighter, her smile soft and reassuring, and even in my half-slumbering state, I knew I was safe.
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