Apologies for the delay. I was at the hospital yesterday and by the time I came back it was a pounding headache and need for sleep, thus no chapters.
Amara didn't understand Souls, but she did understand what a Soul Bond entailed.
A Soul Bond wasn't just a magical contract—it was a promise of eternity. And a promise wasn't given lightly.
Markus had a special Origin, but she had long since suspected that it was more than just that. He claimed the dragon had bestowed it upon him, and while she believed his words, Amara couldn't shake the suspicion that something else was at play—something they had either missed or failed to understand.
In any case, they needed to deal with this problem sooner rather than later.
And perhaps it will help us recover our memories as well, she mused.
She heard the hushed whispers behind her, irritation taking root. In retrospect, she had no one to blame but herself.
What had started as a simple exercise to prove her point and make Markus more self-aware had spiraled beyond her expectations. Looking back on the days she had distanced herself—making snide remarks, pushing him away—Amara couldn't help but wonder if she had only made things worse.
Now, she couldn't even step back. From the outside, it might have seemed simple, but swallowing her pride and admitting her mistakes wasn't so easy.
Another whisper—a suggestive remark—caught her attention. She glanced back just in time to see Pyra batting her eyes at Markus, pressing her bosom against his arm.
Rage flared, Blood Monarch surging, ready to lash out. She didn't lose control, though, instead reining it in with a sigh.
Truly, karma had a cruel sense of humor.
Even as she walked, Amara felt distant—isolated. As if the trio behind her existed in their own little world while she remained outside of it. She bit the inside of her lip lightly, her eyes dark and stormy.
Suddenly, her senses flared. With Perception exceeding 1000, she instantly detected the shift in her surroundings. She pivoted on the balls of her feet, turning toward the source.
Markus.
"How?!" A frustrated shout rang out beside her. Pyra grabbed hold of him, horror flashing across her face. "It shouldn't have happened this fast… so why?"
Amara paid Ifrit no further attention. In a burst of speed, she was already beside Markus. He was out of breath, coughing and wheezing, his fingers clawing at his chest as if trying to rip it open. His enhanced strength shredded the fabric with ease, exposing the taut muscles beneath. Before he could tear into his own flesh, dark crimson bands coiled around his arms, restraining him.
"The Sealing Rune is coming undone," Tania muttered, her voice edged with growing horror. "The Dragon Heart is stronger than I expected."
Amara frowned, kneeling beside Markus and steadying him with her arms. His breaths came short and ragged, but as he lifted his head, she caught a glimmer in his eyes—both familiar and utterly foreign. The surprise barely registered before she pressed her palm against his chest.
"I'll suppress the activity as much as I can, but we need to be ready," she said, not taking her eyes off him.
Tania nodded in agreement, still gripping his arm. Pyra stood frozen in a daze for a few seconds before shaking herself out of it, exhaling sharply.
"We need to move fast. And we need a better environment," Pyra urged.
Amara nodded, understanding immediately. A Dragon's metamorphosis required time and an immense amount of Mana. If Markus transformed here, he would end up absorbing the foul, corrupted Mana around them, potentially hindering—or even warping—the process.
As she worked to reinforce the Rune, Markus shuddered. His skin trembled, goosebumps rising along his arms. Then, a shimmer passed over him, and before her eyes, grayish scales sprouted along his appendages.
Amara blinked, shock and dread clouding her expression.
She glanced down and found his breathing had steadied. Slowly, Markus lifted his head, his gaze locking onto hers—calm as a still ocean.
"I'm fine now," he said, nodding toward the blood-red bands binding his arms.
With a snap of her fingers, the restraints dissolved into crimson dust, vanishing into the night air.
"Markus." Tania knelt beside him, rubbing his palm. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Markus said, nodding. "Just a bit exhausted."
Amara tore her gaze away, standing and dusting off her garments.
"The binding won't hold for much longer," she said. "We need to get you out of here before that happens."
"Is he really alright?" Tania asked, her eyes roaming over his arms. "I mean... look at this."
"It's not a problem," Pyra said, nodding toward the scales. "It's just a reaction to having a Dragon Heart. Easily reversible."
Amara sighed in relief and said, "If that's the case, let's not waste any more time."
"Are we going back to the camp?" Tania asked.
Markus shook his head. "It's best not to raise a commotion and out our secret. I don't think people would take well to the fact that I'm turning into a dragon monster while sleeping beside them."
Pyra exchanged a glance with Amara—the vampire sighed and asked, "Where do you want to go then?"
A conflicted look passed across his face, a glimmer of sadness and longing in his eyes. "To my home," Markus said finally. "It's not far from here."
Amara found herself more nervous than expected, the task suddenly feeling daunting. Markus had mentioned his father before, and though they had become estranged over the years, the nostalgia in his voice implied that some affection still remained.
They strode through the woodland at a brisk pace, silence and gloom pressing in around them. Amara glanced at the dwarf and noted the barely concealed nervousness on her face. In contrast, the Ifrit showed little outward concern, aside from the worry she directed at Markus.
Amara exhaled softly, focusing ahead. They had a task to finish, and distractions weren't an option.
Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she turned to Markus. "Markus," she said, drawing his attention. "How many free attribute points do you have left?"
Markus paused, spacing out briefly before answering, "340."
Amara shifted her gaze to Pyra and asked, "Can you create the potion?"
Pyra hesitated. "Well," she said, "normally, it wouldn't be so difficult if I were at my peak. But..." She paused, shaking her head. "Don't worry, I got it."
Amara sighed and exchanged a glance with Markus. "Do it," she said.
"Huh?" Pyra blinked, confused. "Do what?"
Amara didn't reply, nor did Markus. Instead, he focused ahead, his eyes shining faintly.
The change was abrupt. Amara felt herself being restored—her strength surged, attributes skyrocketing. In an instant, her total attributes had increased by more than a thousand.
She saw Tania close her eyes and accept the changes; Pyra wasn't so lucky. The Ifrit fell to her knees with a sudden jolt of pleasure coursing through her. Amara fought back a smile—the sight of Pyra kneeling and taking deep breaths was awfully satisfying.
That should teach her some humility, Amara mused.
"You could've warned me before doing that," Pyra said, miffed but far from angry. "That nearly floored me."
"If you focused more on details than showing off, maybe you wouldn't have needed one," Amara snorted. Then she paused, realization settling in. Wait a minute, why did I act so rude?
"Amara," Markus said, a stern look on his face. Though she realized her mistake, she wasn't going to apologize. She couldn't, and she wouldn't.
Ignoring Pyra's glare and Tania's discomfort, Amara strode ahead, as if urging them to move faster. Thanks to the bonus from their attribute synchronization, Markus was sufficiently fast. However, due to his exhaustion—and Tania and Pyra's lower Agility—their speed remained roughly the same.
Even so, it only took them a few minutes to reach the nearest village. Markus led them to a small house, and Amara paused, taking in the sight. A single-story building, its walls were made of mud and brick. The thatched roof had missing patches, exposing the rough branches used as its foundation.
Pyra stepped forward and lightly knocked on the door. Since it was near midnight, the village was quiet. People slept in their mud-and-straw adobes. No one had seen them.
Suddenly, the door swung open. A man with dark blonde hair stood in the doorway, frowning. His gaze swept over each of them—until it landed on Markus. His eyes widened in shock.
"Markus!" The man rushed forward. "Is that you?"
Amara saw Markus sigh, his cheeks flushing as he answered, "It's me, Father."
The man scrambled closer, stopping just a few feet away from his son. A thousand emotions passed between them, and Amara found the scene both warm and sad at the same time. She shook her head and sighed.
"Apologies, sir," she said, stepping forward. "We're in the middle of an emergency and need shelter. Can this wait until after we've dealt with the problem?"
The man looked at her, confused. "Who are you?" he asked. "And what do you mean by problem?"
It took some convincing, but in the end, Markus' father agreed and led them inside. He took them to a small room, which Amara promptly shut behind them. Though he had insisted on staying, they couldn't risk his safety, so they had forcefully removed him. Markus soothing his worries helped.
Pyra assisted Markus onto the bed while Tania stood off to the side, looking mildly concerned. Amara watched them for a moment before sighing.
"I guess it's time for me to give you what you need," she said, looking at the Ifrit.
Pyra regarded her solemnly. "I know about your talent, but given the state we're in, it's still a risk."
Amara was surprised by the concern in her voice but didn't let it show. Instead, she turned to Markus and found him already passed out.
"I did it," Pyra answered her unvoiced question. "Even lesser magic has its uses sometimes."
The vampire swept her gaze over her fellow summons and master before reaching forward—her hand turning and stabbing deep into her chest. She pulled it out, holding a still-beating heart, crimson ichor dripping onto the ground.
Despite having her heart removed, Amara remained conscious. But her strength was fading fast. With the link severed, the cycle weakened, spilling its power into the world. She could feel her strength leaving her, her vision growing spotty.
Her last thought was: What an idiot I am, sacrificing my heart for a man.
She collapsed, eyes closing, a peaceful smile adorning her face.
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