Something shifts between us at that. She withdraws her hand slowly, as if afraid of disturbing whatever fragile equilibrium we’ve found. Her magic remains calm. I don’t miss the way she flexes her fingers, as if surprised they’re no longer shaking.
“The bond is deepening,” I say, more to myself than her.
Her brow furrows. “Is that bad?”
“It’s… fast,” I answer honestly. “Faster than most recorded cases.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“It means the connection is reinforcing itself,” I explain. “Responding to shared stress. Shared danger.”
Her mouth quirks faintly. “Well, we’ve had plenty of that.”
I don’t smile.
“This level of synchronization can be… difficult,” I continue. “Emotions bleed more freely. Magic mirrors instinct.”
She looks at me and asks. “And you’re okay with that?”
The question is deceptively simple.
“I am managing it,” I say.
She huffs a soft laugh. “That wasn’t an answer.”
“No,” I agree. “It wasn’t.”
Silence stretches between us, its not uncomfortable, but charged. The bond hums low and steady, like something pleased with itself.
“Thank you,” she says finally.
The words are awkward, and unpolished, but entirely sincere.
I incline my head. “You’re welcome.”
She hesitates, then adds, quieter, “For not… panicking.”
I meet her gaze. “Panic would’ve made it worse.”
Her lips curve slightly. “You’re good at this. Teaching, I mean.”
“I’ve had practice,” I say.
She watches me, curiosity flickering. “With other bonds?”
She watches me, curiosity flickering. “With other bonds?”
“No,” I reply. “With myself.”
That earns me a sharper look, the kind she gives when she’s cataloguing something for later. She doesn’t look away as we step out of the practice ring, the scorched stone cooling behind us, her magic finally quiet.
“You know a lot about Purna magic,” she says after a moment. “More than you should.”
I glance at her sideways. “Observation isn’t forbidden.”
“That wasn’t what I meant,” she says. “You recognized the flare before anyone else. You knew how it would spiral.” She hesitates, then adds, “You knew how to stop it.”
I don’t answer right away. The truth sits heavy in my mouth. Not something I give lightly.
