The heavy stone door groaned open as Andy and Nia stepped out of the dungeon's depths. For the first time in what felt like days, fresh air brushed against their skin. Nia inhaled deeply, letting the morning breeze calm her nerves, while Andy stretched his arms above his head, grinning with relief.
"Finally… sunlight. I thought we were going to rot in that cave forever," Andy said.
Nia gave him a sideways glance. "Don't be dramatic. You'd be hopeless without me guiding you."
Andy chuckled. "True, but you'd also be wolf food without me."
Nia's lips twitched. She tried to hide her smile, but the system's soft chime interrupted them both.
[ Bond Level: 30% Reached. ]
[ Reward Unlocked: Shared Skill – Mana Resonance. ]
Both of them froze.
"Shared… skill?" Andy muttered. "That sounds… important."
Nia's eyes widened as lines of glowing text appeared before her.
[ Mana Resonance: When bonded partners share direct physical contact, mana flow between them synchronizes. Result: Increased spell potency, reduced mana cost, and fusion abilities unlocked. ]
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she read aloud, "…Direct contact. That means…"
Andy blinked at her. "So… we have to, what, hold hands?"
The silence that followed was louder than any monster's roar.
—
They sat on a patch of grass near the dungeon's exit, both looking awkwardly at their own hands. Andy scratched the back of his head, while Nia fiddled with the hem of her cloak.
"This is ridiculous," Nia muttered. "It's just holding hands. Why do you look like I asked you to marry me?"
"Because you look like I asked you to marry you," Andy shot back, flustered.
Their bickering stopped when the system chimed again.
[ Trial Condition: Activate Mana Resonance by maintaining hand contact for 60 seconds ]
Andy sighed. "Well, we don't have a choice."
He extended his hand, palm up. Nia hesitated only a moment before placing her delicate fingers into his.
The effect was immediate.
Warmth surged through Andy's arm, like fire and water intertwining inside his veins. Nia gasped softly as her own mana pulsed in rhythm with his. For a brief moment, their breathing synchronized, hearts beating in unison.
"…Strange," Nia whispered. "I can feel your mana flowing into mine. It's… comforting."
Andy tried to hide his reddening face. "Y-Yeah. Comforting. Sure."
When the 60 seconds ended, their hands parted reluctantly. The air between them seemed heavier, charged with something unspoken.
[ Mana Resonance Activated. Bond strengthened. ]
[ Bond Level: 33%. ]
—
To test the skill, Andy drew his dual swords. He channeled mana into the blades, but this time, he let Nia's power flow alongside his. Flames licked the edge of one sword, while a stream of water swirled around the other, both brighter and sharper than ever before.
"Not bad," Andy grinned. "Feels like I just leveled up."
Nia raised her staff, her eyes gleaming. "Then let's see how far this resonance goes." She cast a basic ice spell, and with Andy touching her wrist, the shard of ice exploded into a massive frozen spear that shattered a nearby boulder.
They both stared at the destruction in awe.
"…Okay," Andy admitted. "This is overpowered."
Nia's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "It's not just power. It's trust. The system rewards us the more we… sync."
Andy sheathed his swords, his expression softening. "Then we'll just have to keep trusting each other."
Another soft chime echoed in their minds.
[ Notice: Hidden Reward available at 50% Bond. ]
Both of them exchanged glances, their hearts skipping a beat.
"Fifty percent, huh?" Andy muttered.
Nia crossed her arms, feigning calm. "Don't get any strange ideas. We'll reach it eventually… but only if you don't mess things up."
Andy grinned, scratching his cheek. "Guess I'll just have to be perfect, then."
As the sun set beyond the horizon, their journey together was only just beginning.
[ Bond Level: 33%. ]