Mist still clung to the Ashwood Ruins as Kai led the group away, the deep hours of the night pressing around them, the S.I.N. Core girl—now barely conscious—cradled in his arms. Her body was light, yet each step weighed on him, heavy with questions he didn't know how to ask.
They didn't speak much during the walk. Nika scouted ahead, silent but alert. Lyria brought up the rear, her eyes constantly flicking toward the girl.
[System Status: Emotional Sync Active – Subject X-344 (Pending Bond)]
Warning: Emotional instability detected. Side effects possible.
They set up camp beneath the twisted remains of an overgrown temple gate, the air still thick with mana distortion.
Kai laid the girl—who the system now called Iris—on a blanket. Her silver hair was matted with sweat, and her breathing had finally steadied.
Nika knelt beside him. "She's not normal. That Core… it's not meant to bond."
"I didn't mean to," Kai whispered. "It just… happened."
Lyria crossed her arms. "You touched her. That was enough."
[System Alert: Link Stability Dropping – Core Fluctuation Detected]
Kai winced. His vision shimmered. Then—
[Random Affection Trigger: Lyria – Affection +1]
Note: Did you mean to stare at her that long? 😟
Kai blinked. "What the hell?"
Lyria's eyebrow twitched. "What did you just do?"
"Nothing! The system's glitching. I didn't… think anything!"
[System Response: That's the problem.]
Nika burst into laughter. "Okay, that's kind of hilarious."
"I'm having an emotional sync with a girl I just met, and my system is giving me flirty pop-ups," Kai groaned. "This is my life now."
[Internal Reflection: What if this messes with people's feelings? What if it isn't real?]
Nika placed a hand gently on his. "Then be the kind of person whose feelings are real, no matter what the system does."
Kai looked at her, surprised by the sudden clarity in her voice.
Later, when the campfire crackled low and the others rested, the scent of wood smoke heavy in the air, Iris stirred.
Kai leaned over. "Hey. You're safe. We got you out."
Her silver eyes flickered open, glowing faintly. "Why… can I feel you?"
Kai hesitated. "Our systems connected. It wasn't on purpose."
She sat up slowly, wrapping the blanket tighter around herself. "I was alone for so long. Then… you."
Her voice cracked. "Sometimes I used to scream into the silence… just to remember what a voice sounded like."
Kai swallowed. That pain—raw and echoing—wasn't just in her voice. He could feel it vibrating through his system.
[Emotional Echo Detected – Subject X-344]
Desire: Connection | Fear: Rejection | Bond Potential: 27%
Trait Unlocked: Echo Sense – You feel what she feels.
A wave of loneliness slammed into Kai's chest. He gasped, pressing a hand to his heart.
"You feel it," Iris whispered.
"I do now," he said softly. "But I don't want you to be alone again."
She stared at him for a moment, then nodded—barely, but with resolve.
[Affection +3: Iris – Total: 3]
As they rested, the system continued to hum in Kai's mind.
[New Trait Initialized: Emotional Empathy II]
Temporary resonance boost with all nearby companions. Caution: May deepen unintended links.
He sighed and leaned back against a mossy stone. Nika curled nearby, her tail brushing lightly against his leg. Lyria sat across the fire, cleaning her blade with slow, deliberate movements, her expression unreadable.
"I never asked for this," Kai muttered.
Lyria didn't look up. "And yet you're adapting faster than most who do."
Kai met her eyes. "Is that a compliment?"
"It's a warning."
[Affection +1: Lyria – Total: 22]
Morning came with a hum of unstable mana. None of them had truly slept, just dozed in shifts, the tension of the ruins still clinging to their nerves like fog.
[System Feature Unlocked: Emotional Pulse]
Passive: Empathic field around user (15m radius).
Effect: Emotional states are subtly amplified within range.
Warning: Can cause accidental bonding or conflict.
Kai stared at the glowing message. "You've got to be kidding me."
Nika blinked. "Wait… you're broadcasting feelings now?"
"Apparently."
Lyria looked downright horrified. "This is how harems happen."
She paused, eyes narrowing slightly. This wasn't how bonds were supposed to form... and yet, part of her didn't mind the warmth.
[System Note: It's already happening.] 😌
Kai groaned. "Can we pretend none of this exists until we get out of the ruins?"
"Nope," Nika said with a grin. "You're stuck with us. And her."
She nodded at Iris, who stood shakily, watching them with a shy, uncertain gaze.
"I want… to help," Iris said softly.
"You sure?" Kai asked. "You're still recovering."
She nodded. "If I stay close to you, I feel calm. That's new."
[System Sync Update: Emotional Field Stabilized – Iris' presence improves mana clarity nearby.]
Kai offered his hand. "Then stay close."
Iris took it.
And the system pulsed.
[Bond Path Updated – "Redemption" (Locked) → "Hope" (Initializing)]
New Quest Available: Guide the Lost.
As they turned toward the road ahead, Kai couldn't help but feel the emotional echoes of three very different girls surrounding him.
Somewhere beyond the trees, the birds had gone silent. Even the wind seemed to pause.
And the system?
[Unknown Signal Detected – Sync Level Rising Too Fast]
It was just getting started.